Horse Show

Nathan competed in the Stock Horse of Dixie show last weekend. This was Daniel's first. Both of the boys had a good time. Denise and Randy were able to come this time as well. 

This precious boy was all about tractors and "cowboy c-ose" He loves wearing "boots -ike Daddy." 

Daniel had a great time. He loves the outdoors. He loved the open space where he could exercise those walking/running skills. :)

Then today we were able to see our little girl again. ;) Tonight Joshua rubbed my belly (he's still trying to figure out how to get to her). He laid his hand on my tummy very gently and said in his "manliest" voice: "yur tummy is going to get biiiiiggggerrr and biiigggerrr and bigggerrr!"

Daniel started pointing more today. I would point to this picture then he would point to it and grin. 

Faith Massey Thompson

Yesterday, after I loaded up the boys to drive to Peachtree City, I texted Nathan and asked if he would mind doing a baby photo shoot during his lunch. Of course he was all for that!

I love hearing Joshua's little voice in the background. I have such a hard time videoing him, though. He is not a fan of the camera. That's probably my fault. :)

Her little face is at the bottom. One hand is beside her face.

She's upside down.

This one is an upside down profile with her leg.

I'm certain here that she is saying "hello." 

I did tell Nathan that this made him one of the coolest photographers I know...and thank you Braelinn AH. ;)

I'll never forget our plane landing in Beijing after dark, Nathan and I looking at one another and saying "We finally made it." We were finally in the city where our little boy currently called home, but not for long. And it was by faith. We saw God provide in amazing (truly) ways. One of our first nights in Beijing, as we lay in bed exhausted but overjoyed and amazed at all God had done in our lives over the past two and a half years we decided that if this baby was a girl, her name would be Faith. Of course we think it's a pretty name...of course. But it's so much more than a pretty proper noun. Faith in Jesus Christ...there's nothing more important. And truthfully, studdering the number th-r-ee over my first two weeks pregnant made us so so aware that we live by faith not by sight. 

So we love the name Faith...and love speaking it over her. Massey is Nathan's grandparents last name. We love and respect them dearly, so it's an honor to name our daughter after them. Massey, as best we can tell, also means "great." Some sources we found said "doubly great." And, well, Faith Doubly Great. We couldn't think of anything better. 

Labor Day and Two Months Home

We spent last weekend with my parents at Callaway Gardens. That place! I just love it there. We stayed in a three bedroom cabin that was plenty spacious even after I unpacked a van load of stuff (thank you Mom and Dad!!!). Friday was Daniel's first night away from home since he's been in the States. We felt like Callaway was perfect because we live 45 minutes away and worse come to worse, we could drive home for the night. But he had a blast as did the rest of us.

We spent Saturday at swimming in the lake and playing in sand. A part of me has been a little sad because we let an entire summer go by with almost no swimming. As a result, Joshua has been intimidated with the water, until Saturday. It felt so good to see him splashing around enjoying everything about "dis bacation."

 He is obsessed with trucks and tractors.

We spent the entire day playing on the beach. Both of them enjoyed the sand and swimming.

 

 Callaway had a little train. Joshua said "Dis--is--pecial."

My parents rented a golf cart which was also a hit and the weather was perfect for site seeing.

 

It's almost impossible to take a family picture anymore. We just snap the button and hope for the best. 

This past week we celebrated two months home with Daniel. He's walking quickly and easily now. He can stand from the floor with ease. He plays pat-a-cake, waves bye-bye, blows kisses, gives kisses, gives fives,  plays with play dough, scribbles, can stack blocks, can eat independently (if its a desert ;), he can chew and eat anything. He's climbing on furniture now. He's amazing. All of these things we've been blessed to see him learn to do...and in the last ten weeks!   

His physical therapist told me our last visit that her goal for October was for him to stand for five seconds independently. Her goal for November was for him to take five steps. So...since he met ALL of those goals and more, he doesn't need physical therapy anymore!!!!!! I thought it would take a year to accomplish what he's accomplished! She says he now tests at around 22 months! I'm sorry, I'm just so so amazed! I feel like his fine motor skills are going just as well. He has almost no sensory issues. He plays with play dough, sits in bubbles, scribbles with crayons, 

Our pediatrician asked us at his last visit, "Have you just stopped to think about his progress. It almost makes me cry." 

Our little guy has a strong will to thrive. I almost can't wrap my mind around the medical attention he needed (and received) prior to us meeting him at 22 months. Our little guy is stronger than I can really understand.

He is determined and watches his brother do everything. They are doing better and better. Joshua still learning to respect Daniel's space, but they laugh together and play together even without Daniel talking. Today I found them in Joshua's bed jumping up and down together laughing hysterically. I savored the moment...before I told them to climb down.

I can't help it. I just want to celebrate his life and how amazing I think DC is...this is Daniel 10 weeks ago crawling slowly and deliberately:

And this is Daniel being the two year old little boy God made Him to be...

His little SMOs are awesome! We put those on his feet and saw him stand straight and tall, bending his knees to walk...and I got teary. Mind you, he hated them the first day but has been fine with them ever since.

I know I have too many just in diaper pictures, but after lunch we play in the art room/closet...two messy times of day and I've surrendered to just going in diapers vs. loads of laundry. I'm convinced it's saved us a small fortune in electricity and detergent. ;) Here's Daniel blowing kisses, playing with play dough, and feeding himself. DC was terrified of playdough for our first month home (as well as almost any other new texture that wasn't fuzzy) and was not feeding himself at all. We've been working on grasping food for weeks. And today, he ate the peanut butter sandwich by himself!!!!! Oh but let me stop and say he's eating solids that aren't pureed!! That is amazing to me. I've had the priveledge of watching him learn to chew! Watching, praying, and waiting. It's amazing the things I've taken for granted in the past.

Joshua says new things every day. He's very conversational. Tonight when we sat down for supper he looked at Nathan and said "So...how -as (was) yur day ta-day daddy? Oh mine was ---good!" 

He's singing songs and using his imagination. We can hear him in the playroom now with all of his toy vehicles. Today before breakfast Nathan walked past the playroom and was able to listen. Joshua had his big school bus (Little People) next to his little school bus and said, "dat is da daddy cool bus and dat is the baby cool bus...it time to go home" He started tracing this week. He's a joy! Both boys are such a joy...especially in moments like this when everyone is asleep and I am looking back over the day. ;) It's funny how I forget the frustration I struggle with when their asleep and not taking toys away from each other.

Life is not perfect. I am NOT perfect by any stretch, but life sure is sweet right now. And right now, I feel so so thankful.