8 months...somewhat normal...

Well, almost 8 months. It's so hard to believe it's been eight months since we traveled to China to bring Peter to his forever home. A wise friend told me that at eight months you start to feel normal again or in better words, to be a bit more adjusted to your new normal. And you know what...she was right! Yes, we still have bad days, but all kids have bad days. Are his bad days like my bio kids? Yep, except my bio kids were smaller when they had them and did not have a bad past to add to the mix.

What has been going on in the last eight months? A LOT! Let's hit the main parts:
-Peter performed onstage in his first musical! He had a speaking role, danced and sang.
-He has learned to spell some words and to read a few at the same time
-He can now count by 10's very well and almost has the 2's and 5's downs.
-He has told all of us that he likes us.
-Peter has made several good friends and has what he considers a "best" friend.
-He hosted his first party and he was a great host.
-He has started speech therapy and loves his Mrs. Mallary. He cannot wait for Mrs. Mallary days.
-We visited Children's in Dallas and have a bit of a plan, along with some answers, for the future.
-He is enjoying reading time with mom and will even snuggle up on the couch with mom.
 -The dogs seem to truly like him now.
 -The fits are farther apart. They are hard but we can talk through most of them now.
 -Peter is starting to believe that he is smart.
 -He attended Pine Cove Base camp at our church and had a great time. He prayed out loud several times.
-He attended an overnight 456 retreat with our church and fell in love with horses!
-He has been expressing emotions to us which is a big thing.
-Peter has now met most of his extended family and did great at the meetings. They were all big parties. 
-His English has gotten so good!!
-He and his siblings are forming good, solid bonds!

and the best one of all:

HE ASKED JESUS INTO HIS HEART!!

He came to Eric and I one morning and told us he had asked Jesus to live in his heart and he would be in Heaven with us. We think he fully understands this because we have talked about it a great deal. Just this morning he spoke up in front of 30 kids and asked for prayers for a friends dad. He is working hard at learning the Bible and to apply it to his life.

What he has coming up: so you know how to pray and stuff!

-Flag football evaluations on Tuesday. He doesn't know a soul but since they pray there and talk about Jesus, he wants to play "Jesus football." How adorable is that?! He may also play with our local homeschool group, depending on the times and how much he likes it.

-He will be taking a homeschool class at our local children's theater that will involve writing. They will give him grace, of course, but this class will make him think. He's not always fond of that but they do such a great job of making it fun that he will not even notice.

-We start back to our co-op classes on Wednesday and he will be more active in them this year. Because mommy wants him to be. 

 -We will be adding more to school this week because he can handle some of it now. We will be working on maps and some history. He still does not like things that do not look like a 'normal' school but is getting better with playing games to learn, etc.

So that is what our life looks like now. It's not easy; it's hard. But life is hard. And I'm glad that God chose this life path for us. I wish I could share everything on here because it's amazing to see God at work. Some of it is very personal and some you just cannot put into words. But to see the hand of God at work is such an amazing thing. We say it over and over again that Peter has brought silly back into our family. That statement in the best description of what he has done. There are tears, there are hurts, there are days that all I can say is "Jesus!" but I would do it all over again (and I am sure that I will!) to have this young man as part of our lives. He is a such a precious gift to us and I am glad that we were chose to be his parents! Now I must prepare to be invaded by him and his friend tonight so..

For your viewing pleasure.....make sure you scroll to the very last picture for the cutest one!

 Pine Cove

 First sleepover!

 Zoo trip with all the cousins (on my side)

 Scary, aren't they?

 First to us tooth to lose!

 Peter and his Pine Cove counselor

 I have a picture of Andrew and Jared just like this! I love it!

First time playing in a water hose outside

 Pop!

 Rockin' C Ranch Retreat!

 First 4th of July! It was comical!

 I told you! Progress! I do not have many of him and Andrew together because they are always beating each other up. I am told this is 'normal' for brothers? They do find if funny!

Oh and did I mention that he got a Mohawk?? Adorable!!