Levi at Home

Some dear friends have requested an update on Levi's progress...so I will happily blog some more.

Levi is doing extremely well! Rich, Levi, and I have experienced relatively few symptoms from jet lag. We are all on our regular schedule and feeling great. Levi only took 3 days to get onto our schedule of eating, napping, sleeping. It is great!

The first day the kids met each other, they held hands, walked to the playroom, started playing together and have never looked back. It is as if they have know each other all of their lives. It is precious to watch them interact. Levi is already learning English from Theo and Ruthie. I am certain he will be fluent in a couple of months. HA!! He is adjusting with no problems to his new life. He hasn't cried or seemed to miss the orphanage life. I think he does miss Chinese food; however, because he wrinkles his nose and shakes his head "no" when I serve him sandwiches for lunch. ha! I think he wants noodles. We will make a trip to the local Chinese market and stock up on some noodles to offer him some comfort food. He always eats everything on his plate and drinks all his milk, even if he is not fond of all of our unusual American foods. :)

The best thing for him has been to just be at his new home playing with his new sister and brother. He rarely fusses now. He goes to nap and bed without complaint on most days and is exceedingly happy to play outside. We have been going to the park to ride bikes, which he loves as well. He doesn't quite know how to ride a bike yet, but he loves riding Theo's plasma car. He says, "beep" "beep" as he pushes it along with his feet. Levi also is fond of riding in our van. Even if it is just a quick ride around the neighborhood, he thinks that is the greatest!! It is funny how the little things make him so happy. :)

We thought we were going to have to change his name because he told our Chinese guide in Guanghzou that he didn't like that name. BUT....after prayer and discussion, we decided that the name is different from the Chinese word Le-Why--which means "extra" in Chinese. We think that once he learns English and understands the difference in the two words, he will come to appreciate and like his name. We are just going to tell him how special his name is. The Levites were a tribe that God set apart and made into special priests to serve God. Plus, the meaning of Levi is "bonded or attached in unity". We called him Levi the other day, and he agreed to it. I think it helps that Ruthie and Theo call him that. Anything he was once apprehensive about seems to become acceptable if his brother and sister do it first. ha! He even went down the big slide at the park the other day with big brother Theo behind him holding onto him. Theo is really enjoying the big brother role. He is so sweet. He wanted Levi to use our motorcycle trike that makes sounds--but it was out of batteries. Theo didn't think we had batteries, so he went to get some out of one of his own toys to put into the trike for Levi. Isn't that so selfless? We couldn't believe what a sweet gesture that was. We are so proud of him.

I have added some pictures of the kids together here at home. The first day they were together, they stood over the trashcan in the kitchen eating mandarin oranges. In this picture, he is wearing his "Made in China" t-shirt. We thought this shirt was hilarious. We got a big kick out of it! Every morning, we do an art project, which Ruthie and Levi have really enjoyed. This gives Theo time to complete his spelling and handwriting lessons.

Levi is also learing Bible stories and how to pray. He asks me every night to read the "B-I-B-L-E". It is sweet how much he is learning and how fast he is picking up the language and customs of Americans.