January

I am so sorry we are just now updating. Christmas was wonderful. Hamilton loved it. He took all of the activities a little too literally though. He made reindeer food at school. When Bill took him outside to "feed" the reindeer, he stood there waiting for the reindeer to come eat! Then he asked me until 10:00 Christmas eve for the BIG ho ho! He was waiting for him to come see him. Elizabeth was a little sad that Hamilton then slept until 8:30 Christmas morning. The big kids had a difficult time waiting to open presents. We had lots of family in town. It was wonderful. Hamilton has now officially met all of his aunts and uncles, one still by skype only. He also met his last cousin, Abby, from Boston. He loved her, because she is a baby. 

Hamilton was sick a second time over Christmas. His colds seem to end up as sinus infections and wheezing. I went ahead and took him to Will and Elizabeth's asthma doctor. He said we would wait a year to call it asthma, hopefully it is just transition to new germs. But he is now on preventive asthma medicine. That made Christmas a little more tiring. But he is well right now!

We are in constant email with Hamilton's foster mother in China. She was so sweet to send us a "Merry Christmas" wish. She also knows Fisher Freeman's foster family. I gave her the Freeman's email address and possible travel dates. How fun will it be if the two boys recognize each other. Hamilton's latest interest is in China. He is asking to see "NeNe", his foster mom. We have an email in to the adoption counselor to inquire the best way to handle his inquisitive mind.  He wore a sweater today and upon putting it on told us it was from China. My friend made it, so he must have had one similar in China. He also was able to tell me more about his sleeping arrangements in China last night. It is both great and difficult as he acquires more language skills. We have to remind ourselves that he is grieving his old home; it is very difficult to hear him verbalize it. I keep quoting his bible verse to him: " I have great plans for you, plans to prosper, not to harm..." Bill and I have to trust that God is faithful and will hold our precious son tight during his grieving and that He does have GREAT plans for him and for all of us!! 

Okay, back to lighter topics. Hamilton loves his schools. He has two. One is at our church for 2 days each week, and the other is in a class for children with special needs. He needs the boost in language, and the teachers are working so hard. He has several other children adopted internationally in the class, so we feel quite blessed that they accepted Hamilton. He is a little sponge. He learns knew words every day, and is now speaking in phrases. He expresses his wants quite well, sometimes too well. The only problem is he expects to get what he wants when he asks. Although, when he cries, now, it is very short. He just started staying with our new friend Haley in the afternoons. She is a Samford student. She picks him up each day at school and brings him home until 3:00 or so. She is our friend Olivia's good friend. (Olivia lived with us last summer and is back for 3 weeks). Hamilton enjoys college age girls I think because he has taken to both Olivia and Haley quite well. 

Elizabeth is no longer going to school with a new scratch on her face each day. So for the most part our baby has calmed considerably. We are having a blast with him and exhausted at the same time. However, there are no words to describe what a tremendous blessing he has been to all of us!