While our adoption of Peter was official when we received the adoption decree in China, and he became an American citizen when we touched down on U.S. soil in Chicago, we have now completed the process with our state declaring Peter's adoption so that he can be issued a birth certificate. Just another step in the post-adoption paperwork, but a noteworthy step to have completed.
It has been a while since I've written an update about the life and times of Petey. He keeps quite a busy week for a three-year-old. Because he responds very well to music and really enjoys it, we enrolled him in a weekly mommy-and-me music discovery class. He recognizes the songs we sing and dance to as familiar, and particularly enjoys when the teacher breaks out the instruments and he can play the drums.
Petey still has weekly speech therapy. The best part of it is the ideas, inspirations and homework that I come away with in order to continue working with him on a daily basis. Because he has been in speech therapy for eight months and is only able to say one word, I have incorporated sign language into my communication with him, at the advice of the speech therapist. There are about 70 signs that I use when talking with Petey, and over the past several months, he has learned how to consistently and accurately do 8 signs. I'm so proud of him. His receptive language has also sky-rocketed in that he clearly understands pretty much everything I say to him, which is evident in the way he responds, reacts, and follows instructions. All that to say, the sign language has helped him learn English because 1) he is a visual learner and having something to see as well as hear has been beneficial, and 2) sign language utilizes the language center of the brain and encourages cognitive growth in that area. Regarding the one word he does say -- it is Mama (be still my heart!), which most often sounds like "mum-mum."
Petey now receives weekly occupational therapy, as well. He has a blast during OT because it is predominantly physical play -- rolling on a yoga mat; using an exercise ball to do "push-ups," roll and bounce; pulling himself on a roller scooter; and doing exercises while on his tummy -- all aimed at strengthening his core, neck and shoulder muscles. He also works on fine motor skills such as pincer grasp to pick up small items, learning to scribble, and improving eating with a spoon.
And with the beautiful weather that accompanies spring, we spend several hours of most days playing at various playgrounds in the area. Big brother Noah is a huge fan of the outdoors, so that suits him just fine during his non-school hours!
Blessedly, Grammy (my mom) came to visit for 12 days a couple weeks back and the boys had a ton of fun with her. Noah kept saying that he didn't want her to leave. "I want Grammy to stay until we go to Heaven," he would say. None of us wanted her to leave!
Here are some photos of the boys and Grammy:
~Allie
