Humayun's Tomb

Today we adventured out to Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi.  AJ enjoys being outside and walking around so it was a good choice.  This is one of the largest tombs in the India, and it really is quite beautiful.  Walking in a building built in the 1500's amazes me.  I like to think his wife must have truly loved him to go to such great lengths.  Lots of pictures so enjoy! 

Before we left for India, Brody requested we take a picture of a snake charmer.  I was not sure if we would come across one, but we did as we were going to the car.  Brody was delighted to see the pictures of the not one but two cobras.  It was good to see Brody smile about it on FaceTime.

Medical Appointment and Krispy Kreme

We've made it to New Dehli!  AJ did fine on the flight until the very end.  I think he would much rather watch planes than fly on them.  This flight kind of made me homesick because getting on a plane should equal going home.  Regardless of how my heart is ready for home and Brody, we shall trudge on thru this week.

AJ had his medical appointment this morning.  I think we had the same doctor we saw on the show Little Couple.  He noticed AJ's delay in speech first thing.  It wasn't until the past year that AJ started progressing in life so we expect delays.  He has very little foundation of his language, but he seems to be picking up English quickly with us.  AJ is 38 1/4 inches tall and 29 pounds (he will be five years old in May).  That's a pound more than when he was weighed in February- Whoo hoo!!! He has a great appetite, and I see no problem with him gaining weight in the future. They gave him a TB test which he was not happy about.  We will go back in 48 hours, Wednesday, to have it read.

We went to the mall by our hotel for lunch.  I ate Chinese, and my guys ate Indian.  After lunch we spotted a Krispy Kreme and could not resist.  Oh sweet joy!  It was delicious.  It was a piece of home I was longing for.  AJ thought it was grand because it is.  He thought the hat was great too!

This hotel is ok, but we miss our last hotel.  We miss the people of our last hotel.  At least we have two huge malls connected to each other that we can walk to to cheer us up! Haha. There are many food options to choose from there. We eat, go back to the hotel and wait until it's mealtime again.  One more week...

Day 6 with AJ

Am I rubbing off on AJ yet?!?!

AJ has been a hoot today.  Oh how he makes us smile!  He has liked playing copycat.  We have been able to teach him several new words since he was so eager to play copycat.  He learned to name body parts and to say different greetings to people.  Even Brody got him to say a few names by showing him pictures on the wall during FaceTime.

We worked on potty training all afternoon.  He was only partially trained.  After five days, we figured out his bodily functions schedule.  This afternoon was a complete success thanks to Oreos.  I'm thankful this was just an activity he was curious about and wanted to do.

We went to an instant photo shop to get his visa pictures made.  I got tickled after the photo was made and the man said it would be 30 thirty minutes.  Ryan asked, "isn't it supposed to be instant?"  The man replied, "30 minutes is instant in India."  Best line of the day!  Glad there was a wait because it gave us some time to talk.  Like most people he asked questions about Anirudha because obliviously he is Indian and we are not.  We shared about his adoption, and the man was very pleased to hear the story. The man asked Ryan what he does, and Ryan explained he is a pastor.  For better or worse, we answer questions openly and honestly here.  We know our answers might not be taken well, but we also know that opportunities to share the gospel will be missed if we don't.  Surprisingly this man excitingly says, "You believe in Jesus?  Me too!"  It was a nice conversation we had thanks to the not so instant photos.

Our adoption here really has been well received.  I think a lot of that has to do with Anirudha being older and not a baby.  When we first got to the hotel a week ago, we were open about the reason we came to Pune was to adopt our son.  We got puzzled looks of why would you want to adopt. Then on Monday after meeting Anirudha we showed pictures of him and the hotel people smiled. By Tuesday they were asking questions and wondering when he would come to the hotel.  Wednesday excitement began to build.  Thursday many of the staff was waiting at the door when we walked in to meet him.  They gave a present to him in the lobby and had cake waiting in our room.  The chefs made a special treat for him. Everyone at the hotel has been very curious and kind to our precious boy.  Today Anirudha was going around shaking hands, saying hello, saying Namaste with a bow, and just being plain cute. I can see how the idea of adoption changed this week with several people.   Like with the reason I write this blog, I hope we plant a seed in someone's heart to adopt or to get involved in orphan care.  Millions of orphans all over the world who are just waiting for someone to love them.  

Putting It Into Practice

AJ got a cricket bat!  He loves it!!!

It's been four years of reading books on adoption, learning about attaching and bonding, going to adoption/foster care support group, reading adoption blogs, listening to adoption conferences, and listening to my friends stories of their experiences.  Today we finally put it into practice.  We were pleasantly surprised at the good day we had.  AJ will try to rock himself and self soothe, and it is a joy to pull him close to me and rock.  He doesn't understand yet, but he has parents who are now going to be there for him and comfort him.  At breakfast he was singing a song, and I realized it was Happy Birthday.  So we sang happy birthday to carrot cake.  Then Ryan figured out his other two songs are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Jingle Bells.  Needless to say we have sung a lot today because it's something familiar to him.  We went to a mall to get him some smaller clothes, and we had the best time watching him look at everything.  He never picked anything up or ask for anything.  Then at the market he pointed and smiled at the bat so of course we brought it.  We got a few foods AJ is familiar eating.  We've tried keeping his routine some what the same so his meal times and sleep are the same as the orphanage. AJ has enjoyed eating at the hotel's restaurant, and they have loved cooking for him.  They are so kind to come to our table to talk to him.  Shower time was fun.  I put on a swimsuit and got in with him to make him more comfortable.  He likes the warm water running down his back.

We are trying to have Brody and AJ bond a little through FaceTime.  Brody is just precious talking to his brother.  AJ will say, "Hellooooo!"  I can't wait until they are together.  Brody will like teaching AJ things.

It's now bedtime, and I pray we get another full night's rest. Here are cute pj pics.