We took Calvin out of the orphanage 2 months ago

Calvin has been in our home 7 weeks! But he has been with us now for 8 weeks (1 week in country). Looking back, that first week in Bulgaria wasn't 'real'. He had one fit, but nothing compared to what he had once we got to America. He fell asleep straight away then too, now he plays for about 15-30 min and then goes to sleep in his crib. We have a video monitor so we can watch him. The other day he was jumping in his crib, turning the light switch on and off etc. He is a totally different child.

He is smiley, happy, and loves monkeys, elmo and kitties. He still isn't watching much television, maybe 10 minutes at the most. He loves Curious George the monkey and will watch a few minutes of Elmo. Calvin's English is expanding every day. He now knows kitchen, wipes, ice cream, this way, that way, cheese, snack, breakfast, lunch, dinner, bubble bath, blanket, doggie, kittie, monkey, sissy (for Caroline), marsh mellow, music, play, water, find it, fire truck, home, we're here, store, doctor, kisses, okay, broken, night night, drink, shoes, purse, keys, mc donalds, that one, see you soon, and he counts from 1-10, sings head shoulders knees and toes and twinkle twinkle little star and probably many others I can't think of.

He is turning food away now too thankfully. He doesn't like fruit salad, raspberries or any fruit that is kind of watery, and slimy. He likes applesauce and bananas. We went raspberry picking on Saturday, and he was eating some of them as he was picking. But he didn't like them today after they were a bit squishy.

We have also been going to church separately as a family. I will go with the girls, then Chris will meet me for the second service and pass Calvin off to me and then I go home with Calvin and the girls. Well we meet in the cafe for the switch, and it is full of people talking (gym). Calvin doesn't last very long in there, today he started biting me and himself, so I had to tell Chris to leave and stop talking to our friends (we switched services today). Poor kid, guess he isn't ready yet for church. Our social worker said it would be 6-12 months until we can take him to church.

The last 2 weeks we have been to the University of Chicago Adoption Clinic. The first week is supposed to be get to know one another, second week is blood work and stool. Our last visit is developmental and attachment stuff. It is very stressful when we go. Firstly because it is a long time in the car (3 hrs there and 3 hrs back), but mainly because when we are with the doctor he has 3 other ladies with him, who 'play' with Calvin while we talk. Well..... Calvin doesn't play, so he gets hyper, screams in fun loudly, runs, falls and then it is too much for him so this time he threw his shoes across the room. I finally took him into my lap and said to everyone he needed a time out to calm down. At home if I say it is time to play, he starts crying. He doesn't like to sit and do an activity. He would rather walk, run around, closing doors. He HATES coloring, enjoys playing in water, not crazy about books and will only cuddle with me during rocking time before bed.

He is still sleeping well and eating well. He takes a nap every day and sleeps from 1.5 -2 hrs and goes to bed by 8pm and wakes up between 7:30-8 am. He loves his bath now too and asks through out the day where daddy, sissy and Cathryn are. We think he has adjusted so well. So this is where we are after 2 months with us.