Three of Jordan and one of Maggie. Jordan’s might be interesting to other families adopting a little one with Down Syndrome from an orphanage. He’s doing very well… poor guy will still show his years in an orphanage for some time, though. Maggie’s now… it’s just complete 100% adorableness.
New things aren’t too impressive to Jordan. Can’t believe he didn’t want to eat sliced strawberries soaked in sugar. Who would turn that down??? (Will keep trying new things now and then, though)
A lot of this (rocking and groaning) happens at our house. Sometimes it drives me crazy… because I want so much for him to come out of his world and be in ours. Because it makes me feel guilty for not working with him more. But I really doubt that he will do it for the rest of his life – not to the extent he does now anyway. Why share this video? Because I appreciate and benefit from other families experiences and think other families will be glad to know and see that some not normal things really are… normal.
Just a usual meal for Jordan. It is a bit of a trick to get the timing right and watch for cues with him.
Maggie singing the ABC’s – at 2 1/2 years old
And for old times sake – here’s Anna when she was 2 1/2, reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear:
Thanks so much for the videos. Your kids are great! Jordan reminds me so much of Niko, it’s kind of scarey. The sounds he makes, the thumb in the mouth with other fingers splayed out, the finger sucking, the mildly pushing away or throwing something he doesn’t like, the rocking, the description of him being in his own world and your desire for him to join you… I totally understand the guilt when the level of engagement is not what you’d like it to be because it’s easy to leave him content in his world. Niko is so easy-going too (unless he smells food cooking and hasn’t eaten within the last few minutes. Goodness. The boy acts like he’s starving – both thumbs in mouth with other fingers sticking out and lots of anxious talking.) It’s sometimes hard to know how to engage him when not a lot captures his interest. It’s only been just over 4 weeks home though, so I know we have a long ways to go. He is a delight, though, and we’re so thankful to have him as part of our family.
They sound soooo alike! And yes – it’s very hard to know how to engage him! There are just a few things we can do – tickling (sometimes), him standing and “diving” onto us to be caught, and recently he learned to play “catch” where we intentionally throw something in turns… usually towards each other. 🙂 An encouraging thing is that he is really loving sitting on our laps these days when we’re on the floor and just letting us play with his hands/feet while we hang out. I’d love to know what things you can do to engage Niko (and what emerges) so that we can try those things with Jordan! 🙂
P.s. Good luck trying to do a hearing test… Jordan could care less about listening to speakers in the sound booth! lol
Yes, the videos are super helpful. We just really don’t know what to expect. I’m sure we’ll have a little better idea after trip #1.
Jordan is so cute. It’s so sad to read that the results of living in an orphanage will be with him for quite a while.