Inch by Inch.... Daniel's progress

As Dan Dan comes to the end of PreK and hits age six, it was time to see the Plastic Surgeon for a check-up.   He last saw him a year and a half ago after his two surgeries.    We are grateful that his lip needs no revisions and his palate has no fistula's.    We will be going for a full speech evaluation to make sure his palate is working properly and hope he will not need surgery over the summer.    He was also tested at school today and he is no longer classified as an ESOL student.   Not a big surprise!     His speech has taken off since Christmas and we hear more new words and phrases every day!    The cutest is when he tells his siblings off with an "I'm telling Mommy!!"  but he has yet to figure out that he needs to actually come and tell me :-)

It has been a busy week - yesterday he attended Elementary school where he took an Art class, visited the media center and library and got to go through the lunch line!   The morning ended with a school pencil and a new t-shirt just for him.   Today he took his graduation picture in a little cap and gown.    Our "baby" is growing up!

A Year (or two) in Pictures

Having joined the world of *acebook,  and adjusting to living as a family of five,  my tenderly nurtured blog fell by the wayside after we came home from China.    But having checked my site meter recently I noticed the occasional visit.   So here is Daniel's life in pictures over the past two years.   He has come miles and is still the same lovely, happy child we brought home in April, 2010.   It simply amazes me that two years have flown by.   So please enjoy this retrospective of our wonderful Dan Dan,  now age six!!!!

Daniel enjoying his first beach vacation about three weeks after lip surgery

 Lip surgery, check.  Palate surgery, check.  Glasses, check. Fourth of July cupcakes, check!!

Daniel was SO excited to meet "Ho Ho"  and below, sending his Christmas wish to the North Pole

 His first Christmas was spent getting to know Grandma and Papa on L. Island, which had it's first major blizzard in a decade!

Gotcha Day, Adoption Day and Birthday followed each other in quick succession.    A MUCH happier boy for this, his fifth birthday, March 31, 2011

Annual beach vacation, loving the sea and sand

 Datong buddy reunion!!   They were all smiles and couldn't keep away from each other even though they hadn't seen each other in over a year.

 First day of preK, August 2011

Waiting for "Ho Ho Santa"

 Daniel and big sister on the back of a camel.   Look how big he has gotten!!!

Simple childhood fun