All About Zeke

Zeke has been in our care for a week now and we are amazed at how much he has learned and how much he understands.  Coming straight from an orphanage he had limited interaction with adults other than his nannies, as far as we know he had never ridden in a car, stroller, etc. and his days were very rigid and scheduled within the confines of the orphanage.  Now, everything about his little life has changed except some of the foods he eats and the milk (formula) he drinks. 

Here are some fun facts about Zeke! :)

*  Zeke doesn't know his name yet but we are working on it.  When he sees a picture of himself and is asked who it is he responds, "Luo, Luo"  (pronounced Loo-u, Loo-u) which, once, is his Chinese name.  The nanny from the orphanage told us they said Luo twice which is why he says it that way.

*  He LOVES the stroller!  It gets unfolded and he laughs, jumps, and comes running over with his arms up.

*  Zeke likes to ride in the car and sit in the seat like a big boy.  (They do not use car seats in China.)

*  When we hold up his shoes and say it's time to go he comes running over, plops down on the floor, and promptly raises a foot.  He knows we are going somewhere and he is excited!

*  Zeke mimics almost everything.  Read him a book and he makes sounds with similar intonation (same with counting), put your hands in certain positions (Randy has been showing him KungFu hand movements) and he will not only copy them but remember them days later, cross your legs while sitting on the bed and he does the same thing, etc.

*  He started out rather unsteady on his feet but has been improving as the days go by.  He can now run in a straight line rather than bouncing off furniture for balance!

*  He would rather be held or ride in the stroller than walk.

*  Zeke loves to kick the small soccer ball as well as the beach ball . . . and he doesn't usually miss!  

*  English words said at least once:  Mama, Papa, camel, hi, up, one, here, hello

*  English words understood:  Too many to list!  If we ask him to do something he can generally figure out what we want him to do.  For example, "Go get it."  "You can play." (he will run and get a toy to play with) "Time to change your diaper." (he lays down and gets ready)

*  Zeke loves to talk and sing.  This morning (Monday) in the van Helen (our guide) figured out he was singing a song about little turtles.  The words "little turtles" were the only ones she could make out.  We had been wondering if anything he was saying meant anything.

*  He has the cutest giggle that can make you smile and laugh with him.

*  Like a typical toddler, Zeke can go from calm/mellow to tantrum in a nanosecond when he is tired.

*  He only cries when he is throwing a tantrum.  He has bonked his head on the table, fallen off the bed, etc. and tears have not appeared.

*  Zeke is a water baby . . . LOVES being in the water as well as putting his fact in it.

*  Open mouth, insert thumb when tired.

*  He is fearless!

We went to a garden in Guangzhou this morning and it was the last thing we expected.  Chinese gardens are known for their creativity and the beauty of its plants, but we weren't expecting representations of Scandinavia to be thrown in as well!  Wooden shoes and everything!!  The plants and gardens were beautiful, but it was odd seeing so many Scandinavian representations.  



At the entrance to Yun Tai Garden

Another part of Yun Tai Garden





At the lake in Yun Tai Garden

 Loving the Wooden Shoe!









Four days until we come home!!  The hotel room is getting smaller each day and we are ready to be in our home so Zeke can begin settling in to "real life" in the Ross family.

RRZ