Busy Saturday at Home. Gates is gaining strength and confidence in his new home environment. He is of course hesitant and somewhat withdrawn elsewhere but we are so happy to see him settling in a little bit. When he wants to eat between meals and snacks he pounds on the refrigerator door and yells, "Mamma!"

He and Bridger played sharing the same toys for a few minutes at a time twice today without any altercations. Gates did give Bridger a bloody nose during his thrashing routine at nap time though, but that was unintentional. Although Bridge remained cautiously skeptical opting to move to another nap location. I was really proud of both of them all day especially since it was Daddy's first day out of the house since China. He was doing a side job for a friend with a medical practice who needed some wall placements done. It will help since FMLA (family medical leave act) for travel and Gates's adoption will keep Paul close until July 20. We had to submit enough time to cover a possible quarantine without risking job loss. It's nice to give Gates a slower transition to a Daddy-less day. Bridger is in no hurry to let Daddy go yet either.

They played outside in the morning digging with miniature shovels and filling dump trucks and well, dumping them. Gates can just about keep up with Brother across our big back yard even though Bridger's legs are much longer and Gates is still recovering from what is diagnosed as severe rickets. The color to Gates's skin thrills us! His pale face and dry cracked little lips have given way to a glow and baby soft kisses for Mamma's face.