Strides

A few things that I have to note, in the thick of our busy weekend:

Rubin took a couple of tiny steps outside of Aunt Jessica's house tonight. His foster mother told me that he had been taking 2 or 3 steps at a time, but we had yet to witness it. Tonight, he showed us his stuff. 

I love his bowed little legs, his chubby knees, and rolly ankles.

Yesterday was our first play date with the organized FTKA in our area, and it was so wonderful, in so many ways. Perhaps my favorite part:

Rubin is constantly poking the palm of his left hand with his right index finger. I've noticed it when we are clapping, or when his brothers and I are excited or carrying on about one thing or another... which happens with frequency.

When we arrived at our hostess' house (Hi Miya!!) yesterday morning and met all of the other adoptive Mamas and babes, Rubin started in with the poke-poke-poking, and so I asked if anyone else had noticed their child doing it, or if anyone knew what it meant. 

Miya was quick to recognize Rubin's "finger play" and said that her youngest, Lily, did it when she came home, too. Miya explained that what he was doing was akin to "pat-a-cake" or "peek-a-boo" in the States.  Quickly, she exchanged finger play with Rubin and, while poking the palm of her hand with her opposite index finger, she said, "Gon-jee, Gon-jee, Gon-jee!" 

Rubin was delighted. 

His face lit up, folks, as if to say, "Finally!!!" 

He poke-poke-poked away with Miya.

I adored the recognition in his face, and I loved Miya for teaching me.

Next, she began clenching her fists quickly in front of herself, as if milking a cow, and repeated, "Jam, Jam, Jam!!!" 

And, guess what? Rubin milked, too!!!!!! 

And the smile!!! 

The entire interaction almost pushed me over the edge and it was all that I could do to hold back the tears, choke back the gasps and the sobs.  I was so thankful that I was finally able to understand... he'd been trying to show me for weeks.  

I thought it was so adorable, all of his hand poking.

I whole-heartedly love it, now that I know.

The last phase of this little game involves shaking your head from side to side and saying, in a sing-songy voice, "Dough-dee, Dough-dee, Dough-dee!"  

Rubin had been trying to teach me this part as well, as every time I would say, "No, no, no!" to him the weeks prior, I would also shake my head from side to side. Each and every time, he would bust into giggles and shake his head, too... thinking, of course, that I was finally catching onto his tricks.

I am so sorry that I didn't know sooner.

Has anyone else seen their little ones making any of these moves??

I'm working on catching it all on video. I will post it, as soon as I do.

And, before I go, a quick shot of the boys enjoying their new water table:

There are many more photos on my flickr page, linked on the right.

Enjoy!