It's been about six months since U has come home.  In some ways it feels like the emotions and pain of that unbearable wait was just this morning and at the same time it feels like he's always been here with us.  

So much has changed in six months.

Mr. U is thriving and growing (2 1/2 inches to be exact - he went from 4% to 12% in height for his age) and silly and playful and learning at massive speeds.  He gives me hugs and kisses as if it is the air he needs to breath.  He is speaking and understanding English more and more.  I'd say he's roughly 75-80% there for his age.  His hair that was once very thinned out is now thick and curly.  

His personality is shining through more and more as he gains confidence in his new language and new family.  He is a big (and loud) jokester/prankster.  He loves to laugh and finds humor in the simplest of things.  He is also a very sensitive little guy.  He wants to make sure things are fair between him and his sisters and is easily hurt if he doesn't understand why things have to be the way they are.  When he came here he was used to holding in his tears and not letting his emotions out.  He has learned that it's okay to cry around us.  

He doesn't like to talk about his past.  That's hard because I know while there is so much loss and tragedy in his little life there was also so much love and joy.  I wish I could hear those stories so I could remember them for him as he begins to forget.

He had his first cold since coming home.  After living a world away from him while he battled two bouts of malaria it feels so good and so sweet to finally be there for him when he's not feeling at his best.  He knows his mommy and daddy are there to comfort him and that is such a priceless gift.

Mr. U started preschool last week.  He is/was clearly still adjusting to not being with us but I think he will thrive as he learns to make friends and develops a comfort level there.  No school drop off or pick up is without multiple hugs and kisses before saying goodbye and hi.  He made a picture of his family at school and I about lost it.  He knows who his forever family is.  

While M and him had a very rough start they are great buddies now.  He absolutely adores his sisters.  He also is the typical loud little brother that knows how to press their buttons.  To his defense they are as equally good at pressing his.  As the months continue his relationship with A has blossomed.  What was once him following M around everywhere she went, he now goes back and forth between the two and there are is also WAY more play with all three playing together.  

Six months in and there is still adjusting to be done but all five of us are all together under one roof.  We cry, we play, we dance, we learn, we laugh a lot.  Any day now we will become a family of six.  God has richly blessed us this year!  2016 is the year that will go down as one of the best ever in our family!