My head has been such a whirlwind environment lately that I've had a difficult time bringing my thoughts and experiences into a communicable format. Too much to write about I suppose. I'll just put one word after another and we'll see where we end up 'kay?

Gates is progressing so well. He is just such a precious little person. I don't think I could ever convey the hundreds of ways I see him changing. His movements have become more fluid and graceful. His personality is developing as he gradually begins to embrace the idea of independent thought and action. He was very threatened by this at first. He ate when Brother ate (not so unusual), went to the bathroom at the same time and played with toys, watched a video, read a book, climbed on Dad at the same time.It doesn't seem that strange in type but when you watch a child read a book and wait for his brother to turn the page so that he can, or have a meltdown because Brother wants to play with monster trucks and he is still enjoying his puzzle as if it requires him to surrrender his puzzle time and play monster trucks because B. did... it's a little unusual. Gates's constant scrutiny annoys B occasionally, "Stop copying me."

It's really ingenius in a way though. Like any older child in his circumstances he learns the language and routines in this new world by mimicing and imitation. On the other hand, he is still institutionally programmed to move from activity to activity en masse with other children. No time or tolerance for independant actions. I am amazed by his tenacity and determination to plow through each day. He is just as strong as we all imagined him to be and yet still so very infant like and fragile.

Bridger is five and he is... well, Bridger. By no means is Bridge insensitive, quite the opposite, but he isn't the most patient guy in the house. Let's just say, the boys are learning from each other. Gates is still learning how to play. He does the 'work' of play and he will copy B's play actions like driving a matchbox car around on the floor while B. does it. But he doesn't engage in play yet. He will still aquire toys many times a day, grabbing them from his brother's hand while poising his hand and fingers as if threatening to scratch him but he doesn't know what to do with the toy once he has it, he'll look at it and toss it on the ground. Nowadays Bridger just holds onto the toy and shouts, "Drop it. I'm playing with it. A little help here?"
The moment a grown up says, "Gates play nice. Get another toy from the box." He shouts,"No."
and throws himself to the floor and begins the rocking behaivor and moans or whines. Then he gets ups and engages in a familiar activity like re folding all of the clothes in his dresser. We're not clear on whether he starts doing chores as a self comforting reflex or as an attempt to earn back the favor he thinks he lost with whatever caused him to be corrected. I know that all children work from the time they can walk in the orphanage. Gates folds clothes better than I do and watching him take his recently discarded play clothes from the bathroom floor and rinse and ring them out in his bathwater after he's done is impressive... but we remain positive that Gates will enter childhood any day now.