Look what my boy can do/ Two Years Home

As we're quickly approaching two years we celebrate TODAY that it's been two years since Krassi came home, I'm doing more reflecting on how he's grown and changed.

It's funny sometimes how some of his progress seems so unnoticeable to me until someone else points it out, and then there are some things that seem like such big deals to me that may appear rather insignificant.

With that, check out what Krassi was doing a few days ago!

Can you figure out yet what he's doing that I'm so impressed with??

Check out which hand he's using to hold the cake pan insert that he loves to play with...it's his LEFT hand!

When Krassi came home, his left hand was essentially unusable - often held in a fist, and generally not an asset to him.

One of Krassi's referral photos (he was about 8 years old in this photo).

A sweet smiley one we received after we committed to adopting him (so he's about 8.5  years), but before we'd met him - but look at that left hand and arm again!

On our pick up trip...

A few weeks home...the right hand is busy working, and the left is mostly just tight.

 So, now look at him here again - he's got a good solid grip using his thumb in an appropriate way on that cylinder!! I think of the hours of time that have gone into stretching that left arm, doing reflex exercises on both hands to encourage proper grip. And that smile - I love that smile! - Krassi just eats up verbal praise. It is so easy to bring a smile to this sweet boy's face, and it's so amazing to watch how hard he will work to earn that affirmation.

 

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Looking through old photos to find a few to illustrate his old grip brought me across a few other early ones that are fresh in our minds as we celebrate this two-year milestone.

These first two were of the very first moments that we met back in March, 2013. This poor little boy was absolutely terrified.

 What a joy it was even over the course of that week to see him begin to adjust to having us around. What a difference just a few days made.

And here are a few from our pick up trip...

Krassi and Mom on the balcony of our hotel - he looks so pale and so passive in this photo.

Out on a walk stopping to eat. There's that little left-handed fist again.

Back in the hotel - what a tiny guy. I remember his thighs being no thicker than his skin and bone calves, but to see him now, he's still skinny and small and still severely underweight for his age, but there's meat on those thighs these days!

This is within days of coming home.

We took a photo of him before bed tonight, but it's still on the camera. I'll get it up within the next few days.

We're so glad this little guy's part of our family!

{here's a quick link to the update post from a year ago}