Ode to Drew

Tonito and Drew were obviously really good buddies as they grew up together in Urumqi- and it was amazing to see how they just fell into place when we got back together. We have talked on the phone several times (more the mamas than the boys since Tonito just smiles and nods his head;), I had told Tonito how Drew was with his new mommy and papi, and he lived in another house...but it made it more real to actually see him and play with him. So Sunday morning we drove to the Miller's house and the boys got to play some more. Here they are on the "vroom vroom" as Drew calls it, and you can see from Tonito's face he is in heaven!


Vivi played with the kitties the entire time, saying that she was "protecting" them from Copper the puppy. She begged Kim to let her take one home, and I think Kim would have let her! I made Tonio tell Vivi that we couldn't because I couldn't look into those big brown eyes and say no!

The boys and their boy toys:)...


Look at Maya's smile!!! I never expected Maya to love going fast (Tonio pressed the gas pedal and would run next to her)!!! Vivi wouldn't even go on it because she was too involved with the kitties (and I think she was secretly a little scared), but Maya couldn't stop laughing, and then would scream if Tonio stopped or took her off! We're going to have to watch this little one:).

Tonito still talks about playing with the dump trucks with Drew.


Since we've been home, Tonito is very nostalgic about our weekend with Drew. The other day Tonito was kind-of down, and all of a sudden he started to cry. He never has told us why he is crying, unless it is an owie, mainly because he doesn't have the language to tell us. So this time I said, "What's wrong?"
T: I sad.
Me: What's making you sad?
T: I crying.
Me: Why is Tonito crying?
T: drrro.
We repeated this several times, and then I asked Vivi to come and translate. She asked him "Are you sad for the door?" (it sounded like door) Tonito sadly shook his head. "Are you sad for Drew?" And he shook his head yes. Then Vivi told me "Mommy, Tonito is sad for Drew. (=are you sad because of Drew). He misses Drew." I was so proud of him for being able to communicate his feelings.

A couple of days later we were talking about China and I was trying to see if he could remember anything. I asked him if he took a bath in China, and he said yes. I asked if the bath was warm or cold, and he said cold. And then I asked if his nai nai (foster mom) bathed him or his aiyi (auntie- orphanage worker) and he said his nai nai. And then he said something about his ge ge (older brother). I asked him his ge ge's name (meaning his foster brother's name) and he smiled and said ge ge Xin Suo (Drew!). Since that day he keeps talking about how he wants to see his ge ge Xin Suo.