"Settling in" as Mason's dad

The past few days have been a period of adjustments for both Mason and us but it really feels like we are beginning to "settle in" as Mason's parents and he is beginning to feel very comfortable and secure with us. He is becoming more affectionate toward us and welcoming the affection that we show to him. His moments of acting up are becoming less frequent and shorter in duration. We have had very little problem in communicating. He seems to have a way of getting his point across to us. He is very bright and curious (and have I mentioned that he is also VERY active?).

He loves to take pictures. Mary brought our old digital camera to China for Mason to use. I thought she was crazy. I didn't think a 6 year-old would be able to figure it out. I was wrong! Not only did he figure it out but he takes very good pictures with it. He actually knows how to center the subject in the middle of the picture. At the zoo, he ran ahead of Mary and I, turned around and was walking backwards and took a picture of us. It was a perfect picture. Later we were in a museum and a group of tourists from Australia came in. Mason began going down the line taking their picture. He would take the picture and then turn the camera around to show them the picture in the viewfinder. The Australians were quite charmed. Mason got a koala bear key chain out of the deal. Every once in awhile he will turn the camera around and take a picture of himself. Once again, it will be perfectly centered. He has also taken some extreme close-up shots of his eyeball and ears. We probably won't be posting those on the blog site.

We are also learning that Mason has quite an appetite. One evening this week we decided to eat in the hotel restaurant. They happened to be having an Asian buffet. There were more things on the buffet that we didn't recognize that things that we did so Mary and I decided to order from the menu. Not Mason. He wanted the buffet. Mary took him through the line the first time. His plate was loaded with shrimp (complete with the heads, I didn't know shrimp had heads), squid and other sea creatures. He ate it all (with chopsticks) and then went back a second time for more of the same. Our 2 year-old is famous at our church for the number of hot dogs that she can eat. Mason may give her a run for her money, although I don't think hot dogs will be his thing. Leanna, do you think we could have a seafood buffet on Wednesday night every once in awhile?

Needless to say, Mason has captured my heart. I feel so blessed to be his "forever" dad.