UPDATE

Ryan has been with us for 7 weeks now.  We have seen lots of great progress and lots of laughter.  We have had an opportunity to meet his birth mom and I feel like she and I have an emerging friendship.  As for Ryan's development, we have started speech therapy with him.  When he first came home, he was trying so hard to imitate the things we were saying to get his needs and wants met but was met with frustration because of his oral motor delay.  This led to crying and hitting.  I'm so glad to share that Ryan is using numerous different signs (that he initiates, such as milk, juice, water, apple, candy, sorry, help, all done, eat, cracker, play, wait, shoes {and I'm missing some}) and he's trying so hard to talk.....he is starting to say slide, ball, apple, banana, help, more, Adrien, Mama, Daddy, Baka, grandma, Zia, Zio, Nonno, no, yes, uh oh, eat, play, go, hi, bye, hello, backpack, out, chuccie (pacifier) shoes, car, sit and the list goes on and on.  He has made so many gains.....he loves playing with tools, cameras, phones, cars and computers.  He wakes up calling for me in the mornings, he and Adrien giggle and hug and love each other....and they fight and get mad and scream at each other.  He can climb everything at the park, can open all the doors in the house and is very clever (as my Grandmother says).  He's trying lots of new foods and is ok with trying them....if he doesn't like them, he will spit them out.....he goes into the pantry looking for grapes and apples.  He LOVES chicken (just like his birth mom) and seems to love all types of food that my dad and sister in law make.  He's a huge eater and loves pastas and soups.  And then there's his smile....man, that smile is something....all he does is look at you with those big brown eyes and long lashes and flashes his coy little smile....and my heart melts.....
Good stuff happening over here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!