Tornado Tanner, in his Transition.

You've all asked how the kids are adjusting. I usually say "Hunter has always been a creature of habit, so he's taken some time. Tanner doesn't seem to notice the change".

It's taken me a month to eat those bitter words. The kid just had his own way of adjusting: he just breaks things. Like my cell phone last night. He was talking with daddy, and within 7 seconds he managed to get across the room, and place it in the water catcher of the water purifier jug. Tim thought maybe I wasn't watching him closely. Then, while in the master bathroom (Tim, Tanner and myself), all right in arms reach, he pulled the shower door off.

The Chinese say a curious child is a smart child. Right now I play the balancing act of what to punish for and what not too. I'm just glad Tim got to see the little dude's skill at work.

So we had to contact the main office. Editor's note: They're going to regret giving us such a fair price on the rent. More importantly, they are going to regret the "partially furnished" contract they wrote. When we moved in, every little thing was new, (and under full warranty)-- from the flat screens to every appliance. As if they didn't see the two-year-old-tornado running laps around their ankles.

The following conversation took place in the driveway this morning:

Leasing Office: We're here to fix the dishwasher

S: Oh, can you add the Master Bedroom DVD player to the list?

LO: We'll have to send a different repair man for that. (She follows that comment with stale repetitive blinking, denying in her mind that this was their 50 millionth visit already).

S: While you're writing, can you add a broken shower door?

LO: We'll have to send someone else for that one...too.

S: Great. Oh, and we need to figure out the Alarm System (he had gotten to that as well)

LO: (polite uncomfortable smile, while she inches to the door with the dishwasher repair man).

Georgie the driver: (laughing louder than a refined Chinese man should)

S: What. What are you laughing about?

Georgie the driver: (yelling to the welcomed visitors) "can you send someone to fix her phone too?"

LO: (Totally confused, they keep walking up to the door).

S: Georgie, your American sarcasm... (rolling my eyes).

Georgie the driver: (crouches his shoulders in as if he was going to get socked in the arm, but continues the laughing anyway)

Now to share my little dude's attributes that balance the above list of repairs. His one and only well-fitted two-year-old goal in life is to have fun. He loves the sound of his own laugh. He fake laughs to tie himself over until he can ignite cause for a real one. It's hilarious.

It's also really cute to hear him pray. He is so social he refuses to close his eyes, and looks at everyone through his eyelashes while holding his elbow (his form of folding his arms). He also is a snuggler, which melts my heart. He loves holding my hand, and requests it several times a day.

My little Tornado Tanner softens my edge, while solidifying the screamin' deal we got on partially furnished rent package...