Ben's been really good with Christopher, although the language barrier makes it difficult. As expected, Ben remembers almost no Chinese; in fact, he's adopted the American habit of yelling English words loudly in order to be understood. Christopher, of course has no response for this behavior except to occasionally mimic what is being said:

Ben (loudly): “I said, stop playing with my train!!”

Chris (enthusiastically): “Play wif my tray!”

Still, despite the occasional toy-grabbing and ego-bruising, there are moments like those pictured below that make it obvious that these two brothers enjoy being together.

It's 8:30PM and as I type this, the boys are both sleeping soundly. Our greatest wish in life right now is that they make it through the night. I stood watch with the two insomniacs on Wednesday night. To give you a flavor of night two, here's Kari's take:

Kari's Journal - August 9, 2007

[8:00PM - Plan A]
Both boys are asleep at opposite ends of the couch with their legs jumbled together. They are so exhausted we'll just let them sleep there until the United Airways van arrives with Kari's delayed luggage (which should be any minute now), then we'll take them upstairs. Ken and I will get to watch a movie!

[8:30 PM - Plan B]
Van arrives. Dogs bark. Ben wakes up. He wants to see the presents that are packed away in the bag. It's okay. Chris is so wiped out from the trip that he'll sleep on and it will be nice to spend some alone time with Ben. Afterwards, we'll get him to bed and still be able to spend some quiet time together.

[9:20 PM - Plan C]
Ken announces that he can no longer keep his eyes open so he and Ben go upstairs to bed. Maybe a shot of brandy will help, because my body still thinks it's 9:30 AM and despite the long day, I'm still not tired.

OK. In the kitchen now, brandy in hand. Ahhh, that was good. Wait. Am I hallucinating?! There's a Chinese voice speaking English: “Hello Ma-ma! How are you? Thank You! You're welcome! Oh, Oh! Beeeee Careful!”

Oh no! It's a nightmare! It's Christopher and he's way too happy and wide wake. Ok...think fast!

[9:30PM - Plan D]
Maybe he's hungry. Stuff him with food. We have some leftover noodles. Upstairs now, using the potty. Alright, I'll lay him down to sleep next to Ben, so he won't be scared. The only sounds I hear are Ken snoring, Ben snoring, and--squeak! giggle! bang!--Christopher jumping on the bed. Now Ben is moaning...think fast!

[11:00PM -Plan E]
Downstairs to play with Chris. Maybe 3 hours will be enough. In bed by 2AM, this will leave him enough time to sleep and still be up at a decent hour in the morning.

The four animals are waiting in the living room watching in horror as Christopher demands that I pick him up. “Fueiji!” (airplane), he yells. This can't be happening.

Now I hear Ben's voice from the stairwell, “Mooo-mmy, why did you leave me alone upstairs?? Please come to bed.” I reply, “Ben, does Chris look tired to you?” He answers in exasperation,“No!”

[11:30PM - Plan F]
Put Ben on the couch. Stuff cotton into his ears and put a dishtowel over his eyes. Christopher makes a spiral-shaped parade of matchbox cars around the oval coffee table. The animals groan. Ken snores loudly upstairs.

Before long, Chris is in the kitchen jumping up and down, looking for food. More food?! He just ate his weight in noodles. He grabs some dry cat food. I say, “Yuck!” He tries it anyway, “Ymmmm!” I offer him peanut butter on a spoon. “Yuck,” he says. He squints at me like I'm crazy to have offered him this culinary atrocity. I offer him a pistachio. He hesitates. He puts it in his mouth. He yells, “Yuck!!” and spits it out and hands it back to me. We finally agree on watermelon. “Hmmmmm! Sheh-sheh! Thank you, Ma-ma!”

[1:00AM]
Now he's playing with Sam, kissing him and stroking the top of his head. Sam looks at me with his eyes pleading, “Please, please take me to bed!” Buddy's smart. An hour ago when he was sitting next to Chris he yawned, opening his mouth wide in Christopher's face. Having gotten a good look at Buddy's fangs, Chris started yelling. Buddy just got up and sauntered away, mission accomplished. That Chinese kid shouldn't be bothering me for a while, thought Buddy to himself.

[1:20AM]
Chris runs upstairs to use the bathroom. He does his business. Ken snores.

[1:30AM]
He's not tired.

[1:45AM]
He's not tired.

[1:50AM]
He's not tired. Yet another trip to the bathroom, chattering loudly the whole time. After flushing and returning to the hallway, he hears Ken snore. Loudly, he says, “Shhhh! Shhhh!” He's telling me to be quiet...

[2:00AM - Plan G]
Okay, so 2:00AM won't work. Back downstairs and over the next hour, Christopher learns about 1/3 of his ABC's by pushing the LeapFrog refrigerator magnet about 3000 times in a row and singing along. He also has his bicycle helmet on and his sandals on the wrong feet trying to convince me to take him for a car ride. Ben, having slept fitfully on the couch through all of this has finally had enough and joins us in the kitchen. I suggest that he go up and join Daddy (still snoring) in bed. Ben's response is to wrap himself around my left leg. Seeing this, Christopher hugs my right leg. It's 3:00AM. It's time. We go to bed.