Thanksgiving

Rockin' with Pops

CJ really enjoyed this all American holiday (or I should say all North American so as not to leave out our very Northern neighbors that celebrated the same event a few weeks back). He started his celebrating on Wednesday when there was a Thangsgiving feast at his school. Appa was sure I had made way to many sweet potatoes, but the dish came back empty. Ms. Kesa it was a huge hit and pointed at one boy in particular that "couldn't get enough."

That evening we met my parents, brother, and Nanny (mom's mom) for dinner. Not only was Christian entertainment for our table, but the whole restaurant was impressed.  One patron shared that she wished her son would eat as well. You could see the looks of amazement on the faces of those around us as CJ ate his chips with habanero salsa. The waitress made a point to tell me that he was "bonito".

Uncle Ryan Up

Driving with Halmoni

On Thanksgiving Day Christian was, of course, the center of attention. He practice driving with Halmoni - until he started getting the key into the ignition successfully. He went for a walk with Pops and Blue dog. He played cars with Mamaw and Papaw. Uncle Ryan practice picking him up - over and over high above his head. Omma let him lick his first ever family clam dip off of the spatula. He played baseball with Halmoni and Appa.

Kisses and Hugs for Mamaw

We did have the meal at our house. Appa was so helpful. I sure couldn't have done it with out him. He peeled all of the potatoes, sweet and baking, cut the baking potatoes, and chopped all the veggies for the stuffing. He also sauted the veggies and helped me stuff the bird.

Much later in the evening Appa, Omma, CJ, Pops, and Halmoni all headed to the other side of town to visit with some of Pop's side of the family. Aunt Ann, not surprisingly, had a few fun noisy table top toy. I'm sure CJ will be looking for it again come Christmas time so I hope it is still around. Unlce John let CJ play with the dogs and hold the leash. Uncle George and Mama both kindly lent their keys for playing. I finally brought my men home when Appa started to fall asleep on the couch. It had been a very long day for the three of us.

Breaking from Playing - Family Clam Dip - YUM!

All Things Loved

Christian has many favorites. I do believe this is common of children his age - the fixating. The things he fixates on are also not all unique or for all I know none of them are unique. The car keys, for example, are an item cherished by little ones far and wide.

He also adores the phone. If a real phone isn't available for use then his hand will make do in a pinch. He likes to talk on the phone while riding in the car, towards the end of a meal, or while a book is being read to him. As you see not all times when he chooses to start talking on the "phone" would be consider polite.

His favorite toys seem to be the puzzles and the Legos. These are the first things he plays with in his room every single time. I feel pretty confident saying they are his favorites. He has gotten much better at the puzzles since he has started school. Both puzzles have nine pieces which are identical in shape and size, but painted with different designs. Prior to school he struggled with getting the pieces in their groves, and had pretty much no desire to make the patterns match. Now it is not only easier for him to get the pieces into a spot, but more likely than not it is the correct spot.

Most of all I do believe he loves school. He cries a little on mornings when he is told that there isn't school that day. I am so glad we found a place where he wants enjoys going. I hope he continues to feel this way about school wants he starts having to complete homework.

Sweet Surprise

We had a rough patch the past two weeks. Between Frig and I we managed to total a car and wash a phone in the laundry. The garbage disposal also went out, but thankfully my father was able to give me fix-it instructions over the phone that got it working again.

Today I was very impatiently waiting for the new phone to arrive, and when it finally did there was a surprise package we were not expecting by its side. The package was from our international adoption agency and the contents are priceless. Apparently Christian's foster mom had taken him for a professional photo shoot before he left Korea. She sent us a very nice leather frame with one photo of just him and one of the two of them together. There was also a necklaces donated by a volunteer organization. The pendant is a Korean flag and the back is engraved with CJ's name in Korean and his birth date.

This package was such a sweet surprise. The three of us are so lucky CJ has such a wonderful Foster Mom. We wish she wasn't half way around the world.

Say It Aint So

Christian has been congested since his first day of school. It has been impacting everyone's sleep. It has turned me into a nose wiping machine.

I was complaining to a fellow new mom, whose baby started school a few months ahead of CJ, and her reply was not a positive one at all. Am I really to expect that he will never be well again? Will I forever have to rub methylated gel upon him prior to bed? Will the mucus sucking bulb become my new best friend (and his as well now that he has figured out it really isn't a torture device)?

Getting Too Comfortable Perhaps

There are times when Appa and I long for the days that Christian was still getting to know and feel comfortable with us. The days when he ate whatever we put in front of him, and would never utter a single sound in front of a stranger. Oh those were the good days. Well sometimes that is how we feel anyways. Those times when he is throwing a tantrum because he wants to feed himself the very messy soup and we would really rather him let us help him. The times when I take him to buy new shoes, because his super cute Korean ones are wearing out, and he screams bloody murder because he doesn't wants his shoes off in a store.

Then there are the times when we relish in the progress he has made. For instance, the bitter sweet knowledge that he is starting to speak English at school. Yes, his teacher gave up his "secret" on Thursday. Christian is starting to use English. Apparently he told another child "No Allan, NO!" When she took a book away from him. It seems like there were other instances, but that was the first one to come to Ms. Kesa. She said "He knows how to use no very well." We can not wait for when he chooses to start trying out his English language skills at home.

Earlier this week he also learned to jump. Christian and I were at the park and I thought he was trying to poop because he was crouched down so low, but then I figured out he was trying to jump. The first few times he seemed to put so much effort into it, but both feet didn't make it off the ground at the same time. However, he did eventually he find success. He is getting pretty good with the jumping, but still starting from a very low crouching position.

More Grandparents

This past weekend my parents came to town. We celebrated Pops' birthday on Friday night. It was Christian's first fine dinning experience. He was, of course, very well behaved. The restaurant had one of those chairs that attaches to the table. Christian appreciated being so high up and in the middle of everything.

While we waited for our appetizers he feasted on fresh bread. I believe he thought that was all there was going to be. As soon as he was finished with the bread he asked to get out of the seat. I went ahead and let him join me on a trip to powder my nose and a short walk outside.

CJ was very excited to find out that the bread was just the beginning. He very much enjoyed his own food, a mixed seafood appetizer, as well as my Cornish hen and his Appa's Red Snapper. Other than the food he thought drinking out of the adult water glass was very special as well.

The festivities continued the following day when we met up with Pops and Halmoni at one of our favorite local breakfast spots. Our regular waitress, Leslie, was super excited to get to see Christian in person. We had eggs with hash browns and gyro meat all around.  Afterward we all went to play at the park. Christian met a new girl, K., while there. She happens to live on our street, one block down, and has just turned three.  Her father was very nice. He asked for our email address and sent us an invitation to her birthday party. I have already replied positively. This is already his second birthday party invitation!

Pop s had to take off for an appointment with his hairdresser and we invited the folks to come back for mass and dinner. Sadly they already had plans, but we understood. Plus, we really do like our weekly foray to Sweet Tomatoes and Pops wouldn't be able to go there with us.

Our final celebration started at the park on Sunday morning. CJ got super excited when my parents car pulled into the parking lot and Pops got out. After a fair amount of sliding, and Pops trying to teach Christian to go down head first, we went for Mexican food. It was sad to see Halmoni and Pops head back to their new home. We can't wait to see them again at Thanksgiving.

Plays Well With Others

The first day of Montessori school was today. The hour between waking and leaving the house was a whirlwind of activity on my part as I navigated around the two sleepy headed men in the house. I was exhausted by the time the three of got into the car and pulled out the driveway.

We arrived at his school at 7 AM on the dot, and watched as the lights inside were turned on. Ms. Kesa unlocked the front gate, and let her first student into the building. She was very understanding of us being first time parents and wrote down her direct line offering that we could call as many times as we felt the need. Christian was very confused as I handed him off to his cuddly teacher - not at all sure of what was happening. Appa and Omma said goodbyes and "I love you"s and headed out the door. The silent Christian watching with a befuddled look upon his face.

I was taken aback by the fact that he didn't let out a whimper. Even as we walked to the car it was silent inside the school house. All of the literature I have read regarding attachment and bonding was whispering to me that this was a bad sign. Alas, the first time either Frig or I could call, without it being during class, was when he had lunch. That means I had to wait HOURS to know how my baby was fairing. The post lunch update was a good one. Apparently once Christian figured out that his parents weren't coming back any time soon he did his fair share of crying, but he also didn't let it keep him from joining in the rest of the day either.

Frig did not have to teach the last period of the day today so he went a little early to pick Christian up from school. That way he could get the full update without it putting us at home super late. The news was incredible. We, Ms. Kesa included, are all just hoping that this wasn't a fluke. Although he has been super happy all evening. I do believe my little man really enjoyed his day at school.

End of the day update (in brief):

• Plays well with others
• .Joined in the routine like a champ
• Must be easy to feed - you bettcha!