Keeping busy

Our little J has had a busy week.  First, going shopping on Monday for a new fridge (which, by the way, we l-o-v-e!) in a downpour.  Tuesday, he supervised the guys who came to take out the old fridge and put the new one in.  They had to take the doors off both of them to get them out and in the garage door, which opens right into our kitchen.  I saw J up in his booster seat with a snack and he was just glued to what they were doing the entire time!!  It took them a good 45 minutes, which I've found out in toddler-time is for-ev-er!!  He would smile and giggle when they used their tools and enjoyed himself immensely.

Staring intently as they put the door back on the newly installed refrigerator.  Yippee!!

Later that afternoon, I gave him a teething biscuit for the first time.  I had given him others before, but he was just able to chew them up and eat them...not really what I would have called a teething biscuit.  But this one, well, it was for real!  And it was really messy!  I'm glad I put him back in his chair with a bib because he sure did enjoy it:

He also decided to smear it all over the tray, kind of like fingerpainting.  It was great to see him having such a good time.

Wednesday we had a play date with two other mamas and their children, both of whom I met through adoption.  We ended up going to a zoo as it was finally a gorgeous day outside with no hint of rain.  J could have cared less for the animals; he was so fixated on watching the other kids that we were with and others that were at the zoo that morning as well.  We got to feed a baby goat:

He decided he didn't want his hat on and started taking it off; I just knew it was going straight on the ground, which of course the goats have been using for their bathroom, so I did what any good mama would -- grabbed it with my teeth and took it off myself...talk about multitasking!!  ha!

Went for a train ride, which he seemed to enjoy.  We also tried the carousel, but that did not go over very well at. all.  The lady had to stop the ride for us to move around and sit in one of the seats on the carousel.  I have already told Chris that he has to do all the "going in a circle" rides with J, as I started feeling nauseous just on that bitty carousel.  What a wimp!  But at least I'm honest.  :)

Here's a picture of all the kids.  A and T (at the back of the picture) are waiting for their brother, J, to come home from Korea.  Hopefully very soon!!  Keeping you all in our thoughts, G!!  And N and H were having a blast seeing all the animals and running all their energy off...at least, I hope they did, B!  Thank you both for such a great morning!!!  J had a blast taking it all in.  We'll have to get together again soon.

Oh yeah, there was also a playground there that the kids played on for a while.  J couldn't get enough of going up and down two platforms and across a bridge; I had to pry him off it when we were leaving.  He slept the whole way home and also slept through the entire night as well that night!!  Really need more play dates!!!!!!!

Since it was such a nice day out, we had a couple people over to grill out that night.  Before they came, Chris and I were putting out some snacks and when we turned back around, here was the sight we found:

...mini heart attack on mommy's part when I saw that!!  But the boy wanted to get the remote control that was on the table and figured out a way to do it...what a smart child we have!  Notice mommy is standing close after telling daddy to grab the camera for a picture.  Had to capture just how smart he is.

  got a haircut today; the before picture

and after.  I know he looks kind of ticked off, but he was actually eating a goldfish.  He did very well during his haircut and Miss Ashlee did a great job!!  We love the trimmed 'do, Ash!!  Thank you.

We picked daddy up from work after the haircut and guess who fell asleep in the car on the way home?  So we brought him in to his pack-n-play; this kid sleeps with abandon!  What a cutie.

I couldn't resist getting a picture of this cute little bum in jean diapers that Grandma Mary bought for him.  Yeah, again, he may be embarrassed in a few years, but that's what I'm here for!!

Double rainbow over our neighbor's house earlier this week towards the end of a rain shower.  I guess you can't really see the second rainbow to the left, but it was there, I promise.

I'll leave you with our little handsome dude.  I. Love. Him.

Wordless Wednesday

J's Journal

So, today I'm 14 months old!!!  And do you know what we're doing to celebrate this first milestone that I'm home?  Cake?  Nope, no cake.  Party?  No, not that either.  Get a new fridge?  Yep, you guessed it!!  I know that's what you were all thinking we would be doing!!  We're going shopping this afternoon for a new refrigerator!  I woke omma (mommy) and daddy up early this morning to change me and give me a bottle (you know, so I could get out of my crib for a while!) and it's a good thing I did.  That's when omma found out the fridge was de-thawing.  Yikes!!  Daddy spent the next 45 minutes unpacking the freezer and part of the refrigerator while omma got me back to sleep.  I heard them say this was the second time in the last 3 months that this has happened and last time, the repairman said the next part to be replaced would cost as much as a new fridge.  :(  And since omma and daddy don't like this side-by-side one anyway, I guess we're getting a new one.  I bet if I'm really cute today (and, of course, I will be...have you SEEN my pictures?!), I'll still get some cake from somewhere!!!!!

As far as other things go, daddy and omma are getting pretty good about keeping me on a schedule.  I still only usually sleep for one hour in the early afternoon; otherwise I'm pretty much always on the go.  I'm pulling myself up on furniture and cruising along it, as well as standing on my own for a few seconds.  I walk while holding on to their hands, but they keep letting go and telling me to take some steps!  I don't know why though, I'm much faster on all four limbs!!  So I haven't done that yet.  I wonder if, when I do, daddy will do his silly dance for me?  Omma has promised not to videotape him doing it because he doesn't want it posted on here, but I just LOVE watching him do it!!!  I have had a few visitors recently and think I'm ready for some more, but I get overwhelmed easily, so don't overdo it please.  And call omma before you come so she doesn't have to wrestle the dogs and me at the same time!  She thanks you.  :)

I'll "talk" to you all later!  And sorry about no pictures, omma hasn't had time to get any ready.  Maybe she'll get on that in her free time...haha

Daddy's boy

J is definitely going to be a daddy's boy.  Here are some pictures that cement that claim:

Chris is already getting him ready to cheer for the proper team...NOT the Cubbies!!  Sorry all you Cubs fans...maybe the next one...or not!!

Reading the morning paper together.  Love it!  (this picture was not set up, I swear!)

Both like camo material (although if you look closely, the material is actually dinosaurs, but looks very similar to camo!).  Notice the awesome Cardinals shirt he is wearing.

This is what I found two mornings ago when I actually ended up sleeping in and couldn't find my guys.  I opened the door to J's room and couldn't resist getting this picture of the two of them.  I think this is one of my favorites, by far!!!

Baby J had fallen asleep on the way home from a morning errand run over the weekend and we were going to try to wake him up to eat some lunch so he wouldn't wake up hungry, but the poor kid was O-U-T!  We didn't have the heart to force him to wake up to eat; don't worry, he was up in an hour (which seems to be his norm) and we fed him then.  :)

JT's Journal

Some pictures of the last two days:

From Baby J:

Mom and Dad are still trying to get me on a schedule, but they're having a rough time of it!!  They (or I should say, mom) decided to go from one nap to two and now back to one...I think she's sticking with that one.  Today kind of fell through as I fell asleep in the car before they could get me back home for lunch and then I woke up an hour later hungry!!  A boy cannot sleep with a hungry tummy, I tell ya.  And then they tried to get me to go back to sleep...yeah, right, I wasn't having any of that!  I decided to keep THEM up and going for the rest of the afternoon.  We went over to our friend's house, the M's, for dinner; I showed off by eating so well and then almost fell asleep in the car on the way home again.  Mama washed my face, hands, and feet in the sink when we got home and Papa gave me a bottle and now I'm finally asleep.  They're probably hoping for all night, hehe.  I'll guess we'll just have to wait and see!  Stay tuned...

P.S.

12.  Baby J likes anything with buttons he can push -- especially remote controls!  

13.  And opening and closing doors.

He slept for a solid 7 hours last night (yeah!!), woke up for a bottle, and then back to sleep for 1 1/2  hours...any ideas how we can get him to sleep longer after the bottle?!  He has done this same routine, post-nighttime-bottle, since coming home, meaning he only gets about 8-9 hours of sleep at night.  (And makes for very early mornings for at least two of us!!)  Progress, though, in baby steps.  :)

Learning about Baby J

Here is an early morning video of our happy little boy...I just adore his giggle!


Most of this blog is going to be pictures as we have some family who are not able to view the videos. This boy is a character! We are trying to get on a schedule and it is going okay. He does. not. like being in his crib...the kid screamed bloody murder when we tried that the first night. So we tried just putting the crib mattress on the floor. This worked only until he rolled off of it and woke himself up! Now we have a couple quilts on the floor, which imitates the way he slept with the foster family and this seems to be working very well. We still find him halfway across the room sometimes with how squirmy of a sleeper he is, but at least he's staying asleep (for the first half of the night!).


Here is a list of things we have already learned about our little turtle:


1. He is a very restless sleeper when he is finally asleep.


2. If he's really tired, he tends to drop off to sleep VERY quickly; he will just go limp in your arms. Awake one second, out like a light the next.


3. We call him our "turtle" because as he is falling asleep, he will put his head down on our chest, tucking his chin under and rounding his back...like a turtle going inside its shell.


4. When he gets fussy, he settles down if he gets his binky.


5. He does NOT like cold foods/drinks.


6. He is fascinated with watching himself on video on the computer.


7. He loves things with wheels and will sit and spin them endlessly.


8. He likes "peek-a-boo" and will laugh endlessly when you play it with him.


9. He claps to music, especially along with the Korean music his foster mother sent home with us as a gift for him.


10. He is not afraid of our dogs.


11. He is a very well-loved little boy and we are soooo lucky to have him in our lives!!

 J does not complain when getting in his carseat anymore.  He looks very snug and comfy in it!

His first car!

Playing on the deck after it rained and cooled things off a bit.  The boy got a bit dirty, but what's a boy with no dirt?!?!

Computer time with appa; that is, until he started hitting keys that actually did something!!  Then he was given his book.  Live and learn, appa, live and learn.

Climbing up the stairs already and pretty darn good at it too!

Meal time!!  He got a piece of banana stuck to his nose and I couldn't resist the picture.  He might be embarrassed in a few years, but what good parent doesn't have embarrassing pictures of their kids to pull out at the most inopportune times of their lives, right?

This is his "I'm all done eating and ready to sleep now" pose.  Just lays his head right down.

Bath time (getting much better about liking his baths!).

Bottle time (I love bottle time!).

Bed time.  He's all soft and snuggly and clean, I could just hold him forever.

And finally, his two guard dogs.  These two are very interested in the new little person in the house.  As odd as it is to say it, Lexi, our beagle, has matured since we got home with J.  She is very protective of him and is always wanting to be with him when he starts crying.  She comes with us in the middle of the night to comfort him and stays while he has his bottle.  She also kind of tried to corral him when he's on the floor; really cute to see.  We are soooo glad that the three of them get along and that J's not allergic to dogs; I don't even want to think about what we would have had to do if either of those weren't the case!