Beach Baby

Saturday afternoon, after Jae-min's nap we packed up and went to the beach for alittle lunch and some fun in the sand. Jae-min loved eating outdoors on the patio and trying a grilled cheese sandwich for the first time. He also loved digging in the sand and dipping his toes in the water. He would have dove right in head first if it wasn't so cold!!!!We would like to address our previous post about Jae-min. It has been brought to our attention that it offended some of you, which was not our intention when posting it. We posted that snippet because we sort of wanted to show both sides of our experience. We wanted to share that the last three months have not been all peaches and cream and I think most of all we were just looking for some support, some encouragement that it will be ok and that we're doing what we should be doing. As we wrote that post we in no way were thinking it would offend. So, we're sorry if you felt that way. Really, we were just looking for some hugs!!! This blog is a format to share our experience and our feelings and although its been mostly positive, we think it important to discuss the not so positive aspect too. So we reserve the right to post our feelings, whatever they may be. Early on in the process our social worker said that adoption is not for the faint of heart. We totally agree and many others would probably agree that parenthood in general is not for the faint of heart.

Not Such A Happy Boy!!!!

We had noticed a pattern when Jae-min has a busy weekend with lots of people around, the next few days are really really difficult for him (and us to). This week has been no exception. After the christening on Sunday Jae-min was up most of the night and has been super clingy and whiny the last few days. Last night he was up again and today at nap he woke with one of his nightmares or night terrors we're not really sure. What we do know is they are super scary to watch your little one with his eyes closed screaming. I can't watch and do nothing so I take him out of bed and rock him, which ends the nap after only a short time. So, now we have a tired, cranky baby on our hands. It's definately a pattern though and we aren't really sure what to do. We love having big get togethers but don't think Jae-min maybe ready. We just don't know. All we know is no one is sleeping in this house and I think we all pretty much feel how Jae-min was feeling in this picture. Haha

Happy Father's Day and God Bless Jae-min!!!!

Today Joe celebrated his first father's day!!!! It was a busy day and Jae-min had fun coloring a card for daddy and getting him a special book Just like daddy. He (well mommy too) also got Joe a practice net for his golf swing for the backyard. Happy Fathers Day to our dads and to a great dad, Joe. The new title looks good on him, don't you think?Today we also had Jae-min's christening. It was a small ceremony with the priest who married us officiating, which made it extra special. He's a family friend so it was nice to share this special occasion with him. Jae-min looked mighty handsome in his outfit and had fun at his party.

We added a special necklace sent to us by his foster mom after returning home. It's of the Korean flag with his name in Hangul on the back as well as his birthdate. We thought that was a nice way to honor her on this special day. God Bless Jae-min!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Tol!!!!

Saturday we celebrated Jae-min's first birthday with family and friends. We had the traditional party outside and the Korean Tol set up inside. It was truly a perfect day!!! After stressing about it for weeks, the weather was perfect and everything turned out great. We really wanted to do his Korean heritage proud, which I think we did. He had a blast and was quite the little ham, clapping and yaying for himself. He even sat and looked at all the gifts as we opened them.He looked very dapper in his Hanbok and was really the star of the show. He chose the knife and dollar at the toljabee ceremony which means he'll be a chef and wealthy. Yahoo, a wealthy chef!!!! We said a small blessing over him and took a moment to remember his birthmom on this special day.

Our tol table was filled with fruit, candy trees, rice cakes, and cupcakes. We also placed his referral photo as well as a professional photo we had taken. His foster mothers photo was also displayed to honor her on this special day. All in all I think it was the best day we've had since we've been home from Korea. We feel proud to be able to share this amazing culture with our family and friends.

Happy happy birthday and happy happy Tol Jae-min!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Baby Boy is 1 and Home Three Months!!!!!

Today marks three months home from Korea. Wow, where has the time gone? Jae-min is such a different kid I was looking at pictures from when we brought him home and it really doesn't even look like him anymore. He's getting many more teeth so his smile is changing. He's begun to now pull to stand and is becoming a very fast crawler. He's also making so many different sounds which have a different ring to them. He's begun to imitate everything and will do a bear impression by raising his arms and sort of roaring!!!Today Jae-min also turns 1 years old!!!! Happy Birthday sweet baby boy!!! We had a fun day. Joe took the day off and we opened up some gifts and went to lunch. It was the first time out to lunch and Jae-min did great. Tomorrow we will celebrate his Tol with family and friends!!!!

Today I took some time to think of Jae-min's birth mother and what she must be feeling on this day. As I lay in bed last night I thought about how this time last year she could feel this little baby inside her, and then today her water unexpectedly broke. I wondered if she was scared
at that moment and all the moments after. I wondered what time Jae-min was born, what the weather was like, and if she was alone. I wondered if she remembers what today is and how she's feeling. I also wondered if she can feel just how much this little boy is loved by so many half a world away. I hope her heart has healed and she feels some peace. I also hope she thinks of Jae-min on this special day. We have decided to honor her each year on his birthday just the three of us. Because after all she gave him life and allowed us to share in this most magnificent boy we could ask for. So to her we again say thank you. And during this joyous time please take a moment and think of her and the most difficult decision she had to make. And how out of that difficult decision our family was born!!!!!

Slumber Party and First Dates

Marty and Jae-min had a slumber party early this morning after waking up. We've been trying to encourage Jae-min to stay in his crib alittle longer in the mornings so we've been going into his room when he wakes up and sitting on the chair and letting him sit in his crib and play. We're trying to make it a positive experience when he's awake. So.... each morning Marty peeps through the slats at Jae-min and they talk to each other. So this morning Joe and I were in the room and decided to let the boys have a slumber party. We hoisted Martin into the crib and they had a great time!!! They really are very cute with each other. Maybe we'll let Martin sleep in there all night. Maybe that will help with the night terrors HahaThis afternoon we attended a two year old birthday party of a friend's little girl. Jae-min decided to pick her up for a date in his pink car. Yes, that's right, a pink car. It takes a confident boy to pick up his first date in a PINK car (and to have his daddy pushing it). He loved the party.

Beep beep out of my way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!