5 Months Home!!!!

Today marks 5 months home with our little Jae-min!!! The time has totally flown by since March and we just can't believe its already been 5 months. Where does the time go? This past month has been a big change for Jae-min. We think that now he finally feels like this is his house too and he's really become very inquisitive and alittle more independent this month. He loves exploring and looking back at us to make sure we're still there, waving.
So, in honor of 5 months home we thought we'd post 5 new things about Jae-min:
1. He's now saying Mama and Dada, music to our ears!!! He also uses word approximations for ball (ba), book (bo), bird (bir) and balloon (baoo) and he's trying Martin (Mabroer) which translates to Martin brother. If you know him well you can decipher between all these b words and if not he'll just keep repeating them until you figure it out.
2. He's understanding more directiions to get ball and trucks, He's also able to look for mom, dad, and Martin when asked.
3. He and Martin totally crack us up everyday together. They now actually play together, Jae-min getting him a toy and Marty running down the hall to fetch it. Jae-min then squeals in delight as Marty runs back toward him down the hall dropping the toy in front of Jae-min. This could go on for hours, or until Marty gets tired!!!
4. His play has changed from just shaking and banging to actually playing with trucks and all of his toys in a different manner.
5. He is so lovable and friendly, always waving to others in church, at the beach, at the canal. He has this little Mr. America wave that totally captures everyones hearts as he makes eye contact with you and waves. He's just alittle cuddle bug and loves cuddles, tickles, and smooches.This month has brought many new experiences for Jae-min and he's enjoyed each and every one of them. We can honestly say that now we really can't remember life without him. Just look at that face!!!!

A New Mode Of Transportation And A Few Appointments

We bought this bike trailer to hook to the back of Joe's bike so that the boys can go for a ride together!!! They have been enjoying riding and Jae-min just loves anything that moves, so this trailer is just up his alley. Don't worry, he has a helmet, just wasn't wearing it in this picture!!!!Our 2nd post placement visit with our social worker went well. She thought Jae-min was doing great and that in return we were doing a great job. We talked at length about alot of stuff and she kept reassuring us that we're doing exactly what we should be doing and parenting Jae-min terrifically.
We also visited an international pediatrician last week. She had reviewed his file so it was fun for her to see him in real life. She thought he looked great for arriving so early into this world. She thought his development at this point is on track. We will visit with her again after the new year just to make sure everything continues to go well developmentally. We also talked alot about attachment, bonding, and my worries and fears for Jae-min. She also reassured us that she saw no red flags with the attachment stuff and thinks he's bonding well. We talked how its a continuous process and to keep doing the things we're doing. We also talked about how much I worry about him and hover around him. She thinks thats wonderful and encouraged us to continue to be there for him whenever he needs or wants us. We talked about sleeping and again we're doing what we should be doing here too. No letting him cry it out and tending to each need to continue to build that trust.
We felt better when we left these appointments as we got reassurance that we're on the right track and parenting Jae-min as he needs to be. So, we'll continue to do what we're doing because I guess its working!!!!!!!!!! Yahoo

4 Months Home!!!!

Wow, this post is way too late!!! This past Sunday we celebrated 4 months as a family of 3. We spent the day together walking along the canal and having a picnic lunch. It was a nice way to spend a summer day. Jae-min continues to thrive and is pulling to stand on everything and anything he can get his hands on. He's beginning to cruise alittle on the furniture and has become the little dare devil!!! He's chatting up a storm and has started to refer to me as Maba. Whatever works, right? Oh, and he's still such the little nerd vocalizing Baa for books everytime he sees a book, even in church when he saw the song books!!! I guess book was his first word. Definately I found the right little boy as he appears to share my love of books. He also now has 6 (and a half) teeth. ouch
Today we are going to our agency for our 2nd post placement visit. It will be fun to show Jae-min to all the people who helped us bring him home.Jae-min also melted this mommas heart this week. He's become very affectionate but we've always had to ask for a smooch and then he would happily lean in and give us a drooly kiss. Well this week I got my first unsolicisted kiss!!!! I had taken him out of the crib in the morning and we were hanging out in the rocking chair with his head on my shoulder when all of a sudden he looked at me, smiled wide, and leaned in and planted one right on me!!!! To say my heart melted is an understatement!!!

A Friends Tol And A Pool Party!!!!

This past Sunday we attended the Tol/First birthday celebration of Jae-min's little friend Allie, from Korea. This is the family that we had met during our wait at our monthly support group meetings. They had traveled to Korea the week before us to bring sweet Allie home. Since returning home we have become very close and talk several times a week so it was so fun to share this special day with them. We had a great time as they had hired a singer/puppet man to entertain. Jae-min had a wonderful time dancing and singing and loved the huge cow puppet!!! The puppet man then seranaded both Allie and Jae-min with a special song as they sat with him and strummed on his guitar. It was a fun day with new friends. We can't wait to watch these two little beauties grow up together.Doesn't Jae-min look so grown up in this outfit? Allie had given it to him for his birthday so we thought it fitting he wear it to her party!!!!

On the 4th of July we had gone to a pool party at my cousins house. It was so much fun and Jae-min had a ball. He loved the pool and was actually kicking his legs in the raft!!!!! He loved splashing with the other kids and getting soaked with the water guns. We definately have a little fish on our hands!!! Can you say swimming lessons????? Oh, and he just looked priceless in the hat.

Happy 4th of July!!!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!