Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Back to Work

Week one of work complete; albeit a very short week thanks to the holiday.  It was actually pretty uneventful.  I think Paul and I did a good enough job of slowly introducing Jae to daycare so it wasn't the traumatic event for either one of us.  And Jae seems to be doing better and better there everyday.  We were excited to see that he actually slept for the full 2 hours of nap time which means 1) daycare 3 days in a row tuckers his out and 2) he is getting comfortable enough there to fall sleep quickly and stay asleep.

Every Wednesday at daycare is share today and today's choice toy/book item for Jae was his Korean ambulance.  Another Korean forever family gave us some of their authentic Korean toys that their own children have outgrown.  The ambulance is a huge hit!  It not only winds up, but has a siren and working lights.  One of his favorite toys:




Love,
Jae's Mom

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Maternity leave...done

That is it for maternity leave.  Monday means I go back to work and Jae goes to daycare full time.  It is going to be hard, but I know Jae likes day care.  Yes, he cries when I leave, but his teacher assures me he really has a good time once I am gone.  And he is excited to see me when I come to pick him up, but then he goes right back to playing.  A "I'm glad you are here, Mom, but I am really busy playing with my friends right now" kind of attitude.

A HUGE stride was made in sleeping habits this week.  Paul and I owe our pediatrician a large amount of money for her advice!  She explained a couple of different types of bed time cries and how to respond.  Paul and I put her suggestions in action Thursday night...and guess what...Jae has slept through the night the last 2 nights in a row!

A few random pictures:

Our Sunday best


Showing off his FAVORITE sweatshirt


This is what happens when you ask Jae to "Show some leg."


Looking for Larry outside


My football jammies.
Love,
Jae's Mom

Monday, November 14, 2011

Teddy Bear Breads

Today Jae and I thought we would get our aprons out of the kitchen drawer and make Teddy Bear Breads.  Something my Mom taught my sister and I to do many years ago.

My first bear

Notice the one on the right...2 belly buttons but no nose.  Jae got confused.  :)

Waiting for the bears to bake and wishing aprons had pockets

Hurry up little bears!

More waiting.


Showing Mom how I will eat the Teddy Bear breads

Done!


He looks really yummy!


Yep, I like Teddy Bear breads!
Love,
Jae's Mom

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Big Boy

Jae has made a few big strides towards being a "big boy" the last few days.  Jae has went potty in his little potty twice (no pictures to celebrate this milestone...you're welcome future 15 year old Jae), went swimming for the first time, moved out of the high chair, and started drinking milk out of cups instead of sippy cups.  You know, big boy stuff.




Jae could not have been any cuter for church this morning...



Love,
Jae's Mom

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Single Parent

God bless each and every single parent out there.  Jae has actually been very good the last few days while Paul has been in Chicago, but it is still tough.  Forget trying to squeeze in a run or two, I just try and make time to shower and use the restroom every now and again. 

But Jae and I survived 3 nights without Daddy.  Thank goodness Paul comes home this evening because his son has been saying "Daddy" every time he goes to play with his new car ramp.  I guess Mommy's "voom voom" noises are not nearly as good as the ones Daddy makes. 

Jae had his second full day of day care yesterday and it went well, minus the first 10 minutes.  Let's just say I heard him still screaming "Mama!" as I walked out the door.  By the time I made it to the car I was in tears as well.  But his teacher assured me that he actually had a great day after I left.  He played really well with the other kids and really enjoyed the group time singing songs and reading books.  And I believe her because he didn't exactly come running toward me at the end of the day.  He smiled when he saw me but then went straight back to playing.  What a stinker!  I was worried all day that he would be sad and crying, when to some degree, he didn't even notice Mom was gone. 

Each day we get closer and closer to finalization.  I can't remember if I blogged about it or not, but one Dec 16th we will have our second home study with our social worker...but it will be at our agency in St. Paul.  After our "home study" we are going to take part in a Pre-Adoption Class workshop that will be taking place.  Back when we first signed up with our agency, we attended a 2 day workshop to get more information about adoption and start narrowing down the type of adoption we wanted to pursue...domestic, foreign, open, closed, etc.  One evening of the workshop they had 2 recent forever families come in so we could ask questions.  Well, now it is our turn to answer the questions.  We were very flattered that our social worker asked us to be part of the panel.  It must mean things are looking good from her end, because otherwise I don't think they would want us there!  :)  It will be good.  I remember the families on our discussion panel quite well and hope we do 1/2 as good of job as they did.  And that Jae is on good behavior...yeah right!

Love,
Jae's Mom

Friday, November 4, 2011

2 Weeks Left

I am down to my final two weeks of maternity leave.  Ten weeks went so fast, yet slow at the same time.  I feels like ages ago that Paul and I were in Seoul waiting to meet Jae.  Making Korea seem like that much further away is all the progress Jae has made in the 2 months that he has been home.  He is saying probably 20 or so English words, spending more and more time at day care (had his first full day on Wednesday this week), eating better, sleeping better (remember we are comparing now to when we first brought him home) and in general, learning his boundaries.  Granted we have a toddler on our hands, so he pushes boundaries.  And often says "no" when we ask if he wants more food...but then proceeds to take 3 or 4 more bites.  But we are settling in and learning to be a family.  And yes, it is a learning process.  Going from no children to a kiddo that doesn't walk, but runs is like moving from Northern Minnesota to Southern Missouri in the month of June.  Quite a change in the weather (thank you US Forest Service for that move 15+ years ago).

But, just as we get settled in, another challenge awaits.  The first one is for me Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night as Paul will be in Chicago for an actuary conference.  I love my son, but I soooo look forward to when Paul comes home at 4 pm every day so I can take a break.  Good thing my parents live in town.  :)  And for the next two weeks Jae will be at day care all day on Tuesday and Thursday.  And then on the 21st I head back to the wonderful world of insurance.  Then it is Thanksgiving.  Life goes on.  Life, apparently, does not wait for you to stop and catch your breath; it just keeps on rolling.

Lastly, Jae caught his first American cold today.  Poor little dude is all stuffed up.  :(

Love,
Jae's Mom