My kid loves cereal (and milk but that is about it)

 

Every other day Apa has morning duty, which includes a very manly breakfast on the sofa watching cartoons, not sure who enjoys it more. This is what I walked into the other morning.

 

And finally he shares with Mocha

Mommy's First

Before we returned from Seoul with Evan I had dreamed about all the 'firsts' we had missed, but so many yet to come, I never thought about my "firsts" until this week.
- my first playdate (this may have been more for me than Evan) and at that first playdate I wasn't even thinking like an experienced mom when I didn't convince Evan that his special red motorcycle would remain safe in my bag while he played, no need to carry it around the entire playground.  Instead I was so excited that he was having fun and playing with other children it never crossed my mind.
- my first 'hunt for the lost toy'  it was only when I began strapping Evan into his carseat I realized the toy we came with was nowhere to be found. I then started my first "search and rescue" attempt. I was unsuccessful and I knew I need to get home only to pass Evan off to Dan for their standing appointment at the pool.  I returned to said park again. I search and search but someone little kid had already made off with our treasure.
- the playdate ended at McDonalds where all the other kids were enjoying the chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers and Evan enjoyed some milk and 2 french fries.  Who knew I would want my kid to eat fast food? He is so picky.

Evan's First English Words

Uh oh!  Yep that is right Evan's first words were Uh Oh!  Can you tell we say it all the time?

We finally ventured out to Target today for some much needed diaper genie inserts!  Of course once I parked and got Evan out of the car seat I realized I didn't have my wallet, then spent 10 minutes trying to get him back into the carseat to go back home.  It was a real fun trip!

Once we finally starting shopping Evan sang the whole time, very chatty also.  And of course he needed a toy or two! so much for a quick trip for diaper trash bags!  Since we were out we also went to Quarry Hill Nature Center. Evan loved it.  I think some of the giant fish (ugly fish) scared him when he got to close to the aquarium. But as far as I could tell he enjoyed looking at all the animals both living and stuffed. He seemed cool with the snakes and other creepy beings, more so than I was!

Evan is also learning to share his deckside pool with the dogs, I think he prefers the big city pool that he doesn't have to share with furry animals!

Learning to share

checking out the animals that don't move

Dinosaur

Bee Hive

Showing off his new sunglasses from Target!

First Full Week

one of our playful moments

Evan Loves to take photos with my phone, he will sit and take photos of himself for 10 minutes at a time!

Evan was so hyper when he opened up a new gift from Alissa, Thomas the Train play tent

He loves to push or pull anything, He pulled his wagon down the street and up the driveway.

Wagon ride with Grandma, cousins Ryan, Rachel, and Nathan

Much needed nap, even the dogs needed a nap

Gift from 'Uncle Jim'

First trip to the pool, It doesn't look like it but he was the life of the party!

This is what happens when he refuses to nap, he sleeps at the dinner table

Our First Weekend

We may have been sleep deprived but that wasn't going to stop us from enjoying the beautiful weather! We headed to the park for some playtime with cousins Nathan and Rachel with grandma and grandpa Freudenburg.

It took a little while before Evan settled on an activity but it was the sandbox that caught his eye, we played with dump trucks, shovels, and sand pails.  He even explored the play sets and sat on my lap for the slides.  It got a bit warm and we needed to go home and put some shorts on! (all of us!)
We were warned that Evan got car sick, but we had hoped that our super cautious driving in the small town of Rochester would be different than the super busy streets of Seoul - not so.  Those four hard boiled egg whites did not look great in our new car seat!  The kiddo loves hard boiled egg whites!

After a quick bath, Evan was ready to play with his cousins and his favorite toy the lawn mower!

Nights are still restless, but we are hopeful with time and commitment Evan will rest more at night and enjoy some sleep.  We are sleeping on a floor mattress with him to try to make it as much like what he is used to but I know it will take time for him to become comfortable. During the daytime hours we are rewarded with smiles, laughs, and hugs.  We have to rely on those beautiful moments to get us through the more difficult nighttime hours.

Wedneday: Travel Day

I don't remember really getting any stares of odd looks up until today, as soon as we stepped out of the hotel with a Korean baby all eyes were focused on me, not a great feeling.  We had a bit of a walk, maybe 15 minutes to the bus stop. Then we rode to the the airport, all went pretty well, as long as Pororo was playing, I think he actually may have feel asleep on a hour ride.

At the airport he stayed in the baby carrier to begin with, however after a long line in the family services line (special line for adoptive families and such - LOVE Korean Air). He was ready for a melt down and honestly between the smell of the puke from last night I attempted to wash out from the carrier and the sweat from carrying him I was ready to get rid of the carrier!  The poor kid refused to eat anything, even the food Mrs. Choi packed (things he normally eats).  He did finally start drinking, however it was drink as fast as he can, as much as he can then puke  it all up, that happened a few times before we got to the gate. At this rate we pretty much ran out of clothes by the time we were even on the plane.

Thankfully Evan feel asleep just before take off and slept for about 30 minutes. I was worried about his ears and getting sick on take off/landing so this was an answered prayer.  We were so blessed to get the bulkhead seating arrangements! I had harassed everyone I came into contact with in relation to the airline for over a week so it worked!  we didn't have anyone in front of us we it gave us a little more leg room and room for him to stand up in front of us when he need a break from our laps.  Evan was pretty chill most of the trip, watched the ipad most of the trip. It didn't matter that I had packed 45 pounds of activities for the plane or that we had spent countless hours downloading a bunch of movies onto the ipad, it was just the Pororo cartoons he wanted.
Evan didn't get sick on the plane, which again another blessing but I think part of that was he refused to eat anything.

Evan finally feel back asleep just in time for landing 13 hours later!  Chicago immigration was long and tiring. There were three other adoptive families on our flight but maybe because we were last in the immigration line we got to be the lucky ones to get ushered in the a special immigration room.  A very full room of people coming into the country, probably 40 people, not sure too many people spoke English so that was real fun.  We were there waiting for someone to look at our paperwork for about an hour. before we could get our luggage and head through customs, then the next terminal and security again!  We had Evan walk most of the way, trying to wear him out for the next flight, slowest walk of my life!

By the time we reached the gate we still have about 3 hours before our flight I had hoped to fine a spot for him to lay down and take a nap, I would have been happy to curl up on the floor next to him, since I still haven't slept in what is probably two days now. But he was delirious with exhaustion and was actually pretty funny, lots of play time.  Then promptly passed out the second we sat down on the cramped but short flight to Rochester!

Our Freudenburg family and other wonderful close friends were at the airport to meet us and our very tired shy son!  We are so thankful for their support and encouragement and not expecting too much from us or Evan at that very moment! We are looking forward to the Hemphill Family making their way up here but, I am guessing we won't be much fun for a little while anyway!

At home started a waling of sorts from Evan that lasted about 12 hours, sobbing begging for omma (mrs. choi).  Probably worst night ever.  The previous 10 years of sleep deprived night shifts did nothing to prepare me for the constant sobbing of a two year old. (where is the IV benedryl when you need it?)