Our First Parent Teacher Conference and Reflections

We recently attended Evan's first Parent Teacher conference at daycare.  It wasn't surprising to hear how much he loves learning and that he is 'talkative'.  Although there has been much improvement there is still room to grow when it comes to sharing!  But this conference had me thinking about the last ten months, all the changes and how incredible our son is!  

When we brought E home we were told he had about 4-5 Korean words, however anything that came out of his mouth I tried to get translated via a little translation app on my phone!  Still not sure we understood anything other than "Oma and Apa" (Mom and Dad). It wasn't until late August after a trip to visit his cousins, PopPop and GG in Missouri and Arkansas that he started to try out the English language.  He could already point to whatever we asked to identify but actual words were new. Since then he hasn't stopped talking.  There is one phrase or word that still has us stumped.  "Happy Cookie!" I swear that is how it is pronounced. Evan uses it to identify butterflies or a train. It was butterfly for the longest time and recently he will also use it to identify a train, "Happy Cookie Choo Choo Train".  I get a kick out of it every time. 

I assume he is perfectly normal for a 2.5 year old since the two words I hear most often are: 
'NO!' and 'MINE!' and these words are at anytime, anywhere, all the time! (especially when in reference to Mocha wanting attention or Daddy wanting to share a snack). Just wait until he understands he is getting a sister, oh the fireworks!! not a baby sister but a toddler sister that will compete for every toy and millisecond of attention!

Evan knows the alphabet, both lower case and upper case, he spells out Everything, including menus and billboards. We still have a ways to go to learn the sounds of the letters though. He can count to 12, however I think he likes to add some variety on occasion and will add a strange sounding number in there. Evan loves, loves puzzles.  Every time we venture to Savers for a sale we come home with several new puzzles. We especially love the Melissa and Doug 12- piece wood puzzle 4-pack such as this one:

He received a boy doll he named "Joey" for Christmas (he already had a boy doll named "Joey" at Dan's parents so why not have a Joey at home!?!) He has recently started to show more interest in Joey. He likes for Joey to eat at the dinner table with us and then will "read" Joey a book afterwards or while we prepare dinner.  It is fun to watch him take care of Joey. (notice there is already a girl doll for baby sister next Christmas!)




Evan and I attend MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) every other Thursday at our church. Evan loves this time to play with his friends, do a craft and we always go to lunch afterwards with our friends! Evan has been starting to identify specific friends, such as "Hudson" and "Maddie" Two of his close friends from church and MOPS. He has started talking about friends at school also, but "Hudson" was the first friend that he has repeatedly asked about. I wish I had a better photo of E and H but this one of E and his playdate gang from this summer will have to do and then the second photo is of E and M this summer


So in a nutshell our son is amazing, and also the most ticklish kid ever! 
I feel so honored and privileged to be his mother and am forever grateful for the many 'mothers' that have helped to and will continue to help raise him; Thank you Mrs. Choi (foster mom), Thank you GG (my mom), and Thank you Oma (Dan's mom - E has changed "grandma" to "oma") and to his birthmother for giving us the most incredibly amazing gift.