Christmas - Evan is set and the dogs are spoiled

 I got an extra day off of work Christmas Eve, and we got to head to Missouri early and spent a week with my family! 8 adults, 3 grandkids, 6 dogs - exhaustation!

spoiled rotten Mocha

some of Evan's spoils

Family Portrait

16 Months . . . Oh that HAIR



Evan with a care package we sent in August (talk about snail mail!)




Happy Happy Boy



We were so excited to received these much anticipated photos at his 16 month agency appointment on Nov 21.  He looks so happy and playful!  We know he is well taken care of!

The progress report we received was encouraging:

Weight: 11.9 kg (26 lbs)

Likes: rice, fish, fruits, and formula

Development: walks upstairs (holding rail), throws ball forward, moves on ride toys, puts tiny objects into container, builds tower, scribbles, identifies body parts, recognizes and points to four animal pictures, jabbers, imitates doing housework and other realistic activities, hows toy preference

It is getting more real that he will be coming home soon (3-4 months), nothing like registering for a stroller to make things real!  Once we start baby-proofing the house I think reality will really sink in! 

CANNOT WAIT!!

Christmas Ideas for a little or big girl!

bIn attempt to save up for the rest of the adoption expenses I thought about doing something other than the baby blankets and such.  I wish overtime at work was an option but it is so unpredictable so time to get creative!
Here is what I am working on:

Mini Ribbon Bows on 3 inch Alligator Clip
$4/Pair

Large Ribbon Bows on 4 inch Alligator Clip
$4/each

$8/Each

Extra Small: Pink/White Dots, Cheetah, Pink Cheetah, Zebra with White ribbon, Zebra with Pink ribbon, Zebra with Hot Pink Ribbon

Small: Pink/White Dots, Pink Cheetah, Zebra with Pink Ribbon

Medium: Pink/White Dots, Black/White Dots,Zebra with Hot Pink Ribbon, Zebra with Pink Ribbon, Pink Cheetah

Large: Pink/White Dots, Black/White Dots, Zebra with Pink Ribbon, Zebra with Hot Pink

Rose Tutu: Flowers trace waistline all the way around.
Fits most 6months - 10 years
10-12 inches long
$8 each

Lavender Rose Tutu
White Rose Tutu

Limited Edition
Rose Petal Tutu: Child's Violet Tutu with Violet rose on center waist line
and Rose petals inside the Tutu
10 inchs long
Violet  $8 Each

Bloomers!
Small 3-6 mos, Medium 6-12 mos, and Large 12-2T

Lime: Small   Medium   Large
Lavender:  Large
Violet:  Large

                                              

CHSFS Info Meeting

Tonight Dan and I joined with other waiting families via a webinar for an program update.  I was really hoping they would say "hey Korea thinks this is silly having the kids wait so long, come get your kiddos!"  yeah right.

Oh well still learned a bit.

Things I didn't know or had questions about:

• Typically how do children respond/adapt to pets after coming home?

Pets are very uncommon in Korea, if there is any exposure to pets they are the tiny dogs that fit into purses. That might be a problem!  The speaker even said sometimes the foster mom is even frightened of the photos of dogs that are sent so doesn't share the photo with the child.  boy is Evan in for a surprise!

•  learn about a child's foster home experience

Children sleep on a floor mattress with foster mom until school age and there is very little discipline until school age. Children are with the foster mom 24/7, usually on her back in a carrier. Typically their homes are very open, and not cluttered whatsoever. Many of the foster moms live in apartments in Seoul. Life revolves around the child. Children eat with the family on the floor eating the same foods- although seriously mashed up.  She even mentioned that some adoptive parents question why their child will not chew or has trouble chewing after coming home - because they have never had to.  Everything they eat is either mashed up or a 'dissolvable consistancy', think "puffs".

Typically children have never been a car seat or car for that matter. Public transportation is utilized and baby is again carried on foster mom's back.  (doesn't sound like a real fun drive home from the airport, after a really fun plane trip??)

• practice some basic Korean words that will be helpful during your child's transition

So just last week I was researching a little Rosetta Stone - Korean action to prep for the trip and help with the language barrier with Evan. But I learned last night that I should NOT attempt to learn Korean. Because I do not look Korean it would confuse Evan.  Korea is a very homogeneous society, very few foreigners live there (especially outside of Seoul). I am not to call myself Umma (Mom) but to use the English word to prevent confusion.  The speaker did give a few words that would be good to learn, I cannot remember everything right now but will have to get the print copy of the presentation. but words that would be useful: "up" or "carry" like a in the carrier/piggy back style and different words for food.

Sweat, blood, and tears

Yeah!! My parents came to visit and I quickly put them to work! Thank you to my mom and dad!

This past several days my mom and I slaved over preparing Evan bedroom. I thought refinishing a childhood dresser couldn't be that difficult right?  I read all kinds of bloggers ideas how to paint furniture, tips and tricks. I want to get a good start stripping the paint and prepping before it got too cold around here.  Here is the before photos:

 It was in pretty good shape, some nics and scratches and again according to several bloggers it is just as simple as 1. . .2. . 3 and taa daa!  Okay not so easy! It took forever to strip the paint, as you can imagine the less toxic the stripper the less helpful it is.  After at least a week and many near-freezing hours spent in the garage here is his almost complete dresser.  We really liked the grey honeycomb design on one of the Ty Pennington fabrics I am using for Evan's bed linens.  My mom is so creative she whipped up a stencil we used to replicate the pattern.

 Found some fun drawer knobs and have a few more small details to finish but I really wanted to brag on my mom!

We also worked a few other projects:

  Bed Skirt and two different crib sheets

Painted side table for the rocker or play table for Evan

  I didn't actually build anything but I did take it apart and paint it!

Before: Step Stool

After

After Side Panel: My attempt at Evan's Korean name: JaeHyeong

Happy 14 Months Evan

Check out those cheeks!  Can you believe that hair?!
Looks so sad just sitting there at the agency.  Dan likes to call this photo "at the principal's office".  He is such a teacher.

Current Stats:

Age: 14 months
Weight: 11.1Kg (24.4lb)
Eats: rice, noddles, lots of milk
Likes: bath time
Naps: only one and gets up a few times during the night to snack (what a pudge)
Development: walks well (actually running everywhere), imitates adult behavior, plays ball cooperatively, turns pages of books, scribbles with a pen, uses a spoon, builds towers with two cubes, follows simple errands.

Laurie's Fabric Options

sisterhood2motherhood's photostream on Flickr.