One month ago today!

One month ago today we picked up Jack from HOLT in Korea. I can't believe it has been one month already!! In some ways it seems like yesterday but in other ways it seems like Jack has been with us forever.
We have been very sick the last 8 days or so. A horrible cold has made it's way though our family and we have not left the house for much other than John leaving for work and to get things we need from the store.
This most recient sickness Jack kept at bay for a while, but then when his big brother and sister started to get better he caught it. He also had a round of Roseolla in between his colds. Cold bugs and viruses are differnt depending on the area you live. This means that while Jack is used to bugs and viruses that he was exposed to in Korea. We have a whole new set of bugs here and he is more like a newborn when it comes to exposure to those bugs. This means that we expect Jack to be off and on sick for around the first six months. This time since he has been sick he has turned into a mama's boy. This is a very good thing. It means that instead of dealing with not feeling well on his own or waiting for his Omma to come and help him feel better, he is seeking me out. Makes me feel pretty important actually since our little guy had been pretty content to play off on his own. I kind of like beening needed all the time, at least for now. But I am sure he will be back to playing with toys and brother and sister and not needing mom all the time before you know it. Maybe not, mabye we have gone into a differnt stage of attachement, but only time will tell.
I am READY for spring. Although we have been to sick to go out we still have not missed much since it is so cold here. I can't wait until summer when we can play outside. Take walks, bike rides, and go to the pool. I am sure once that time comes I will be tired of the hot weather, oh well.
Here are some pics from our first month home. Not too many current ones becaue they would have far too much green nose junk, and goopy eyes.

My Smart Boy in Action.

This is a video of Jack doing a Korean nonsense syllable song. It is supposed to be good for brain development according to my friend. He is no pro yet but for 10 months I am so impressed. I think he may have done this one before he came home a few times. He sure seemed to recognize it the first times we sang it to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPPKMaNlP1A

PHOTOS!!! again!

Thanks Ritchard and Melissa for the new outfit! Good guess on the size!

Sister playing dress up!

Now you can tell they are brothers. :)



Everytime one of the great-grandchildren meets Grandma B. She takes their photo in an empty fruit basket she has. The kids are all sizes since some live farther away and can't get to meet her right away. I still think Jack may be the biggest basket baby.

Big Sister and Big Brother go on an ice-skating date with mom, hot chocolate and popcorn included. Pics are laying down because they were down on the ice more than up. They loved their skates!

Has He Adusted Yet?

I have had some people ask if Jack is all adjusted and bonded now. Those of us who have parented an adopted child know that is not possible. Jack IS doing extremely well, yet there is so much that even I don't know about him in this short time. I feel that being bonded and adjusted will mean I know him and he will know me. We are still learning.
When Allie and Ethan were nine months old I knew them inside and out. I knew when they were happy, sad, what made them happy and sad, what scared them, when they liked to sleep, how they liked to sleep, when they were getting sick, when they were tired, stressed, hungry, even when they were going to the bathroom in their little diapers I could tell by just looking at them. They knew me too. They knew when I was joking and playing and when I was serious. They knew when I was rubbing their back it meant I wanted them to go to sleep, they knew when I went to the kitchen I was not going to just leave them in the highchair forever, but was getting them more food or a washcloth.
Jack and I have barely gotten to know each other. There are times when I don't know if he is crying or laughing. I don't always know his fake laugh from his real laugh and if a fake laugh is just his awkward way of covering up a feeling that he is having. He doesn't know when I am being silly from when I am being serious and sometimes confuses the two and ends up thinking he is in trouble when mom was just playing. He doesn't know how to tell me when he is done eating and is I think almost afraid to tell me if he doesn't like the food I am feeding him. I am learning the head down and sad eyes may mean he doesn't enjoy baby food carrots. Yet he doesn't know what will happen if he doesn't eat them, will there be something else? He has been sick with a cold and ear infections since he has been home, they are now just starting to go away, so the Jack I have gotten to know may well be different then the Jack that may show up when all this sickness disappears. Who knows! Sleeping patterns, naptime, the food he will eat may all be totally different, just like they are when any child gets sick.
Yes he turns his head and looks at me when you ask him about mommy but he doesn't know what a mommy is, he is still learning. Omma to him is his mommy who took care of all his needs. I am called mommy and John is called daddy but he could be looking at us for nothing more but for the reason that those are our labels such as if we taught him Kara or John.
He does look to me to take care of his needs, but how much of that is out of fear that no one will otherwise. Does he cling to me when strangers are around because he loves and wants me, or because he is afraid if he goes to someone else it maybe the last time he will ever see me and I will be gone like Omma. We have a lot more to learn about each other before we are anywhere close to adjusted or bonded. Yes I love Jack! Yet we are still pretty much strangers who are getting to know each other. I am still waiting for my first kisses.

Somtimes It Just Takes Daddy

Jack was out of sorts tonight. He kind of looked like he was crawling in his own skin. He wouldn't settle in one spot. He didn't seem happy doing anything. He was just very agitated. I almost assumed he was coming down with something and not feeling well. I tried bottles, rocking, singing, holding, naps, nothing seemed to work. I pretty much gave up. Then John came along and took over. Dad wrestled him, tickled him, tossed him in the air, made him fly like an airplane, tickled him some more, crawled around and pushed him with his head playing get you.
Well I guess sometimes it just takes Daddy. Mom was just too boring. All we have had since then is smiles and giggles and Jack totally crawling all over Daddy. Of course Daddy loving every minute of it too!
Thank goodness for Daddy's for boys who need some rough-housing therapy. Mom doesn't always have the energy at the end of the day.

We have had some really good nights and Snow Play!

Jack has pretty much stopped crying at night. He falls asleep in the carrier per his vocal request for Uooba and not rocking. Then I have been laying him down in the crib. He wakes around midnight and that is when I usually join him in the room. Even if I go in there earlier and am there when he wakes in the crib he still wants out. He does naptime in the crib too and wakes with little crying, he just stands up and makes some noise until I come in to get him right away.
Last night I figured he wanted a bottle again when he woke the first time but it was early and so I just went in and picked him up since he was reaching for me. He then twisted away toward the full bed. So I laid him down in the full size bed we usually co-sleep in and instantly he started to snore.
Bottles go better now since he is able to breathe better through his nose. He wakes and starts to squirm a bit in bed with a few whines. If I just try to calm him he gets more upset and fully wakes and starts to cry. So when he starts to wiggle and whimper I head to make the bottle which is in the room on the heat vent to stay warm. If he is fully awake I have to bring him with me but usually he is just stirring and restless wanting a bottle so I don't worry about leaving him on the bed quick to run across the room and back. Then mix the bottle on the bed then give it to him. This co-sleeping and not breastfeeding thing is tough. I now know why they sleep with babies on the floor in Korea. No chance of falling!
All goes well unless the heat hasn't kicked on in a while then it is crying Jack and mom making a trip downstairs to warm up the bottle. We have a water softener so I don't believe we can use our hot water tap for bottles. Makes life very difficult. Suggestions would be great. Bottle warmer maybe, anyone have one I could try, don't know if I will like it and where I would keep it to make it handy and not within reach of Jack. But all in all since I have figured out what he wants at night and the cold is getting a bit better we have not had any of the crying fits without being consolable.
He still has his ear infection and is pulling on both ears, but his nose seems to be getting a bit better. Antibiotics didn't help much from what we could tell so I am sure it is viral and we may just have to wait it out. The thrush diaper rash seems to be gone but we will keep using the cream a while longer and avoid bath time with siblings just in case. That first bath time with brother and sister should be fun and everyone is looking forward to it especially big brother who keeps asking if Jack can take a bath with him yet!
Days are going great. He plays and plays with brother and sister and with all the toys we have. We have many! Brother and sister and having more fun as well playing with all the toys again because they are suddenly more fun when you have someone new to play with. We move from room to room spending time in each kid’s bedroom, the playroom and the music room. Not much time spent in the basement yet because it is too cold and unfinished. We have play stuff down there too but it is more suited for a walker. Give us a few months and I am sure we will have that down, but we will also get to venture outside then.
We did actually venture outside yesterday for a bit. Jack sat for one photo before he freaked out because of the snow. Here are the photos of our backyard right now. It is crazy we don't lose Allie and Ethan out there in a snow bank. If they were any heavier they would sink in but they are both lightweights and stay on top of the snow mostly.

Jack watching Sister play outside in the snow. He wanted to eat the snow on the rug.

Our deck actually has three large steps to get climb. You can only see one.


Our fence is 4 feet high and the snow fills every corner of our yard to the top of the fence.


These are photos of our Basketball court area.


The snowsuit is a bit big!

Jack's Old Man Hair

I had so many comments about Jack's cute hair, and how there is so much of it. Well there is a lot... In the front anyway. I felt it only fair to document his "Old Man" hair before it grows out. He will probably love me for this when he is older. That is fine I can bring out this post for his graduation party.


Hang in there buddy! I am sure it will grow out soon!

PHOTOS!!!

OK I have been neglecting my photo duties. So this is to make up for it. Please keep in mind he has a runny nose and is cutting teeth so the drool and red nose is prevalant in most of the pics. It is getting better though.


















Meeting his twin cousins for the first time. Jack is on the big side and they are a bit on the small side so 6 months doesn't translate into much difference in size!

Checking eachother out.


Bathtime is fun again after watching big brother and big sister play in the tub!




As you can see the crawling tunnel is a hit, so are balls, and cars.