Getting into the holiday spirit!

Here are some pictures of Grant's first snowfall in VA and his first time playing in snow!  We only got about 3 inches but it was enough for his big brother to teach him how fun eating snow is and an attempt at the snowtube:-) 

 

 

Time to get the tree!  It was a nice warm day and Grant thought it was quite fascinating that a tree has taken up space in the playroom.  He is loving all the holiday decorations around the house.  Of course decorating the tree turned into Grant and Auden dancing around to Christmas music and Mommy doing most the decorating but that was fine with me!  It was so fun to have two little ones this year while decorating and Grant got to put on the star topper this year!  Potty training was in full effect so only undies were required:-) 

 

 

 

We were hearing a bit too many "I wants" out of Auden this Christmas so I found a great opportunity through our Church to buy gifts for two little boys in our County's foster care system.  I had a big talk with Auden about how sometimes kids still haven't found their forever families like his brother and they need our help to get new clothes and some new toys.  He was a great little "elf" and I was so proud of him for helping me.  I think it really resonated because suddenly his Christmas list shrank down to two things:-) 



 

To kick off the holiday season we hosted a party with all my sorority sisters in the DC area and their families.  It was a great time and so fun to have the new babies and boys play together!

 

 

 

And as of this weekend, this little santa is officially potty trained!  He has been wearing undies out and about with only 2-3 accidents the past four days.  Our fingers crossed for the same success this week at school.  Now only if I knew how to wean him off the M&Ms he gets every time he goes!  Grant will do anything for chocolate so potty training went pretty quickly once Mommy committed to it, ha!

 

 

 

The house is all decked out and we are looking forward to spending our FIRST Christmas at home!  Cody and I started living together in 2003 after college and we have always been in PA or NY for Christmas- so this is a big deal!  Two kids means grandparents come to us now!  Can't wait!  

 

 

 

 

 





Halloween and Thanksgiving

Halloween and Thanksgiving were extra exciting this year because they were Grant's firsts! 

We unexpectedly found ourselves in New York for Halloween because Cody's beloved Grandfather (Auden's middle namesake, Henry) passed away and we decided to stay for a few days after the funeral.  It was a beautiful service and a wonderful tribute to a man that lived his 94 years to the fullest.  He lived the kind of life that made everyone leaving the overflowing church wondering how they can be more like this beautiful soul, smart businessman, generous philanthropist and loving family man.  You will always be in our hearts Grandpa Henry.

It was a nice time to be with family and the boys enjoyed their time with Nana, Pappy, Tia Jody, Uncle Tom and their second cousins.  It was raining a bit on Halloween but we made the best of it and went to the Children's museum during the day for a special Halloween party and trick-or-treated with the boys second cousins at night.  Grant LOVED dressing up as a pirate and Auden really got into trick-or-treating this year, running from house to house with his cousin Casey:-)

 

 

 

 

 

For Thanksgiving we hit the road and finally got Grant to the Pennsylvania to see my side of the family!  We enjoyed a great Turkey Day at my cousin's house and the boys had a great time.  We got to see more cousins later that week and Grant loved his first sleepover at Grammy and Grandpa's.  Before we came back to VA we stopped for a night at my best friend Aimee's house because she graciously offered to babysit the boys for 3 hours while we went to my high school reunion nearby her house.  We weren't sure how Grant was going to do with being babysat in a different house but luckily he had a great time with Aunt Aimee, Uncle Justin, Nate, Sydney and Auden.  He only got a little upset after all the other kids went to bed, so that's when Cody and I decided to come back.  So, all in all a success and Grant spent quality time with his Godmommy:-) 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

So how does Grant do with the traveling?  He acts a little funny when we are packing up the car and we repeat to him that we are just going away for a few days and we "always come back home."  When we are at our destination he has an awesome time because it usually means he is around a lot of family that is playing with him and paying attention to him which he loves (and he gets to sleep in the same room as us which he loves too).  When we get back from our trips it's the hardest part for him.  He loves that we are home but he acts extra clingy which makes it a bit difficult to unpack because he is sad he's not getting attention 24/7.  Back to reality of Mommy and Daddy having chores to do and not being able to play, play, play like we can during holiday trips.  He also has to get reacquainted with his room and his sleep is a little off for a few days after we get home.  But the more we do these trips and the older Grant gets, it should get easier and easier for him to understand we always come home.  We just booked our flights for a Florida trip in March which will be Grant's first plane ride since coming home (I'm already scared about how that is going to go, but fingers crossed!) 

 



 

 

Grant- 2.5 years old!

Dear Grant,

I know it is silly to celebrate half birthdays, but today you are 2.5 years old and unlike your first and second birthdays- you are home!   So perhaps a cupcake and a blog post are in order.  Well, and our 3 month post placement visit with the social worker that is scheduled for today.

I can't believe you have been home 3 months.  Sometimes it feels like a blink of an eye and sometimes it feels like you've been here the whole time.  We have seemed to conquer our last big transition of Mommy going back to work and you going to school 3 days a week.  You still rather not go but you don't put up a fight anymore when going.  You seem to really like the caregivers and I now pick you up with a big smile on your face instead of a cry of relief that I'm back.  So that is all good stuff and makes a working Mommy's heart feel better.  

Every week I'm so thankful that we still get to spend Mondays and Fridays together.  With starting school came some regressive (tantrums and aggressive) behavior at home.  Sometimes we saw sides of you we haven't seen since Korea.  This of course makes me sad but it's all within the norm of toddler adoption and I'm just glad we have our Mondays and Fridays to keep working on attachment and bonding.   

All the changes in your life the past 5 months, I can't imagine how scary it all is for you and I know sometimes we expect too much from you.   It's hard when we see you regress but we are learning what battles aren't worth fighting when something is upsetting you.  We are doing our best, please be patient with us as we be patient with you. Although we will not give up eating vegetables at dinner, that one you can't get out of my dear- as it turns out, you really don't mind many of them after the tantrum!

You and Auden are so different but make the most beautiful brothers.  He is highly sensitive, mindful, and a rule follower.  You are easily excitable, obstinate and not a rule-follower.  I say that with the most love for you both!  Auden has always sat quietly in the car and just enjoyed looking out the window at your age.  You never stop talking in the car, or for that matter anywhere!  Your observations astound me, you notice and remember things that not even most adults would.   You and Auden do share the similarity of being silly, adventurous and a bit of daredevils!  Although sometimes I see it is definitely Auden that brings out your adventurous side because you always want to do what your big brother does.  Whether it be the zipline in Korea, the rope swing in our woods, jumping off a boat or zooming on your bike down steep hills- you are always next to Auden saying "I try now!"   And Auden loves having you as a partner in crime.  As different as your personalities may be, you know how to have fun together.  As much as Auden brings out your adventurous side, you have brought out something special in Auden.  He is so happy being a big brother and having you as a playmate.  He thinks (and tells you every day while squeezing your face) that you are the cutest little boy in the whole world and you guys share lots of hugs and kisses.  You have always been affectionate with him since day one but now we are seeing Auden being the initiator of lots of affection.  Of course there is the normal fighting over toys but the laughter you two share everyday greatly outweighs it.   We feel so fortunate that your relationship has grown so well so quickly which is not normally the case in toddler adoption. 

It will be interesting to see what the next 3 months bring now that we are finally in our routine of work and school.  Knock on wood, you are waking less times a night this past week and this weekend was really smooth and void of tantrums.  You are still asking for food ALL day long which I understand is a control issue with adopted toddlers but it definitely makes sitting down for proper meals more difficult.  You love American food and don't seem to miss rice three times a day at all!

So what is Grant up to these days?

- You are speaking in sentences now.  They are definitely not crystal clear but usually Mommy knows what you are saying.  Either way, for 3 months home and 2.5 yrs old- this is amazing!  

- You are so fast on your balance bike Mommy can't even keep up running next to you anymore!  However you still act like a winded old man when we encourage you to run more then 10 feet, (which is hilarious).  

- You now know and can identify most of your colors.  You can almost count to 10 skipping a few numbers:-). We are know working on letters which you know a few of.  You love singing the alphabet song but do it best with a little help from Mommy.

- You are still Mr. Independent in many respects, you like to have a say over what pjs and clothes you wear, which is definitely new for me because Auden certainly didn't care when he was 2!  But as you have come to trust us you do ask for help now if you are having trouble putting on your shoes, etc.

- You squeal with excitement and a scream over little things that make us laugh.  Like when spaghetti gets placed in front of you at a restaurant or when I say we can go outside and ride bikes.  You don't know what this Halloween thing is coming up but you squeal every time you see your pirate costume in your closet and I say you are going to get candy when trick-or-treating! 

- You love making people laugh.  You picked the microphone for your DOL ceremony on your first birthday and that couldn't be more true- you are an entertainer!  

- You are warming up to dogs being in a close proximity to you but still don't want them touching you and will jump into my arms if they get too close for comfort.  Cats are still a huge problem for you and you want nothing to do with them!  Good thing you're my child since I'm allergic:-)

-Mommy made your "life book" before I went back to work and we look at it from time to time to show you the pictures your wonderful foster mom gave us of your first two years.  I can tell it makes you nervous right now and you are confused by looking at it.  We say we love "Omma Moon" and you repeat it but it is clear you are looking for affirmation that you don't have to go back to Korea. This only makes sense because Omma used to show you our pictures all the time and eventually we came and got you.  I know in a year or two you will be asking lots of questions (based on my adoption friends experiences) and I'm glad I have your the book and the pictures Mrs. Moon gave us along with the amazing 50 short videos that I cherish the most.  Every day you like to talk about the people in our family, that this is our "home" and whose bedroom is whose.  This makes me happy and sad at the same time because again, you are just looking for reassurance that everything is going to stay this way.

Adoption is the saddest and most beautiful thing intertwined into one.  For us to have gained you as our son your birth mother had to experience the loss of a child.  I look at you and the thought of you living in an orphanage brings tears to my eyes and I can't believe that is the fate of the majority of South Korean children that need homes with the new law they passed.  But as much as we love you, we know there will always be a hole in your heart, where questions of your birthparents, identity and culture will be.  We will always be there to help in whatever way we can with those issues.  We love you fiercely already and hope that your heart will be as content as possible as a part of our family that you make more beautiful. 

Tia Jody and Uncle Tom Visit & Pumpkin Farm

Tia Jody and Uncle Tom came from Colorado to visit last weekend and we had a great time!  It was beautiful weather and we went to the pumpkin farm that had lots of fun stuff for the boys to do.  The boys loved having them around as extra playmates:-)  Grant was still asking about them 3 days after they left, wish they lived closer!  Thanks for coming guys!