Friday, December 24, 2010
Dec. 11 - Gotcha Day
it's been a year since we got custody of Vanie. I can't believe it... and yet it feels as if we've been a family since he was born.
I honestly don't want to relive that day - i was so stressed and afraid i felt sick the entire day. After a long questioning session (me more than Jason), we were given the rights to become the parents of Yvan Alexander... we got him that night from the orphanage (after a long 4 ½ hours drive through the snowed in mountains).
We didn’t necessarily celebrate the day but we will start doing so soon. I think, Vanie will understand and appreciate it much more once he is 3 or 4 years old. Right now, it’s all about Santa…
I honestly don't want to relive that day - i was so stressed and afraid i felt sick the entire day. After a long questioning session (me more than Jason), we were given the rights to become the parents of Yvan Alexander... we got him that night from the orphanage (after a long 4 ½ hours drive through the snowed in mountains).
We didn’t necessarily celebrate the day but we will start doing so soon. I think, Vanie will understand and appreciate it much more once he is 3 or 4 years old. Right now, it’s all about Santa…
Vanie's 2nd B-Day Party - Video
We had to do the candle spiel several times b/c some of Vanie's older friends just didn't want to wait for Vanie to blow out the candles... :-)
can you tell why all the boys are glued to the cake? ... They all wanted the train which , of course, was all Vanie's!
I still have to send out the "thank you" cards to everyone that brought Vanie wonderful presents.
can you tell why all the boys are glued to the cake? ... They all wanted the train which , of course, was all Vanie's!
I still have to send out the "thank you" cards to everyone that brought Vanie wonderful presents.
Vanie's 2nd B-Day Party
Here are a few pictures of Vanie's b-day party in the 1st week of December…
The event itself was great but there was a lot of stress before we actually got to have the party. You'd think that living in So Cal (even better, OC), you would get to enjoy the constant sunny So Cal weather that goes along with the heavy real estate prices.... think again. We almost canceled the park party and moved it to out club house. I think i visited weather.com than yahoo new the week before the party. Anyway, we reserved the club house, as well, just in case but were really lucky that in didn't rain for the party (it drizzled just a few hours before that).
The kids had tons of fun (even though not all of Vanie’s friends could join) - more playing at the slides and swings than anything else.
I can’t wait for his 3rd b-day part… who know’s what he will be into then.
The event itself was great but there was a lot of stress before we actually got to have the party. You'd think that living in So Cal (even better, OC), you would get to enjoy the constant sunny So Cal weather that goes along with the heavy real estate prices.... think again. We almost canceled the park party and moved it to out club house. I think i visited weather.com than yahoo new the week before the party. Anyway, we reserved the club house, as well, just in case but were really lucky that in didn't rain for the party (it drizzled just a few hours before that).
The kids had tons of fun (even though not all of Vanie’s friends could join) - more playing at the slides and swings than anything else.
I can’t wait for his 3rd b-day part… who know’s what he will be into then.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Growing up - Take 2
It’s been 2 months since Vanie started daycare and I have to say, it’s been the best thing we could have done for him. Yes, it’s expensive (“Kinder Care” is probably one of the most expensive ones we’ve come across so far) but they are flexible (6:30AM to 6:30PM although you can only leave your child for up to 10 hours) and they truly are professionals.
Vanie has been officially moved from the infant group to the “Two’s” group where he is the youngest one – I hope the older kids are a good influence. I am most excited about the potty training classes they have. The director told me they won’t start training him until she and I decide he is ready and let me tell you, he is not ready L!
His vocabulary has exploded over the last month and his speech is improving by the day!
“fis” has slowly turned into “fish” (fish)
“Nanie” into “Vanie” (Vanie)
“I au ah” into “I lau yah” (I love you)
“Panie” into “Pider” (Spider)
“Tolly” into “Solly” (Sorry)
“Vava” into “voda” (voda = water in Bulgarian) (needless to say that it does come out as “vodka” sometimes)
Not to mention that most of his new vocabulary is now in English and not in Bulgarian. He is also repeating pretty much everything he hears from us so we have to be really careful what we say (especially, in the car being mad at other drivers…). It’s so funny to see even my grandma who is 75 trying to say English words to him via Skype (if a great grandson isn’t a motivation to learn a new language, I don’t know what is).
Vanie has finally learned to ride his bike (our friends Stilian and Jeni gave it to him when they 1st met him) – this was a challenge for quite a while, he would go backwards but would not be able to actually ride the bike forward so I am very happy that he’s finally learned how to do it.
We are in the “sorry” phase. I make him say sorry and hug to anything and everything he throws or hits. So there’s a lot of “sorry’s flying around the house and a lot of sippycup, toys, books and Zorro hugging going on. He still can’t control some of his impulse manners but he is slowly getting there.
Pooz Zorro is under strict discipline… from Vanie, not us. We noticed that when we are strict with Vanie and say no or not to do anything, he truns around and tries to do the same to Zorro.
Daycare has accomplished another wonder – Vanie now eats fruits. Not much but he would eat a few slices of banana or apple (food he would have spit out on the spot just a few months ago).
We are sloly growing, probably the same weight but getting taller almost every month (maybe ~ ½ inch last month) – he is still small compared to some other kids but I am not worried at all.
Vanie has been officially moved from the infant group to the “Two’s” group where he is the youngest one – I hope the older kids are a good influence. I am most excited about the potty training classes they have. The director told me they won’t start training him until she and I decide he is ready and let me tell you, he is not ready L!
His vocabulary has exploded over the last month and his speech is improving by the day!
“fis” has slowly turned into “fish” (fish)
“Nanie” into “Vanie” (Vanie)
“I au ah” into “I lau yah” (I love you)
“Panie” into “Pider” (Spider)
“Tolly” into “Solly” (Sorry)
“Vava” into “voda” (voda = water in Bulgarian) (needless to say that it does come out as “vodka” sometimes)
Not to mention that most of his new vocabulary is now in English and not in Bulgarian. He is also repeating pretty much everything he hears from us so we have to be really careful what we say (especially, in the car being mad at other drivers…). It’s so funny to see even my grandma who is 75 trying to say English words to him via Skype (if a great grandson isn’t a motivation to learn a new language, I don’t know what is).
Vanie has finally learned to ride his bike (our friends Stilian and Jeni gave it to him when they 1st met him) – this was a challenge for quite a while, he would go backwards but would not be able to actually ride the bike forward so I am very happy that he’s finally learned how to do it.
We are in the “sorry” phase. I make him say sorry and hug to anything and everything he throws or hits. So there’s a lot of “sorry’s flying around the house and a lot of sippycup, toys, books and Zorro hugging going on. He still can’t control some of his impulse manners but he is slowly getting there.
Pooz Zorro is under strict discipline… from Vanie, not us. We noticed that when we are strict with Vanie and say no or not to do anything, he truns around and tries to do the same to Zorro.
Daycare has accomplished another wonder – Vanie now eats fruits. Not much but he would eat a few slices of banana or apple (food he would have spit out on the spot just a few months ago).
We are sloly growing, probably the same weight but getting taller almost every month (maybe ~ ½ inch last month) – he is still small compared to some other kids but I am not worried at all.
Growing up ... Happy 2 Yrs Old!
Our little Vanie turned 2 this week!!! Jason and I can not express how much we love this sweet, happy, and genuinely good, and charming little man and how proud we are of what he has accomplished so far. The past year has been filled with yes, a lot of work and getting used to a very different life style for us, but at the same time the most exciting and happiest days of our lives.
We love you so much, Vanie! You are the sunshine of our lives and we can not imagine our lives without you and wish you the best of everything! Mommy, Daddy and Zorro!
Sooooo... how do you know your kid’s 2nd b-day is coming up? Here are a few clues Vanie has been dropping:
- He’s been singing “Appy beduh” for a month now
- He has been saying “two” and showing one index finger on each hand (for 2 years old) as soon as someone asks him how old he’ll be
- He starts singing “appy dudah” any time he sees a cake, wrapped present or we light a candle for dinner
- He asks “appy?” every time he sees his toy story fork b/c the last b-day we went to was in the soy story theme (so now toy story characters mean happy birthday)
You just got to love how little kids interpret things…just adorable!
Vanie’s b-day party will be this Saturday – nothing major just a few kids and friends at the local park. I will post pictures after the party.
In the mean time, it was a very exciting Tuesday. I bought all kinds of balloons, mini cake, wrapped his present and had them all on the coffee table in the living room waiting for him as a surprise.
He was stunned in the morning when he got up. And although we got him a train as a present he was most excited about one of the balloons with Spidernam (his new obsession, a story for a separate post).
We spent most of the morning with all the grandparents, aunts and cousins, my aunt/ uncle and great grandma on skype so they all can get some of the b-day boy. My parents even had a cake with candles for him on the other side (in Sofia, BG) and blew out the candles for him while video conferencing with us.
This all was way too much for Vanie, I think, and although he didn’t cry on the way to daycare, he started once we got in, he even tried to run out. Even bringing one of the balloons (the puppy) with him didn’t help. I left mini cupcakes for all the kids to enjoy on this special day.
I worked from the Newport Beach office that day (just 10 minutes drive from home) and left early in the afternoon to get Vanie from daycare so that we can do some of his favorite things. We went to the park, then off to the mall to ride the holiday carousel (we even saw Santa from far – Vanie is afraid of him), and we rode the mall escalators a few times (until I thought it would become suspicious to the security guards J) and spent time in a few toy stores. More picture posts to come very soon…
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Vanie's 1st Halloween
It took an entire month of refusing to put the monkey costume on and finally on the day of the event he somehow tricked himself into putting it on...
There was some crying at the 1st house but once he realized he is getting "stuff" for showing off his outfit there was no stopping. He was even pushing people's hands so that HE can pick out the candy he wants and not the candy they are giving him. :-)
Posing with his pet friends Zorro and Bruce
Checking out what he's collected at the end of the "party".
Oh look...and it's all mine!!!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
22 Months Old - more Pix
Looking at the talking tree in the Rainforset Cafe store...not sure sure he likes what he sees...
Yet another day at the zoo looking at monkey... we are now members
trying to cross his legs like mommy
C'mon daddy, the petting zoo is THIS way!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
22 Months Old and 9 Months Home
It's been another VERY busy but also filled with news month...
The big new change this month is that my father in law is leaving for Bulgaria this weekend. This is 4 months earlier than planned and we are a one full time babysitter short. We had to act pretty quickly and enrolled Vannie in full time daycare on the 17th. Let me tell you, it he is not easy on change.
We left him at the daycare for just 3 hours that 1st Friday. While we were getting all the paperwork ready and discussing everything with the director, we left Vannie in the room with the other kids and the screaming and kicking began as soon as he realized we left him there. It took two of the teachers to wrestle him down. He is a small but pretty strong guy.
Everyone was warning him to cry in front of him but honestly, I didn’t want to cry I just wanted to throw up – that’s how nervous I was. It left like I am taking the GMAT again.
So now almost 2 weeks later, he is doing much better. He will cries out here and there in the morning but overall is getting used to the new environment. Of course, he doesn’t eat there unless it’s some kind of figure food. Also, I visited him (without him knowing) during lunch one day, all kids in the group were sitting around the table and pretending to be eating, our Vannie was walking around gathering toys….it will take him time to get used to complying
A few other updates:
•Vannie’s vocabulary is exploding- he still doesn’t pronounce words well but he is definitely getting better and starting to use more words. We’ll have to see how the daycare English speaking will impacting. I’ll post a list of the words he knows and their Bulgarian and English “translation” in a separate post.
•Labor Day will always be a special holiday in our house. A year ago on that weekend we got the call for a potential referral (pending hep C blood test results) and just a few days later we got to see the picture below of our little boy. We were actually in Vegas with close friends of ours. I honestly don’t even recall how Jason or I felt at that time. I just know that I couldn’t stop opening and closing and staring at the pictures once we got them…and the rest is history…
•Growth: not much on the weight front, if anything Vannie is still about 24-25 lbs but he’s grown about 2 more centimeters in the last 2 months. I will have to measure him at the doctors office next month when we go for the flu shot.
•Halloween is coming up and Vannie will be a monkey since that’s one of his new favorite animals right now. The only problem is that he is refuing to put on the monkey jacket. He keeps hugging it and kissing it as he thinks it a stuffed monkey. We have it out in the living room hoping he will get used to the costume before we have to put it on.
I am getting busier and busier as budget season started but I will have to figure out what we w Right after that I only have a month before our sweetheart turns TWO. I will have to make plans for his birthday.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
More 20 months old pix
Bening silly with daddy at the OC fair.
Waiting for more animals to come out -
OC Fair.
Vanie was too short to get on any of the rides so the petting zoo was the main event for us.
Is this a face of a kid you would see at Disney? This is at Disney downtown - Vanie was NOT impressed with some of the dressed up characters walking around.
Enjoying the buggles at Disney Downtown
The hair is getting longer and the curls bigger.
Playing with water at our friends' Jeni & Stilian.
Posing after the evening run with daddy (vanie goes in the stroller - need to clarify as someone asked me how many mls Vanie runs :-)
You probably can't see it - but this is Vanie's 1st black eye - he ran into a chair and his left eye (just under his eye) got quite big.
drumming - he drums on everything...
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