We have been absent for a few weeks now but only b/c I started work and haven’t really had much time to post updates. Let me tell you – it is not easy at all. In a way, I am glad to be back but I miss having my little boy around me. Everyone was asking me if I cried on the first day driving to work – I didn’t. It took almost a month before I got to that point. I ended up going to an IBM Forum one of the evenings after work and I didn’t see my son for almost two days. Driving home, it hit me that I will end up missing so much of his life and before I know it he will be a teenager. How do other working moms/ parents do it? I leave the house around 6-6:30AM before he wakes up and don’t get home until 7PM (or sometimes later) and it’s killing me that I only get to see him for just about 45 minutes every day during the week. Our weekends as a fimily are really amazing but still… is this how it is supposed to be... just weekends???
Anyway, here are some of this month’s highlights:
March 1st
Baba Marta – All Bulgarians celebrate the tradition of carrying a white and red martenici. We do it out of tradition and for health and happiness. Given that our families still live in Bulgaria, we have strong connections to certain Bulgarian traditions, including this one.
My parents sent us a whole bag of martenici and of course, it only made sense for Vanie to wear his 1st one as soon as he woke up on March 1st. Needless to say, he didn’t leave it pinned on his cloths for even a minute so I can take a picture.
March 8th
International Women’s Day
It is not necessarily celebrated here but March 8th is big in Bulgaria and Russia. This is also the official Mother’s day in Bulgaria so it meant making phone calls and greeting our moms.
We will have to see how we treat this one along with the official American Mother’s day once Vanie is older. I am thinking I should get both. :-)
March 11th
3 Months since our court date and since we officially become the parents of the sweetest, most cheerful and adorable little boy we have ever met. We plan on celebrating this day as an official anniversary once Vanie starts comprehending the amazing story of our family.
Another miracle on this date - Vanie decided that in honor of his “Gotcha Day” he should man up and finally stop crying eveerytime we try to feed him with a spoon. Yes, he no longer cries and actually likes being fed with the spoon ( I can even say that he prefers it to the bottle).
March 21st
That weekend Vanie had his first real beach experience. No, we didn’t go sunbathing but it was warm enough for us to walk in the sand and get Vanie’s feet in the water. He cried at first, not knowing how to react to the ocean waives or the warm and soft sand but he got pretty comfortable very soon. So comfortable that when we went to the beach a week later, he screamed his lungs out when we didn’t let him in the water b/c it was way too cold.
Overall, our son is doing great, developing by the minute and just making us happy every second of our lives. He is enjoying his daily walks to the park with his grandma and just all the freedom she gives him. He’s also gotten a nice Californian tan from being outside so much (catching up on vitamin D).
I keep hearing funny stories from their daily routine that always make our days:
• My mother-in-law once found him hiding and playing in Zorro’s house,
• He keeps begging for snacks so he can feed Zorro with them
• He has “lost” at least two sippy cups somewhere in the house which are still missing to this day
• Grandma’s glasses are missing now, too (not a trace of them)
• We constantly find either our underwear out of the designated drawers or all the books he can reach off the book shelves in our bedroom
• He keeps going on the scale in our room (mimicking us). He loves it and keeps doing it but doesn’t really know what it means
• His new thing is to stop and look at and “smell” every flower he sees. “Smells” is in quotes b/c he knows he is supposed to lean towards the flowers but doesn’t know to use his nose to smell them yet. He is just so artistic and I really hope he keeps that as he is growing up.
I can make this post endless because there have been so many little things and precious moments I wish I could record and memorize but it’s just impossible. I might just start doing so on twitter b/c it’s hard to remember everything once you are out of the moment.
I will post more pictures in the following post.
Showing posts with label Vanie Development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vanie Development. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
15 months old and 2 months home
Yes, our little boy just turned 15 months this weekend and it’s been 2 months since we got him home.
A few updates:
•Going back to work tomorrow so he will be home with his grandma ( i miss him already)
•We had the 15th month check up and he has gained 600gr (1 ½ lbs) and has grown 2 centimeters (almost one inch) in a month. Blood work from last time was all good but his body is low on vitamin D so he needs to start additional vitamins. He got the MMR shot, as well. We don’t have to go back until he is 18 months.
•Vanie got sick on Friday, just fever (up to 102F) and nothing else. He didn’t feel well at all on Friday and pretty much stayed either in his crib or cuddled with him mommy. We finally got the fever under control by Saturday afternoon. Not sure what the whole thing was but we are happy he is better now. The only problem is that he stopped eating and of course we have a few sleepless nights.
•Some of the developments this month:
- 2 more molars just broke out last week and one more front (lower) tooth making it up to 11 teeth now
- doesn’t crawl at all but walks and actually runs like a big boy now (the 1st few days he was learning how to run, he was running in the same spot wondering why I can catch him, it didn’t take him long to figure out who to actually run forward)
- learned to blow kisses (finally)
-waives good bye to everyone
- knows to point to his nose, mouth; ears and… penis
- knows to bring his shoes when asked to
- knows to sit down and get up in the tub when told to do so
- knows and says the words for dad, mom and grandma (haven’t heard him say Zorro in a while)
- knows how to pet Zorro nicely (before he was just poking him) and tries to kiss him
- Still hates the spoon and cries a lot (the doctors told us to leave it for a while) but tries to feed Zorro with his spoon after we let him out of his chair
- Had 2 tiny time-outs in the corner this month because he continues to play with Zorro’s water (I caught him grabbing water our of his bowl with one of his stacking cups and pouring it on the hardwood floor)
- His new thing is to collect and store all his toys and anything he finds on the coffee table in one of his toy cars
- Still loves music and dances to most melodies he hears
I am sure there is more but I can’t think of it right now.,,, I will miss being home with him and seeing him grow but the minute. Let’s see if I can hold the tears before leaving tomorrow. :-(
Friday, February 5, 2010
This week’s project
I’ve officially decided to make at least one of the meals a spoon feeding. Yeah….i don’t have any other words except…..torture. Yes, for me and him but I am hoping he will get used to it as everything else. Who knows how many days it will take. I don’t know what it is about the spoon that he doesn’t like.
So, now I try to give him at least 10-12 spoons of his lunch (ok, it’s more like me forcing the baby spoon full with food into his little mouth) and then I let him eat the rest in a bottle.
We’ve been doing this for 3 days now and he is not happy AT ALL. Vanie cries as soon as he sees the spoon, every single bite, but then ends up eating everything I am able to stuff in his mouth. I do have to use my fingers a lot to stick the food back in while he tries to spit it out during the constant crying session. (yes, I know – yuck).
The 10 spoons take like 45 minutes, the bottle feeding (assuming he is not mad at me and doesn’t throw it on the floor) takes like 5-7 minutes.
One thing I have to say: there is food EVERYWHERE and Zorro loves it. Here are a few pix of how the whole thing goes down.
Everything and everyone (incl. Zorro) in posittion...
After one of the "bites" - that was the face i saw after every spoon.
Watching the financial news while chewing. I switched to Dora shortly after, hoping it will help (it didn't).
No comment, except the food wasn't only on his face. this is actually a pretty clean shot. Sometimes, there is food on his eye lashes and on the curls.
Drinking juice out of mom’s glass. I was ready to do anything to make him stop crying.
Playing with the leftovers on his hands and face.
So, now I try to give him at least 10-12 spoons of his lunch (ok, it’s more like me forcing the baby spoon full with food into his little mouth) and then I let him eat the rest in a bottle.
We’ve been doing this for 3 days now and he is not happy AT ALL. Vanie cries as soon as he sees the spoon, every single bite, but then ends up eating everything I am able to stuff in his mouth. I do have to use my fingers a lot to stick the food back in while he tries to spit it out during the constant crying session. (yes, I know – yuck).
The 10 spoons take like 45 minutes, the bottle feeding (assuming he is not mad at me and doesn’t throw it on the floor) takes like 5-7 minutes.
One thing I have to say: there is food EVERYWHERE and Zorro loves it. Here are a few pix of how the whole thing goes down.
Everything and everyone (incl. Zorro) in posittion...
After one of the "bites" - that was the face i saw after every spoon.
Watching the financial news while chewing. I switched to Dora shortly after, hoping it will help (it didn't).
No comment, except the food wasn't only on his face. this is actually a pretty clean shot. Sometimes, there is food on his eye lashes and on the curls.
Drinking juice out of mom’s glass. I was ready to do anything to make him stop crying.
Playing with the leftovers on his hands and face.
Monday, February 1, 2010
14 mo’s old and 1 mo home
Yes, can you believe it? The last month’s been amazing. Our little boy has is now 14 month’s old. We had his physical today and he did very well considering that he had to give 4 vials of blood and got 2 vaccinations.
As a good mom I would have taken pix but I forgot the camera. The doc’s conclusion is that he is doing well for his age but needs to gain weight. She was even surprise as to how much he walks and runs for his age (given that he just got out of the adoption crib a month ago).
His stats:
Weight: 20 lb 8 oz or 9.3 kg or 8th % (he was 8.6 kg with cloths a month ago which means he has gained over one kg – very good). The doc told me he needs to gain, gain, gain….
Length: 30.3 in or 76.8 cm or 37th % - below 50th % but it didn’t seem to be a problem
Head circumference: 49 cm or 94% - we got us a smart one!!! :-)
Conclusion: feed him all the carbs and calories possible so he can gain at least 3-4 lbs before his next appointment at the end of the month.
His blood results should be available soon. Whish us luck that everything is ok and he is healthy.
Overall, our little guy’s been doing great at home. He’s learned so much over the last month, I can’t even believe how much he’s changed and grown. He is a little unstoppable walking/ running/ playing energizing bunny that we can’t imagine our lives without.
Our good friends Chris, Gerge and their cute daughter Eni were visiting this weekend so we were able to take some good pictures. Enjoy:
Eni and Vanie
Walking...
and walking...
Our friends "borrowing" Vanie - hm, a son looks really good on them :-)
As a good mom I would have taken pix but I forgot the camera. The doc’s conclusion is that he is doing well for his age but needs to gain weight. She was even surprise as to how much he walks and runs for his age (given that he just got out of the adoption crib a month ago).
His stats:
Weight: 20 lb 8 oz or 9.3 kg or 8th % (he was 8.6 kg with cloths a month ago which means he has gained over one kg – very good). The doc told me he needs to gain, gain, gain….
Length: 30.3 in or 76.8 cm or 37th % - below 50th % but it didn’t seem to be a problem
Head circumference: 49 cm or 94% - we got us a smart one!!! :-)
Conclusion: feed him all the carbs and calories possible so he can gain at least 3-4 lbs before his next appointment at the end of the month.
His blood results should be available soon. Whish us luck that everything is ok and he is healthy.
Overall, our little guy’s been doing great at home. He’s learned so much over the last month, I can’t even believe how much he’s changed and grown. He is a little unstoppable walking/ running/ playing energizing bunny that we can’t imagine our lives without.
Our good friends Chris, Gerge and their cute daughter Eni were visiting this weekend so we were able to take some good pictures. Enjoy:
Eni and Vanie
Walking...
and walking...
Our friends "borrowing" Vanie - hm, a son looks really good on them :-)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Our new word
(old pic but i like the face he is making)
It’s official – Vanie’s new word (one of very few) is Zorro. Well, it sounds more like “Zoho” or even “Ooho” but he definitely means “Zorro”. Ok, the letters “z” and “r” are not exactly easy but the little guy is really trying, He even woke up with that word this morning. I have to admit that Zorro it pretty much his only buddy right now and the rainy days are not helping. We’ve been to Ikea like 10 times in the last week.
Here are a few other updates about Vanie:
• Doesn’t stop walking and carrying things around the house. Tried to “help” me fold the laundry the other day - it took me a while to find a few socks after that. :-)
• Can bend down to pick up a toy and get up without having to sit or fall down with the toy in his hand.
• Loves to talk to him in baby talk. He tries really hard to say things to us but doesn’t know how to do it yet. It’s tough being a 1 year old one…
• Can no drink out of a sippy cup and a straw cup – took a few days but now he likes it.
• Loves to eat bananas and Cheerios and small pcs of bread as long as he is allowed to put them in his mouth on his own.
• No more dog food or water incidents (yet). I think he’s lost interest for now – YAY.
• Started deliberately pressing certain buttons on his musical toys to get the music to pay so he can dance. I will have to make a video of him “dancing”.
Other:
• Still dislikes eating out of a spoon and throws a tantrum until he gets the bottle even if the food is quite a solid puree. I will give him a chance to feed himself with a spoon one of these days to see if that would work but have to figure out how to minimize the disaster he will create. I know he will get there like with everything else.
•The daily naps are getting shorter and shorter. He now only has two half hour naps making his total sleep around 12 hours – that just isn’t enough especially after all the daily running he does every day.
• No potty training yet (I know everyone at work is getting a kick out of this one). Yes – I have officially decided that he is not ready yet and needs some time to get used to all other new things he is learning. I know, I know, I am getting soft. What can I say, the little guy is getting to me and has made me just a little bit softer of a mom than I expected to be.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Still sick (me)
Vanie seems to be doing ok but I am still coughing so I had to go to the doctor again this morning. They gave me a prescription cough syrup. Let’s hope it helps b/c no one here can sleep from my coughing.
Yesterday was a day of mishaps. Vanie got into all kinds of trouble.
Fist of all, only had one nap that was less than an hour.
THEN he kept opening all kinds of and kitchen cabinets (getting these locked today) and tried to pull stuff out but didn’t really mange to get anything out or brake anything.
THEN he kept playing with the stove’s door, opened it and fell (have to figure out how to secure that one).
AND THEN…I caught him playing with Zorro’s water AGAIN (after catching him numerous times trying to play with Zoro’s food). Vanie was all wet and the water was completely spilled but I really hope he didn’t drink any of it. After all, he was there for just a second.
I think Zorro is now worried about his food b/c he ate all of it once he saw Vanie near it for the 50th time. I am running out of ways to say the words “no”, “not allowed, “can’t” and can’t touch or do that”.
On the good side, we made some progress with the food: had blended chicken soup out of the bottle for lunch and liked it, had about ½ banana – little bites between all the walking trips in the house, and had pieces of pizza beagles. I had to keep Zorro and Vanie apart on the pizza beagles, had one of them on each side and was giving them bites. This used to be one of Zorro’s treats in the past so we will have to see if he can handle sharing with Vanie.
Zorro update: he is sick of eating Vanie’s dropped Cheerios and doesn’t like to pick them up any more. My walking vacuum is broken. :-(
Time to start dropping some meat!!!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
[Not so?] Happy New Year!
I haven’t posted anything for a few days for a reason. Vanie and I arrived in the US sick and went straight to “Urgie Kids” since it was after hours. We were both put on antibiotics for ear infections.
After 2 days on the antibiotics, Vanie developed what we thought was a rash from it. The doctor warned us that rash and diarrhea could be side effects. It all seemed to fit. We went to the same place on Saturday morning to change the antibiotic … What we thought was a rash turned out to be (most probably) Varicella (chicken pox). :-(
It takes about 14 days for it to develop once it’s contracted which means he got it in Vladivostok. And now that I think about it, one of the families there mentioned that the orphanage their son was at was under quarantine for Varicella. So, Vani must have gotten it from him/ them.
The Varicella vaccination is usually done around 12 months of age and Vanie didn’t get it. Based on what the embassy doctor wrote in his vaccination chart “not routinely available”.
The poor kid has completely changed his sleeping schedule b/c of the time difference. Sleeps during day and screams from pain and itching at night. I don’t think I have been up after 2PM for so long since I was a teenager. Welcome to parenthood, I guess!
I just feel bad that we may have exposed so many other people and kids to the disease as we were on 2 planes and did go out to a few stores with Vanie b4 we knew what he had.
Ok, off to pick out a pediatrician as we are supposed to go see one tomorrow morning!
I will post again when I get the chance. Whish us luck and let’s hope Vanie gets better soon. I know he will, he is our little Temujin after all! :-)
After 2 days on the antibiotics, Vanie developed what we thought was a rash from it. The doctor warned us that rash and diarrhea could be side effects. It all seemed to fit. We went to the same place on Saturday morning to change the antibiotic … What we thought was a rash turned out to be (most probably) Varicella (chicken pox). :-(
It takes about 14 days for it to develop once it’s contracted which means he got it in Vladivostok. And now that I think about it, one of the families there mentioned that the orphanage their son was at was under quarantine for Varicella. So, Vani must have gotten it from him/ them.
The Varicella vaccination is usually done around 12 months of age and Vanie didn’t get it. Based on what the embassy doctor wrote in his vaccination chart “not routinely available”.
The poor kid has completely changed his sleeping schedule b/c of the time difference. Sleeps during day and screams from pain and itching at night. I don’t think I have been up after 2PM for so long since I was a teenager. Welcome to parenthood, I guess!
I just feel bad that we may have exposed so many other people and kids to the disease as we were on 2 planes and did go out to a few stores with Vanie b4 we knew what he had.
Ok, off to pick out a pediatrician as we are supposed to go see one tomorrow morning!
I will post again when I get the chance. Whish us luck and let’s hope Vanie gets better soon. I know he will, he is our little Temujin after all! :-)
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Dec. 26th - Last night in Vladivostok
Not a good start today: Vanie woke up sick, no fever but he is coughing. Also, he was up at 6:30 today b/c he went to bed so early yesterday. Fortunately he ate normally and had two long naps. We got cough meds and nose drops delivered to the hotel and now the torture is on me to give to him. He threw a big tantrum when I tried the drops, threw his dinner bottle, cried for a while and didn’t want to finish dinner. I really hope he is better tomorrow.
Another big update today: he now stands up on his own without holding onto anything (once I make him) and freely walks a few steps towards me or the mirror or the laptop without falling down – no need of a wall. Isn’t that great!?! I really hope he is ready to walk by the time we get home. The funny part, if he hears music, he tries to dance/ shake while walking and ends up falling or walking sideways. It’s so funny. And I have to say that that mirror really distracts him. :-)
Another good thing: WE LEAVE FOR MOSCOW TOMORROW. Big YAY! I just can’t wait to leave this place. It was snowing all night and morning and we got about 4 additional inches but that seems to be it.
My parents and sis are on their way to Moscow as I type this and will be waiting there for us.
This will probably my last post for a while until I get back home as I don’t know if I will be able to post updates from Moscow.
I think I’ve handled being a mom pretty well so far but the big test will be tomorrow’s 9 ½ hours flight.
Ok, off to finish packing. Can’t wait to see my family and for everyone to meet our new addition.
Another big update today: he now stands up on his own without holding onto anything (once I make him) and freely walks a few steps towards me or the mirror or the laptop without falling down – no need of a wall. Isn’t that great!?! I really hope he is ready to walk by the time we get home. The funny part, if he hears music, he tries to dance/ shake while walking and ends up falling or walking sideways. It’s so funny. And I have to say that that mirror really distracts him. :-)
Another good thing: WE LEAVE FOR MOSCOW TOMORROW. Big YAY! I just can’t wait to leave this place. It was snowing all night and morning and we got about 4 additional inches but that seems to be it.
My parents and sis are on their way to Moscow as I type this and will be waiting there for us.
This will probably my last post for a while until I get back home as I don’t know if I will be able to post updates from Moscow.
I think I’ve handled being a mom pretty well so far but the big test will be tomorrow’s 9 ½ hours flight.
Ok, off to finish packing. Can’t wait to see my family and for everyone to meet our new addition.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Dec 25th - Christmas Day
Not much to say about today except I am glad it’s over. Yes, it’s Christmas day but it doesn’t feel like it. Nothing festive here.
At lest I got to see my family, Jason & Zoro, Zivka & Mitch through Skype.
It was a long day. Vanie only had one 45 min nap and was ready to go to bed by 7:30 PM (which means being cranky since 6 PM). I put him is his crib (lots of crying, screaming and kicking) and he was asleep within 10 minutes – he must have been really tired from not doing much today. I hope he doesn’t wake up in the middle of the night.
We’ve been both sneezing here and there today so we better not be getting sick…
This place is starting go get to us (even the pool table isn't helping) and I am just glad we have only one more night here. I still have to find out from Anya when we leave but it should be in the morning of the 27th.
It started snowing again around 4PM and it’s supposed to continue through tomorrow. Lets hope we can fly out without any problems or delays.
Oh, development today: Vanie barely cried in the tub today and even tried to play with the water a little bit. Big step - it only took how many baths?!?! He is still not completely sold on the bathing idea but we are getting there.
My parents told me that out of all the holiday pita fortunes Vanie got the big one and mom and my sis got the small ones. They are leaving for Moscow tomorrow and I can’t wait to see them. It’s been 2 ½ yrs since I saw my mom and dad and over a year since I saw my sis.
At lest I got to see my family, Jason & Zoro, Zivka & Mitch through Skype.
It was a long day. Vanie only had one 45 min nap and was ready to go to bed by 7:30 PM (which means being cranky since 6 PM). I put him is his crib (lots of crying, screaming and kicking) and he was asleep within 10 minutes – he must have been really tired from not doing much today. I hope he doesn’t wake up in the middle of the night.
We’ve been both sneezing here and there today so we better not be getting sick…
This place is starting go get to us (even the pool table isn't helping) and I am just glad we have only one more night here. I still have to find out from Anya when we leave but it should be in the morning of the 27th.
It started snowing again around 4PM and it’s supposed to continue through tomorrow. Lets hope we can fly out without any problems or delays.
Oh, development today: Vanie barely cried in the tub today and even tried to play with the water a little bit. Big step - it only took how many baths?!?! He is still not completely sold on the bathing idea but we are getting there.
My parents told me that out of all the holiday pita fortunes Vanie got the big one and mom and my sis got the small ones. They are leaving for Moscow tomorrow and I can’t wait to see them. It’s been 2 ½ yrs since I saw my mom and dad and over a year since I saw my sis.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Vanie’s Progress
Warning: LONG update
Updates from the last few days with the kid “home”.
Keep in mind that Vanie is almost 13 months but he’s spent the 1st 12 mmo's in the orphanage. It’s said that a child loses 1 mo of development for every 3 mo’s spent in an orphanage. I don’t think he is that behind. He strikes me as a 1 yr old with lots of energy and readiness to learn. He is a fighter (just missing the horse and sward) and not letting the “1 yr without parents” thing slow him down.
Sleeping: The perfect baby! Sleeps through the entire night (sometimes I have to wake him up in the AM) and usually has 2 naps during the day. Doesn’t like falling asleep but does so on his own.
The daily sleeping rituals: 1) All the toys get thrown out of the crib one by one (hoping someone will pick them up and go play with him). 2) The bed sheets are completely taken out and rolled into a ball somewhere in the bed. 3) When no toys are left, the knocking on the neighbor’s wall starts. We call is the “Free Nelson Mandela” riot. 4) Several attempts to pull the socks off his feet until he succeeds or gets bored. 5) Left thumb in sucking mode (supported by his right hand, in case that thumb decides to escape). 6) Some kind of singing follows (with the thumb in his mouth). 7) A crib corner is picked and the accidental falling asleep starts followed by laud snoring.
Eating: Loves to eat and usually does so 5 times a day. Still on formula 2x a day and prefers the bottle. The rest of the meals: purees, oatmeal and yogurt. Knows how to eat with a spoon but can’t feed himself and uses his fingers a lot. Since mom can’t handle the mess right now in the hotel, he eats everything out of a bottle and loves it. Loves sweet foods only and is not so big on the oatmeal and veggie purees (but will eat them when hungry) and absolutely dislikes soups or meat baby foods. We will have to work on upgrading to chunkier and not so sweet foods once we get home.
Drinking: The kid just doesn’t know or like to drink water. If he does, it has to be warm and with a bit of either sweet or formula flavor or he won’t drink it. Doesn’t know how to use the sippy cup yet.
Walking: Almost ready to walk. In the last week he has made progress from walking holding onto two fingers to holding onto one finger only to letting go off one wall and making up to 7 steps toward mom on his own. Sometimes it’s more like flying than walking. I have to confess: once I saw he is willing to let go off the wall (oh and it’s one specific wall in our room, not just any) I made him do it like a hundred time and didn’t let him go to bed until he got to the 5-7 steps. He seemed to like it and since I can’t potty train him yet I figured I can at least teach him how to walk.
Talking: didn’t say much once we got him but now he is up to the basic “mamama”, “bababa”, “dadada”, “nanana” and all kinds of monkey sounds that I don’t know the meaning of yet. No whole words yet.
Teeth: so far 4 upper and 2 lower front ones, no new ones since we saw him in October.
Bathing: hates the bathtub and water. He doesn’t even cry, he screams while in the tub and I am in with him… but we are making progress, it’s getting a little bit better every day. The screaming stops the minutes he steps on a towel outside of the tub. Becoming a surfer is sliding down on our sports list.
The Mirror and stroller story: so our kid loves the mirror. The problem is his stroller is in front of the mirror and he hates the stroller. So after 2 days not being able to see himself, he started pushing the stroller out to the bathroom and making room for himself in front of the mirror. If that doesn’t tell you he is smart, I don’t know what does. Ok, maybe not smart but practical. :-)
Favorite toys: there is nothing like the laptop, mom’s cell phone (so much better than the toy phone he has) and the remote control, the mirror, a small ball, colorful books and musical toys. Not sure who thought him but he LOVES to dance (baby style) to kids music or someone singing to him. He doesn’t do it to music on TV or radio so it seems to be kids songs for now. Not sure if he is going to be a singer, a musicion or a dancer… yet to find out.
Things he learned over the last few days: shaking his head left/ right and up/ down for ‘no’ and ‘yes’, chasing and playing with a small ball, doing a version of “high 5” with mom, clapping his hands, walking a few steps, pulling the laptop by its cables to get it closer to him, pushing the stroller out of the mirror’s way, taking his socks off, sticking his tongue out, making farting sounds with his mouths… and most probably other things I can’t think of right now.
Updates from the last few days with the kid “home”.
Keep in mind that Vanie is almost 13 months but he’s spent the 1st 12 mmo's in the orphanage. It’s said that a child loses 1 mo of development for every 3 mo’s spent in an orphanage. I don’t think he is that behind. He strikes me as a 1 yr old with lots of energy and readiness to learn. He is a fighter (just missing the horse and sward) and not letting the “1 yr without parents” thing slow him down.
Sleeping: The perfect baby! Sleeps through the entire night (sometimes I have to wake him up in the AM) and usually has 2 naps during the day. Doesn’t like falling asleep but does so on his own.
The daily sleeping rituals: 1) All the toys get thrown out of the crib one by one (hoping someone will pick them up and go play with him). 2) The bed sheets are completely taken out and rolled into a ball somewhere in the bed. 3) When no toys are left, the knocking on the neighbor’s wall starts. We call is the “Free Nelson Mandela” riot. 4) Several attempts to pull the socks off his feet until he succeeds or gets bored. 5) Left thumb in sucking mode (supported by his right hand, in case that thumb decides to escape). 6) Some kind of singing follows (with the thumb in his mouth). 7) A crib corner is picked and the accidental falling asleep starts followed by laud snoring.
Eating: Loves to eat and usually does so 5 times a day. Still on formula 2x a day and prefers the bottle. The rest of the meals: purees, oatmeal and yogurt. Knows how to eat with a spoon but can’t feed himself and uses his fingers a lot. Since mom can’t handle the mess right now in the hotel, he eats everything out of a bottle and loves it. Loves sweet foods only and is not so big on the oatmeal and veggie purees (but will eat them when hungry) and absolutely dislikes soups or meat baby foods. We will have to work on upgrading to chunkier and not so sweet foods once we get home.
Drinking: The kid just doesn’t know or like to drink water. If he does, it has to be warm and with a bit of either sweet or formula flavor or he won’t drink it. Doesn’t know how to use the sippy cup yet.
Walking: Almost ready to walk. In the last week he has made progress from walking holding onto two fingers to holding onto one finger only to letting go off one wall and making up to 7 steps toward mom on his own. Sometimes it’s more like flying than walking. I have to confess: once I saw he is willing to let go off the wall (oh and it’s one specific wall in our room, not just any) I made him do it like a hundred time and didn’t let him go to bed until he got to the 5-7 steps. He seemed to like it and since I can’t potty train him yet I figured I can at least teach him how to walk.
Talking: didn’t say much once we got him but now he is up to the basic “mamama”, “bababa”, “dadada”, “nanana” and all kinds of monkey sounds that I don’t know the meaning of yet. No whole words yet.
Teeth: so far 4 upper and 2 lower front ones, no new ones since we saw him in October.
Bathing: hates the bathtub and water. He doesn’t even cry, he screams while in the tub and I am in with him… but we are making progress, it’s getting a little bit better every day. The screaming stops the minutes he steps on a towel outside of the tub. Becoming a surfer is sliding down on our sports list.
The Mirror and stroller story: so our kid loves the mirror. The problem is his stroller is in front of the mirror and he hates the stroller. So after 2 days not being able to see himself, he started pushing the stroller out to the bathroom and making room for himself in front of the mirror. If that doesn’t tell you he is smart, I don’t know what does. Ok, maybe not smart but practical. :-)
Favorite toys: there is nothing like the laptop, mom’s cell phone (so much better than the toy phone he has) and the remote control, the mirror, a small ball, colorful books and musical toys. Not sure who thought him but he LOVES to dance (baby style) to kids music or someone singing to him. He doesn’t do it to music on TV or radio so it seems to be kids songs for now. Not sure if he is going to be a singer, a musicion or a dancer… yet to find out.
Things he learned over the last few days: shaking his head left/ right and up/ down for ‘no’ and ‘yes’, chasing and playing with a small ball, doing a version of “high 5” with mom, clapping his hands, walking a few steps, pulling the laptop by its cables to get it closer to him, pushing the stroller out of the mirror’s way, taking his socks off, sticking his tongue out, making farting sounds with his mouths… and most probably other things I can’t think of right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
