Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy halloween! 

Yummy!

 

My frist pumpkin!

Hail to the King!

Trick or Treat!

Mmmmm I like treats!

Random Cuteness

Alex playing on his new slide - Thank you Grammy & Poppa!

Running from Daddy (yes, outside at night in his socks - it was a really warm night this week - but now we are back to the cold)

Hanging out in his robe.

Reading a book wearing his new jammies that we won from Little Seouls

Night Night

One Year Ago…

One year ago today, just after 9pm, Matt and I became parents – and to think, we almost didn’t answer the phone. 

This is the first picture we ever saw of our son – and couldn’t stop looking at until we had him in our arms in Seoul.

We never posted our referral pictures last year – we felt they were too personal.  But you have all stuck with us through the past year and now is the perfect opportunity to share.

I really can’t imagine our life without him.  Alex is our everything.

Poor little man…

Alex is still sick.  He came down with a doozy of a cold almost 3 weeks ago – runny nose and cough – but after a week he was left with only the cough.  And it has not gone away.  It was getting worse and worse, waking him up at night and in the morning, and actually sounding quite painful – however Alex didn’t seem to really notice.  On Tuesday Matt took Alex in to the dr’s who said he has a lot of congestion in his upper respiratory area due to the “environment”.  Turns out there are a lot of kids and adults with that right now.  The dr. prescribed a puffer and one of those masks for administering the meds – which surprisingly Alex doesn’t mind.  Luckily it is not infectious and Alex could continue going to the sitters.  But on Wednesday I ended up taking the afternoon off and went to get him from Megan’s – good old Mommy Guilt.  I want to be the one to care for him when he’s sick!  I know Megan is a good caregiver, but when Alex is being extra cuddly because of the cough, and from his eye teeth coming through, I want to be the one to comfort him, not someone else.  Some times I wish I could be a stay at home mom.  The cough seems to be getting better and Alex is sleeping more soundly at night which is a huge relief.

The week that was

The past week was a blur.

I just seem to work, play, crash, repeat.  I love – but it just leaves little time for one of the things I enjoy – blogging.  But I have a few minutes now so here’s what’s been going on.  Matt went away with some of the men in the neighbourhood – up to his family cottage for a fishing adventure.  Well – they didn’t catch many fish – but I hear that they had lots of fun.  So that left Alex and I for a mommy and son bonding weekend.  I had such great plans – mainly a pumpkin patch adventure!  However, it rained, and rained, and rained some more – so no outdoor adventures for us. 

Instead, one of my neighbours, whose hubby was up north with Matt, and I took our boys to Kidzone in Waterloo.  I had gone a few months ago when Alex was still pretty little and could hardly walk – so this was a whole new adventure.  Alex seemed to enjoy himself – but I think at times he was overwhelmed by all the action.  He just loved watching everyone else – and who could blame him – it was really busy.  He was much more mobile this time around – running, crawling, climbing – but of course because of his age, I had to be with him at all times (not that I would ever let him out of my sight).  But I paid for it later!  Crawling through those tubes, lifting, climbing… argh.  I was in pain that night!  But it was worth it knowing Alex was having fun.

That night I had a few of the girls whose hubbies were north with Matt over for a movie, munchies, and drinks – we had a great time. We watched Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and chatted until way too late.  Alex decided to wake up at 6am…….. not cool.  So only 4 hours of sleep for me.  I felt horrible all Sunday and even napped when he did – but it was only 1.5 hours, I needed more like 3.  So Sunday was rough – but we survived!

Over the weekend I even had a few crafty moments!  I worked on a cell phone case for the upcoming Christmas craft show I’m participating in this November.  I think it turned out really well – now I just need to make 10 more.

Today was momentous too – we had our first day with our cleaning lady!  Yes ladies, a cleaning lady.  How did I survive so long without one?  The house looks great - and it will just keep getting better! To celebrate we went out for dinner (didn’t want to mess up the clean kitchen!) – which turned out to be a big mistake. Alex didn’t nap much today at the sitters, and he just threw his food everywhere.  Not cool – especially since we were at a restaurant, not somewhere like McD’s.  Oh well – it’s all about experiences right?

Tomorrow we go to the lawyers to sign the final adoption papers (yeah!) and have them notarized. They then get sent to our local courts to get approved – Finally!

He Won!

I submitted Alex’s picture to the Little Seouls photo contest this past month – and guess what?!  He won!! 

http://littleseouls.blogspot.com/2009/10/october-baby-of-month-winner-is.html

He won a pair of the adorable pj sets available from the Little Seouls shop.  If you haven’t checked out their site before you really should – they have wonderful products for children – and especially Korean children. 

Yeah Alex!

New Toy

On Sunday we decided Alex “needed”  a new toy.  So we headed down to the W*llm*rt in K-W and bought Alex his first real car.   I tried to take an action shot – but the car is just too darn fast!

But of course, what is his favourite part of his new car?  The box.

Wordless Wednesday

guess who came to visit me at work today?

Doing a little browsing while waiting for storytime to begin...

We survived.

Alex and I both survived his first full day at child care.  Horray!  Matt also survived his first day back at school, away from Alex.

I woke up at 6am, even though my alarm wasn’t set until 7, thinking about the day ahead.  I knew it had to be done, but it was still sad thinking about Alex being in someone else’s care full time.  I dropped him off at 8:20 this morning.  When we arrived at the sitters, I saw a girl I went to highschool with dropping off her boys – so it was nice to know another person who trusts their children with Megan.  I also know a police woman who’s daughter goes there so that is also reasurraing. 

I went in, talked to Megan, and gave her the diapers and Alex’s supplies (sippy cup, change of clothes, meds, and his ‘doggy’ for nap time).  Alex seemed to know what was coming.  He stuck close and kept looking at me like “are you leaving me here?”   But he didn’t cry – which was a blessing – otherwise who knows what state I would have been in.  I left, and while I was sad, I kept it together. 

I actually booked the day off as a vacation – just in case there was a problem and he needed me – but no emergency calls came.  So, I vacuumed, cleaned a bit, and dealt with a paint colour issue (pictures to come). 

At 3:40, I decided to go get Alex, even though I didn’t have to pick him up until 4:30.  He seemed very excited to see me – even though he was happily eating O’s.  Megan told me Alex had a great day, except at nap time.  He didn’t want to sleep – cried and cried and she had to rub his back until he was asleep.  I’m sure that is normal for the first real nap away from home (minus the cottage naps).  He was also in a playpen which he isn’t used to.  He slept for just 45 minutes so he will sleep well tonight!  I was told Alex loved their pet cat, and even licked one of the cat’s ears… not sure what that was about – but at least he wasn’t pulling hair.

He still has a bit of a cough, and the sniffles – but not as bad as on Monday.  I also feel like I’m coming down with a doozy of a cold - I’m pretty sure mine isn’t teething related (although my last wisdom tooth was acting up yesterday).

I still don’t have new batteries for my camera (tomorrow I swear!), so here is a favourite from the summer that I had not posted.

Alex Update

I’ve been such a bad blogger – since I’ve been back to work, when I get home, the last thing I want to do is be on the computer since I sit at one all day.  So please forgive me!  I also don’t have any pictures to share from this week – I need new batteries so I can’t take any pictures off my camera until I can get to the camera shop - I know – bad blogger.

But Alex has been a very busy boy this week.  Here’s what’s going on:

Teeth
After last week’s play date with his Seoul Brothers, Alex seemed to be jealous of all the teeth that Lucas and Daniel had.  So, on Monday, he started getting some new ones.  He has been working on 2 top molars for a couple of weeks – but now we have the 2 top eye teeth and lower molar coming through.  So as you all know what that means – a grumpy, sore little man.   He’s been doing pretty well with it all though.  Alex is such a trooper.

Immunizations
Yesterday Matt took Alex to the Dr’s to finally get his 15 month shots (even though next week he turns 16 months).  He had his chickenpox shot and I think the Hib (whatever that might be).  And unfortunately Alex doesn’t react well in the night after his shots.  At 2am last night he woke up unconsolable and it took almost an hour for me to get him back to sleep.  Poor little guy. 

Childcare
Alex will be starting at the sitter’s on Tuesday full time so to get comfortable with her, he spent a few hours there on Thursday and Friday.  Megan, the child care provider has a home daycare that he will be attending full time.   From what I’ve been told Alex did really well.  He cried a bit after Matt left on Thursday, but no tears on Friday.  It will be interesting to see how it goes on Tuesday though – he hasn’t had a nap elsewhere without us before.  I’ve actually taken Tuesday off in case of a melt down    If no melt downs happen – the house will finally get cleaned.

Words
Right now, everything is pretty much a ball – or something similar in the B sounds.  He has a different sort of word for a bike (biiiii) and cries every time we walk past our bike in the garage – he must love the bike rides we go on.  He still occasionally says mama and dada – but rarely.   He doesn’t say blueberries (bububah) or bubbles any more for some reason.   His other word is up (or uhhhhh).  I understand them all so it works for us.  His babbles consist of a lot of different sounds so I’m sure more words will be coming soon.