I knew it had to happen eventually and I'm actually surprised that it didn't happen sooner. In G's kindergarten class each student has a penguin with their name on it. (They actually wore them as name tags for the first week of school.)
From what I can gather from G, they are now hung on a board, and each time someone gets in trouble the penguin is turned around to face backward.
On the way to school today, G casually mentions that "her penguin got turned around like Jake's cousin but she didn't cry." I had to prompt her for the details but it seems she was talking when she was standing in line and so she and at least one other child had their penguin turned around and they lost 1 minute of their recess time.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. First, I'm surprised that she waited a couple of days to mention it and second, she was pretty relaxed when she relayed the story. I had expected that she would be in tears the first time she got spoken to in school. I'm not sure if I should be alarmed that she wasn't upset or happy that she's so comfortable with her class and teacher.
Time will tell......
Friday, September 18, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Just moving along....
Time is just moving along. G is starting her fourth week of school and Baby K, well, she just continues to grow. Last week she did her first roll from tummy to back and so I excitedly called R and G to come see her latest trick but there was to be no repeat. We've also moved on from cereal to veggies-she loves sweet potatoes! I've got my fingers crossed that she likes the green vegetables as well.
Last week we took G to the dentist because there was a pesky looking spot on one of her molars. This was not our regular dentist but a pediatric dentist. We've been going to our family dentist since G was approx. 2 1/2 and getting her comfortable with the chair and the cleaning procedures but this was the first time that she actually had xrays. I can not tell you how surprised I was to learn that she needs two crowns and has eight cavities-this is all in a little mouth that brushes twice a day and has never drank fruit juice or soda. Because there is so much work to be done, it requires that G be put under anesthesia. R and I are looking to get a second opinion this week. Anyone out there with a recommendation?
This coming week is Baby K's welcome home party. We're looking forward to sharing a time of Marshallese food and music with our family and friends. I was hoping the girls and I could wear our guams and flip flops but I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that the weather holds out!
Thanks Aunt M for sending the pics below-
Guess what Baby K is going to be for Halloween?
Cousin RJ and Baby K
Uncle R and Baby K
Last week we took G to the dentist because there was a pesky looking spot on one of her molars. This was not our regular dentist but a pediatric dentist. We've been going to our family dentist since G was approx. 2 1/2 and getting her comfortable with the chair and the cleaning procedures but this was the first time that she actually had xrays. I can not tell you how surprised I was to learn that she needs two crowns and has eight cavities-this is all in a little mouth that brushes twice a day and has never drank fruit juice or soda. Because there is so much work to be done, it requires that G be put under anesthesia. R and I are looking to get a second opinion this week. Anyone out there with a recommendation?
This coming week is Baby K's welcome home party. We're looking forward to sharing a time of Marshallese food and music with our family and friends. I was hoping the girls and I could wear our guams and flip flops but I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that the weather holds out!
Thanks Aunt M for sending the pics below-
Guess what Baby K is going to be for Halloween?
Cousin RJ and Baby K
Uncle R and Baby K
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
It's all good-
Sometimes it is easy to forget that life is just good-too much news talking about the economy and the war, and it's easy to get depressed.
After a rain storm the other day, I happened to catch this picture of two rainbows. First time in my entire life that I can recall seeing two rainbows at one time. The one on the left was a little hard to make out but the colors were so vivid on the second one.
It's moments like these that make me remember that it's all good-we just have to make the time to slow down and enjoy it.
Speaking of all good-I took Baby K to get her 4 month immunizations and to have the first exam by our pediatrician, and surprise, surprise, she's grown. You may remember that I took her to the International Adoption Clinic at UVA a couple of weeks ago and she weighed 14lbs 8 oz. Amazingly, only two weeks later, she now weighs 15 lbs 12 oz. At this rate, she is going to be out of the next size clothing before we get a chance to wear any of it.
Now that she is almost 5 months old (where has that little tiny 10 week old baby gone?) the doctor said she is ready to start cereal and in a couple of weeks she can start first foods. Here's a couple of pics from our first rice cereal feeding adventure-
Big Sis and Little Sis
The cereal was a success!
G has been such a big help with her sister but the other day she mentioned that "we don't get to spend any time alone together". And she is right-I've been so wrapped up in getting settled in, getting school going, and just holding it all together that I've overlooked the time together that G and I used to spend alone. So after school today we had a little mini "girl's day out". Baby K was at Grammy's and so after I got off work I picked G up from school (which is still going very well) and we went to the movies. It cost $19 for two tickets to go to an afternoon show because it was in 3D. For that price, I could have waited until it came out on DVD and bought it.
But back to my original train of thought on this-it had been a long time since G and I had done something with just the two of us-it was nice. It made me realize that my big girl and I need to have a "girl's day out" on a regular basis.
After a rain storm the other day, I happened to catch this picture of two rainbows. First time in my entire life that I can recall seeing two rainbows at one time. The one on the left was a little hard to make out but the colors were so vivid on the second one.
It's moments like these that make me remember that it's all good-we just have to make the time to slow down and enjoy it.
Speaking of all good-I took Baby K to get her 4 month immunizations and to have the first exam by our pediatrician, and surprise, surprise, she's grown. You may remember that I took her to the International Adoption Clinic at UVA a couple of weeks ago and she weighed 14lbs 8 oz. Amazingly, only two weeks later, she now weighs 15 lbs 12 oz. At this rate, she is going to be out of the next size clothing before we get a chance to wear any of it.
Now that she is almost 5 months old (where has that little tiny 10 week old baby gone?) the doctor said she is ready to start cereal and in a couple of weeks she can start first foods. Here's a couple of pics from our first rice cereal feeding adventure-
Big Sis and Little Sis
The cereal was a success!
G has been such a big help with her sister but the other day she mentioned that "we don't get to spend any time alone together". And she is right-I've been so wrapped up in getting settled in, getting school going, and just holding it all together that I've overlooked the time together that G and I used to spend alone. So after school today we had a little mini "girl's day out". Baby K was at Grammy's and so after I got off work I picked G up from school (which is still going very well) and we went to the movies. It cost $19 for two tickets to go to an afternoon show because it was in 3D. For that price, I could have waited until it came out on DVD and bought it.
But back to my original train of thought on this-it had been a long time since G and I had done something with just the two of us-it was nice. It made me realize that my big girl and I need to have a "girl's day out" on a regular basis.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
School has started....
Okay, so the weekend got away from me and then the entire week got away from me. I really wanted to post these pics from kindergarten last week but then kindergarten actually started and I really got slowed down. It's amazing how getting up one hour earlier each day can make one soooo tired by the end of the week.
G successfully completed her first week of kindergarten. There were some tears along the way-both of us on the first day and then her off and on for the rest of the week. For all of my preschool friends this is just a deja vu of how school seems to go for G. I am hoping that most of the tears are gone and now that we are getting into a routine, this week will go much smoother. I will say I'm proud of myself for managing to get both girls and myself, dressed, fed, out of the house and to school on time for the past week. It was definitely a challenge some mornings since the variable is not knowing what time K is going to wake up each morning-the more I can get done before she gets up, the better.
Enjoy the pics of G, K, and cousin J. Until next week.......
and the definition of sister is......
Is this cute or what?
G and cousin J
G and her teacher Mrs. Copeland
G successfully completed her first week of kindergarten. There were some tears along the way-both of us on the first day and then her off and on for the rest of the week. For all of my preschool friends this is just a deja vu of how school seems to go for G. I am hoping that most of the tears are gone and now that we are getting into a routine, this week will go much smoother. I will say I'm proud of myself for managing to get both girls and myself, dressed, fed, out of the house and to school on time for the past week. It was definitely a challenge some mornings since the variable is not knowing what time K is going to wake up each morning-the more I can get done before she gets up, the better.
Enjoy the pics of G, K, and cousin J. Until next week.......
and the definition of sister is......
Is this cute or what?
G and cousin J
G and her teacher Mrs. Copeland
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Pictures of the Girls
Here are the pictures of the girls as promised-don't you love the hairbands on Baby K? Our friend Miss Carol made the hair accessories. You can check out her bows and hairbands at http://angelpiebows.blogspot.com/
Not too much to post tonight-tomorrow is G's first day of kindergarten. It's actually the orientation but she has to wear her uniform and take all of her school supplies in so we're considering it her first day. I'll try to get some pics up over the weekend.
Sisters
Baby K
Baby K
Not too much to post tonight-tomorrow is G's first day of kindergarten. It's actually the orientation but she has to wear her uniform and take all of her school supplies in so we're considering it her first day. I'll try to get some pics up over the weekend.
Sisters
Baby K
Baby K
Monday, August 17, 2009
Too Busy Last Week
This past week has been busy, busy, busy. I took G to see her pediatric dermatologist, an hour's drive away, which means that we usually just try and make a day of it. There is a fairly good mall on the way and we usually stop on the way back and G has lunch at her favorite place-Dairy Queen. I think the only reason it is her favorite spot is because she gets an ice cream with the kid's meal:-)
The very next day we headed to Charlottesville to take Baby K to the International Adoption Clinic at UVA-that was definitely an all day trip. We tried to break it up with a stop for a haircut for G and then lunch, but it was still a really long day for everybody. Thanks for being part of that trip Grammy! Those of you with small children know what that thank you is for-Grammy spent most of the trip in the back seat sandwiched between both car seats :-)
The Docs said that Baby K is right on track. At a little over 4 months, she weighs 14.8 lbs and is reaching developmental milestones right on time. Baby K has the same darkened areas on her backside that G had-they are called Mongolian spots and are very common in children with darker skin tones. Now the politically correct folks call them dermal melanocytosis,but either way you say it, they are not life threatening in any way and will fade in time. G's have just about faded completely away.
This past weekend was the annual reunion of G's China travel group. Each year someone takes on the organizing and sometimes we head to Pennsylvania and other times we've gotten together in Virginia. This year we got together at Wintergreen-it was a great trip. The resort was beautiful, the food was good, the kids loved the pool and the kid-friendly activities and the grown-ups enjoyed just having time to catch-up and relax.
I'm having Baby K's first pics done tomorrow as well as our first "sister" pics. I had wanted to do one of those bare bottom shots for Baby K-you know the ones with the baby on the all white background, nothing too risque, just a cute little dimpled bottom. Well, Portrait Innovations does not do any bare bottom pics so I've gotten these cute little monogrammed diaper covers for Baby K. You'll have to check back in a couple of days to see the outcome but I have high hopes for some cute pics.
In the meantime, and since I haven't posted in a little over a week, here are some pics to hold you over........
"Oh really, you don't say....."
D-daddy and Baby K
Baby K with Aunt M and Uncle R
G and friends at her travel group reunion
G and Baby K with Aunt M and Grammy
...and did I mention that all the kids went swimming at the travel group reunion?
The very next day we headed to Charlottesville to take Baby K to the International Adoption Clinic at UVA-that was definitely an all day trip. We tried to break it up with a stop for a haircut for G and then lunch, but it was still a really long day for everybody. Thanks for being part of that trip Grammy! Those of you with small children know what that thank you is for-Grammy spent most of the trip in the back seat sandwiched between both car seats :-)
The Docs said that Baby K is right on track. At a little over 4 months, she weighs 14.8 lbs and is reaching developmental milestones right on time. Baby K has the same darkened areas on her backside that G had-they are called Mongolian spots and are very common in children with darker skin tones. Now the politically correct folks call them dermal melanocytosis,but either way you say it, they are not life threatening in any way and will fade in time. G's have just about faded completely away.
This past weekend was the annual reunion of G's China travel group. Each year someone takes on the organizing and sometimes we head to Pennsylvania and other times we've gotten together in Virginia. This year we got together at Wintergreen-it was a great trip. The resort was beautiful, the food was good, the kids loved the pool and the kid-friendly activities and the grown-ups enjoyed just having time to catch-up and relax.
I'm having Baby K's first pics done tomorrow as well as our first "sister" pics. I had wanted to do one of those bare bottom shots for Baby K-you know the ones with the baby on the all white background, nothing too risque, just a cute little dimpled bottom. Well, Portrait Innovations does not do any bare bottom pics so I've gotten these cute little monogrammed diaper covers for Baby K. You'll have to check back in a couple of days to see the outcome but I have high hopes for some cute pics.
In the meantime, and since I haven't posted in a little over a week, here are some pics to hold you over........
"Oh really, you don't say....."
D-daddy and Baby K
Baby K with Aunt M and Uncle R
G and friends at her travel group reunion
G and Baby K with Aunt M and Grammy
...and did I mention that all the kids went swimming at the travel group reunion?
Friday, August 7, 2009
Missing the MI or just missing that slow lifestyle
I've read several blogs and emails from adoptive parents who say they miss the Marshall Islands once they've returned home. While there, I couldn't imagine having that thought, but now home a couple of weeks I can see where their line of thinking was headed.
There are definitely a lot of things that I don't miss about the MI-boiling water, a load of laundry taking 2 hours, the internet connection that almost wasn't most of the time, and the heat that just didn't subside.
What I do miss is the slow pace of their lifestyle. Here in the states, we are constantly on the go-scheduling appointments, making phone calls, running errands, and always in a hurry it seems. We are ever mindful of the time-gotta go, going to be late.......
The pace in the MI is the complete opposite. If it gets done today that is fine, otherwise, there is always tomorrow. You also find that it is difficult to do more than one or two things per day-going to the grocery store and doing a load of laundry could take up the whole day. At times very frustrating coming from our culture, but what you realize is that the time spent with family and friends tends to have a better quality. That's the pace that I hope I can continue to have with the girls. I want to remember that each day is a gift and to take time to enjoy it with both of them because all to soon they will be grown.
Point in case, we're shopping for school supplies for G to go to kindergarten. How did that happen? I know that she was just a baby yesterday. She looks so grown up in this picture trying on her school clothes.
I already see Baby K changing. She's growing and getting stronger. In this picture she is in her "jenny jump-up". Isn't that a riot? Many of you will recognize this contraption as a "johnny jump-up". We are so politically correct these days-
And last but not least, here is the elusive Papa with Baby K. They had the opportunity to meet the day we got home but with everyone being so tired, it was not the best picture taking day.
There are definitely a lot of things that I don't miss about the MI-boiling water, a load of laundry taking 2 hours, the internet connection that almost wasn't most of the time, and the heat that just didn't subside.
What I do miss is the slow pace of their lifestyle. Here in the states, we are constantly on the go-scheduling appointments, making phone calls, running errands, and always in a hurry it seems. We are ever mindful of the time-gotta go, going to be late.......
The pace in the MI is the complete opposite. If it gets done today that is fine, otherwise, there is always tomorrow. You also find that it is difficult to do more than one or two things per day-going to the grocery store and doing a load of laundry could take up the whole day. At times very frustrating coming from our culture, but what you realize is that the time spent with family and friends tends to have a better quality. That's the pace that I hope I can continue to have with the girls. I want to remember that each day is a gift and to take time to enjoy it with both of them because all to soon they will be grown.
Point in case, we're shopping for school supplies for G to go to kindergarten. How did that happen? I know that she was just a baby yesterday. She looks so grown up in this picture trying on her school clothes.
I already see Baby K changing. She's growing and getting stronger. In this picture she is in her "jenny jump-up". Isn't that a riot? Many of you will recognize this contraption as a "johnny jump-up". We are so politically correct these days-
And last but not least, here is the elusive Papa with Baby K. They had the opportunity to meet the day we got home but with everyone being so tired, it was not the best picture taking day.
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