Nature School!

As of right now, we don't see ourselves as long term homeschoolers.  Because of this, we felt it important to do everything we could to prepare C for a possible switch to public school as soon as next fall.  And when I say we, I mean me.  Unless you count the fact that hubby doesn't want C to grow up to be "one of those creepy homeschooled kids" then it's safe to say that I pretty much told my husband that the Nature School would be a good idea.

C is such a smart boy and he's been handling our kindergarten curriculum very well.  But, I knew adding something extra would really benefit my little social butterfly.  He obviously agreed as he's been asking me for weeks when he starts his "real school."

I can't imagine how I would feel if I'd put him on a school bus to kindergarten this year instead of keeping him home.  Because sending him into a preschool for a few hours two days a week is about all this mama can handle.  

His excitement was so incredibly adorable on his first day!  I LOVED it!  As other parents hung around in the classroom while their child tentatively checked things out, hubby and I wondered what we were still doing there as C had bounded out of the car waving goodbye!  Unfortunately for him, I have to walk him to the door each day because there's this pesky sign in sheet I must take care of. ;)

His first day went great!  He talked all day about how he got to hold a real daddy long leg spider.  I was actually a little surprised that things had gone as well as they had.  For an only child who has pretty much had his mama's undivided attention for the past 5 years, I expected the adjustment to being "one of many" to be a little rough.

And it has been. :(  As made evident on the second day when I endured my first talk with the teacher.  We have since only had one more "talk."  So, that's two "rough days" (as they like to call them) and three days that went just fine.  We're still maintaining a winning average!

Miss Monica, his lead teacher, has that whole sandwich thing down to an art.  You know, the thing where they squeeze in the fact that your child was a holy terror in between several glowing compliments. :) 

Compliments like, "All the kids in the class love him.  They want to be his friend and are always trying to please him.  Like today, his friend Lucy was bringing him all the daddy long leg spiders she found.  He loves being out on the trails and he's a great helper."

I'm so glad he is getting along well with his peers and making friends.  (Also thankful he's not one of the children who must have prompted this notice "Now that the kiddies are settling in, students are eager to make friends and pal around with each other. Please talk to your child and help them understand that touching or pushing is upsetting to friends. It’s not okay to hit or shove!" in our weekly update.)

I've thought several times that I should have published this post right after that first day...because since then I've been hesitant to do it.  Because it's not all sunshine and rainbows anymore.  You know, it's tough being five.  And it's all brand new and it will take him some time to get the hang of the structure, the expectations, etc.  And as much as a part of me wants to tuck tail and run we're sticking it out. 

Reminding myself that my child's behavior is not a reflection of who I am, but rather just a kid sorting this world out.  Reminding C that everyone makes mistakes.  Sometimes we don't make good choices.  And there are obviously consequences for that (which now Miss Monica knows about because C begged her not to tell me he had a rough day because he didn't want an 'x' on his chart)  but that just because you made a bad choice today doesn't mean you can't turn things around tomorrow.  Yes, he will eventually learn that it's not the end of the world when things don't go his way, that screaming is not an appropriate way to express the fact that he's sad about ending an activity ;) and that gosh darnit that lady really is going to tell my mom every time I act all crazy.  Nature school will teach him those things.  And I'll teach him that forgiveness isn't just something I talk about, but something I do.  That there is never a shortage of grace and that no matter what he does, he will forever be loved.

Update!!!

Happy, happy day!  New pictures and a progress report on our little peanut! 

He takes a bottle of formula 4 times a day and eats the following solid foods:
- rice
- bread
- potato
- egg
- fruit

These are the developmental milestones that were checked on his report...
- says umma (mamma) meaningfully
- shows understanding of words
- displays tantrum behaviors (Haha!  Your big brother is preparing us well for you kiddo) ;)
- plays ball cooperatively
- turns pages of a book
- scribbles with a pen
- puts three or more objects into a container
- holds and drinks from a cup with some spilling

These pictures were sent in a pdf file so I resorted to taking a picture of the computer screen to get them on here.  Yes, they are blue.  That's how they turned out when I didn't use the flash.  I'll take blue over covering half that sweet face with a reflection!

Oh, he is so cute.  All dressed up in his traditional hanbok.  Precious!

And we have a half-grin ladies and gentlemen!!! He still hasn't given us a full on smile, but we're getting closer. We can finally see those teeth they've been talking about.





His report also said he chose the pencil at his doljabee.  This is an event that takes place during the child's first birthday celebration.  Various items are laid out and the child's future is predicted based on the item he/she grabs.  Pencil = the child will become a successful scholar. :)

Scholar or not baby boy, we absolutely adore you and cannot wait to bring you home!!!

The things he says...

After setting down his lunch plate, which included pepperoni
C: I didn't even order that.
Me:  I know, but you need some protein.
C:  Protein?  Protein is poop.

C:  I can't wait 'til I get to hug him.
Me:  I know.  That will be so great when we all get to heaven and can hug Jesus.
C:  I can't do that.  My knees will be all wobbly.

Hubs:  Whoa.
Me:  What?
Hubs:  Nothing.  You're just kind of scary.
Me:  Well, you're sitting in the backseat.  Do you want to drive?
Hubs:  Slow down!
Me:  Seriously, want me to stop the car so you can drive?
Hubs:  I'm just trying to help you out.  The speed limit's like 15 right here.
Me:  Yeah it switches to 15 right here.  One more word and I'm gonna pull over.
C:  Shh Daddy!  Don't say anything.
Hubs:  What buddy?
C:  Quiet!  Don't do it daddy.  Don't say one word.
Hubs:  Why?
C:  Because I don't know what that thing means that she said she's gonna do.

C:  Whew!  That was a lot of poop coming out of me.
Me:  Yeah it was.  It was stinky poop too.
C:  You stink like a little fish.
Me.  Honey
C:  What?
Me:  It's ok to say that something stinks, but when we say that a person stinks it can hurt their feelings.
C:  I'm not talking about you.  I'm talking about a horse I know named Rachel.

C:  Can you stop all that banging around?  It's so loud.  It's distracting me while I'm coloring.
Hubs:  Why don't you appreciate what Mommy is doing for you right now.
C:  I appreciate her cooking my dinner.  I just don't appreciate the noise.
Me:  Well, I'll try to keep it down.
C:  Then I'm not mad at you.

After finding his scissors and numerous opened fruit snack packages strewn about downstairs.
Me:  C, does Mommy ever let you you eat five packages of gummies at a time?
C:  No.
Me:  How many do I let you have?
C:  One.
Me:  So, if I only give you one at a time, why did you think it was ok to eat five packs in a row?
C:  Because I am five.

While enjoying a nice family dinner out at Panera I thought I'd give C an opportunity to share with Daddy some of his new found knowledge.
Me:  C, do you want to tell Daddy about what we learned in science today?  Remember we breathe air in through our...
C:  Nose and mouth.
Me:  And it travels down our...
C:  Testicles!
If that's not proof of the benefits of homeschooling, I don't know what is.  I mean you just can't get an education like that outside the home.  Am I right?  We're only a few weeks into the school year, so this might be a little premature.  But, I'm expecting my teacher of the year award any day now.

Sweetness

Sweet boy.

Sweet treat.

Kindergarten-Week Four!

We are plugging right along here at home.  It did take us two weeks to complete our week four lesson plans (I told you we needed to start the year early!) but I'm not planning on another break until Thanksgiving. 

I paid attention during my last blog browsing session...and all my favorites write their captions above their pictures.  So there. 

Making his own coconut tree.

Inspecting those freckles to get things just right for that self portrait.  His idea of just right included blue lips and black hair.  Hmmm.

Art Day: Body Trace!  (This was actually our 2nd attempt.  After a talk about appropriateness I tossed the one he started in week two.  First thing he added was a toilet...that's all I'm sayin')

He keeps his "curly man" (we can't keep him flat) in his room.

His Noah's ark performance. :)

* Yes, yes I know.  My child needs to start wearing pants! ;)  I promise he doesn't go outside like this.

Rarely!  He rarely goes outside like this.

How he came to be ours continued...

The conversation between me and the hubs that I wrote about previously occurred on a Saturday night.  The next day I called our social worker (on a Sunday, I know!) to let her know we had discussed it and would like to switch over to the waiting list for boys.  She didn't seem to mind at all that I'd called her on the weekend and told me she would send an email right away and Monday morning we'd be on the list.  She said something like, "I don't want to say that you'll be matched right away.  I mean, it could take a few weeks maybe?  But, also could be immediate.  Even tomorrow.  But, you know I can't say for sure."  Well, she certainly said enough to have us freaking out!  On the phone with hubby that night we both thought "No way it's gonna happen tomorrow.  I mean, no way.  Right?"  We decided that whenever we did receive a referral we would look at it "together."  Which meant getting on the webcam while we each opened the email via our respective computers.  I went to sleep with butterflies in my stomach and something like this running through my head, "It won't happen tomorrow.  Don't even think it will.  You're going to be disappointed if it doesn't.  That's the same day.  The SAME DAY your name gets put on the waiting list.  You are so not getting a referral tomorrow.  Calm down.  Go to sleep woman."  Monday, January 10, 2011  I woke up and tried to go about business as usual.  Business as usual would mean super gluing the phone to my hand because I was not about to miss "the call."  Ok, so there was no glue involved, but I did take the phone into the bathroom with me while I showered.  And managed not to slip and bust my face open as I jumped out to answer it. 

"Hello?" 
"Hey, it's me." 
"Why are you calling me?!?  I thought you were our social worker!"
"I was just calling to say hi."
"Well, don't do that anymore."
"Call you?"
"Yes!"
"Yes, you want me to call you again?"
"No don't call me!  I'll call you!  I'm having a freaking heart attack every time the phone rings."
"Ok.  I'll talk to you later.  Love you."
"Love you too."

Why would they not give us a referral today?!  We are obviously the most loving, patient, communication savvy couple ever.  ;)  By lunch time I declared this insanity to be over.  Sitting around waiting on a call that was not going to come today was turning me into a crazy person.  So, off we went.  I don't remember where all we went, but I know I was probably carrying my cell phone in my hand.  Sure that if it did ring, I wouldn't hear it in my purse or even my back pocket.  I get shady cell service in some places near our home so you better believe I was checking every thirty seconds to make sure I had service.  It sounds like getting out of the house didn't quite help that crazy person problem I was having earlier. ;)  We ended up at Kohl's.  I needed to return a pair of C's pants that had a tear in them.  As I pulled into the parking lot I glanced in the rear view and saw my baby sleeping peacefully and decided that before waking him up to go in I would call the house phone and check the messages.  Just in case.  "You have one new message."  Oh my god.  A new message?  Oh, if it's my husband I swear I will kill him.  "...Hi, it's Jen from Children's Home Society and Family Services..."  Oh my god, oh my god  "I wanted to let you know that you've been matched with a referral."  OMG!  "...I wanted to discuss the referral with you before sending it to you...call me anytime today or into this evening...I look forward to hearing from you."  This is the part where I get out of the car and do a happy dance while squealing like a little girl.  No joke.  When I rejoined my sleeping child, I called hubby's cell phone.  (Even though I knew he wouldn't answer because he was in classes)  "Call me!  Ahhh!"  Then I called Jen.  Voicemail.  No!!!  We did make it into Kohl's.  And I did continue to stalk our social worker and call her phone every five minutes.  When we got home I called Jen AGAIN (please don't let her decide that I have too many issues and revoke our home study approval) and she answered!  She told me we had been matched with a little boy!  She discussed the information in his referral with me and I half listened.  Mostly I was just thinking HOW am I going to wait until hubby is free tonight to check my email and see this little babe's face?!?  Jen even asked me if I wanted her to hold off on sending me his information.  "No, no, I can resist.  You can go ahead and send it."  And resist I did.  I left him only a few semi-threatening voice mails to call me.  "And I know I told you not to call me earlier, but seriously.  Call. me. NOW!"  I think it was close to nine that night before he finally called.  We logged onto our computers, set up our webcam, and saw our son's face for the first time.  I think the first words I said were, "Look at his hair!"  And he still has crazy hair. ;)  It's our agency's policy to have a child's referral reviewed by a doctor specializing in international adoption before accepting.  So, we waited a few days for that.  And then we waited over a month on some test results.  Oh, that was agonizing.  Every day I fell more in love with this little boy's face and I prayed that he would be ours.

And praise God, he IS!!! 

I wish I could have done one of those "The call!" posts right after we got our referral, but it didn't work out that way.  I wanted to make sure I got this all written down because I don't want to forget how he came to be ours.

Weekend snapshots

From now on I'll be writing my captions under the photos.  I got a lot of flak for doing it incorrectly on my last post.  Even though I've been doing them like that since I started blogging.  Apparently my husband can read and it's important to him.  So, here we go...

Hubby and C went to a Korean market this weekend and C got a pair of training chopsticks.  There's a popular kid's show over there featuring Pororo the penguin.  He loves his Pororo chopsticks and has been practicing with all kinds of cuisine. :)

A little trip to the shore.

 Bowling on a rainy afternoon.

Ha ha!  Love his little bowler pose.  "Bowling guy" was quite the character.  He even talked in a different voice.  Silly boy!

I married a carnie

My husband's family had a carnie wagon when he was younger.  True story.  And the man loves himself a fair.

As he is prone to do, hubby announced this morning that we were leaving in ten minutes.  Our destination...the state fair.

We got C 20 tickets to use on rides of his choice.  

These swings took 6 tickets!

And C chose to ride them twice.

I had heart palpitations both times.

Seriously.  Look how high they are going!  Can you see his little legs kicked straight up there on the outside?

He's the 3rd one down on the far left in this picture.

C really wanted an angry bird.  Hubby tried his luck at a dart game.  He had three shots and hit the star on the third try.  C shot his dart right into the side of one of the giant stuffed toys.

Playing in a grain box.

They had brand new baby pigs and chicks, both of which C got to pet.

I didn't take any pictures of our fair food or the whining/tears (we had plenty of both).  The tantrums I think I'll choose to forget...but, cheese fries?  Mmm, I'll hold onto that one.