Drew is 20 months old today!!! Happy 20-month-day Drew!!! :)
We had our last day of Gymboree today - Drew had fun, but he's definitely more into playing on his own than doing the group stuff. Maybe we'll try it again when he's older. In the meantime, we can go to the open gym dates, so we'll see how he likes that.
Not much else going on...Drew got a 20-month-old present today from Mary Ann- she kmitted him a very cute hat and I'm going to try and post a picture on the side of the blog...so take a peek...
Gotta go - bath time! Yipee!!!!!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Snowy day in Connecticut...
Ugh - I hate snow!!!! I know, so why do I live in Connecticut?? I don't know...
Anyway...it was really snowy today - we're getting about 10 inches as I write this. But Drew and I did manage to make it to the post office today to send our gift to Matthew and to the library so I could get some books and Drew could play in the children's room - they have great toys there! Unfortunately, it started snowing hard while we were out so we couldn't stay too long...Drew did think it was fun while we were outside to catch snowflakes on his tongue...he did not think it was fun to hold the snow and try to make snowballs though.
Did I mention I hate snow??
Other than that - it was a pretty quiet week here. One milestone of note, Drew is no longer using his high chair at all - he's such a big boy!!! He's also using his utensils much more and wanting to feed himself. He's also wanting to get out of his chair and walk around as he eats, which we need to put a stop to. It's hard to know the line between telling him that he's done eating when he gets out of his chair and wanting him to keep eating cause he needs the food....ugh - parenting! Something tells me it only gets harder from here - LOL...
I go back to work in about four weeks - crazy!!! Time flies...
Well - have a good weekend everyone..it will be a quiet one here.
Anyway...it was really snowy today - we're getting about 10 inches as I write this. But Drew and I did manage to make it to the post office today to send our gift to Matthew and to the library so I could get some books and Drew could play in the children's room - they have great toys there! Unfortunately, it started snowing hard while we were out so we couldn't stay too long...Drew did think it was fun while we were outside to catch snowflakes on his tongue...he did not think it was fun to hold the snow and try to make snowballs though.
Did I mention I hate snow??
Other than that - it was a pretty quiet week here. One milestone of note, Drew is no longer using his high chair at all - he's such a big boy!!! He's also using his utensils much more and wanting to feed himself. He's also wanting to get out of his chair and walk around as he eats, which we need to put a stop to. It's hard to know the line between telling him that he's done eating when he gets out of his chair and wanting him to keep eating cause he needs the food....ugh - parenting! Something tells me it only gets harder from here - LOL...
I go back to work in about four weeks - crazy!!! Time flies...
Well - have a good weekend everyone..it will be a quiet one here.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Two months, four months...
Drew has been home for two months and it's been four months since the day we met him...wierd, huh??? In some ways it seems like he's been in our lives forever...
We were saying yesterday that we wish the people at the orphanage could see him now and how great he's doing!!!
We were saying yesterday that we wish the people at the orphanage could see him now and how great he's doing!!!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day!
Drew surprised me this morning with a heart full of peanut butter cups! I don't know how he knew they were my favorite. When he came toddling in to me, holding out this heart to me, I totally started crying!! He's my best valentine! :) No offense Patrick - LOL...
Today we had "mommy and me" and there was a singer/guitar player there for the kids - it was so great. Drew danced a lot and played some instruments and had a good time. He also had fun playing in the rice box, which is like a sand box, except, you guessed it, filled with rice!
I have a couple of new pictures on the side of the blog of Drew...just cause I thought he looked cute!
Today we had "mommy and me" and there was a singer/guitar player there for the kids - it was so great. Drew danced a lot and played some instruments and had a good time. He also had fun playing in the rice box, which is like a sand box, except, you guessed it, filled with rice!
I have a couple of new pictures on the side of the blog of Drew...just cause I thought he looked cute!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A big thank you....
Tonight I was filling in some of Drew's lifebook (like a baby book, but specifically for adoption) and I read all of the reports we got from Kazakhstan about his life and why we were able to adopt him and I got so emotional. It's wierd, this is the first time these emotions really hit me...
I feel angry that a woman was able to have the privilige of giving birth to this beautiful little boy and she didn't want to keep him. I know there may have been some very good reasons for it, but I look at his little face and I can't even imagine what they could be. And then I feel so thankful to this woman I wish I could find her and hug her and thank her 1,000 over.
I wish I could tell her how wonderful this little boy is, how he loves to laugh and dance and read and play with his puppy. I wish she could see how he loves to splash in the bath, play with keys, shake his moraccas, play with his tools, etc...
I wish she could see how he gets a huge grin when he hugs his bunny to go to sleep, how he grabs my hand to bring me into the kitchen to let me know he wants some juice and how he get so proud of himself when he's able to feed himself that he has to put down his spoon or fork and clap.
But she will never see these things...I wonder if she thinks about him and what she thinks...
Tonight, I wish I could just find her and say, "Thank you."
I feel angry that a woman was able to have the privilige of giving birth to this beautiful little boy and she didn't want to keep him. I know there may have been some very good reasons for it, but I look at his little face and I can't even imagine what they could be. And then I feel so thankful to this woman I wish I could find her and hug her and thank her 1,000 over.
I wish I could tell her how wonderful this little boy is, how he loves to laugh and dance and read and play with his puppy. I wish she could see how he loves to splash in the bath, play with keys, shake his moraccas, play with his tools, etc...
I wish she could see how he gets a huge grin when he hugs his bunny to go to sleep, how he grabs my hand to bring me into the kitchen to let me know he wants some juice and how he get so proud of himself when he's able to feed himself that he has to put down his spoon or fork and clap.
But she will never see these things...I wonder if she thinks about him and what she thinks...
Tonight, I wish I could just find her and say, "Thank you."
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
My smart little boy!!
Drew had his Birth-3 evaluation yesterday and he did great! They said he's a very smart little boy who is taking all the right steps toward learning English. They said he's doing great and I should not expect him to be able to talk yet as he's only been in the US for 7 weeks. They said his babbling and understanding of us means he's right on target and they normally don't even evaluate kids adopted internationally until they've been here for 6 months...so I feel much better and the next time someone makes comments about the fact that Drew isn't talking yet, I will ask them how much Russian or Kazakh they know!! Hah!!!
My little boy is smart, he's even a little advanced with gross motor and cognitive thinking skills and he's doing great and that's all that matters to me...
Drew's new thing is everytime we say "Yeah Drew," or "Good Job" or anything like that, he likes us to clap for him and he likes to clap for himself! Today he fed himself pretty well with his spoon, and everytime he took a mouthful he would put down the spoon and clap, so we'd say "yeah Drew, Good boy" and clap along with him!! LOL..he's so funny...I guess you can never have too much positive reinforcement, right?
Today we also went to the library and spent some time playing in the children's section - they have some great toys and Drew had a lot of fun. He wasn't too intersted in the books, though he loves his own books and loves us to read to him. Currently, his favorite is "Whole World" which is based on that 70s song about having the whole world in your hands (or maybe it's a 60s song??). It also comes with a CD...He loves it - thanks soooo much to Auntie Kelly for that. Don't worry - Cole will be getting something equally fun for his birthday!!! LOL....Maybe a drum set or some cymbals???
Drew had a fun visit with Opa and Mary Ann on Sunday night - he thought they were soo funny and had so much fun laughing hysterically and running back and forth between them. He still loves his magi-doodle, and is still afraid, yet fascinated with his singing Elvis dog - LOL!!
That's about it from here - we have Drew's hearing assessment tomorrow, which I expect to be fine - the doc just wants to make sure.
Other than that - it's soooo cold!! If I was at work now, I'd be leaving for Miami tomorrow for the boat show - hmmmm - that's a little bittersweet - I could use some beach time!! :)
My little boy is smart, he's even a little advanced with gross motor and cognitive thinking skills and he's doing great and that's all that matters to me...
Drew's new thing is everytime we say "Yeah Drew," or "Good Job" or anything like that, he likes us to clap for him and he likes to clap for himself! Today he fed himself pretty well with his spoon, and everytime he took a mouthful he would put down the spoon and clap, so we'd say "yeah Drew, Good boy" and clap along with him!! LOL..he's so funny...I guess you can never have too much positive reinforcement, right?
Today we also went to the library and spent some time playing in the children's section - they have some great toys and Drew had a lot of fun. He wasn't too intersted in the books, though he loves his own books and loves us to read to him. Currently, his favorite is "Whole World" which is based on that 70s song about having the whole world in your hands (or maybe it's a 60s song??). It also comes with a CD...He loves it - thanks soooo much to Auntie Kelly for that. Don't worry - Cole will be getting something equally fun for his birthday!!! LOL....Maybe a drum set or some cymbals???
Drew had a fun visit with Opa and Mary Ann on Sunday night - he thought they were soo funny and had so much fun laughing hysterically and running back and forth between them. He still loves his magi-doodle, and is still afraid, yet fascinated with his singing Elvis dog - LOL!!
That's about it from here - we have Drew's hearing assessment tomorrow, which I expect to be fine - the doc just wants to make sure.
Other than that - it's soooo cold!! If I was at work now, I'd be leaving for Miami tomorrow for the boat show - hmmmm - that's a little bittersweet - I could use some beach time!! :)
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Drew's first Shabbos dinner out...
Drew was invited to the Cantor's house for Shabbos dinner last night! He had a very good time - he enjoyed the food and liked the chanting too - he swayed back and forth as we sang the prayers. They also had a big "puppy" that was fun to play with and lots of musical instruments to try out. He was shy at first, but was quickly walking around like he owned the place!!
On Friday nights Drew likes to watch me light the Shabbos candles. I hope that it's something he will grow up loving and thinking is important. Tomorrow we're going to a preschool program at shul where there will be singing and crafts and Challah eating, so it will be interesting to see how he does there and what he thinks.
Our cantor and his wife adoped two of their three children from Columbia and it was interesting to talk to them about it. Their experience was very different. They were only in the country for a week with their kids before they came home and their kids came home when they were about 4 months old. Still, it's nice to talk to people who understand what it's like to put together a dossier and wait and just the whole adoption experience.
It's snowing out right now and Drew is napping after our outing to the mall and McDonald's. Drew drank from a juice box for the first time, not his sippy cup, and he was very excited about it and proud of himself! :) It was cute to see him smile when the juice came through the straw - I think he was surprised.
Tomorrow Opa and Mary Ann are coming for dinner so it will be nice to see them...
Valentine's Day is coming up this week (and yes, Aunt Sheri's b-day too!!). We decided to continue with Drew a tradition my father started for Valentine's Day. He bought me a sun dress every year (or a summer outfit that he called a sun dress!) until I got married, that's when he said it was Patrick's job to buy me a sun dress. Drew obviously won't be getting a sun dress, but we will buy him a summer outfit every year until he gets married (eesh!!!). I like the idea of carrying on that tradition with my child - sometimes it's nice to start your own traditions, but sometimes it's even nicer to continue what your parents did for you...
On Friday nights Drew likes to watch me light the Shabbos candles. I hope that it's something he will grow up loving and thinking is important. Tomorrow we're going to a preschool program at shul where there will be singing and crafts and Challah eating, so it will be interesting to see how he does there and what he thinks.
Our cantor and his wife adoped two of their three children from Columbia and it was interesting to talk to them about it. Their experience was very different. They were only in the country for a week with their kids before they came home and their kids came home when they were about 4 months old. Still, it's nice to talk to people who understand what it's like to put together a dossier and wait and just the whole adoption experience.
It's snowing out right now and Drew is napping after our outing to the mall and McDonald's. Drew drank from a juice box for the first time, not his sippy cup, and he was very excited about it and proud of himself! :) It was cute to see him smile when the juice came through the straw - I think he was surprised.
Tomorrow Opa and Mary Ann are coming for dinner so it will be nice to see them...
Valentine's Day is coming up this week (and yes, Aunt Sheri's b-day too!!). We decided to continue with Drew a tradition my father started for Valentine's Day. He bought me a sun dress every year (or a summer outfit that he called a sun dress!) until I got married, that's when he said it was Patrick's job to buy me a sun dress. Drew obviously won't be getting a sun dress, but we will buy him a summer outfit every year until he gets married (eesh!!!). I like the idea of carrying on that tradition with my child - sometimes it's nice to start your own traditions, but sometimes it's even nicer to continue what your parents did for you...
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Drew's first primary election day...
Drew and I will be going to the polls today to vote in the Super Tuesday primary! We are very excited! Well, I'm excited, Drew doesn't really know much about it yet. He does know though that we have gotten at least 2-3 calls a day from Hillary Clinton in the last couple of weeks - ususally during his nap time - and he's a little sick of it!
But, this is Drew's first chance to exercise his rights as an American citizen - LOL!! Hopefully it's something he will do for the rest of his life. He probably will since his mother and father get so excited about politics and elections. Patrick will have to work late tonight so it will be Drew and I watching the returns come in together.
So - if you are registered with a political party - please vote today! It's the most important right we have as U.S. citizens. After spending a month in Kazakhstan where the president is "elected" with more than 91 percent of the vote, and there is no real dissention, it's even more apparent just how lucky we are to have this right.
OK - that ends the public service announcement portion of today's blog...now on to Drew! :)
Yesterday we had our first offical Gymboree class and it was great. Drew loved the slides and the bubbles the most. He also likes looking around at everyone - he's a very curious little boy and loves observing people. Afterwards, we treated ourselves to McDonald's for lunch - yummy! Drew enjoyed his hamburger Happy Meal very much.
Drew's fever is gone and now he just has a cold, but that seems to be better too (even though I now caught it!). I was so happy to see that he didn't have the runniest nose in Gymboree class!! I was worried all the other parents would look at me with disdain, but it was fine. Everyone had colds...I guess that's just winter...
Oh - I should mention that Drew did come to temple on Saturday and everyone thought he was adorable - of course! :) One woman, who I only met once before, said to me, "I don't even remember you being pregnant!" LOL... I explained Drew is adopted. I love when people think he's ours biologically - it makes me laugh, considering he's half Asian - LOL...Drew was a little overwhelmed by all the people, but he liked when they opened the Ark and they showed all the Torah scrolls - he was pointing at them and wanted to go see them - it was very cute.
Drew continues to amaze us everyday...
One of his new favorite things is listening to the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" over and over and over again on his Learning Puppy (Thanks JoAnn!!). He doesn't have all the movements down yet, but he loves to dance to it by swaying back and forth and swiveling his hips - he's so funny...like a 19-month-old Elvis!
He also loves his new pop-up book "Hop on Pop" (Thanks Lizzy S.!!) He's ripped out most of the pop-ups, of course, but he still wants to read the book about 20 times a day. That and "Good Night Moon" are his favorites right now.
Drew has also learned that if he makes loud banging noises, he scares Peyton and Peyton runs around the house, and Drew thinks that is hysterical. So he follows Peyton around, throwing things on the floor and laughing hysterically at Peyton. He also likes to help feed Peyton and then follow him around with his empty food dish, trying to get Peyton to keep eating. He's so funny!! Not sure Peyton thinks it's so funny though - poor dog!
Drew is getting really good at understanding when we ask him to do things or give us things. His comprehension is amazing and he can follow even two-step commands. (ie: Drew, go get your hammer and give it to mommy). He has his Birth-3 evaluation next Monday, so I'm curious to see what they say and how they think he's doing.
And that's about it from Drew's world. It's a low-key day today. Patrick is going into work late, so Drew will have some good "Daddy time" today!
Oh - Congrats to the Giants for the great win!! We are so happy for Uncle Steve on his Giants' winning the Super Bowl. We'd be happier if it were my Cleveland Browns, but hey - next year, right??? :)
But, this is Drew's first chance to exercise his rights as an American citizen - LOL!! Hopefully it's something he will do for the rest of his life. He probably will since his mother and father get so excited about politics and elections. Patrick will have to work late tonight so it will be Drew and I watching the returns come in together.
So - if you are registered with a political party - please vote today! It's the most important right we have as U.S. citizens. After spending a month in Kazakhstan where the president is "elected" with more than 91 percent of the vote, and there is no real dissention, it's even more apparent just how lucky we are to have this right.
OK - that ends the public service announcement portion of today's blog...now on to Drew! :)
Yesterday we had our first offical Gymboree class and it was great. Drew loved the slides and the bubbles the most. He also likes looking around at everyone - he's a very curious little boy and loves observing people. Afterwards, we treated ourselves to McDonald's for lunch - yummy! Drew enjoyed his hamburger Happy Meal very much.
Drew's fever is gone and now he just has a cold, but that seems to be better too (even though I now caught it!). I was so happy to see that he didn't have the runniest nose in Gymboree class!! I was worried all the other parents would look at me with disdain, but it was fine. Everyone had colds...I guess that's just winter...
Oh - I should mention that Drew did come to temple on Saturday and everyone thought he was adorable - of course! :) One woman, who I only met once before, said to me, "I don't even remember you being pregnant!" LOL... I explained Drew is adopted. I love when people think he's ours biologically - it makes me laugh, considering he's half Asian - LOL...Drew was a little overwhelmed by all the people, but he liked when they opened the Ark and they showed all the Torah scrolls - he was pointing at them and wanted to go see them - it was very cute.
Drew continues to amaze us everyday...
One of his new favorite things is listening to the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" over and over and over again on his Learning Puppy (Thanks JoAnn!!). He doesn't have all the movements down yet, but he loves to dance to it by swaying back and forth and swiveling his hips - he's so funny...like a 19-month-old Elvis!
He also loves his new pop-up book "Hop on Pop" (Thanks Lizzy S.!!) He's ripped out most of the pop-ups, of course, but he still wants to read the book about 20 times a day. That and "Good Night Moon" are his favorites right now.
Drew has also learned that if he makes loud banging noises, he scares Peyton and Peyton runs around the house, and Drew thinks that is hysterical. So he follows Peyton around, throwing things on the floor and laughing hysterically at Peyton. He also likes to help feed Peyton and then follow him around with his empty food dish, trying to get Peyton to keep eating. He's so funny!! Not sure Peyton thinks it's so funny though - poor dog!
Drew is getting really good at understanding when we ask him to do things or give us things. His comprehension is amazing and he can follow even two-step commands. (ie: Drew, go get your hammer and give it to mommy). He has his Birth-3 evaluation next Monday, so I'm curious to see what they say and how they think he's doing.
And that's about it from Drew's world. It's a low-key day today. Patrick is going into work late, so Drew will have some good "Daddy time" today!
Oh - Congrats to the Giants for the great win!! We are so happy for Uncle Steve on his Giants' winning the Super Bowl. We'd be happier if it were my Cleveland Browns, but hey - next year, right??? :)
Friday, February 1, 2008
Drew's week...
Well - Drew had his first cold/fever this week :( Poor little guy...Thankfully the doctor said there's no ear infections and no bronchitis, and his fever has broken, but his cold is terrible and his nose is running like crazy and he runs away from me when he sees me coming with tissues!! I don't blame him really - I just feel bad...hopefully all the saline sprays and vapor mists, etc...will help dry him up soon!!
So - we didn't get to do much this week. We missed out first Mommy and Me class on Thursday and didn't get to go to the library today either. Oh well...hopefully he will feel better next week as we have lots of fun stuff planned, including a trip to Mystic Aquarium with Auntie Kelly and Cole!! I think Drew will love all the fish and the sea lions and everything - I can't wait to take him.
Drew has been amazing this week with langauge and communcation. He has started shaking his head "no" and nodding "yes," and while he's nodding "yes," he will sometimes say "ya, ya." I'm so impressed with him!!! The "y" sound is new for him, as is a "g" sound that I heard a few times...I think his language is really coming along well...Go Drew!!
Well - hopefully he will feel better tomorrow and can go to temple for Sisterhood Shabbat and watch me do the prayer "Ashrei" - I was practicing with him today and he was singing along - LOL...He just sort of hums along. He also liked my temple hat and wore it around for a little while. Everyone's been asking about him, so I can't wait to show off my adorable child!!
Oh - Drew is rooting for the Giants in the Super Bowl because he hopes they win for Uncle Steve!!! Go Big Blue!!
So - we didn't get to do much this week. We missed out first Mommy and Me class on Thursday and didn't get to go to the library today either. Oh well...hopefully he will feel better next week as we have lots of fun stuff planned, including a trip to Mystic Aquarium with Auntie Kelly and Cole!! I think Drew will love all the fish and the sea lions and everything - I can't wait to take him.
Drew has been amazing this week with langauge and communcation. He has started shaking his head "no" and nodding "yes," and while he's nodding "yes," he will sometimes say "ya, ya." I'm so impressed with him!!! The "y" sound is new for him, as is a "g" sound that I heard a few times...I think his language is really coming along well...Go Drew!!
Well - hopefully he will feel better tomorrow and can go to temple for Sisterhood Shabbat and watch me do the prayer "Ashrei" - I was practicing with him today and he was singing along - LOL...He just sort of hums along. He also liked my temple hat and wore it around for a little while. Everyone's been asking about him, so I can't wait to show off my adorable child!!
Oh - Drew is rooting for the Giants in the Super Bowl because he hopes they win for Uncle Steve!!! Go Big Blue!!
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