This year was our first Christmas as a family. Something I have dreamed about for many years. We were so excited when Naing's parents said they wanted to visit over Christmas. Then my Mom said she wanted to come too. More excitement. The grandparents would be here to meet our children at their first Christmas. Naing surprised us with the great idea of renting a beach house in Pacific City. We even got to bring the dogs.
The anticipation of a nice trip with the kiddos and parents builds as we shop for groceries, plan menus and my Mom arrives. Naing's parents come in on the 20th.
Then little things started to go wrong. I lost my cell, totally disappeared, couldn't find it anywhere. Thought I had left it at church but no.
Naing's parents' flight was late, but it said on the monitor at the airport that it was on time. Naing was all over PDX trying to locate his parents and calling me to see if they had called. He paged them, no response. Then he found out that the plane had not landed it was delayed. So he waited. Naing's Mom's baggage didn't make the connecting flight. We were told it would be delivered before midnight or on Monday.
As we were packing on Monday to leave, we waited for the delivery company to bring the bag. That took forever, we got a late start to the road.
In the midst of all the confusion and taking care of the kids and the grandparents, neither one of us finished packing the food in the fridge. So the $30 ham I bought for Christmas dinner was still in Newberg while we were in Pacific City. So was all the other perishable groceries bought for the week. Oh well back to the store we would have to go once we got there.
We had so many people and stuff for the kiddos we had to take two cars. My Mom, kids, dogs and some of the luggage went with me. Naing took his parents, and the rest of the luggage and stroller.
Naing gave me the print out of the directions to the house, but forgot to give me the last page with the house information on it. I didn't know where we were going. But of course I didn't find that out until we were actually on the road. Haven kept calling my name and making a fuss about something, so I pulled over and good thing I did. Naing had forgotten to actually strap her into the car seat. When I pulled over, I lost track of Naing's car. Remember I don't have a cell phone to call him, so I was a little pissed when I figured out I didn't have the home address. The only thing that saved my husband from my wrath was I actually wrote his number down to give my sister in Texas, so we could talk on Christmas. I found the only pay phone in the town of Pacific City when we arrived and was able to get a hold of him.
The house was beautiful but not set up for young children. So I spent most of my time keeping my kiddos from breaking something expensive or keeping them from climbing the stairs by themselves.
But we made it and the weather was gorgeous, couldn't have been better. Clear, sunny and crisp days. We walked on the beach and enjoyed the scenery.
Naing's dad was not a happy camper because the satellite tv really only had basic service. Naing's dad is almost 91 and set in his ways. There was alot of grumbling about the lack of things for him to watch.
The kids were having a great time until it came time for bed. We made a huge mistake only bringing 1 play and pack and thinking they could sleep together. No way did that happen. Each night we were there one of them was up crying (they were getting sick) and no sleep was had by anyone in our room. Haven actually cried for 2 hours one night, she had an ear infection that caused her ear drum to burst again. Of course I only brought the ear drops that help pain, but not the antibiotics, because we didn't know she had an infection.
By the time Christmas eve arrived we were frazzled. Both children were sick and Alec was running a fever. I decided to go home Christmas day after we had lunch so the kids could be at home and in their own beds and get better. My mom came home with me and we had some alone time to visit. Naing and his parents stayed at the beach house, since it was paid for.
This was not the Christmas I had envisioned for our children's first Christmas. But welcome to parenthood, kids get sick and it doesn't matter if it is a holiday.
So there are only a few pictures of Christmas morning, because they really were not very interested in the gifts, they felt so bad.
We had gotten together with my sister a few days before and they had a Christmas there when they were feeling good and enjoyed all the ripping of the wrapping paper and the gifts. Here are pictures from that early Christmas at my sister's house.
Pictures are not posting, I'll post them later. Happy New Year
12/26/09
Pictures from the Photo Shoot
Here are the pictures from the photo shoot. Our Christmas didn't turn out as expected because both the babies were sick. More on that later. Enjoy the pictures!
12/18/09
Alec's first birthday.
Alec turned one on December 15th. That is the date assigned by the Dr. at Toukoul after she adjusted his original given date of birth. We decided to keep that date.
We are waiting to have his "party" on the 20th when Naing's parents get in town.
But he had to have something on his special day. So I got him a little cupcake and put a candle in it.
Alec is just starting to explore food other than baby food. At first he just played with the frosting but when I gave him a taste of it, things changed. He got very serious about eating the sweet cupcake.
I am truly amazed at him every day. He was so sickly when we brought him home and he has just blossomed. He jabbers non-stop and throws in a real word every now and then.
He loves to play with his toys, all the toys and is very busy. He is even sleeping through most of the nights now.
I look at him and think about his birth Mom. I wish there was someway to find out who she is, just to let her know that he is alive, well and loved. I can't even imagine the pain she must have endured leaving him for someone to find him to make sure he received medical care. It breaks my heart to think she doesn't know that he is ok, or I assume she doesn't. He truly is my little miracle boy. Happy birthday buddy, I can't imagine my life without your sweet smile, adorable giggle and our nightly cuddles.
12/11/09
New Words
Haven's new words are; more, good girl, eye, baa baa, and roar. We found at at Thanksgiving Haven is not the biggest fan of cats. She was afraid of my sister's cat.
Since then every time she sees a cat in a book or on show she is so focused on the cat and that is all she will say is kitty, kitty, kitty. She started to call the lion on their wallpaper a kitty and get scared of it, before she just wanted me to roar. So we worked hard last week convincing her that is a lion and lions roar. What is so funny, is Naing is not a fan of cats and I really miss having a cat. I always said the only way I would get a kitty was if Naing's daughter begged and pleaded for a kitty. Please daddy, please....that was pre-children. Now the daughter I thought would convince Daddy to get one, doesn't like them. Go figure.
Alec's new words are; out, stinky and more. He also does the sign for more and so does Haven. Alec is not taking any more of Haven's guff. She took a toy away from him the other day and he dropped to a crawl and went after her. He meant business. He has figured out if he can get her down he can pull her hair and then he has some power over her. She better watch out he is just a few inches shorter than she is and growing fast!!! That is why everyone asks if they are twins is they are almost the same size now. Alec is growing so fast, he has already outgrown some of the 12 month clothes he just started wearing in Oct. I had to take some of his Christmas money and buy the boy clothes. I figured at his age he won't be upset to get clothes under the tree:)
Since then every time she sees a cat in a book or on show she is so focused on the cat and that is all she will say is kitty, kitty, kitty. She started to call the lion on their wallpaper a kitty and get scared of it, before she just wanted me to roar. So we worked hard last week convincing her that is a lion and lions roar. What is so funny, is Naing is not a fan of cats and I really miss having a cat. I always said the only way I would get a kitty was if Naing's daughter begged and pleaded for a kitty. Please daddy, please....that was pre-children. Now the daughter I thought would convince Daddy to get one, doesn't like them. Go figure.
Alec's new words are; out, stinky and more. He also does the sign for more and so does Haven. Alec is not taking any more of Haven's guff. She took a toy away from him the other day and he dropped to a crawl and went after her. He meant business. He has figured out if he can get her down he can pull her hair and then he has some power over her. She better watch out he is just a few inches shorter than she is and growing fast!!! That is why everyone asks if they are twins is they are almost the same size now. Alec is growing so fast, he has already outgrown some of the 12 month clothes he just started wearing in Oct. I had to take some of his Christmas money and buy the boy clothes. I figured at his age he won't be upset to get clothes under the tree:)
12/10/09
Portrait session
Yesterday I took Haven and Alec to have portraits done to celebrate them being home 3months. What a project that was. To get out of the house with them clean is always a project! Usually someone has a poopy diaper as we are walking out the door. Yesterday both of them did. To add to the level of difficulty, it is very cold right now in Oregon. We are talking in the teens and 20s. Both babes had to be bundled up with hats and gloves. They were not fans of it at all. Alec has become horrible to get dress any time, but when he doesn't want to WATCH OUT. He is a whirling tornado of energy trying to get away from you. I literally have to wrap my legs around him to hold him still.
We got to the photo session and all of a sudden my daughter was shy. Now those of you that have been around Haven since she came home, know she likes to be the center of attention. I felt sorry for the lady doing out shots, because the kids did not want to be still for her and were getting off the mark all the time to come to me.
She got some great shots!! Shots of them together and separate and also we did a wardrobe change and got some done in their Ethiopian outfits. It was a long hour and 1/2 but I loved the shots and ordered a lot of pictures!!!
Gifts for the grandparents when they are here for Christmas.
I must say the favorite shots of each one is Alec with his monkey and Haven leaning into the camera being cheeky. I'll post when I pick them up next week.
We got to the photo session and all of a sudden my daughter was shy. Now those of you that have been around Haven since she came home, know she likes to be the center of attention. I felt sorry for the lady doing out shots, because the kids did not want to be still for her and were getting off the mark all the time to come to me.
She got some great shots!! Shots of them together and separate and also we did a wardrobe change and got some done in their Ethiopian outfits. It was a long hour and 1/2 but I loved the shots and ordered a lot of pictures!!!
Gifts for the grandparents when they are here for Christmas.
I must say the favorite shots of each one is Alec with his monkey and Haven leaning into the camera being cheeky. I'll post when I pick them up next week.
12/1/09
New Words for Haven
I am recording the list of words for her so they are not forgotten in the day to day.
The newest words to her vocabulary are luv u, stay,happy, on, excuse me, bad and wait for it... alligator. Haven likes to put on bags and act like Naing leaving for work with his back pack. She says bye bye and waves and walks down the hall. That is where luv u started. I would always say bye bye, love you. Then I added the childhood favorites of see you later alligator, afterwhile crocodile and toodaloo caribou. She would just laugh at that, but today she said, bye bye, luv u and alligator. Smart girl.
She loves to take the sponge letters they play with in the tub and hold it up for me to tell her the letter and a word that starts with the letter.
There are days that I feel I can't give Haven everything she needs and her needs are overwhelming when I'm also trying to met Alec's needs. But then I see the growth in her knowledge and think ok maybe I'm doing ok.
They went with me to Costco for the first time yesterday. When we walked in and she say all the big screen tvs with movies going she was in awe. She said ohhhh and then after a minute yeah and started clapping. I just thought about how different her life is. There is no Costco in Addis or Meki to buy things in bulk and be tempted by all the Christmas decorations. There are no ladies giving out samples of food to entice you to buy something on impulse. Haven loved the food, she can never have enough food in her mind. After getting a sample from one of the women she was on the look out and let me know when she saw another lady handing out food.
As we were walking through the store and she was pointing at everything in excitement, I thought does anyone really need a big screen tv. I fight the impulse to buy her everything because she has had nothing until now. I don't want her to be materialistic and not share with others that have greater needs than we do. All the things you think about as a Mother.
The newest words to her vocabulary are luv u, stay,happy, on, excuse me, bad and wait for it... alligator. Haven likes to put on bags and act like Naing leaving for work with his back pack. She says bye bye and waves and walks down the hall. That is where luv u started. I would always say bye bye, love you. Then I added the childhood favorites of see you later alligator, afterwhile crocodile and toodaloo caribou. She would just laugh at that, but today she said, bye bye, luv u and alligator. Smart girl.
She loves to take the sponge letters they play with in the tub and hold it up for me to tell her the letter and a word that starts with the letter.
There are days that I feel I can't give Haven everything she needs and her needs are overwhelming when I'm also trying to met Alec's needs. But then I see the growth in her knowledge and think ok maybe I'm doing ok.
They went with me to Costco for the first time yesterday. When we walked in and she say all the big screen tvs with movies going she was in awe. She said ohhhh and then after a minute yeah and started clapping. I just thought about how different her life is. There is no Costco in Addis or Meki to buy things in bulk and be tempted by all the Christmas decorations. There are no ladies giving out samples of food to entice you to buy something on impulse. Haven loved the food, she can never have enough food in her mind. After getting a sample from one of the women she was on the look out and let me know when she saw another lady handing out food.
As we were walking through the store and she was pointing at everything in excitement, I thought does anyone really need a big screen tv. I fight the impulse to buy her everything because she has had nothing until now. I don't want her to be materialistic and not share with others that have greater needs than we do. All the things you think about as a Mother.
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