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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Max Turns One!
Max's first birthday is in just a few hours and in the last two weeks or so, he's really grown a lot and looks like a one-year-old.
He'll spend the early part of his day at the Mikvah, getting converted so that he's officially a Jewish Baby. His Great-Grandmother Sarah will be there along with Papa Steve, Grandma Estelle, Grandma Marlene, Mommy and Daddy and Rabbi Michael Klein and his lovely wife Annie.
We'll have lunch and then hopefully Max can go back to being a baby and play in the pool with Gauss.
People keep asking me if I'm excited that Max is turning one and of course I am on a certain level, but it honestly doesn't feel as monumental as it "should" or maybe does to biological parents... probably because he's only been with our family physically for 3 months? I feel like his second birthday might seem more relevant to me as a milestone.
I'm a bit surprised to find myself thinking about his Birth Mother (BM) lately. Of course this is triggered by his birthday, but I have honestly thought about her daily since Max came home. I just hope that she's okay... that she's employed and healthy and happy. The culture around adoption is shifting towards being more supportive and positive in Korea and I sincerely hope that she's benefiting from this change.
Have a great day,
~ Robyn
He'll spend the early part of his day at the Mikvah, getting converted so that he's officially a Jewish Baby. His Great-Grandmother Sarah will be there along with Papa Steve, Grandma Estelle, Grandma Marlene, Mommy and Daddy and Rabbi Michael Klein and his lovely wife Annie.
We'll have lunch and then hopefully Max can go back to being a baby and play in the pool with Gauss.
People keep asking me if I'm excited that Max is turning one and of course I am on a certain level, but it honestly doesn't feel as monumental as it "should" or maybe does to biological parents... probably because he's only been with our family physically for 3 months? I feel like his second birthday might seem more relevant to me as a milestone.
I'm a bit surprised to find myself thinking about his Birth Mother (BM) lately. Of course this is triggered by his birthday, but I have honestly thought about her daily since Max came home. I just hope that she's okay... that she's employed and healthy and happy. The culture around adoption is shifting towards being more supportive and positive in Korea and I sincerely hope that she's benefiting from this change.
Have a great day,
~ Robyn
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Max is Rescued by Barbie and Ken
Yesterday I put Max in for his afternoon nap - things went as usual: babbling, fake-crying, silence and then it sounded as if furniture was being moved upstairs. After climbing what seemed like the 100th flight of steps that day, I found Max standing in his crib with nearly all of the contents of his crib thrown to the floor. I also found the humidifier pushed to the floor from the table.
Things were reordered and I went back downstairs, but not before reminding Max that he needed to "take a big-boy nap."
I went back to unloading the dishwasher and cleaning the kitchen (not what my social worker meant when she advised me to use nap-time as "Robyn time") and listened to Max babbling through the monitor. But then the babbling turned to full-blown SCREAMING. SCREAMING like I've not heard before from anything that lived to tell.
Back up the stairs I went where I found Max's right knee stuck between two bars of his crib. He was screaming bloody murder and his face was all contorted from either panic or pain - or perhaps from both. Honestly, I can't remember the status of his lower leg and foot... I "think" they were through the bars.
After a quick attempt at trying to free him from the crib I knew that I wouldn't be able to. I started to panic too... called a neighbor, nobody answered; called mom, not home; called a friend who offered to come over but was at least 15 minutes from my house... then I dialed "911." Max was still SCREAMING, not even his bottle would soothe him.
I quickly explained the status of Max's leg to the dispatcher who asked, "Is that your son screaming?" After I told her that that was Max she complimented him on his lungs. "I'll send someone over," she told me.
In reality it probably took the police less than five minutes to arrive but of course it seemed like eternity to me. Nothing I did could comfort Max. With Highland Park not being a raving metropolis I couldn't fathom what the delay was.
And then Barbie and Ken arrived. Yes, Barbie and Ken... I wish that I could link this blog to a photo of the two police officers who rescued Max but I can't find one - but if there were a Barbie and Ken police duo, these two would be them. Both were very good looking, tall, bronzed and blond/blonde. It was really quite ridiculous.
Both were sans any sort of hacksaw or tool that would cut the bars, curious I thought. But then Ken requested liquid laundry detergent which I had but since the baby oil was handy I asked if that would work. (Please note: lesson learned is coming) Turns out that since baby oil is absorbed into the skin it wouldn't work as a lubricant.
In no time, Ken applied the laundry detergent and Max's leg was freed! I picked up my baby and two seconds later he was giggling. Maybe thinking "hehehe, I scared Mama?"
Ken asked if he could use the bathroom to wash his hands and I was grateful in that moment that my mom is such a Type A and has drilled into me to keep things neat at all times "because you never know..." While he washed I apologized and also told Barbie how embarrassed I was.
"Oh, don't be," Ken assured me. "We both have kids. My son ate a light bulb," he told me. And with that I caught his eye gaze and said along with giving him my best wink, "I guess he's not too bright then?"
Things were reordered and I went back downstairs, but not before reminding Max that he needed to "take a big-boy nap."
I went back to unloading the dishwasher and cleaning the kitchen (not what my social worker meant when she advised me to use nap-time as "Robyn time") and listened to Max babbling through the monitor. But then the babbling turned to full-blown SCREAMING. SCREAMING like I've not heard before from anything that lived to tell.
Back up the stairs I went where I found Max's right knee stuck between two bars of his crib. He was screaming bloody murder and his face was all contorted from either panic or pain - or perhaps from both. Honestly, I can't remember the status of his lower leg and foot... I "think" they were through the bars.
After a quick attempt at trying to free him from the crib I knew that I wouldn't be able to. I started to panic too... called a neighbor, nobody answered; called mom, not home; called a friend who offered to come over but was at least 15 minutes from my house... then I dialed "911." Max was still SCREAMING, not even his bottle would soothe him.
I quickly explained the status of Max's leg to the dispatcher who asked, "Is that your son screaming?" After I told her that that was Max she complimented him on his lungs. "I'll send someone over," she told me.
In reality it probably took the police less than five minutes to arrive but of course it seemed like eternity to me. Nothing I did could comfort Max. With Highland Park not being a raving metropolis I couldn't fathom what the delay was.
And then Barbie and Ken arrived. Yes, Barbie and Ken... I wish that I could link this blog to a photo of the two police officers who rescued Max but I can't find one - but if there were a Barbie and Ken police duo, these two would be them. Both were very good looking, tall, bronzed and blond/blonde. It was really quite ridiculous.
Both were sans any sort of hacksaw or tool that would cut the bars, curious I thought. But then Ken requested liquid laundry detergent which I had but since the baby oil was handy I asked if that would work. (Please note: lesson learned is coming) Turns out that since baby oil is absorbed into the skin it wouldn't work as a lubricant.
In no time, Ken applied the laundry detergent and Max's leg was freed! I picked up my baby and two seconds later he was giggling. Maybe thinking "hehehe, I scared Mama?"
Ken asked if he could use the bathroom to wash his hands and I was grateful in that moment that my mom is such a Type A and has drilled into me to keep things neat at all times "because you never know..." While he washed I apologized and also told Barbie how embarrassed I was.
"Oh, don't be," Ken assured me. "We both have kids. My son ate a light bulb," he told me. And with that I caught his eye gaze and said along with giving him my best wink, "I guess he's not too bright then?"
Sunday, June 8, 2008
It's hard to believe but Max has been home for 3 months!!! On one hand it seems like he's always been with us and on the other hand it's as thought he just arrived and time is flying. In a sense I really believe that he's always been with us - maybe not in the physical body but certainly in our consciousness and hearts.
We've been having a lot of fun playing outside in our little pool. Today Max's friends Eva and Zack came over to help splash around. Take a look and thanks, as always, for checking in!
Be well ~ Robyn
http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=60581212969669769/l=392994637/g=124666915/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
We've been having a lot of fun playing outside in our little pool. Today Max's friends Eva and Zack came over to help splash around. Take a look and thanks, as always, for checking in!
Be well ~ Robyn
http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=60581212969669769/l=392994637/g=124666915/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
First trip to the beach and boardwalk
Greetings!
Yesterday was Max's first visit to the beach and the boardwalk. Mommy, Grandma and Max went to Point Pleasant and had a terrific time. The weather was perfect and being a weekday there were no crowds.
At first Max literally just sat quietly and looked around everywhere. He seemed to be deeply engaged with his senses - after all there were all new sites, smells and sounds to say hello to.
We ate lunch at Martell's Tiki Bar and then introduced Max to the sand. He seemed to enjoy touching it and sifting it and then he crawled around in it.
Max and Mommy rode the carousel. When he first sat upon the horse he pet it and looked all around. He was content to just "pet" and look. Once the ride started and the horse went up and down he became uncomfortable and climbed off into the safety of Mama's arms. He did really great for his first time.
After the beach we surprised Cousins Josh and Brad (Aunte Beth, too!) and had fun playing with them. Here's the link to our fun-filled day: http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=13541212575955887/l=392777737/g=124666915/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
Yesterday was Max's first visit to the beach and the boardwalk. Mommy, Grandma and Max went to Point Pleasant and had a terrific time. The weather was perfect and being a weekday there were no crowds.
At first Max literally just sat quietly and looked around everywhere. He seemed to be deeply engaged with his senses - after all there were all new sites, smells and sounds to say hello to.
We ate lunch at Martell's Tiki Bar and then introduced Max to the sand. He seemed to enjoy touching it and sifting it and then he crawled around in it.
Max and Mommy rode the carousel. When he first sat upon the horse he pet it and looked all around. He was content to just "pet" and look. Once the ride started and the horse went up and down he became uncomfortable and climbed off into the safety of Mama's arms. He did really great for his first time.
After the beach we surprised Cousins Josh and Brad (Aunte Beth, too!) and had fun playing with them. Here's the link to our fun-filled day: http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=13541212575955887/l=392777737/g=124666915/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The Latest...
Max continues to delight with his light energy, curiosity, smiles and his adorable diaper walk. Today Papa Steve visited and took some AMAZING snapshots of Max. Check them out: http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=8011212366760186/l=392676297/g=124666915/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
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