Our Big Step – Continued

We were asked for us and Aman to participate in a nation-wide study of Kindergartners and our interview was this morning. The nice lady asked a bunch of questions about Aman’s background, our background, and what we consider important for Aman to know. I think we will end up skewing the numbers. Yes, we gave the limited information we have on his birth family. No, we were too busy working on bonding instead of making sure he could count to 30 before starting Kindergarten. No, I don’t believe food stamps or WIC were available to him in Ethiopia, but since I can’t say for sure, I’ll just answer “don’t know.” LOL!

We are very happy with his progress. When he came home in June, he could sing the alphabet, but only recognized A, B and C. He could count to 10 or 15 (depending on his mood), but he did not recognize numbers. His teachers told us that he’s testing right at the class average. Average is average, but since he’s only been exposed to this stuff a few short months, we think it’s pretty fantastic. He can write all of his upper case letters, and most of his lower case. He can write his name. He can also write numbers up to 29! Amazing.

Serawit is catching on as well. She can pick out letters that show up in her name. She’s also recognizing numbers.

We’re so proud of both of them!

The kids had a fantastic first Halloween.  We were cheap and went with costumes that my sister in law had instead of buying costumes for them.  Aman was a horse and Serawit was Piglet.  Very cute! If I can figure out how to upload pictures I will.

The funniest part was getting them to say their “trick.” We did lots of role playing. Eventually, we figured out that if Aman says the joke, and Serawit says the punchline, they could remember it better.

The St. Louis EKC Fall Gettogether was at Thies Farm & Greenhouse, which in October is transformed into Pumpkinland.  There were lots of firsts today.  This was the kids’ first pumpkin patch, hay ride, pretzel and corn maze.  On our way out there, we talked about the trees changing colors, and how later on, we will get snow and hopefully we will get enough snow we can build a snowman.  I guess the kids are learning about snowmen at school because Aman asked if our snowman would have a carrot nose.

I definitely want to take the kids to Pumpkinland next year.  There were so many things they can do.  There was a big area set up with different mazes, slides, and swings, along with the hay ride.  Across the little road, there were pony rides, face painting, concessions, and a country market.  They had so much fun.

I’m just so amazed by how much more English they can speak every day.  We are having small conversations now, one of which was at dinner tonight.  I had grilled pork chops, and had that with roasted potatoes (that I bought at the country market) and steamed veggies.  While eating I told the kids how happy it made me that they like just about everything I cook and they don’t mind eating stuff other than pizza and hamburgers.  I told them that some kids only like that.  They both told me that even though they like pizza a lot, if they ate it every day it would make their “tummy sick.”

October 7 – To anyone who has asked us why we did not adopt domestically, you need to read this. This happens more often than we all want to think. My heart breaks for those parents.  Adoptive Parents Ordered to Surrender 3-Year-Old to Biological Father – ParentDish

October 6 – Every day before meals, and before bedtime, the kids say their prayers in Wolayta – they have been doing this since we got them. Now they are starting to “forget” them, and no amount of encouraging from us will help them to “remember” them. That’s the last bit of their native language.

Today the kids did not have school, and I was off work, so I planned a trip to Eckert’s to go apple picking and my niece joined us. A few days ago I told them what we were doing, and they were excited. Just recently, they decided they liked apples. As we got closer to the date, however, both Aman and Serawit started telling me they did not want to go. It took a little while, but I figured out they did not want to go because they learned in school that apples grow on trees, and they thought I was going to make them climb a tree. Serawit told me that she can’t climb trees, but Aman can. I tried to tell them they were little trees, but they did not believe me until we got there. Then they decided apple picking was fun, especially if they can eat an apple while they are picking others.

OK, we are lazy.  It’s much easier and quicker to update Facebook than it is to update the blog.  In order to get caught up, below are all my kid-related Facebook posts

October 3 – 1:30 p.m. – The kids have been seeing these pies at the farmer’s market, and in the store, and they are fascinated. They think it’s a type of pizza, and they want to try one. It’s fascinating to watch the kids see things for the first time that have always been there for us, and hear them describe it. While they are napping thi…s afternoon, I’m going to bake an apple pie. I hope they like it.

7:06 p.m. – and the verdict is… They didn’t like the pie. That’s ok, they have yet to really like desserts anyway, other than the occasional shortbread cookie and a few bites of ice cream here and there. I’m definitely not going to push it on them.

7:11 p.m. – I did explain to Serawit that different people make their apple pie differently, like different people make injera differently, and she did say she wants to try someone else’s apple pie tomorrow.  Aman is through with anything apple-related. In fact he said when we go to Eckert’s tomorrow, we can only pick one apple. LOL!

October 2 – Adam is back to work, so we are off to the farmer’s market, so he can get some sleep. Then over to my sister in law’s so the kids can play with their cousins, and I can look at Halloween costumes.

September 26 – Our kids were baptized today – thank you to everyone who came to share in their special day.

September 22 -Serawit got the show & tell bag today at school. I asked her what she wanted to take for show and tell tomorrow, and she ran to her room and brought out the picture book we sent to her when we got the referral. She said she wanted to show her family to everyone. Then she wanted to know what was wrong with me because I was crying.

September 19 – We are all craving comfort food, and so is everyone I’ve talked to. I guess I’m making home made macaroni and cheese – only because we have spoiled our kids to home cooking and they don’t like Velveeta, LOL!

September 18 – Wonderful time at Monkey Joe’s for Aman’s birthday. Thanks to all who could make it. Aman saw so many of his friends and cousins and had so much fun! Also thanks to my sister, Carissa, for surprising us by taking both kids tonight so Adam and I could have some honey time.

September 10 – Countdown to 2003. Well, in Ethiopia, tomorrow starts the new year. Melkam Addis Amet!

September 5 – I wish it didn’t take forever to do Sera’s pigtails and 2 strand twists, but it’s sooo cute when it’s finally finished.

September 5 – I’m so proud of our kids! They each got 5 shots at the doctor this morning and neither cried.

September 1 – I should hire this person to write my blog for me. She said it so much better than I ever could have. http://adayatthebeauchamps.blogspot.com/2010/08/not-ok.html

A CRISIS COUNSELOR!!!!

Last night, Aman was trying to talk the kitty out of suiciding from the half-wall in our foyer.

Mommy and I look over to see Boris (the kitty) on the wall, and Aman standing on the chair next to the wall saying in a very calm, but insistant voice… “Don’ jump kitty!! Don’ jump!”

I had to laugh

We have been barely home 2 months, and now we had to say good bye to controlling every aspect of their environment as we send them off to school.  Most families have 3-4 years to prepare for this – we had 2 months.  Wow.

Our son had his first day and for our daughter we met her teacher and spent an hour in the classroom and talked to her teachers.  All in all they had a good time. We got a call at home right before leaving to pick up our son and the caller ID identified the school district.  Adam and I both said “oh no what did he do or what did we forget” as Adam picked up the phone.  It was the ELL teacher telling us she observed him for a little bit and he seemed to be understanding the teacher and raising his hand at the appropriate time.  She also walked him to our car when he was dismissed.  That was so sweet!

Tomorrow, both kids go their full schedule.  Hope it goes as well as it did today.

Kids start school in 2 weeks.  I go back to work in 3.  Wow.

More firsts since the last blog…

- First overnight with grandma and grandpa Lueker.  Adam and I had a date night.  We had dinner at Copia Urban Winery and saw Inception on the IMAX.  Great time.

- First time the kids went to Monkey Joes.

- First time Aman ate a whole 12 inch pizza.

- EKC Barbecue last weekend.  The kids got to play with a bunch of other kids adopted from Ethiopia here in St. Louis.

- Aman is wearing glasses.  He is farsighted in both eyes, left worse than right.

Aman is registered for PM Kindergarten now.  So both kids will be starting and ending at the same time, right next door to each other.  ESL is available for Aman and I requested it.  We finally got their titers from FACES, so they start their vaccinations this week.    Poor kids.  We’re planning on taking them swimming afterward, so hopefully they won’t hate us too much.  Right now, their favorite activity is swimming.  They ask every day if they are going swimming.

Our first appointment to get professional pictures is on Thursday with The Picture People.

Just this last week, both Aman and Serawit have started to tell us about their life before we met them, going all the way back to before they went to the orphanage.  Some of it is very happy, and some of it is very sad.  Some is downright funny – which is heartening and really does explain their fun and loving demeanor.  I am writing down as much as I can, but am trying to get some of it on video if possible.  We are not prompting them and are just letting them decide what and when to tell us, so we aren’t always close to a video camera when it happens.  Or, I get the video camera and I forget how to use it.

With all due respect, it should bear repeating that along with their family history, this is their story, and it is very personal and private.  When they are old enough to understand, we are going to let them decide if anyone from close family to the whole world learns of it.  I know it’s easier said than done because I have slipped at times – we find their story as fascinating and interesting as many of you do.   It’s not like we are keeping secrets or being mean, we are simply being respectful of our kids, their story and their right to tell it.  PLEASE let them decide who and when to tell it.  That means, please don’t prod or prompt them either.  At the same time, if they happen to feel like telling you anything, please let us know so we can write it down and have a record of it because we don’t know how much of their past story they will retain.

Another thing that should bear repeating based on some recent comments from well-meaning friends, and this is from the earlier blog near the beginning, (1) the definition of orphan is not the same here as it is in the rest of the world; (2) for the children to be placed for international adoption, their parent(s)/birth relatives/guardian who relinquished them has to appear in court not once, but twice, to state under oath in front of a federal judge that they are relinquishing them; and, (3) and this is new, from our experience in Ethiopia and from our biological relative meeting, any thoughts regarding even the slightest possibility of anything nefarious in the adoption was put to rest big time.   From what I heard from the kids just today, puts it to rest even more.  The kids were simply meant to be ours.  What we did to deserve such a blessing, we are not sure, but we’re pretty darn thankful.

Off soapbox and back to fun stuff.  We are starting to figure out the kids’ interests and how it may play out in extra-curricular stuff.  Aman got to participate in my nephew’s karate class a couple weeks ago.  Our church happens to offer it.  Serawit participated in my niece’s dance class and really liked that.  I was considering putting them both in gymnastics, but now I’m thinking karate for him and dance for her.  Karate is do-able, but we are trying to figure out dance tuition.  I sent an e-mail to DeNoyer.  I went there when I was teeny tiny.  If it and other studios are too horrible, I already have tuition information for Barron Gymnastics and that is do-able.  This year is just a little tight.  Next year they will be able to do just about anything they want within reason.

Oh my goodness, it’s been a week.

The next day Aman was doing much better.  I went to lunch with my boss and a co-worker and came back to work to a shower for the kids that included cake and some very generous presents.  The kids didn’t seem to like cake the last time we gave it to them, but this time Aman ate two pieces.  My co-workers think that’s why he threw up later, but I think he really had a 24 hour bug and just hadn’t gotten rid of it yet.  Serawit also ended up getting the same thing on Saturday (threw up in the car on the way to go swimming – whoo hoo!), but she is also feeling much better.

Adam went back to work this week.  I think we did just fine.  The kids were a little confused at first, but I think they got it.  I kept them busy, and if we were at home, quiet.

Yesterday we went to my aunt and uncle’s house.  My cousins painted these really cool prints of Spongebob, Mickey and Minny Mouse, and their names.  I can’t wait until we can get their beds bunked, so we can find places to put them on the wall.

Had a few firsts last week – easier to just list them.

- First time kids went to “Kids’ Church” during our church service.  They did just fine.

- Serawit got enrolled into preschool through the school district.  She’ll be going Monday through Thursday in the afternoons. Have to wait until August 2 to enroll Aman.

- First time at Chuck E. Cheese – luckily it was not too crowded.  Aman liked riding the mechanical horse, and having his picture taken for cards.  Serawit loved the egg game.  They did not get the ticket : present concept, and I was cool with keeping it that way.

- Did Serawit’s hair in two finger twists for the first time.  I think it came out cute.

- Their first Jimmy John’s.  Aman loved it – he’s getting a whole sandwich next time.  Serawit took two bites of her half, pulled the turkey and cheese out, and ate the rest with just lettuce and mayo.  Oh well.

- First time at City Garden after the shower and before Aman got sick.  They loved both the sprinklers, and the pool.