For 9 months now, people have asked if we have thought about adopting again. The answer is certainly yes, but the timing needed to be right. I was always in favor of the idea for a variety of reasons (i.e. sibling for Rai with common Korean heritage, great experiences with Holt-Korea and international adoption, and ability to request a girl through the Waiting Child program), but Aaron needed some time before he was ready to go through the process again.
To make a long story short, we completed our adoption application for Holt's Waiting Child Program in Korea and requested a girl. Now we begin the homestudy process. Yes, the entire process is the same: parent biographies, letters of recommendation, adoption training classes, homestudy meetings with our social worker, etc., but things will be a bit different. Much of our focus will be preparing Rai for his role as a big brother. And this time, we have some experience going into the process. Many setbacks, such as USCIS (US Immigration) delays, are a bit more familiar and will hopefully mean a bit less panic. :-) The process will vary greatly, however. Our referral could come shortly after our home study is complete or it could take 2 years. Everything depends on the children who are referred and the compatibility between the child's needs and our family's ability to meet the child's needs. It is very exciting to have the surprise element this time around, though!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Cutest Korean Cowboy at the Fort Worth Stock Show Today
Today, my parents, Aaron, and I took Rai to the Fort Worth Stock Show. For those who are unfamiliar with the stock show, this three-week event includes rodeos, livestock exhibitions, great food (especially funnel cakes), and an arena filled with tractors, Western wear, food, and anything that might encourage a cowboy/cowgirl to open his/her wallet. I have been going since I was little, so it has certainly been a tradition in the family. Rai enjoyed the excuse to wear his cowboy hat and boots and looked forward to spending the day with my parents.
Here are the pictures:
And here are a few recent pictures:
Rai has been fascinated with a bungee/trampoline activity at the mall. It turns out you only need to be 20 pounds to ride, so I let Rai try it. He did REALLY well considering the noises coming from the pulley system. Aaron is tempted to give it a try, too, so we'll see if we can get a family picture sometime.
Rai playing Aaron's electric guitar
One of Rai's favorite meals: Hawaiian Fried Rice (with chicken) at Tasty Eggroll
A few pictures from our latest picture to the park
Here are the pictures:
And here are a few recent pictures:
Rai has been fascinated with a bungee/trampoline activity at the mall. It turns out you only need to be 20 pounds to ride, so I let Rai try it. He did REALLY well considering the noises coming from the pulley system. Aaron is tempted to give it a try, too, so we'll see if we can get a family picture sometime.
Rai playing Aaron's electric guitar
One of Rai's favorite meals: Hawaiian Fried Rice (with chicken) at Tasty Eggroll
A few pictures from our latest picture to the park
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Package from Omma! (Rai's Foster Mother)
Package from Omma!
When I got home this evening, Aaron showed me a package we received today from Omma. He had read the letter to Rai; although, it sounded like Rai was more interested in the card. I read it to him again and we talked about it a bit. I was such a sweet, heart-felt letter. I will certainly make a copy for his lifebook (to read to him often) and keep the original safely stored for him to have when he's older.
She also sent letters to Aaron, myself, and our parents - all dated November 23, 2009, Rai's 2nd birthday. In addition, we received three beautiful bookmarks and a Korean language book for Aaron. This is the first we have heard from her since our departure last April. We did receive a photo from her last year (of her, Appa, Aaron, Rai, and myself), but words cannot express how wonderful it is to have her thoughts on paper.
Thank you Omma! Kamsa Hamnida 감사합니다 Omma!
(Hopefully, Aaron can correct my hangul.)
The arrival of these keepsakes has revitalized my search to find someone who can translate (in real-time) a phone conversation in Korean with Omma. Since we have her phone number, we'd like to call her and let Rai hear her voice (and Appa's as well). If you or anyone you know speaks Korean and lives in the Dallas area, please let me know!
Sleepy Boys
We have done our best to maintain low-key weekends this year. Here are pictures of the boys (and Lucy, our cat) catching up on their sleep:
Gom Se Mari (Three Bears)
It has been at least a month or so since Rai has wanted to watch the Korean Montessori DVD Omma sent home with him. I was a bit relieved since we went months watching (and dancing to) it every day, but I missed the funny dances and intense 30 minute workout. Last weekend, as Aaron and Lucy took a nap, Rai asked for "bears, bears" (referring to the first song "Gom Se Mari" on the DVD), so we danced a bit. It is interesting to see the changes in his behavior as Rai gets older. Rather than the bouncing and stomping of his earlier dance moves, Rai now watches what I'm doing and tries to practice one move at a time. I can tell the next few months will be amusing!
Rai learns to put his hands on his hips and bounce
Other Pictures:
Rai brushing teeth with Aaron
When I got home this evening, Aaron showed me a package we received today from Omma. He had read the letter to Rai; although, it sounded like Rai was more interested in the card. I read it to him again and we talked about it a bit. I was such a sweet, heart-felt letter. I will certainly make a copy for his lifebook (to read to him often) and keep the original safely stored for him to have when he's older.
She also sent letters to Aaron, myself, and our parents - all dated November 23, 2009, Rai's 2nd birthday. In addition, we received three beautiful bookmarks and a Korean language book for Aaron. This is the first we have heard from her since our departure last April. We did receive a photo from her last year (of her, Appa, Aaron, Rai, and myself), but words cannot express how wonderful it is to have her thoughts on paper.
Thank you Omma! Kamsa Hamnida 감사합니다 Omma!
(Hopefully, Aaron can correct my hangul.)
The arrival of these keepsakes has revitalized my search to find someone who can translate (in real-time) a phone conversation in Korean with Omma. Since we have her phone number, we'd like to call her and let Rai hear her voice (and Appa's as well). If you or anyone you know speaks Korean and lives in the Dallas area, please let me know!
Sleepy Boys
We have done our best to maintain low-key weekends this year. Here are pictures of the boys (and Lucy, our cat) catching up on their sleep:
Gom Se Mari (Three Bears)
It has been at least a month or so since Rai has wanted to watch the Korean Montessori DVD Omma sent home with him. I was a bit relieved since we went months watching (and dancing to) it every day, but I missed the funny dances and intense 30 minute workout. Last weekend, as Aaron and Lucy took a nap, Rai asked for "bears, bears" (referring to the first song "Gom Se Mari" on the DVD), so we danced a bit. It is interesting to see the changes in his behavior as Rai gets older. Rather than the bouncing and stomping of his earlier dance moves, Rai now watches what I'm doing and tries to practice one move at a time. I can tell the next few months will be amusing!
Rai learns to put his hands on his hips and bounce
Other Pictures:
Rai brushing teeth with Aaron
Mochitsuki Matsuri
The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth begins each year with a Mochitsuki New Year's festival. We've attended several years in a row, both as audience members and as volunteers, but this year was Rai's first year to celebrate Mochitsuki with us. The three hour festival includes drumming performances from Kiyari Daiko (a local drumming group), a rice pounding (mochi) demonstration, traditional music performances (this year featuring shakuhachi and koto), performance by the Cherry Blossom Chorus (Japanese school girls' choir) mochi tasting, children's games, and calligraphy.
Rai sat in the chairs long enough to watch Kiyari Daiko, but he was a bit squirmy by the end.
We tried the machine-made mochi, and Rai discovered that real mochi isn't the sweet red bean mochi we often get at the Japanese grocery store. I think he was expecting something much sweeter; although, he did like the red bean paste.
He enjoyed watching the mochi pounding demonstration and seemed eager to try give mochi a second try. Unfortunately, he wasn't prepared to have a handful of mochi given to him. (It's VERY sticky and difficult to get off of your hands or anything else it touches.)
Although most of the children's games were for older children, Rai got the hang of this game and paused long enough to pose for the photographer at the event. (I'll post a link if they include his picture on their website.)
Here is Rai kneeling at the Shinto shrine offertory box.
And here is Rai waiting to meet Ozeki-san, the calligrapher. I met Ozeki-san at an Eastfield College event we organized several years back and have tried to keep up with her each year since then. She was delighted to meet Rai and tried to teach me how to write his name in Kanji. (I'll spare my mom the embarrassment of my poor calligraphy skills and just show the kanji character.) 雷
Rai sat in the chairs long enough to watch Kiyari Daiko, but he was a bit squirmy by the end.
We tried the machine-made mochi, and Rai discovered that real mochi isn't the sweet red bean mochi we often get at the Japanese grocery store. I think he was expecting something much sweeter; although, he did like the red bean paste.
He enjoyed watching the mochi pounding demonstration and seemed eager to try give mochi a second try. Unfortunately, he wasn't prepared to have a handful of mochi given to him. (It's VERY sticky and difficult to get off of your hands or anything else it touches.)
Although most of the children's games were for older children, Rai got the hang of this game and paused long enough to pose for the photographer at the event. (I'll post a link if they include his picture on their website.)
Here is Rai kneeling at the Shinto shrine offertory box.
And here is Rai waiting to meet Ozeki-san, the calligrapher. I met Ozeki-san at an Eastfield College event we organized several years back and have tried to keep up with her each year since then. She was delighted to meet Rai and tried to teach me how to write his name in Kanji. (I'll spare my mom the embarrassment of my poor calligraphy skills and just show the kanji character.) 雷
A Trip to the Zoo
Rai stays home from preschool every Wednesday and Friday for "Rai and Mommy Day." Generally, we run errands or talk a walk with my mom, but one slightly less chilly day, we took the DART Rail (our above-ground subway equivalent) to the Dallas Zoo for the day.
Rai stayed bundled up...
... until I got out the snacks.
We were fortunate enough to go the first day the monorail tracks defrosted, so we had beautiful views of the nearly-frozen remote areas of the zoo while still being able to see the animals basking in the sun.
As you can tell, Rai was full of smiles, but I couldn't kneel down to take his picture without him mirroring me. :-)
Needless to say, Rai was more photogenic than the animals!
For those that don't know, I grew up fascinated with snakes. Yes, before my dreams of becoming a broadway actress, I longed to be a herpetologist. (I blame the summer zoology camp my parents thought would help lure me to the sciences. Instead, I sat in front of a Burmese python terrarium trying to find a way the persuade my parents that a snake would make a great pet.) Although I don't want Rai to run around picking up random snakes just yet, I always make it a point to show him how interesting snakes can be. During this trip, he ignored my interests in the Albino Reticulated Python and instead took a liking to the Burmese Python.
Other Pictures
Rai and Aaron enjoyed an afternoon of playing chase. As you can tell, Rai still loves his broom and duster set!
Rai stayed bundled up...
... until I got out the snacks.
We were fortunate enough to go the first day the monorail tracks defrosted, so we had beautiful views of the nearly-frozen remote areas of the zoo while still being able to see the animals basking in the sun.
As you can tell, Rai was full of smiles, but I couldn't kneel down to take his picture without him mirroring me. :-)
Needless to say, Rai was more photogenic than the animals!
For those that don't know, I grew up fascinated with snakes. Yes, before my dreams of becoming a broadway actress, I longed to be a herpetologist. (I blame the summer zoology camp my parents thought would help lure me to the sciences. Instead, I sat in front of a Burmese python terrarium trying to find a way the persuade my parents that a snake would make a great pet.) Although I don't want Rai to run around picking up random snakes just yet, I always make it a point to show him how interesting snakes can be. During this trip, he ignored my interests in the Albino Reticulated Python and instead took a liking to the Burmese Python.
Other Pictures
Rai and Aaron enjoyed an afternoon of playing chase. As you can tell, Rai still loves his broom and duster set!
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