4 days home, 4 days done. I can't believe how much energy this little man has! I've taken to calling him my Korean jumping bean. When he's happy or excited he jumps in place up and down about a dozen times, then collapses on the floor. We have had a good deal of fun, and I think he is starting to get used to the routine of our life. Well, maybe routine is a little more than I can give myself credit for.
We've been to a playground, where Emmett was engaged in a short lived but fearsome tag game. Although he doesn't understand what tag is, nor that he was tagged, he gave chase without hesitation and figured out that he was supposed to catch someone. Funny how child are the best ambassadors! Language barrier - who cares!, I'll lay a hand on you and say "You're it", and run away, you'll figure it out!
We also embarked on a 2.3 mile hike in the forest yesterday. Before you start thinking that both of us are totally nuts (which in reality we are), I expressed my doubt that he'd make it through a 2.3 mile hike. He did a great job, and actually walked maybe 1.75 of the 2.3 miles. The rest of the time we carried him, which made for great bonding! During this hike we discovered Emmett's true love of singing and music. He was looking kind of bored, so I began singing one a children's song from a CD. He picked right in, and sang along (albeit without really using the words). He was consistently in time with our steps, even when we weren't singing and he was just humming to himself. Future percussionist maybe? Bro J, we'll need to have him watch some DCI - get him in early!
Bedtime continues to be tough. So much has changed as far as this routine. We read him stories in English, pray with him in English, then lay him in a bed and expect him to sleep. All very foreign (no pun intended) things. He's still grieving, and that is to be expected. To be quite honest, we're all grieving something. Craig and I are grieving our sleep in late mornings, our run out whenever we want to days, and the ability to just sit and think or read. But in comparison, so much is still the same for us. Emmett on the other hand has lost almost everything familiar. The land looks different, the people look different, everything smells different, everyone sounds different, and even though Omma bought kimchi and has made burgogi, it's just not the same, I'm sure. I have to remind myself that everything is so different for him.
Church today was great for all of us. Emmett was immediately accepted, loved and played with by all the kids. He's only a 7 mos younger than the youngest kid, so he's in pretty good company. He played all day, we even got to stay and watch the football game (GO BEARS!). He was so tired tonight that he could barely cry before bedtime. He just dropped off to sleep in no time at all. Poor kid plays so hard, he gives his all to playing. I think he'd been in his car seat about 5 mins before falling to sleep!
Speaking of sleep - I'd better get some. What was it I was saying about exhaustion? Don't hold the hour of this post against me.
1 comment:
It WILL get easier. But you have a great strategy: play them to sleep. We use it all the time on our boys. This is a difficult age even without the language barrier so keep being patient (not my strong suit as you know). He'll pick up the words quickly. Xander picks up new words daily so keep at it. =)
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