Heart and Seoul

Okay, so a part of my heart will always reside in Seoul, South Korea, just like a part of it will forever be in Northern Ireland and England (places I lived for short stints in college).  But Seoul!  I can't wait to go back...maybe without morning sickness and with my oldest son in tow....how we will paint the town.  And now I can do it right with this awesome blog link my husband sent me today.  My gift to any of you traveling to pick up your precious babes in the near future..... I wish I had something like this the last time I went.... enjoy. :)


http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/01/seoul-city-guide.html

One Word

My son is bossy.  Like seriously bossy.  I have no idea where he gets it.  I can't even really relate to it.  Okay, that's a laugh.... I was the queen of all bossiness as a youngster.  As an only girl in a family and extended family full of testosterone I considered it my duty to let everyone know what they were doing wrong, how they needed to fix it, and what I expected them to be doing at that moment.  I never felt the repercussions until I was an adult, but that is another post for another time.  Right now I'm talking about my bossy son. 
You know, the 2.5 year old that can get just about any adult to do what he wants, especially when he uses clear language and the occasional rare "please" and "thank you."  Well it isn't his sweet charming ways or his shouting that get me to do what he wants.  I'd like to think I'm so much more strong-willed that this kid.  But do you know what does get me?  One word... "Mommy".  Not too long ago I wondered if he would ever be able to say this word.  I yearned to hear it.  I craved it.  Just one short month ago it didn't exist in his vocabulary.  Just a short month ago I was called by some obscure word he had made up for me just like he had for Bear ("Bah"), and Monkey ("Da!").  Now I'm Mommy.  And I love it.  I could listen to him say it all day. 

Next on the language agenda.....getting Mr. Miles to call his brother Liam instead of "Deehl."  Although I might miss that one.  I've warmed up to the name Deehl quite nicely, and the play on words is endless. (i.e. "He's a big deehl", "I'm kind of a big deehl", "What's the deehl?", "Deehl it deehler", "What a raw deehl", "What a great deehl", and my favorite  "Deehl with it!".)

Wordless Wednesday: Remember that one time when it was Christmas?

why, hello there...

I am so happy to meet you.  Not that I didn't enjoy 2010, but it in all truthfulness it wasn't as awesome as 2009.  And since everything is cyclical, I'm ready for another awesome year.  I can already feel your love for my family and friends, so I have a few mild requests.

For an awesome rock-hard body... okay, walking up stairs without dying will do.
For no more cancer... I don't have it, but people I love did in 2010.  Could you do something about that please?
For spiritual enlightenment.... or just some quiet time where I could have a word with the head honcho upstairs once in awhile.
For cold hard cash... fine, maybe just some financial sensibility on my part would do.
For the perfect, graceful, and effective way to deal with 2.5 year-old-fits of epic proportions in public... or for an understanding audience.
For a new and sophisticated looking blog with incredibly written language and soul-searching insight... or a newish looking and stylish blog interface would do.
For optimum health and ageless beauty... or the reminder to floss every night and the energy to remove my eye makeup.

Thanks 2011.  That's my list, and I'm sure you won't let me down.
Sincerely, me

give a little bit of love...

A year and half ago we travel to Korea to bring home our oldest child.  It was scary.  I was sick.  We were emotionally overwhelmed.  On that trip we traveled with another woman and her mother that were bringing home a little boy as well.  This woman was calm, down-to-earth, and stoic.  She had three other children and a husband at home waiting for her to return with their newest addition.  It was so cool to be on that journey with her. 

Now this family has another journey to take.  They are bringing home another child - a little girl.  You can read her story here.  In short, Tracy and her family have fund raised their hearts out to earn every penny they need to adopt a 3-year-old girl with significant special needs.  A little girl that most of us would not be brave enough to choose to raise. Because of  some special circumstances with their daughter, Tracy will need a travel companion to help on the return trip (her husband has to stay home to take care of their other children).  Tracy has someone who can travel, but can't afford the extra ticket they would need to go over there.  This family is now just 2-3 weeks from traveling.  So close, but so far away.  As an at-one-time waiting mama, I know how painful that can be, especially when you're not sure how you're going to manage it. 

So, I'm asking you to consider donating.  I don't usually do that.  I don't really want my blog to be a vehicle for my political or social agenda, but it is my blog...so I'm making my exception here....because I can. 
So give if you can.

Start 2011 with a little karma on your side. :)

"I wan Buddha"

Like a lot of words these days, my older son has words for his two best friends that don't make any sense to the average outsider.  To be honest, they don't make much sense to me.  If you've followed this blog, you're probably familiar with "Bear" and "Monkey".  Now there are about four friends that he carries around in his clutches throughout the day and night (including this little Pooh and a Giraffe his father has named "Jerry"). 
There is a definitely hierarchy to these friends, and one can see it by the trail of stuffed animals that he leaves in his wake.  Pooh is always the first to go, then Jerry, and then depending on the day, either Bear or Monkey.  In fact, Bear and Monkey are so important that they sometimes have to kiss his ouchies instead of his mom or dad.  They're that good.

But back to the words....
For as long as I've known Bear he has been pronounced "Bah" (think an octave higher), and Monkey has always been "Dah" (also higher).  Bear's name I can understand, but Monkey's I don't get.
But these two guys are important.  And seriously talented.  They can jump on beds, drive cars, and even sit in timeout.  And everytime they do these things they seriously crack up their best friend and biggest fan - a little Korean two and a half year old.

In fact, they are now so equally important that their names have been combined..... at least that's what I found out yesterday in Target when my son kept telling me and everyone around him that "I wan Buddha."  And trust me, it isn't because that kid is spiritually enlightened.

Happy Birthday Baby JeBah.