Little Monsters

Bates has a new favorite book- Little Monsters.A friend from work, Abbie gave it to me the day before we left for Korea. Of course, we love it cause it's monsters, but it's also a pop up book, which is always fun!

We read this book at least 500 times a day! I have the pages memorized already.

This is the last page of the book.It says "How many monsters in this book? Give me a kiss and have a look."
The monster has on glasses and when you give her a kiss, you can see yourself.

Well, when we get to this page, this is what happens.

bloodwork and beef up

Bates' blood work came back from the hospital. It was all NORMAL!
His thyroid levels are in check and all looked good.

He's just, as I've said all along..... little!

We go back to the doctor in two months for another weight check.
We have 7 weeks to BEEF UP!

Fall Time

The tree is my front yard seems to think it's fall time....

And I for one, agree!

Hey batter, batter, batter!

Now that the weather is somewhat cooling off and Bates is mobile, we've been taking full advantage of playing outside. Bates and I will spend at least an hour outside during the week, normally we hang out in the front yard waiting for Dada to come home.

Saturday, since Dada was home, it was time for a t-ball lesson. We took his baseball set outside.

Even though the bat might have been as big as him... he did great!

He would set the ball on the tee and then Dada would help him hold the bat up with good form. You know, all 20 mth olds, must hold a bat with proper form!
Bates would knock the ball of the tee and then smile and laugh and clap for himself!
He would turn to me, point to the ball, and say "Geatet" (Get it!) Put the camera down, momma, and go get my ball!My big boy.... where is the time going.... time please stop, or at least slow down!

Seriously, mom, enough with the pictures.

little red wagon

We finally put Bates' Radio Flyer together on Friday night.

Bates absolutely LOVES to help daddy. The boy LOVES him some tools.
(I've already scoped some out at Toys R Us and told Santa!)






We let Bates ride around the house for a bit in his wagon before bed. He had a fit when I took him out and cried and signed "more" the whole way to bed!
Saturday morning we took him on a walk and let him ride in his wagon. I was so surprised he actually sat down the entire time and never tried to bale out! He loves his wagon!

Da-da

Bates gets SO EXCITED when Dada gets home from work. Starting about 5:15 we start talking about Dada. He knows the sound of the door opening and will freeze and sit so still till Dada rounds the corner.

The last couple of days, we've been outside in the front yard picking flowers, playing ball, or riding bikes when Dada has gotten home. Bates' face LIGHTS UP when he sees his truck and he starts waving and SHOUTING Dada! It's so cute.

The other night I was cooking dinner and had the kitchen windows open. My boys were in the backyard playing. I peeked out the window, grabbed my camera and got these shots.
Then I went outside to get a real picture since Bates' swing was in the way.
Bates loves his Dada. He may be a momma's boy, but he LOVES his time in the evening with just his dada. And I love seeing my best friend be a father!

Wordless Wednesday: Kisses for Momma

He's a momma's boy!

somethings.

So a few things I've been meaning to blog about.

• Bates is a walker. Just in the last week he decided to get up on his feet and go! It's like it just clicked. And let me tell you... he's fast!
  
• School is going better. He still acts like I'm cutting off his arm at drop off, but he is doing better during the day, per his teacher. He is their BEST NAPPER!
• Speaking of napping, when I went to pick him up on Monday, I peeked in the door and didn't see him. I went in and he was still asleep on his mat! They nap from 11:30 to about 12:45 and at 2 he was STILL ASLEEP on his mat! Keep in mind this is the child who naps for 45 minutes at home and is getting up at least 3 times a night. My mom suggested we have slumber parties at school!
• He know waves at EVERYONE. The random man in the grocery today actually got a wave and a kiss blown to him. But if you talk to him, he won't wave. So he only waves to the people who aren't paying him attention. This afternoon we were on the front porch playing cause PRAISE THE LORD it's not a million degrees outside. The people across the street came out and got in their car and Bates started waving and telling them "bye bye". This then started the game of waving at E.V.E.R.Y. car that came by!
• He is starting to like books. When he first came home I would try to read to him. He was not a fan. He would sit for like one page and then he was over it. Now he will lay still for at least one, if not more, books. His favorite is Veggie Tails Goody Good Glasses, cause the eyeballs move when you shake the book.
  

Here are some pictures tonight. I taught him how to ride horsey!He was doing forward rolls with momma.
He was walking all around.
He was wrestling with daddy.And this is a picture of his first art project from school that is hanging on our chalkboard in our kitchen!

I'm walking

A short video I put together to email to Bates' foster mom (Omma). We promised we'd send video of him walking.

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Doctor, Doctor, give me the news...

So today was Bates 18 mth well check up - it was postponed to 19 mths to give him a little cushion to catch up (and gain more weight)

Well, I'll keep it brief, but basically the appointment consisted of two poops, only one diaper and no wipes (I had decided that I didn't need the whole diaper bag, I could just stick a diaper in my purse for his weight check), taking a urine sample (fun times with at 19 mth old!), a shot, and then a referral to the hospital for bloodwork. At the hospital, we had 3 nurses and 4 sticks (with digging) to get blood. Apparently he has the tiniest veins they've ever seen. Good times for this momma and little boy!

Bates weighs 20 lbs 5 oz (up from 19 lbs 15 oz when arriving home). He is 31 1/4 inches tall (up from 30 inches when arriving home). And his head is 45 1/2 inches.

He is less than 3% on height and weight. His head circumference actually lands on the growth chart at the 5%. She is a little concerned that in 4 months he has only gained 6 ounces.

The doctor took a urine sample and wanted to order full blood work to check his enzymes and thyroid level to see if something is causing his lack of weight gain. So we will see (and pray) that nothing is wrong with our little guy... and he's just that... little.

Happy Family Day, Lucy!

Tonight while we sleep on the other side of the world, Lucy will be placed in her forever mom's arms!
Lucy is one of Bates' foster sister. I think they lived together for about 6 mths. We got to meet sweet Lucy when we were in Korea picking up Bates. She is the happiest, smiliest, little girl. She loved Nick, and the feeling was mutual. Nick asked if we could bring her home too!

So while we sleep, Lucy will meet her forever mom for the first time, but I can't help but think of our Foster Mom and Dad (we call them Umma and Appa) who are again making a heart wrenching, and brave handover of a child they have loved as their own. They are amazing people and we are so blessed to have them as a part of our lives and will forever be grateful to them for loving and caring for our sweet boy.

Quarantined

In the middle of the night Wednesday, Bates woke up- which is not an uncommon occurance lately. He's been getting up at least twice a night and we have a VERY hard time convincing him it's "night night" time and that he should be in his bed.

When I got to him, he felt warm. Not that cozy, middle of night, snuggled under blankets warm, but that uh-oh warm. I took his temp and it was 99.8. So little booger landed himself in bed with mom.

Thursday morning, fever free, we headed to get my tires rotated. I've been supposed to do this for the last few weeks... but really, a tire shop waiting room with an active 19 mth old- I'll pass. While we were waiting, I noticed he was warm again. I opted to skip the grocery and take him home. His temperature was 102. Awesome.

I'm trying not to be that mom who calls the doctor everytime their kids gets a papercut, so we camped out of the couch the rest of the day. I told myself if he still had fever Friday (before the weekend) I'd call the doctor.

I took his temp every hour or so between doses of Tylenol. It stayed around 102 most of the day. About 4:30 he was sleeping in my lap and he felt hot, like hotter than he had been. It was a catch 22.... get up and get the thermometer and wake my sleeping child up, or let him sleep. The doctors office was only open for 30 more minutes, so I decided to take him temp just in case we needed to call the doctor.

Beep.... 105.2!
105.2!!!!!!!!!

I had a moment of "OH MY GOSH! WHAT DO I DO?" I mean 105 is dangerous, especially in a kid with Bates' medical background. I thought, isn't this the fever Helen Keller had that made her blind and death?! I audibly told myself, "calm down, Mary Leigh!" I packed a ziplock full of ice and loaded Bates into the car. I strapped the ice pack to his chest with his car seat buckles. Called Nick to get me the doctor's office's number and jumped in the car. I was pulling out of the driveway when I thought "OH. The thermometer!" Yes, I went back in the house to get it. I wanted proof that he had 105 fever. You know, cause when you get to the doctor office, it never fails, fever is 98.2 and he's completely fine.

I called the doctor's office on the way and the nurse was giving me the "how did you take his temperature? have you given him tylenol? can you retake his temperature?" speech. I finally said, we are in the car on the way to your office!

We walked in and daddy showed up to meet us. We got seen immediately and after a temperature check, that was 105.1 (no proof needed) and a full body check, including blood work. It was determined that he most likely had Hand, Foot, and Mouth.

Long story, somewhat shorter....
The rest of the day and Friday and part of Saturday was spend like this.
I didn't go to Memphis for the Sugarland concert for my mom's birthday, we missed Nate's 3rd birthday and Brendan's 5th birthday, missed church, and the boys stayed home during the 127 Forever Family picnic.

I was going a bit stir crazy. I don't do well being quarantined. Bates and I had some major cabin fever!

He's on the road to recovery, he's been fever free for over 36 hours! First major sickness down... up next... some more funky germs from good ole Preschool!

Speaking of preschool, he went back today. Last Wednesday the report was "he had a better day. Made big strides!" This morning he cried and cried as soon as I opened the door to his class. His uncle Anna is picking him up today, so I can't wait to hear the report!

Bates' journey home

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Wordless Wednesay, with an explanation

Bates has been making a face since about the first week he's been home. It all started when we would play with him and try build eye contact, for bonding. We would crinkle up our nose and then he would do it. It was the cutest little thing! I mean, he doesn't have much of a nose to start with so when he'd crinkle it, it just was too much. We'd laugh and laugh and laugh at him.

Well, the little booger figured out we thought he was funny and now he does it a lot. If I'm fussing at him for throwing his cup on the floor for the 100th time during meal time and I get a stern look on my face, he crinkles his nose and laughs. If we are up at 3:45 and he WILL not go to sleep, he holds my head in his hands and looks at me straight on and crinkles his nose. It's all I can do not to laugh at him, he is super funny and is really starting to show his funny personality.

Monday morning during picture time, I got frustrated that he would STAND STILL (ya know cause all 19 mth old kids stand right where you put them for pictures). I finally just sat down in the floor and let him do whatever. I think he could tell I was frustrated and he crawled over to me and did this...

1st day of school

Monday (8.9.10- neat huh?!) was Bates' first day of preschool.

I had to wake the little sleepy head up this morning to get ready for school. Breakfast, teeth brushed, hair combed, dressed, and time for some pictures.





Ready for school! Look at his little face, he's not so sure!
When I took him into his class, I set him at a table next to a little girl who was playing. He looked at her and said "HI!". Ok, I thought, off to a good start! I walked over to talk to the teacher about what was in his bag and other things. He noticed I walked off and started to cry and crawl towards me. I picked him up and quickly finished talking to the teacher. (FYI- there were like 6 moms in their just hovering. Seriously, mom, get out, stop hovering!)
I took him over to the cars and handed him one to play with. I looked at the teacher and told her I was leaving. I headed straight for the door. Once I got out, I peeked back through the glass. Bates was still sitting with his car, but it looked like he had noticed I was gone and was fussing. The other little boy in his class (there are only two boys!) had walked over and was patting him on the head. Ha!

I made it through day with no phone calls, but by about noon I was watching the clock till it was time to go get him. I prayed ALL MORNING that he was ok!

When I got to school to pick up Bates at 2:00, he was in the teacher's arms. He immediatlely started screaming MOMMAMOMMAMOMMA when he saw me and turned on the tears! Once I had him in my arms, he calmed down.

The report from the teacher was "Well, he had a rough day!" Apparently he was pretty whiney and fussy off and on most of the day. He was well behaved though, so that's a plus.

They said he ate good- which is great!

At nap time, they said Bates just sat on his mat. When they would get close to him to pat his back, he would SCREAM and the closer they got, the louder he screamed! He sat on his mat for an hour and 15 minutes and finally fell asleep for the last 10 minutes of nap time.
When the teacher told me that, I said, well, at least he stayed on his mat!

I told Nick we had been practicing laying on his mat at home, so I think he thought if I stay on this mat, mom will come, just like at home. Poor fella. Makes me sad to think he just sat on his mat for over an hour just waiting and hoping momma was coming back for him.

So, I guess day one was somewhat of a success!

To celebrate, I took Bates to Steak and Shake for a milkshake.


We shared a milkshake, but if you look close you can see that the milkshake is headed directly for Bates' lap and my hand in the bottom left corner just wasn't fast enough to save half of the milkshake from landing in his lap. Ugh, what a mess! Oh well. My fault I guess for trying to take a pictures!
Day two of school is tomorrow. I hope he does better. I hope he knows that momma isn't leaving him and that I WILL be back everyday to get him. School is going to be incredibly good for him and I hope he grows to love it!

crib climber

When we were little, my older brother Robert's favorite book was Donald Duck: Mountain Climber.

In our house, we have Bates Brown: Crib Climber.

Last week was a rough week. Bates was having some tummy issues and therefore, wasn't sleeping. My little guy who was sleeping through the night... well ... not so much anymore. He was getting up several times a night. When I would go to him he would wrap his little arms around my neck and point to his door and say "bye bye" "bah" (Bah is Bates' speak for Please) So needless to say, we have some long nights that usually ended with me and Bates in the guest bed together.

Last night, we put him to bed at 8:30. Nick and I headed to bed at 11. Bates has this sense of when Momma is almost asleep. At 11:17- he was up! I went in his bedroom and got some blankets and made us a pallet on the floor. I hollered for Nick to come in and lay with us. Bates was up for over an hour. He was rolling, laughing, kicking Nick, sitting up, and HITTING ME. It was so funny. He would hit me in he face over and over like WAKE UP MOMMIE! Nick and I would start laughing as I would say "Don't hit mommie". About 12:30 we put Bates back in his crib and we went back to our bed. He fussed for a few minutes and then silence!!! Hallelujah!!!

At 3:30 he started fussing again. Nick and I just laid very still. Maybe he was going to go back to sleep. Maybe. All of a sudden...

CRASH!!!

I immediately knew what happened! Nick and I both JUMPED up! Honestly, I have never seen Nick move that fast! We were in his room in about .001 of a second. Nick immediately ran to Bates and I flipped on the light. I ran to Bates and as Nick was holding him, I checked him out. Made sure he wasn't bleeding... no knots on his head... no bones through the skin.... He checked out ok. So at 3:32 Bates was in bed with us for the rest of the night where I knew he'd be safe!

I can't believe Bates climbed out of the crib! And I'm not at all ready for a big boy bed, neither is he. He doesn't go to bed well enough for a big boy bed. Today Nick build a temporary frame to lowered his mattress even more (it was already on the lowest setting). So we are giving it a go tonight. I've done some research on the tent things you can put over their cribs, so that might be in our future.

Here's to a night of no crib climbing and crashing to your head!

Pool Party

This weekend our neighborhood hosted a pool party. The flier said they would have jumpy things, snow cones, hot dogs, etc.

Bates (and mommie) took a nap that afternoon and once we got up and ready (and Uncle Anna got there) it was 5 o'clock. The party was scheduled to run till 6. When we got there, the snowcones, grill, tables, balloons.... everything was packed up. At least the water slide and bouncy thing was.

I climbed to the top of the water slide with Bates. He was so scared. He held on to me for dear life and was saying MOMMA MOMMA MOMMA. We got to the top and I sat him in my lap. He was having none of that, so he turned around and buried his head in my shoulder... and down we went! Ok, that slide was fast! But it was fun! We splashed down into the pool at the bottom and then Bates finally smiled! Although, he signed "all done!"

So, we headed to the pool. We had the pool all to ourselves. Some pool party!
I'm glad school is back in session, now B and I can go to the pool whenever we want and we will have it all to ourselves!

Gift from Korea

Today I got a little package in the mail from Holt.

It was a necklace from Korea. It's a silver necklace with the Korean flag on the front and Bates' Korean name and birthday engraved on the back. I LOVE IT! Also in the package was a picture of Bates and his foster mom on the day we got him. What a sweet picture! You can just see the love and the sadness in her eyes.

Their is a jewelry store in Korea that partners with Holt to provide these necklaces to families.

I love the necklace, but I'm not sure I will wear it. I don't want anything to happen to it, but at the same time, I don't want to just put it in a box forever.

Carharts

My little guy has his first pair of Carharts.
Could he be any cuter?