Mommy made BiBimBop for dinner. She modified it a little so that we had chicken instead of beef (since we don't eat beef). We even ate a little of the green stuff. Mommy ate almost the entire meal with chopsticks. She had difficulty with the rice though. It was pretty funny at times watching her try to pick up the rice. So instead she used a spoon. During dinner, Mommy had Korean music playing in the background.
Tonight before bedtime, we also had Daddy read the story as well. We didn't join in when he read "BiBimBop"...only Mommy did.
~Katie
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Things Korean...
Mommy played some Korean lullaby music for us today. It was sung by mothers both young and old to their children. Katie and I tried singing to it. We like listening to music and like listening to Korean music.
Mommy is trying to work on the adoption paperwork to adopt our baby sister. So far the names that I have come up with Mommy doesn't want to use for her. I like Thomas and Toot-Toot but have also come up with Baby. Katie hasn't come up with any names yet. I told Mommy that I love Tae Hee and have been looking at her picture this afternoon after waking up from my nap. Mommy has been working on this on and off all day today. We hope that she finishes with it soon.
Mommy also has been talking with another Mommy to get a Korean language school in our area. My Mommy, in the meantime, has been contacting other adoptive parents in this area to see if there is any interest for this school. So far she has gotten one family of 4 response of yes. I hope that we can get a good group together for school.
~Ryan
Mommy is trying to work on the adoption paperwork to adopt our baby sister. So far the names that I have come up with Mommy doesn't want to use for her. I like Thomas and Toot-Toot but have also come up with Baby. Katie hasn't come up with any names yet. I told Mommy that I love Tae Hee and have been looking at her picture this afternoon after waking up from my nap. Mommy has been working on this on and off all day today. We hope that she finishes with it soon.
Mommy also has been talking with another Mommy to get a Korean language school in our area. My Mommy, in the meantime, has been contacting other adoptive parents in this area to see if there is any interest for this school. So far she has gotten one family of 4 response of yes. I hope that we can get a good group together for school.
~Ryan
Sunday, July 22, 2007
A Post from Our Mommy
I had to come on here and tell you all about our experiences this past weekend. Jeff and I went to the 9th annual KAAN conference http://www.kaanconference.com/ (Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network) in Boston Massachusetts this past weekend while the kids were at my parents' house. It was our first conference and we learned quite a bit about various topics of discussion.
Friday night we were on our own for dinner and we ate out with the organizer of KAAN. We got invited (although we felt like we were crashing the dinner a little bit). I met the organizers and we had a wonderful dinner. At the dinner I met the woman whose blog is called Third Mom (see my links for her blog). She said that she doesn't have anything more to blog about but I can't imagine she is done with her blog. Adoption is a lifelong process. I can' t imagine that she has said everything she needs to about adoption.
We attended Jeff Mead's presentation on More than Just Love--a Dad's Perspective on Adoption. We also attended Learning to be Asian and Adopted/Learning to be an Adoptive Family, I'm not Chinese, I'm Korean!, Silent Mothers: the Stories of Korean Birthmothers, Are They Your 'Real' Parents: Talking with Children about Adoption, Words Matter, Top 10 Things Your Adopted Child is Thinking but Will Never Tell You (a panel with Korean adult adoptees), and Creating a Toolbox for Adoptive Parents. There were themes that were in each session: getting a mentor for your child, adopting the culture yourself, keep open line of communication between you and your child, take advantage of opportunities that arise around you in your community, and more. The keynote speeches were excellent and the one held lunchtime on Saturday had silenced the audience.
The highlight of the day was the session on Universal Motherhood, Universal Loss. It was a domestic adoption First Mom who gave her story of what she has gone through before the placement and since. There wasn't a dry eye in the place and once people gained their composure one man spoke up and said "this should be one of the keynote speeches for next year's KAAN". I couldn't even speak. I was so emotional.
Some basic things that I have learned by attending KAAN: please don't label birthmoms/First Moms as being strong. I don't think they feel that way at all. And here's something to else to think about: when you celebrate your child's birthday each year, what does your child's First Mom (birthmom) feeling that particular day? I can't imagine she is happy.
Later in the day, I ran into the presenter and told her that my children's First Mom (their birthmother) is the first thing that I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing that I think of when I go to bed each night. This domestic birthmom and I chatted for awhile in between sessions. It didn't matter that she was a domestic birthmom and my children are Korean. Feelings are feelings no matter where you live, what you look like, and what culture you might come from. I got a glimpse of what my children's First Mom might have experienced and is experiencing. I'm sorry for those of you who were unable to attend to meet and listen to this wonderful birthmom.
Jeff and I picked up a Sogo drum (so now we have two), some Korean fingerpuppets, Korean trinkets, a Korean kids video, books for me (oh and the books that I did pick up the authors were there at KAAN so that I could ask my friend Maggie and get them signed along with the books that I bought at Camp Mujigae).
If you haven't been to KAAN, you need to go. It's enlightening, friendship making, tiring, emotional, and so worth it. It's not just for adoptees but also their parents, pre-adoptive parents, social workers, counselors, adoptive grandparents, and more.
Just so you know next year's KAAN is July 18-20 in Chicago. Mark it on next year's calendar, make a vacation out of it and go. Jeff and I don't regret going to Boston at all.
~Jen
Friday night we were on our own for dinner and we ate out with the organizer of KAAN. We got invited (although we felt like we were crashing the dinner a little bit). I met the organizers and we had a wonderful dinner. At the dinner I met the woman whose blog is called Third Mom (see my links for her blog). She said that she doesn't have anything more to blog about but I can't imagine she is done with her blog. Adoption is a lifelong process. I can' t imagine that she has said everything she needs to about adoption.
We attended Jeff Mead's presentation on More than Just Love--a Dad's Perspective on Adoption. We also attended Learning to be Asian and Adopted/Learning to be an Adoptive Family, I'm not Chinese, I'm Korean!, Silent Mothers: the Stories of Korean Birthmothers, Are They Your 'Real' Parents: Talking with Children about Adoption, Words Matter, Top 10 Things Your Adopted Child is Thinking but Will Never Tell You (a panel with Korean adult adoptees), and Creating a Toolbox for Adoptive Parents. There were themes that were in each session: getting a mentor for your child, adopting the culture yourself, keep open line of communication between you and your child, take advantage of opportunities that arise around you in your community, and more. The keynote speeches were excellent and the one held lunchtime on Saturday had silenced the audience.
The highlight of the day was the session on Universal Motherhood, Universal Loss. It was a domestic adoption First Mom who gave her story of what she has gone through before the placement and since. There wasn't a dry eye in the place and once people gained their composure one man spoke up and said "this should be one of the keynote speeches for next year's KAAN". I couldn't even speak. I was so emotional.
Some basic things that I have learned by attending KAAN: please don't label birthmoms/First Moms as being strong. I don't think they feel that way at all. And here's something to else to think about: when you celebrate your child's birthday each year, what does your child's First Mom (birthmom) feeling that particular day? I can't imagine she is happy.
Later in the day, I ran into the presenter and told her that my children's First Mom (their birthmother) is the first thing that I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing that I think of when I go to bed each night. This domestic birthmom and I chatted for awhile in between sessions. It didn't matter that she was a domestic birthmom and my children are Korean. Feelings are feelings no matter where you live, what you look like, and what culture you might come from. I got a glimpse of what my children's First Mom might have experienced and is experiencing. I'm sorry for those of you who were unable to attend to meet and listen to this wonderful birthmom.
Jeff and I picked up a Sogo drum (so now we have two), some Korean fingerpuppets, Korean trinkets, a Korean kids video, books for me (oh and the books that I did pick up the authors were there at KAAN so that I could ask my friend Maggie and get them signed along with the books that I bought at Camp Mujigae).
If you haven't been to KAAN, you need to go. It's enlightening, friendship making, tiring, emotional, and so worth it. It's not just for adoptees but also their parents, pre-adoptive parents, social workers, counselors, adoptive grandparents, and more.
Just so you know next year's KAAN is July 18-20 in Chicago. Mark it on next year's calendar, make a vacation out of it and go. Jeff and I don't regret going to Boston at all.
~Jen
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
I'm a Big Sister Now...
Ryan got on here before me already said the big news that has been buzzing our family--we're getting a baby sister. She is so cute. We can already say her Korean name.
Here's a picture of her
My little sister at one month old
My little sister at 3 months old
Mommy, Daddy, Ryan and I will be picking out a blankie for her just like Mommy, Daddy, and Ryan did for me before I came.
Well Ryan and I are very tired out after being up so late last night so we're heading to bed for our rest time.
~Katie
Here's a picture of her
My little sister at one month old
My little sister at 3 months old
Mommy, Daddy, Ryan and I will be picking out a blankie for her just like Mommy, Daddy, and Ryan did for me before I came.
Well Ryan and I are very tired out after being up so late last night so we're heading to bed for our rest time.
~Katie
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
We're Adopting Our Sister-from Ryan
Our family has accepted the referral of a little baby girl who lives in Korea right now with her Foster Mommy. Mommy and Daddy received her information yesterday, got it reviewed by the doctor early this morning when the office first opened. Mommy talked it over with us this morning and with Daddy and we have accepted this little girl into our hearts and soon our home.
I told Mommy this morning that I would help out with bringing the diapers, toys, and blankie. Mommy also printed out pictures for me to hold just like I did before Katie came home. She is pretty.
I also told Mommy that I love Daddy, Mommy, Katie, Maggie, and our baby sister. I also mentioned that I love Trevor, Tristan, CJ, Emma and everybody. Mommy was happy to hear that.
Well Katie wants to post as well so bye for now and she'll be posting a picture!
~Ryan
I told Mommy this morning that I would help out with bringing the diapers, toys, and blankie. Mommy also printed out pictures for me to hold just like I did before Katie came home. She is pretty.
I also told Mommy that I love Daddy, Mommy, Katie, Maggie, and our baby sister. I also mentioned that I love Trevor, Tristan, CJ, Emma and everybody. Mommy was happy to hear that.
Well Katie wants to post as well so bye for now and she'll be posting a picture!
~Ryan
Home Schooling Kids
Mommy, Katie and I have been working on learning our numbers (I know 1-10 and I'm well on my way to learning the rest), counting (I can count comfortably up to 12 and sometimes you might hear me count up to 15 or 16), listen and sing or dance to music including Korean music), playing our musical instruments like piano, our jang-go drum or sogo drum and more, teaching me how to tell time and more.
We also do arts and crafts and Katie really loves to color (and break the crayons as well). I can draw a circle and I'm working on a triangle now. Outside today I drew a tree on the driveway with chalk along with tracks for Thomas, Emily, Gordon, and Percy to ride on as well.
Both Mommy and I are teaching Katie about learning her manners (although Mommy and Daddy since need to remind me of mine as well).
Oh and I know Daddy's name as well...I overheard Mommy say it and I've been trying to call Daddy by that name lately. Unfortunately Daddy doesn't quite like that...
Gotta go for now since I should be napping
~Ryan
We have music time where we either listen to and sing Korean children's songs or other music (Kindermusik, classical music, other children's songs or a song where I ask Mommy to dance with me). We have letter time where we learn about letters--what they look like and sound like. We have reading time where Mommy will read us a story and later on in the day with Daddy home we will watch Reading Between the Lions (nobody told us it was geared for 4-8 year olds!!) and at night we get a bedtime story. We do outside play when the weather is nice.
We also do arts and crafts and Katie really loves to color (and break the crayons as well). I can draw a circle and I'm working on a triangle now. Outside today I drew a tree on the driveway with chalk along with tracks for Thomas, Emily, Gordon, and Percy to ride on as well.
Both Mommy and I are teaching Katie about learning her manners (although Mommy and Daddy since need to remind me of mine as well).
Oh and I know Daddy's name as well...I overheard Mommy say it and I've been trying to call Daddy by that name lately. Unfortunately Daddy doesn't quite like that...
Gotta go for now since I should be napping
~Ryan
Friday, July 13, 2007
Getting Together With Our Friends
On Sunday June 10th, Mommy and Daddy drove us to Congress Park for us to have a picnic with our friends and their Mommies and Daddies from Capital Region Heart & Seoul. We got to run around the park and see the ducks and fish swimming in the pond there. We were pleased to see Harrison and his new sister Emma, Jack, Cady and pleased to meet Luke as well.
We can’t wait to meet all of our friends again soon.
~Ryan
Katie and I ran around the park and drove Mommy and Daddy crazy since we weren’t running in the same areas part of the time. Katie had fun playing with the football and I had fun just running around. Mommy tried to take pictures of Katie and I but we were running around too much to really let her.
When we got home all I talked about was the park and having a picnic. Mommy and Daddy said we were done at the park but Katie and I weren’t done running around.
We can’t wait to meet all of our friends again soon.
~Ryan
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