A LONG Update

Hello everyone! Our family has had A LOT going on this past week, so you might want to grab a cup of coffee and a comfy chair before you read this post!

Last Wednesday was Spike's birthday. I can't believe my little guy is already 1 year old. Time flies anyway, but since he's only been with us for 3 1/2 months, it really snuck up on us. I was home with the boys, and we had a great day! We went to a small zoo by our house and looked at all the animals. It was the perfect day to go because for once, we saw every single animal up close. Then we went out to dinner and had some special birthday cookies. We got Spike his own rocking chair which he loves! Monkey has one, and whenever we're upstairs and Spike disappears, we are sure to find him in his brother's room, rocking away. Now he has his own chair, and he couldn't be happier!

On our way into the zoo.





Spike with his new rocking chair.


On Thursday, we had our first and only court appearance for Spike's adoption. This will be the only time we have to go to court, although his adoption will not be finalized until July. On Thursday we basically got the adoption process started. We went downtown early and took over Peepaw's office for about an hour. The boys looked so cute dressed up in their Easter outfits again! We met Peepaw's "friends" and ate lunch together. Monkey was in heaven because right outside of Peepaw's window were the el tracks. He spent most of his time watching the trains go by. After lunch, we went to the Daley Center where we met Momo and Pops. We had quite an entourage for this momentous day. We are so lucky to have such a caring and supportive family and wanted them to be there to share in the excitement of making Spike an official member of our family. We met with our lawyer and she took us to have Spike served. This was the reason we actually had to show up for this part of the process. Spike needed to accept his court summons...hilarious. All he wanted to do was drop yogurt bites through a hole in the counter! We also appeared before a judge. It was a little surreal, although Monkey kept saying, "Where's the judge?" I think he thought a judge was some kind of machine, and he couldn't really wrap his head around the fact that it was actually a person. Anyway, we do not need to return for the final adoption hearing, as it is only the passing of paperwork, and our lawyer will handle that. I am glad though, that we were able to do something tangible to start the process!

Outside the Daley Center.



Spike's entourage! It's hard to believe, but this is the good picture...even though Spike is crying, Monkey is untying my shirt, and I'm not looking at the camera.


Saturday was our big party day! We had our family over to celebrate Brendan's Tol. The Toljabee is the celebration of a child's first birthday, and is an important milestone in Korea. In the past, due to a lack of medical information, Korea's seasonal temperature differences, and many childhood related diseases, the death rate for children was extremely high. Many children died before their first birthday. After the age of one year, the survival rate steeply increased. So that is why the Tol is so important. The Tol consists of four parts. Giving thanks and prayer, the wearing of the hanbok, the Toljabee ceremony and the sharing of food. Spike's hanbok was a gift from his foster mother. We were so happy to be able to have a tangible reminder of her at this special celebration. The Toljabee is a ceremony in which special items are placed on a table , and the first and second things the child picks predicts his future. True to form, Spike went for the only two edible items on the table. He choose the rice cake, which means he will be wealthy, and the fig candy, which means he will have many descendents. Good thing he will have money with all those kids:). Finally, Andy and I prepared a Korean meal to share with our family. We had red bean fish cakes for an appetizer (they sold these all over the place on the streets in Korea). For dinner we made bulgogi (Korean barbeque) and bebimbap (rice and vegetables). My dad made some spicy kimchi, and we had plenty of Korean beer. Luckily everything turned out pretty well, and tasted good! Finally we had a birthday cake. I was so excited to see how Spike would dig into it, and he didn't disappoint. It was such a special day for our family, and we are so blessed to have our little son in our lives.

Spike in his special hanbok.

The table for the Tol ceremony.

Spike enjoying his cake.

Monkey hanging out in Uncle Jeff's car.

Throughout both of Spike's birthday celebrations, I couldn't help thinking of his birthmom. A day that was so joyous for us, was probably very difficult for her. I lit a candle the night of his birthday in remembrance of her, but am hoping to think of a more meaningful way for our family and Spike to remember her in future celebrations. She gave us the greatest gift we could ever ask for, and we will never forget the sacrafice she made.

Finally, I started back at work this week. It was VERY hard for me to go back. Monkey is going to daycare three days a week. He absolutely loves his teacher and friends, so I know he has enjoyed his time there. Luckily, my mother and mother-in-law are going to watch Spike for the rest of the school year. I feel so much better knowing that Spike will not have to adjust to a new caretaker or house. And both boys have done well this week, so I know they'll be okay. Unfortunately, Mom is a different story! It was nice to see my students again, but I really really miss my boys.


Thanks for reading my essay;). And I just want to say congratulation to my adoption friends who have recently received referrals and travel calls. This is an amazing community that I belong to, and I'm so happy for everyone who is getting good news!