Swimming!

Oh boy does Kobi LOVE swimming.
Tim took him for his first swimming lesson yesterday and it was a BIG hit. The only reason he wanted to get out was to eat Piper's jelly!

Tim and Kobi go to the playground

I just had to post this.
We have been struggling for the last week getting Kobi OK with the idea of me not being with him. He has formed a really strong attachment with me - but continues to build a good bond with Tim.

BUT....Kobi just left the house with Tim to go to the playground next door to our house...without crying!!! OMG it's a miracle.

Happy dance!

It's been 2 weeks...really? Feels like 2 months!

Yesterday marked the 2 week anniversary of picking up Kobi. Boy how far this little dude has come in such a short time. I must say it feels like it's been a loooooooot loooooooonger than 2 weeks, but looking back at the stages he has gone through, he's doing super well.

We are getting better at understanding Kobi's needs now - like when he really needs a bottle - not when he's just upset with us for not letting him do something (like drive the car!).


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Conversation of the week: 

Me: It's alright Kobi, there is no need to get upset. You have had fun playing with the steering wheel, now it's time for us to go. Let's go! Yay we're driving!

Kobi: WAAAAAAAAAA ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

Me: It's OK Kobi....look - here is a rice cracker - it's much more fun than driving....here is your water....much tastier than driving....

Kobi: WAAAAAAAAAA ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

Piper: Ha! As if Kobi could drive - he doesn't even know the way!

Me: HA! - I think I almost wet my pants :-)

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Our happy, happy little man

I can hear Piper and Kobi laughing from the bath while I am writing this, and it is the sweetest sound I have ever heard.

Each day, Kobi gets stronger and happier. He's such a funny character. Cheeky and loving. I get open mouthed, face plant kisses regularly now which is lovely (slobber and all!). He also tries to hug and kiss Piper but she's not into sibling love just yet.

Kobi now also enjoys lolling all over Subi the Great Dane, and since trying to ride Dolly the Jack Russel, their relationship has improved.

Tim and Kobi had a 'man day' today. Unloading wood from the ute and then driving it to the river shack to collect more. Kobi returned covered in mud but absolutely glowing. Tim had a ball too. I then caught Tim and Kobi wrestling on the couch with Piper...ahhh happy days :-) First day for Kobi without Mum and although it started with a bit of crying, apparently it went well....(Kobi crying - not me :-))

Piper and I had a girls day out - lunch and shopping. It was a nice break from running around after a 2 year old, but we both missed him. I think absence made the heart grow fonder for little Pip - as her 'I'm only going in the bath with Kobi for 2 minutes', has turned into a riot in there. She was pouring him tea and making him drink it, poor love. But I'm gathering that Kobi will do anything Piper asks him too. I think he is begining to adore her...

Which brings me to another point...how on earth is he understanding us? If I ask him things he answers yes or no...correctly as well. I think it's uncanny how much meaning can be passed in the inflection of your voice and sign language. Even simple tasks like 'Kobi, put the cup in the bath'....and he does it! This child is either a genius or he's really a very small man disguised as a 2 year old....hope it's not the latter although could explain why he stares at me in the shower...hmm disturbing.

Kobi has been able to say a few words. He says 'Piper', 'Ta' and I'm pretty sure he said "Dada' yesterday. I think he is confusing me with the bottle as he calls the bottle 'mama' but I think he's calling me that too.

It was very cute the second night we were home. Kobi grabbed a photo of Piper from the loungeroom and ran to his room yelling 'biber...biber...biber...ahhhhhhhaaahahhahaha'. So he now has a photo of Piper next to his bed.

 
 

Fun with Dad

I still can't work out how to put photos up here with the iPad - so have created a flickr account. Fun photos afoot here http://www.flickr.com/photos/79150019@N07/

Home with the little dude

What a homecoming. Or friends and family at the airport was the best thing in the world. We were worried that Kobi wouldn't be able to deal with it but....wait for it...he transformed into the happiest little boy you can imagine. He immediately hooked up with the kids, with Jade and Tilly being his favourite. He ran around the airport barefoot and happy. Asking for drinks, grabbing kids by the hand and racing them around and sharing yogurt with Jade. What a little superstar!!!!! Leaving the airport was difficult for him but we kidnapped his cousin Tilly to come with us. I was amazed at the immediate and iron clad bond he had built with Tilly in the space of an hour. The car seat was not appreciated but he was fine after a few minutes. The ride home on the windy roads was also fine. Getting home was really fine as well. I have been continually amazed at how well Kobi has settled in. He liked our little dog Dolly strait away but was petrified of the big dog Subi. But by the evening he was OK with her. By this morning he was grabbing her tail. He slept OK, waking up a few times in the night. But all in all a happy little man. He has been mucking around with Tim today in the garden with the hose. Each day has been better and better. Tomorrow we might try the car again but we'll see.... I have images and a video to upload but can't do it from the iPad :-(

Fight home was OK

Much to my surprise the flight home was as good as we could have hoped for. Kobi was really great. A little distressed with the car ride to the airport - projectile vomit over him, me and the car. But we took changes of clothes for Kobi and me (given our poo experience with Pip). The flight was good for all of us. Piper was amazing. such a mature and grown up girl for a 4 year old. The promise of a 'big sister bracelet' just like mummy's Pandora might have been the motivating factor ;-) We were sitting across from older women on both flights - who Kobi enjoyed making laugh occasionally. One of the ladies really razzed up Kobi just when we were trying to get him to sleep. I was getting quite annoyed with her when Kobi projectile vomited down the walkway....retribution :-) she didn't like that very much. Change of clothes number 2. Changing flights was interesting. We had 40 minutes to get from one side of Hong Kong airport to the other, including a bus ride, a train ride and getting to gate 68 (starting from 1!). We were escorted the whole way but it was like a comedy of errors - we were in such a hurry but were waylaid at security by a couple in wheelchairs who basically stopped the security progression for a while, and our escort obviously couldn't ask the two monks from getting in the elevator - who were traveling back from the 2012 Peaceful Journey conference based on their conference satchel! But we made it, even if looks could kill from our fellow transit travellers.