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.

getting ready for the dreaded flight

well we have managed to get a shirt on Kobi with only a minor temper tantrum. Leaving the room is going to be another matter. He spat it when I tried to take him to the kids play room yesterday. But we are starting to understand each other - even if it's just a shake of a head or him saying 'da' for yes. He chucks wobblies all of the time but the time to get over them is getting shorter - thanks to him getting used to us and Porroro on the ipad. God Bless Steve Jobs and his marvellous machine :-).

We're not looking forward to the flight. A family we met over here had a hard flight back with their daughter - and she was a dream while they were here. Oh boy - we are going to be the least favourite people on this flight...

The words I have been waiting to hear....

Piper saying...."Noooooo Kobi!"
Kobi was trying to give Piper some love while she was on the toilet...and then he put his hands in there!
right down the bend....oh boy! Boys are sure different to girls :-)

Tornado Kobi Sleeps

He has just passed out - only a few grizzles and then BANG!  just like the roadrunner hitting Coyote with a rock - He is OUT! - 1 hour so far, I wonder how long it will last.

Bath Time

No baby bath here, so into the Kitchen Sink - He LOVES the water, he stripped off the clothes by himself

Clever Fella

So he feeds himself well too, what a clever young man

Pororo Plane and What a catch

So he LOVES Prororo - this plane has been a big hit.  Well caught Miss Daizi

Our poor little man, he really loves his foster parents, wont stop calling out for them. since 11am we have had a 30 min reprieve from the crying, but he is sad again. He did eat and drink (his choice - he tells us what he wants), but then vomit to follow. Poor fella, he is so torn apart.

today is the day!

Today's the big day.
We pick Kobi up at 10 this morning (10.30 Adelaide time)...still feels very sureal, as though it's not really happening...

Piper is taking it in her stride. She woke up this morning asking 'is today the day we pick up Kobi?' and when I asked her if she was excited or nervous, she told me very matter of factly 'a little bit of both' with a serious look on her face...

An embarassing bra incident

We decided to do some washing seeing as our new bigger room has a clothes airer. So off I trundle to run the washing machine...when suddenly there is an incredible noise coming from the machine. I thought our neighbour was smashing bricks...just to give you an idea of what kind of noise was coming out of our very nice looking washing machine.

So Tim being the action man he is, took footage on his phone, raced down to the reception desk, showed the reception lady the footage and she immediate sprang into action, calling the engineers to come and have a look.

The engineers arrived just in time...the load of washing had just finished in the offending machine. After looking at the machine contemplatively they consulted with one another, then asked me very politely with sign language to remove my washing...

...which is when i found the mangled underwire that had come out of my bra. This thing didn't even look like an underwire anymore it was so mangled...however we had found the offending article!

I might have well have shouted EUREKA! as I waved the bra with the missing underwire with a flourish at the engineers. The poor engineers shrunk into themselves, repulsed by the vision of my diamonte encrusted DD bra (they possibly thought it was a spinnaker I had been washing for some sail race??)

The very polite but now horrified engineers called the reception desk, who then interpreted for them 'the engineers have fixed the problem...please call me if it happens again'....ur, not likely!

 

Our room in Seoul

We have just moved to a bigger room in Fraser Place. When we booked we could only get a studio apartment - which has been fine for the three of us, although I haven't managed to get much sleep. However a bigger apartment became available so we have moved into a one bedroom plus lounge room with a sofa bed, dining table and two bathrooms. Much roomier and more comfortable - especially with cyclone Kobi arriving tomorrow.

Hong Kong Snapshots

We didn't have access to internet in Hong Kong so thought I'd upload some shots now

 

 

Eastern Baby Room

When we had the opportunity to meet with Kobi on Monday, we were taken to the Baby Room at Eastern. Such a sad and wonderful room. Lots of baby's sleeping and being fed, and wonderful women looking after them.

Seoul Tower and farts in a cable car

We went to the Seoul Tower today - which also houses the Teddy Bear Museum.
It was a great trip. Seoul is just massive and the tower is enormous. The Teddy Bear museum was fun for Pip - imagine historical situations depicted by little robotic teddies. Royal Weddings, market square antics and general historical scenes. Pip thought it was great.

We then caught a cable car back down the hill - where of course someone let off a kim chi fart! OMG the smells of Korea! However I must say that the taxi we took to the tower was driven by a very nice man who's taxi smelt like a combination of lollies and vanilla and who was serenading us with Korean love music...an improvement on the taxi a couple of days ago that smelt like rotting squid jerky!

Taxi fares are incredibly cheap here - most of the fares we have taken cost anywhere from $3 to $5. Our ride to the Tower took longer than expected today as the guard at the tower insisted on seeing our passport...which we had only just put into the hotel safe...so back to the hotel....then back to the tower....and the new guard didn't even LOOK at our passport! But fare still only cost $20 and we were driving around for at least an hour.

last day as 3

It's our last day as 3 today. We pick up Kobi at 10am tomorrow.
We met up with a lovely familiy from Seattle yesterday, Alison and Brad - they are staying in the same hotel. They pick up their little girl this morning.

They informed us that Porroro merchandise is expensive to buy on ebay so we made it our mission to find as much Porroro as we could find. Lotte Mart had a whole section dedicated to Porroro, so much we needed to buy a suitcase to get it all back to the hotel!  

When we walked into the shopping centre all I could smell was sesame! It was completely overpowering. However I now know that I can be in sesame smelling air without too much drama. A bit of an itchy face and swollen eyes but all good. I was a bit worried at first :-/ but shopping for Porroro managed to divert my attentions :-)

Porroro, for those who dont spend their days watching ABC Kids, is an animated show about a penguin that is made in Korea. All of the kids here are mad about him. So we have Porroro cars, trucks, airplane, socks and taxi. Kobi's foster mum gave us a Porroro toy as well as a Hambok for Kobi's 2nd birthday and a Taekwondo outfit with his name embroidered on it! We also got many photo's of Kobi growing up, on his first birthday and just around the house. Kobi's foster parents are really lovely and have obviously cared for him a great deal. His foster dad was playing with him at our first meeting and kept trying to get Kobi to give me a kiss! It was very sweet.

NANTA!

We just saw the most amazing show. Many families had told us about NANTA! and it's really worth seeing. Piper's comment as we left the theatre was 'that was AMAZING!'. We all enjoyed it. I even got hauled up on stage in a race to make dumplings and percussion all at the same time...which is an achievement for little ol' tone deaf and uncoordinated me..

Dinner followed across from the hotel...I unfortunately had to stick to boiled rice because of the sesame thing, but Tim and Piper had a delicious meal. Curiously the meal came with a soup which looked like Tom Yum...but apparently was so hot Tim thought he was hallucinating :-) Pip also had to put out the fire but she pushed through. Piper has really enjoyed eating out but there is something really razzing her up. She's not sleeping until after 10pm.

Just on the sesame thing - it's pretty funny watching the reactions of waiters when I show them my little sign in Korean. I had it translated such a long time ago I can't remember what it says, but they read it, then they read it out loud to anyone listening, then they look at me like I have just grown a second head, then they look at me with great pity and then they shake their head and make murmering, soothing noises and then look hopefully at the chef so they can find me something to eat. I hate to admit it but Starbucks has been my saviour... and it's about 50 metres from the hotel...yay, plus the other 6 or so in the next 1 kilometre in either direction. Lots of coffee shops here - dare I say even more than Adelaide.

Forgot to mention the taxi ride into Seoul from the airport. Holy Crap!
142 km/hr down the freeway!
I was clinging onto Piper in her standard seat belt wondering why the hell Tim wasn't demanding our crazy taxi driver to slow down, when Tim turned around with a manical look in his eye saying 'isn't this AWESOME!'....I think I'll take the bus back ;-)

Little Brother isn't so little

Piper and Kobi were standing next to each other while playing this morning and I noticed that Kobi had grown since we got his last measurements. He's almost taller than Pip! I think Piper has an inch on Kobi at the moment and their shoes are about the same size...

Meeting Kobi for the first time :-)

We met our little man today

We met Kobi this morning. We were told to we would meet him at 11.30 today, but instead we were welcomed with quite a few other families and then had lunch...which was really nice. We met a few families returning for homeland tours and families who were here to pick up their children....then we finally got to meet Kobi at 1pm today.

He is such a lovely little boy. His foster parents have obviously loved him very much and just showered him with affection. Both Tim and Piper scored kisses from him. In fact at one point I thought Piper was going to batt him away from his amourous affections :-) It was very cute.

Would you believe it - they are letting us pick Kobi up two days before we fly!
We collect him Friday at 10am and fly out late afternoon on Sunday. We have a very small appartment room so we are going to try and upgrade to a larger suite for these nights. It's a tight squeeze already and a boustrous almost 2 year old is going to climb the walls.