[Jessi_76]

Hello everyone

I'm finally going to post a little bit about the kiddos. I have SO much to say, but at least I'll get some basic stuff out and then maybe you can share like experiences or give advice in our "trouble" areas. As a first-time mommy jumping right into two, it's definitely a challenge.

Our daughter is very easy probably largely because she didn't spend as much time as her new brother in the orphanage. She's quite the angel. She goes right to bed and right to nap (usually). She eats well, plays with us and her brother well, and is just happy and pleasant. She's constantly smiling. She just started walking on Sept. 4th. at 12 mos. so she's right on target. She's very tiny (3 mos. fits perfectly as does some 6 mos - some 6 mos is huge) and doesn't much like to be held, especially if I'm sitting. She'd rather I put her right in her crib and let her sleep. She doesn't like being read to, doesn't like being rocked and kicks and throws a fit the whole time (the whole sitting still thing again), but hopefully we can work into that soon. I try every night, but every night she rejects me and I can't fight her when she's kicking and flailing all over the place. Many have said that's normal even with biological children. Who knows???

Our son, now he's definitely headed straight for the terrible twos at 21 mos. He's a monster at bedtime, a mega-monster at naptime, and he HATES being left alone (and I don't mean me leaving his sight...I mean, if I'm not within reach - like 5 feet). If he's watching me and I try to walk to the sink he throws a fit. He literally screams bloody murder like someone is stabbing him. I keep thinking if anyone heard him they'd have to think I was hurting him the way he screams. It's INSANE! It really upsets me that he gets so upset and so worked up. Poor guy!! We're working on calming him during those rough times but often he's inconsolable unfortunately. He loves cuddling, is super cute, a funny little guy, and very smart. He already understands English really well (ever since our first week home he's been folloing our basic "commands" for lack of a better word - like I'll say, "please pick that up and bring it to mommy and he will." His first English word was belly button when he lifted up my shirt an inch or two and inspected my tummy. He loves learning, and they play very well together. I can tell he's going to be a mad momma's boy too.

They are both teething which is tough, but both very active. They both talk up a storm...mostly baby talk, although our son calls me "MaMa Ma Ma Mom Mom" - hee hee...too cute. Mostly when he wants something like to get up. The most active word in his English vocabulary is, "Bye Bye," which he seeks out times to use it. For instance, he'll pick up a toy, carry it over his head to the baby gate that blocks off our family room from our kitchen, and toss it over the gate, look at it, wave and say, "Bye Bye." He then looks at us with a huge smile.

He has EXTREME fear of the crib. to the point where he screams bloody murder and then goes poopie in his diaper. It's so sad, and really doing a lot to teach us patience in trying to offer lots of scenarios to find out what works best. He'll be dead tired during the day and refuse to nap. The past week I've had him napping on the couch just so he'll sleep because the crankiness was out of control. He doesn't mind that AT ALL. We plan on asking our IA Dr. on Weds. what she thinks before just going ahead and pulling his crib into her room. We'd hate to have him ruin her wonderful sleeping patterns. Many times just being a room away his screams wake her and then we have two very upset babies on our hands.

He sucks his thumb and the US Embassy Dr. told us that he has already misaligned his jaw from it and we need to stop the behavior immediately. We highly try to discourage it, and sometimes he takes the "no" very well...others he gets very upset. The very first night we had him he was sitting in the crib in the hotel rocking himself...it was heartbreaking for both of us. He takes about an hour and half of me or dh rocking him though to fall asleep most nights. It is well worth the time and bonding though. It can all be very taxing though...sometimes after an hour and half, we'll place him in his crib, leave, lock the gate, he'll hear the gate lock, and he'll begin screaming...again begins the hour and half fall-asleep process.

All in all, exhaustion aside, it has been a GREAT experience, which gets easier with each day. Now that the grandparents have visited and we're on our own it's getting even easier. I can be myself and not feel like my every move is being watched and judged. Being alone with them is a little scary and a little overwhelming but VERY wonderful!!! Today I took them out and pulled them around the yard in the wagon before their naps and they were just loving it!! FUN!

Ok, that's all for now. I'm going to try to quickly compress a few pics to share too.

Ok, the first one is me with the two of them the day we picked them up, the second is each of them after we got to the hotel that first night. The last one is the four of us the morning after we arrived back at the hotel (which was only about 9 hours later). I have ZILLIONS more (I literally took like 2,000 just on our third trip alone - I'm a bit of a shutterbug ).

xoxoxoxo

[Jessi_76]

For some reason they didn't show up the first time, although they are showing up on my computer. Odd! Here we go again...

[Jessi_76]

Lorraine or someone,
Can you please delete my other two posts...I have no idea what's going on or why it triple posted...guess I'm still getting used to this new laptop.

xoxoxo
Thank you!

[EZ2Luv]

What beautiful babies!! Enjoy them Mommy. You will get the knack and it will seem so easy. It just takes a little bit to get used to it all.

EZ

[momraine]

Got your extra threads. They are so adorable. This will be the hard part. Personally I would ignore the thumb for now, since the poor kid has gone through so much in the last few weeks. Think about it from his point of view. Everyone he knows dissapeared, everything familiar is gone, everything looks, sounds and smells different. I would let him have his comfort. Do you think if you switched him to a toddler bed he would do better? My bio boys were climbers so they were out of cribs pretty early. If the crib is scary to him, maybe the todder bed would be less so. My son was six when he came home but was still in a crib in his orphanage. He went nuts when he saw the car shaped toddler bed we had for him (he is missing legs and very small for his age so he fits) It's made by little Tykes and I actually found it at a garage sale. He loves it. I know he was often put in his crib for punishment, so hates the idea of cribs, but a race car bed is cool and he goes to bed very well in it. My dd on the other hand was younger when she came home and she had been moved to a hospital from her orphanage while she slept (possibly given medication to keep her asleep) so she was terrified of going to sleep for a while, afraid she would wake up somewhere else or back in the hospital. (not a good place) Hopefully it will settle down and get easier for you.

[MamaChinch]

Does the crib convert to a toddler bed? I know some people have put the crib mattress on the floor.
Sweet babies! They will get used everything! Delaney still sucks her thumb and the dentist and ped said the would not worry about the misalignment until after 4 or 5 and the dentist said until the lose the baby teeth. I agree, he needs the comfort and self-soothing it brings him right now. Same reasons I mentioned to you before about the potty.
I learned to cook one-handed !!!!

[swmphoto]

First of all they are darling!!!!! What a fun holiday
season you are going to have. I used to climb
in the crib with our little guys and stay with him
while he fell asleep then after a few days I sat on
a little stool outside his crib but did not speak or
touch him (something I saw on supernanny)
After a week or saw the crib was not such a scary
place. I hope all the happy moments outway the
hectic ones the next few weeks. Keep taking
pictures they grow so quick.

[papedge]

The kiddos are just little dolls.

Kim

[Max'sMommy]

They are sooooo cute I just want to pinch their cheeks!

[cmmandjam]

What a happy family! That smile on your face says it all! I'm so excited to see pictures.

We had a little boy that didn't like to cuddle. He's a HUGE snuggler now and it didn't take long. We also had bed time issues and found that creating a routine and being consistent eventually worked out.

[Provost21]

They are sooo cute!! My little guy was a finger sucker and I let him for about the first 9 months or so just for a comfort (he came home at 19 months). They said his front teeth were started to grow outward but I do not see any signs of it now. It really helped him get to sleep. Sleeping is tough...Nate was never a good napper but at bedtime he was fine. Maybe you could let him sleep on the crib mattress in your bedroom for a while? Then he could see you and hopefully go back to sleep for you! He must be feeling very insucure and scared to want you right by his side... which I do think is positive... at least he likes you and doesnt want you to leave. I think that'll take a lot of time. I know its so hard to be patient when you have screaming kids! I would keep trying to get your little girl to let you rock and hold her. I did not keep it up with my son but my husband did and now after being home over 2 years, he really prefers him over me. He will go up and snuggle with him and he will not do that with me. I always felt bad for his screaming but looking back and seeing how he is now with DH, I would definitely keep at it. She probably never had anyone hold her and show her affection like that so it'll take time. Karen posts some great books that definitely help with that as well... I know what you are thinking... how in the world are you going to have time to read!?!? The first months are crazy- I only brought home one son and it was crazy so I can only imagine two! Remember to take time for youself- everyone needs a break!! That is very important. Thanks so much for sharing pictures- they are just adorable (although having another Kras cutie myself I am biased!! hee hee!)

[karla-k]

What cute kids and congrats on getting them home! Our friend brought home a baby girl from Russia. Your description of bedtime sounds exactly like hers..."no cuddling, kissing, rocking, just put me in that bed and let me sleep!" Her little girl was 8 months at homecoming, slept from 5:30 pm to 5:30 am and took 3 naps during the day. The kid liked her bed and to sleep. She eventually got over all the sleeping, and is very well attached to her mommy

I would worry about the thumb yet. Our bio DD is 9.5 and still sucks her thumb!!! The dentist has yet to see any damage to her teeth or jaw. I wouldn't worry about it until he is well adjusted to you and home. I agree about a toddler bed or twin bed. If he'll sleep on the couch, maybe he'll sleep in a bed instead of his crib.

Good luck,
karla

[MichiAmy]

Great pictures Jessi! They look very content and happy!

[kretzklan]

They are so cute and everyone looks so happy! You know all about attachment issues and it sounds like you are heading in the right direction with seeing an IA doc. Maybe some insecure attachment in your son from him being so upset when you even step away? You'll work through it all...it just takes time and patience!

[orenmommy]

Beautiful children and family!
I can totally relate to your post. We adopted two children at one time (8mos. and 11mos.) and it has been the most challenging time ever. They have now been home for 4 years and of course it is easier now. Easier but still not easy! They are both doing wonderful. Best wishes to you. You will do great!