Phew! Jet lag hit me hard! I was really hoping to be one of those awesome people who blogged everyday on their trip and everyday once home...hmmm, nope. TOO TIRED!
Some days I really find myself missing Korea! But I do NOT miss the smell! It is a seaweed/sewage/motor oil scent. I could not wait to get home and take a big sniff of good ol' USofA. I have a new appreciation for America! And I still notice how good it smells here every time I go outside.
After my last Korea post we also went to
Insadong, which is another outdoor market/mall and bought some prescription glasses because you can get them REALLY CHEAP & FAST in Korea! Clay & I both have to wear glasses all the time - no contacts - and they are hundreds of dollars in the US! This was such a great find. When I find where I have hidden my camera I will upload pictures. We also went to
Lotte World (we did not go into the theme park), but it was not as cool as everyone said it was. There was this absolutely so-awful-it-was-funny Korean culture museum and a grocery store and some shops. We then went to
Home Plus which was kind of like a WalMart Supercenter only nicer and more expensive and on multiple levels - the best part was their amazing shopping carts that rolled easily in every direction.
On Friday we had our 2nd meeting with Violet. And on Monday at 3pm we got her forever! It was VERY sad! The president Dr. Kim said a prayer in Korean and the foster mom was crying. Clay & I both hugged the foster mom - which we are told not to do, because it is not in their custom - but we really didn't care at that moment. We're American and we hug - cry about it. Then the social worker told us to get Violet and Clay took her and we walked out of the room. I still cannot hardly stand the pain the foster mom must have felt.
We took Violet to our room and she started crying. We made her a bottle and turned the lights low so she could take her nap, but she never did. She didn't cry a lot, just mostly a sad whine. At dinner time Clay put her in the carrier (which got a lot of stares - I don't think men typically carry the babies! lol) & she fell right to sleep - and then we walked to
KFC! Clay ate standing up so she would stay asleep. That night she would sleep laying on top of me most of the night and I got very little sleep. We woke up at 5 to get ready and pack. Our driver came at 7am to take us to the airport. Violet did really well! Very little crying and lots and lots of sleeping. She slept almost the entire flight home! ON ME! I was very tired and sore. She was instantly attached to me (not to be confused with bonded) and Clay could only hold her if she couldn't SEE me.
We finally made it HOME! My mom, MIL and Aidan and Faith met us at the airport! I was so happy to see them! Violet cried for a few minutes in the car seat and then she was fine the whole drive home (as long as she couldn't see me). Our friends Luke and Caroline met us at our house and brought us dinner! That was so nice! My MIL stayed for a few days to help with Aidan and Faith which was also nice. I was very jet lagged and tired and still on Korea time. So I wanted to sleep during the day with Violet and was up all night. Luckily Violet slept all night too. Her way of grieving has been to sleep, sleep, and sleep.
I also had pretty bad vertigo the entire time I was in Korea and for a couple weeks after coming home. It is finally gone! That was NO FUN! It also made me very tired and nauseated!
We are home and trying to adjust. I finally have my sleep schedule back to normal. Violet is an EXCELLENT sleeper! 1-2 naps during the day, ready to go to sleep at 9, wakes up 6-7! We are all still trying to bond to one another. I am very anxious for this! It gets better every day though. Violet has recently bonded with Aidan, and him with her! That has been very sweet to see!! They love each other!
Here are some Violet fun facts:
Violet loves to eat! This is not something I am used to after 2 very picky eaters (Faith hated food period!!) It is kinda fun to be able to give her anything and she will eat it! She loves Cheerios, bread, and seasoned seaweed most of all.
She loves to raise her arms up high which I saw her do with her foster mom. I learned that this is a Korean baby game "Man Seh!" So now she will do it every time I say "Man Seh!"
She does not walk! Nor does she like to learn!
She cries "Ooomma!" when she is sad/scared (which is every time I put her down, change her diaper, wipe her face, give her a bath, take off her socks/clothes)
She does not like to hold her own bottle! I think she knows how, but refuses to do it - and it hurts her feelings if you try and get her to. She also has no idea how to use a sippy cup (and will only try it if I am holding it for her)
She is ornery! She pinches, bites, and hits! She will completely ignore when you tell her "no" (she will sometimes listen when you say "hajima!"). I have tried to teach her some sign language but she will not pay attention...
She can be very lovey and gives kisses and lays her head on my shoulder and likes for me to hold her like a baby and feed her a bottle.
We have only heard her laugh a couple times and it has been in the last couple days. She gets scared very easily when up high (holding her up high while standing, and even picking her up from the floor to swiftly), but if you hold her up while laying a bed, she thinks this is very funny. And jumping on a bed!
SHE LOVES TO BE OUTSIDE!!! Our best days are when we can go outside! I wish it would stop raining!!
She still cries when Clay picks her up if she can see me.
She did really well her first time at church. We have learned she loves to be around people - and out of the house.
