Sunday, January 9, 2011

sixteen months.

it is amazing to be able to celebrate a month-a-versary with choi boy *home*. every month until now, we'd come up to the ninth, smile that our boy was growing another month older while he was loved and cared for in korea, but part of us would be so sad that we didn't have him in our arms to celebrate.

well, my friends, today is january 9th, and my sweet little boy turns 16 months today! and the best part is, i get to tell you things that he is doing/experiencing/loving as we celebrate 16 months of his life, because we are celebrating *with* him! :)

i realize that this update is probably boring for a lot of you to read through (especially since i just did an update last week!), but i thought it would be nice to document all this for the sake of posterity. so bear with me, y'all!

to celebrate our little one, here are sixteen facts about our sixteen month old:

1. he's hilarious. choi boy is so goofy and silly and does things that make us laugh all day long. among other things, he makes silly faces, imitates us and piper, puts random objects on his or our heads and gestures asking, "where'd it go?!"
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this was choi boy tucking things under his chin and walking around the living room. he came and tucked a stacking ring under each of our chins and was in sheer amazement when i was able to fit TWO rings under my chin. i'm so talented. ;)

2. choi boy loves to get down and shake his groove thang. we had a family dance party the other night and he was showing off his best moves. oh, and he also has a lovely little sway for slow music.

3. he currently has 14 teeth -- 8 on top, 6 on the bottom. his bottom incisors are also just coming in and he looks a bit like a baby vampire. i tried to look his teeth tonight and he bit me. hard.

4. he's adventurous. he loves to climb and crawl under things and explore every nook and cranny.
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this was at the indoor play area of our local mall. he was so busy running around and trying to get on top of everything that it was hard to snap a picture!

5. choi boy has a few words: umma; appa (still not totally solid, but getting there); mmamma (food); oh-wah (wow); jee-jee (yucky -- we use this ALL the time...see number 10 for why); a-meh (amen, after grace at mealtimes. i'm pretty certain he picked this up quickly because he knew amen = time to eat!); ko-kkee -- i think this is the beginnings of ko-kkee-rhee, which means "elephant" (because he points to his elephant humidifier and says it), but peter thinks it's go-ggi, which means "meat" (the jury is still out on this one), ppo -- translation: pororo, whom he loves. he likes to point to my laptop and say "ppo" repeatedly to get me to pull up an episode online. don't worry, he can't sit through more than 2 (5 minute) episodes!

6. he is currently in the 12th percentile for weight and 60th for height. but he's got big ol' size five feet!
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see those cute little baby high top chucks? love.

7. choi boy is tough. see the bandaid on this head? yeah...he fell while reaching for something and hit his head on the floor and got a small cut. i was freaking out and nearly dialed 911, but he was fine and was laughing up a storm after the initial cry.

8. he's also super fast and it is HARD to keep up with him! he's gotten a few bumps and bruises from traveling more quickly than his feet can handle and before we can even catch him, he's down! and it makes me feel like such a bad momma every time...but he gets right back up and starts moving again!
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9. he loves books! he loves to open up books and pretend to read, looking at the pictures and babbling and turning the pages. it's so sweet! and it makes this teacher's heart soar!

10. he puts EVERYTHING in his mouth. he's constantly sticking things in his mouth or licking (?!) things. oh, he also loves to stick things in his ears. oh...and up his nose. actually, he loves to stick things in any orifice on his face. is this normal??
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maybe piper taught him the joys of chewing on little people?

11. choi boy also loves to cheer. he claps for himself regularly and any time anyone is cheering, he loves to join in. there's a local car dealership commercial where they chant the website name and every.time.it's.on, choi boy joins in and looks at me to start cheering, too. he had a lot of fun cheering for the packers tonight! whohoo! the hubs is convinced choi boy is a lucky charm and that we will see the pack make it to the super bowl this year. ;)

12. he is very affectionate and loves to give his stuffed animals and lovies hugs and kisses.
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13. though he is generally very happy and sweet-natured, there are still times when choi boy grieves for his foster family, and understandably so. some nights, he still has some wake ups with heavy crying. it takes a few minutes to calm him down and get him to go back to sleep, but the next morning, he's all happy smiles again and ready to play.

14. and goodness, does choi boy love to play! he currently loves cruising around his little car:
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15. he loves to eat. a lot. his favorite is cheese. he could literally eat gobs of it. he cries and furiously signs "more" when i tell him "all done."

and 16. he brings us SUCH joy. his laughter and smiles melt our hearts and we are crazy grateful to have him in our arms!
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happy 16 months, sweet choi boy!

36 comments:

  1. happy 16 months indeed! I love how he will be able to grow up bilingual!

    Gogi is one of about 4 korean words that we use. (just to make you laugh I will tell you 2 of the other ones, although they are probably misspelled--shee shee and oonga!).

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  2. NEVER boring, how dare you say it!!! heheheee... I love love loved this update!!! Choi Boy sounds like a TOTAL ham... I love him already. And his clothes are SO cute!! I love both pairs of jeans in the photos (yes, I noticed one has gray lining and the other red plaid... the things you notice when you're shopping for boys' clothes and not girls' clothes!!!) and I TOTALLY love the toggle sweatshirt and the chucks. It definitely looks like you guys are having a blast with Choi Boy! Happy 16 months!!!

    Oh, and I noticed on your Christmas card (btw, thank you!! I totally burst into tears when I opened it!) that his birthday is 9/9/09!! Oh my!

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  3. awww, happy 16 months, sweet boy!!!! i'm so happpy for you guys that he is finally here to celebrate a month-birthday with you!!!!

    briar is only one size bigger in shoes and she's more than twice his age, lol!!!

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  4. Happy 16 months! Its so not boring to read all about Choi Boy, but even it if was, you'll be so glad you've documented all these adorable things about who he is right now. before you know it, 16 months will be a blur!

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  5. an update on choi boy could never be boring! i love hearing about all that he is doing and saying and the things that he likes. and so many adorable photos to boot! happy 16 months sweet boy! :)

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  6. I love it! And that last picture made my heart melt. Congrats on being able to finally celebrate a "month-a-versary" in person!

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  7. I love that you are able to celebrate 16 months with Choi Boy! He sounds like such a cute, funny little guy. I especially love all of his words and that he "reads" his books!

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  8. yay!!! a monthly update of carson!!! i'm so happy you finally get to do these! after reading all these facts...i can see why god chose him to be your son. he's perfect grace! sweet like you, adorable, funny, goofy and uber loveable!! those high top chucks are adorable! i love the kissing picture and it's hilarious that he has the toy under his chin in the first picture! ha-ha

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  9. awww...what a fun little guy! I love that last pic of C and P :)

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  10. Great update! Never boring! I love the anchor toe on that pic of him reaching to the top of the big green A. Sadly, sticking things in bodily areas can be very normal for this age. I wonder how long till he's got something stuck in his ear or nose and you're taking him to the doctor to fish it out! Is he still licking Piper? LOL

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  11. Happy 16 months CB! Lookin' good buddy!

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  12. Love the high tops! What a well-dressed little man. He really is at such a fun age. It's neat to right away have a little one who can walk and talk and really show his personality. It looks like you're having so much fun!!

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  13. Happy 16 months to your little one! And I have to say, get rid of that mommy guilt when he falls and hurts himself!! I remember when my son (now 4) was around this age. Every week he had a new bump or bruise on a new part of his boyd, usually his face!!! They're just too quick to catch every time. ;) Really enjoy reading your updates.

    - RB

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  14. Ahh, life with a toddler! What a blessing!!

    Is he smooching a glow worm?! I think Si has that same one and LOOOVED it.

    Happy 16 months sweet boy! So happy that you are together.

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  15. I love that you are now able to give those monthly updates! Can't wait to see him in action!

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  16. happy 16 months choi boy! so glad you get to spend it with your forever family! as for #10, yes, completely normal. my nephew (2) sticks everything in everysingleorifacehehas. normal.

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  17. Love this update! Choi Boy sounds so sweet and I know you are loving every minute with him!

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  18. That last photo is *so* great!
    And um yeah... kids put EVERYTHING in their mouths. I'm so happy we're past that stage!

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  19. what a cutie! i love that he gives his stuffed animals hugs & kisses! and this is kind of off-topic, but i really like reading tina's comments too. she will be all emotional and sweet and good and all the first things that come to mind for me are silly/dumb. like your photo card. tina cries. i notice your pretty necklace. sigh. we both love you guys though! :P plzzz visit us in boston!

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  20. Oh, I remember that feeling so well - getting to do an update on Max with him HOME with us. Such a wonderful milestone, Grace. This was a GREAT update. CH seems like a fun, happy, cheerful, smart little boy!!! And I love all the photos BUT that last one is killing me!!

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  21. Love the update, Grace! ALmost as much as I love Choi Boy's chuck's. Our little guy has a pair of low-tops, but I think the hi-tops are even more adorable!

    Choi boy is so sweet and seems to have such a personality...gotta' love that!

    Oh....and Go Pack ;0)

    Thanks for the updtae and I look forward to so many more updates of Choi Boy and your family!

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  22. I'm so glad you have him home WITH you as he turns 16 months old. He seems like he is such a happy go lucky boy, and I bet you are so excited he loves books already. Very cute pics!

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  23. What I love most of all is that you are able to write this with him home. It sounds like he is a lot of fun and that you are having fun with him. Awesome! Happy 16 months!

    And yes, we'll take any good luck we can get with the Pack! Dare we dream of the Super Bowl??

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  24. omg, i love that last photo! i love updates, there can never be too many :). also, we STILL us "jee-jee" all.the.time. he stopped doing it for awhile, but c loves to touch and put pretty much everything in his mouth. gross.

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  25. happy 16 months, carter! thanks for sharing, grace!

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  26. Happy 16 months! I don't even know where to begin. 1) Love the Chucks! 2) I think Korean little boys are tough. Wesley falls down, hits his head, etc. and rarely cries. He's one tough cookie. 3) Yes, the putting items in the mouth/licking is normal. EVERYTHING Wesley touches goes in his mouth. It's unreal and sometimes very gross. 4)I LOVE that he loves cheese (you know how I feel about cheese). A boy after my own heart. Wesley recently started not liking it as much :( 5) Love #16 - the fact and the photo.
    Great post. :)

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  27. Happy 16 months Choi boy! Grace, he is so much fun!!! I LOVED this update! My favorite picture is of him kissing his stuffed animal - so cute!

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  28. I love this story! I smile all the way through the read. I am so happy for ya'll.

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  29. What a GREAT update on your adorable boy! He sounds like he is developing and adapting nicely. Yes, kids LOVE to stick things in every body orifice. Watch out for little things in the ears and nose...it is freaky scary when they shove things up there, which can lead to a trip to the ENT Clinic to retrieve them. I've seen all sorts of crazy things in kiddos ears.

    LOVE the jeans, shoes, gray sweater, hat and WHEEEEEE photo at the end.

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  30. Such a beautiful boy! Happy 16 months!

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  31. Happy 16 months and having your Choi Boy here with you in your arms!!!! I just love the pictures. He is so precious!!!

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  32. WHEEE!!! Happy 16 months Choi Boy!! You are up to all sorts of wonderful and amazing things! (OK, the falling and the stuffing things in the mouth = not so wonderful.) Uhm, S is also a size 5 shoe. Man, I have a peanut! ;-) Like everyone else, I love that last shot. LOVE.

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  33. don't hate me if you start to see pictures of RJ in the same janie & jack sweater... I TOTALLY love it and we have a gift card!!!!

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  34. No question, baby chucks are the best! So sweet!
    (I wandered over from a.e.i.o.)

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