Dear Aidan,
I'm writing this to you so that 20 years from now, I hope all of these precious memories will remain fresh in my mind and that we can always share them with you. Some people have told me that being a mother is the most magical time of your life, and I now can say that I agree with that statement. Although I have done many things in life thus far, being your mother is without a doubt the most rewarding, gratifying thing I have ever done. It is a definite honor to be your mom and to watch you learn and grow everyday!
There is so much that I can write here, but I'm just going to keep it simple...my favorite things :)
Your first word was "car." You still can't say the "r" yet, so it comes out more like "caaaa," but we know what you mean...especially since you point to every car you see and say it. You also point to scooters as they pass by and point to the sky at airplanes overhead when you hear them, also calling them "caaaaa"s. We're trying to teach you airplane, but it's a bit difficult to say!
You love to say Dada. You can say Mama, but you purposefully call me DaDa when I ask you to say Mama, only to start laughing when you say it. You know you're being funny and love it!
You LOVE dogs. You can almost say doggie! Whenever you see Paige, Kai'a and Bleu, you start laughing, as if you can't believe they're still there! You love to walk up to them and give them your hand to lick (which they love as it always is covered with some kind of snack). You also lean down to give them open-mouth kisses. Of course, you giggle every time they kiss your face. You love helping to feed them. When it's their meal time, you walk around the kitchen and pick up all 3 dog bowls and carry them to Dad (one at a time, of course). He then gives you the cup of dog food, which you try pouring/spilling into the bowl. Luckily, the dogs are very good at cleaning up big messes! :) You smile and often giggle each and every time you do this, as if you're so proud of yourself. It's pretty cute...well, crazy cute! You also love walking around the house and finding dog toys. You will then walk up to the nearest dog and try giving them the toy. You're very persistent, and they're very polite. We taught them not to take anything from you, so they try not to take their toys- but this only makes you more persistent at trying to give them toys...You love to walk around the house after the dogs- especially Paige. She's not the biggest fan of being crawled on, so she gets up whenever you todder over. You then start walking after her and she stays away- some days, this goes on for a good hour and keeps you laughing and happy the whole time! And you LOVE Kai'a! It is evident that she is your little buddy and your first best friend. You lay all over her and she is more than ok with you climbing on her. In fact, we think she likes it. You try saying, "Kai'a" and "Bleu" but haven't attempted Paige yet. You love throwing things for the dogs and feeding them whenever you can...watching the dogs eat is one of your favorite things!
You make friends wherever you go. Dad and I joke that you can get any woman in Thailand to do anything you want just by being you. Wherever we go, everyone wants to hold you. A day has yet to go by where you aren't passed around from person to person, all wanting to hold you and try to make you smile. Of course, this makes leaving anyplace an ordeal that takes several minutes, and often, several photographs with you. I don't know how many pictures you have been in so far, but I can tell you it's at least several a day! You also get lots of free things- drinks, food, toys...you name it. Everywhere we go, someone is giving you something...and everyone remembers you. Last week, we went to the grocery store and you got a bread roll, chocolate milk, juice pouches AND a water bottle just by being you...kind of crazy. We're not sure how you'll adjust to being in the U.S. where you may not be as pampered!
You have learned how to "wai" (put your hands in front of you in a praying position for the common greeting in Thailand), which makes the locals go crazy! They think it's the cutest thing. You now "wai" whenever we say "Sa wa dee Kap" (hello) in Thai. You also wave hello and good-bye. And you say "HI!!!!!!!!" to everyone we see. You are incredibly friendly and social, always wanting to meet new people, and shake their hands. You shake hands whenever we say "Nice to meet-ya!"
Oh yea- you love showing off your muscles, too! It's super cute and makes me laugh as you take it so seriously! You even grunt when you try flexing! You have a funny smile you make when we ask you to "smile" (more like a grimace scared face). You are an excellent walker and love to explore. You LOVE leaves. You make sure Dad picks you leaves every morning on your runs so that you can play with them.
What else? You love cheese, and apples. Pad Thai is your favorite Thai food. And tomatoes and cucucumbers. And rice crackers that we call "surf boards" as they look like surf boards here. You love to drink out of a cup, take a big sip and say "Ahhh" when done. It's almost as if you want to take more sips just to say "Ahh" afterwards! You try to use forks and spoons, but we still have a ways to go with that...you need a bath every night after dinner for a reason! Dad hates it that I think it's so funny when you're covered in food as it encourages you to make a bigger mess, but it's nearly impossible not to laugh and watch you!
You know where your nose, eyes, lips, ears, hands, tummy and feet are and point to them when asked. Nana taught you how to use your fingers to make a "1." You haven't quite gotten the "2" and "3" part down yet. However, whenever you want to do something funny, you'll stand up and use your hands to show "1." We'll then say, "One," and sometimes get "two" out before you eagerly shout, "Treeeee!!!!" before doing your funny act. Some days, this goes on and on. Dad and I keep saying we have to make the number 2 seems more fun so that you'll learn that number as well. But for now, you knowing "One" and "Three" is pretty cute!
There's so much more I can write, but I wanted to document these memories for safe keeping! I can't believe we've had you home for almost 5 months now! WOW how you have grown. And WOW have we learned. Being your mom feels beyond natural and perfect no- no more parenting shock! And everyday, I realize how blessed I truly am for having you, my little gift, in my life. I love you so much, little one! Thanks for letting me be your Mom and enjoy every single day with you!
Love,
Me
I'm writing this to you so that 20 years from now, I hope all of these precious memories will remain fresh in my mind and that we can always share them with you. Some people have told me that being a mother is the most magical time of your life, and I now can say that I agree with that statement. Although I have done many things in life thus far, being your mother is without a doubt the most rewarding, gratifying thing I have ever done. It is a definite honor to be your mom and to watch you learn and grow everyday!
There is so much that I can write here, but I'm just going to keep it simple...my favorite things :)
Your first word was "car." You still can't say the "r" yet, so it comes out more like "caaaa," but we know what you mean...especially since you point to every car you see and say it. You also point to scooters as they pass by and point to the sky at airplanes overhead when you hear them, also calling them "caaaaa"s. We're trying to teach you airplane, but it's a bit difficult to say!
You love to say Dada. You can say Mama, but you purposefully call me DaDa when I ask you to say Mama, only to start laughing when you say it. You know you're being funny and love it!
You LOVE dogs. You can almost say doggie! Whenever you see Paige, Kai'a and Bleu, you start laughing, as if you can't believe they're still there! You love to walk up to them and give them your hand to lick (which they love as it always is covered with some kind of snack). You also lean down to give them open-mouth kisses. Of course, you giggle every time they kiss your face. You love helping to feed them. When it's their meal time, you walk around the kitchen and pick up all 3 dog bowls and carry them to Dad (one at a time, of course). He then gives you the cup of dog food, which you try pouring/spilling into the bowl. Luckily, the dogs are very good at cleaning up big messes! :) You smile and often giggle each and every time you do this, as if you're so proud of yourself. It's pretty cute...well, crazy cute! You also love walking around the house and finding dog toys. You will then walk up to the nearest dog and try giving them the toy. You're very persistent, and they're very polite. We taught them not to take anything from you, so they try not to take their toys- but this only makes you more persistent at trying to give them toys...You love to walk around the house after the dogs- especially Paige. She's not the biggest fan of being crawled on, so she gets up whenever you todder over. You then start walking after her and she stays away- some days, this goes on for a good hour and keeps you laughing and happy the whole time! And you LOVE Kai'a! It is evident that she is your little buddy and your first best friend. You lay all over her and she is more than ok with you climbing on her. In fact, we think she likes it. You try saying, "Kai'a" and "Bleu" but haven't attempted Paige yet. You love throwing things for the dogs and feeding them whenever you can...watching the dogs eat is one of your favorite things!
You make friends wherever you go. Dad and I joke that you can get any woman in Thailand to do anything you want just by being you. Wherever we go, everyone wants to hold you. A day has yet to go by where you aren't passed around from person to person, all wanting to hold you and try to make you smile. Of course, this makes leaving anyplace an ordeal that takes several minutes, and often, several photographs with you. I don't know how many pictures you have been in so far, but I can tell you it's at least several a day! You also get lots of free things- drinks, food, toys...you name it. Everywhere we go, someone is giving you something...and everyone remembers you. Last week, we went to the grocery store and you got a bread roll, chocolate milk, juice pouches AND a water bottle just by being you...kind of crazy. We're not sure how you'll adjust to being in the U.S. where you may not be as pampered!
You have learned how to "wai" (put your hands in front of you in a praying position for the common greeting in Thailand), which makes the locals go crazy! They think it's the cutest thing. You now "wai" whenever we say "Sa wa dee Kap" (hello) in Thai. You also wave hello and good-bye. And you say "HI!!!!!!!!" to everyone we see. You are incredibly friendly and social, always wanting to meet new people, and shake their hands. You shake hands whenever we say "Nice to meet-ya!"
Oh yea- you love showing off your muscles, too! It's super cute and makes me laugh as you take it so seriously! You even grunt when you try flexing! You have a funny smile you make when we ask you to "smile" (more like a grimace scared face). You are an excellent walker and love to explore. You LOVE leaves. You make sure Dad picks you leaves every morning on your runs so that you can play with them.
What else? You love cheese, and apples. Pad Thai is your favorite Thai food. And tomatoes and cucucumbers. And rice crackers that we call "surf boards" as they look like surf boards here. You love to drink out of a cup, take a big sip and say "Ahhh" when done. It's almost as if you want to take more sips just to say "Ahh" afterwards! You try to use forks and spoons, but we still have a ways to go with that...you need a bath every night after dinner for a reason! Dad hates it that I think it's so funny when you're covered in food as it encourages you to make a bigger mess, but it's nearly impossible not to laugh and watch you!
You know where your nose, eyes, lips, ears, hands, tummy and feet are and point to them when asked. Nana taught you how to use your fingers to make a "1." You haven't quite gotten the "2" and "3" part down yet. However, whenever you want to do something funny, you'll stand up and use your hands to show "1." We'll then say, "One," and sometimes get "two" out before you eagerly shout, "Treeeee!!!!" before doing your funny act. Some days, this goes on and on. Dad and I keep saying we have to make the number 2 seems more fun so that you'll learn that number as well. But for now, you knowing "One" and "Three" is pretty cute!
There's so much more I can write, but I wanted to document these memories for safe keeping! I can't believe we've had you home for almost 5 months now! WOW how you have grown. And WOW have we learned. Being your mom feels beyond natural and perfect no- no more parenting shock! And everyday, I realize how blessed I truly am for having you, my little gift, in my life. I love you so much, little one! Thanks for letting me be your Mom and enjoy every single day with you!
Love,
Me
This is so cute, Kelly! I love it. Can't wait to see you guys again!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely adorable! Made me tear up a little!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful letter :) Children are such a joy! My husband and I are choosing international adoption but are really struggling with the where and with who. Could I ask you some questions about your journey through e-mail? My e-mail is amsmith0708@gmail.com. My blog is chloemakesthree.blogspot.com to show you that we are real people!
ReplyDelete