Just wanted to do a quick update after 1 week in Calgary with Jakob.
Jakob is settling in very well! He now loves the dogs (mainly telling them "no" if they bark...like we do, and he likes to terrorize them a bit). The dogs have been fine with him and mainly enjoy him most when he is eating and dropping a few scraps on the ground. Jakob also really likes his bedroom, which includes making his bed in the morning. He saw me do it once and now when you go to wake him up (yes, we always have to wake him up as he just stays in bed and waits for us...think it is an orphanage thing) he quickly scrambles out of bed and then directs you to help him make his bed. Not a bad habit I suppose.
We have been making frequent trips to the park as the weather has been quite nice lately (still not as warm as Houston). I need to get a video of him on the swings when Wayne is there as he laughs like crazy and screams.
His English is really starting to come along. He already knew most of his facial features in English by the time we left Moscow but just today he actually started saying them to us (as opposed to us asking where they are and him pointing to them). I think this means he is getting more comfortable with us and the language to have the confidence to say things.
We just started him in a class last Saturday at a place called Brilliant Beginnings just down the road from us. It is a 1 hour class for 6 weeks. They have a theme each week (this week was Penguins and Pals) where they taught them about Penguins (I learned some things as well!). They did music, free play / exploring, crafts (they painted) and games. Jakob really seemed to like it and it was good to have him around other kids which he really seems to like. He is such a little shrimp next to the other kids, but he is growing fast. We are not sure if our scales are right, but we think he may have gained another 2 pounds in about 1.5 weeks! He still looks like a kid from Ethiopia when he has no clothes on....big bulging stomach with little arms and legs, but I can tell his thighs are starting to meat up.
I'm also going to sign him up for a swim class that I can take him to during the week as he absolutely loves the water (and is attracted to any mud puddles he finds outside).
Jakob enjoyed coloring Easter eggs today with me and also eating the ones that cracked when cooking (guess I have a new food item now that I know he likes). I ended up posting several photos from the egg coloring as they were just too cute! We are looking forward to a 3 day weekend here and already have a little Easter basket ready for him.
He has his first doctor's appointment tomorrow here in Calgary as they will do additional blood work and tests that they could not complete there at TXCH due to our very short visit there.
I'm going to sign off for now as we have an extra early day for us tomorrow, but hope you enjoy the videos and photos I've posted.
I'll post again after Easter if not before!
The Turpin Family
VIDEOS
Jakob at his first day of his Brilliant Beginnings class (appropriate title for his school, eh?)
Jakob eating his first Vegemite and Toast
Jakob and Mama jamming to music and dinner and dancing
5 comments:
We are really pleased to see everything is going well, Jakob looks so cute.
Hope you all have a special Easter together.
Lovely photos and great videos.
All our love.
Auntie Jan & Uncle Paul xxxxx
Courtney, Wayne, & Jakob,
WHAT A FAMILY!! The egg photos are so cute and I loved all the videos. I'm glad he is adapting to the dogs - they will become great friends. He has come a long way in such a short amount of time. Jakob was born to be a part of your family. It is so unbelievable how fast he has adapted to you and Wayne and his new life. What treasures you are creating for him to look back on. I know it takes time to post, but will be well worth it for Jakob and we are all being rewarded along the way. The clock is ticking down for my visit and I can't wait to spend some quality time with Jakob. This will be such a special Easter for all of you.
Love and kisses,
Mom/Pam/Nana Pam
Hey you guys! Looks like everything is going very well. Jakob seems so outgoing, and well behaved. 'Brilliant Beginnings' looks like a great place for Jakob to get used to a school type setting. It sounds really interesting for him as well. I was telling my mum the other day you can tell he has filled out in the face a bit since the first the earliest photos you have posted. It's especially good to see he likes his vegemite :)
We hope little Bailey has recovered from his eye operation. Speak to you all soon hopefully.
Nat, Martin and Jonas
I absolutely loved these photos, videos, and stories, but all I could think while looking at/reading them was: "I want to be there to see him coloring eggs! I want to go to a Brilliant Beginnings class with him! I want to be there to see him go to swim class!" I miss him - and you and Wayne - so much. I could have gotten used to you all being around every day and guess I really got attached to little Jakob during our brief visit. (How can you not fall head over heels in love with him...he's so precious!) Anyway, thanks so much for continuing to share your family news with us. We are all rooting for your family's happiness and are so happy to hear that Jakob is continuing to defy the odds in adapting to his new life/home.
Love, Stephanie (for Ed & Ben, too)
Courtney, Wayne & Jakob,
You will never know how much we love your postings. You are so far away from us but the postings let us keep up with Jakob's progress. What a beautiful family you are - and Jakob is amazing at how fast he has become the center of your family. We love you and miss you.
Aunt Penny and Uncle Jeffery
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