Christmas in Kathmandu

We celebrated Elijah's first Christmas in Kathmandu, Nepal. Our original plan was to celebrate it with some friends in India but due to very recent changes in the visa regulations, we had to leave the country before Christmas. We found a temporary flat and we spent most of Christmas eve just trying to set up the place and preparing to celebrate Christmas as a family. We bought an even smaller Christmas tree to decorate and bought Elijah gifts. Daddy explained to Elijah that God has given us Jesus as a gift and that is why we give each other gifts too. What mommy and daddy really wanted to get Elijah for his first Christmas gift was a tricycle for toddlers but it is too big to carry with us on the plane to Thailand then back to India. So, our plan is to get that for him when we return to India. Meanwhile, we got some transportable gifts for him: Nesting eggs, Ride and Hide Turtles, and a cellphone ;) We also got to enjoy our first visit to the zoo as a family!! We had great fun watching Elijah intensely studying and pointing at all the animals. You remind us of what an absolutely incredible and amazing gift God chose to give to us by sending Jesus as a baby. Merry Christmas, Elijah!!

Click here for photos!

Oh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas tree!

We'll be spending Christmas in Kathmandu, Nepal. But, we enjoyed setting up our Christmas tree and getting into the Christmas spirit as a family. Mommy and daddy have been talking about what kind of Christmas tradition we would like to have as a family. Unfortunately, the conversation has been put on hold a little bit as they have been working busily to figure out a short-term solution for the visa issue. We hope to post some photos of Christmas in Nepal in a few days.

First Visit to the Slum

We visited some of our friends in the slum area. They were all delighted to meet Elijah. Unfortunately, Elijah got sick and had his first episode of diarrhea shortly after his visit....but, mom is not sure whether it was related at all. Hopefully, we'll be able to visit a little more frequently.

Elijah Attends His First Birthday Party!

On Sunday afternoon, Elijah went to his first birthday party! It was Elise's birthday party and she LOVES Elijah. Unfortunately, Elijah didn't get to enjoy the sweets there but mom and dad thoroughly enjoyed yummy desserts that Elise's mom had baked. Here are some photos to enjoy!

A Baby

Our little boy signed the word "baby" to me as we briefly looked at the story of Moses and Jesus' birth. He can't quite do the sign as we adults would do it, but he clasps his hands together and swings back and forth to mean a baby. It is so sweet to watch....

A Sick Family

Elijah had fever for a couple of days, then runny nose which lasted only a day or two, and diarrhea for two days. I'm not sure what he had...Let me just say that my senses have been traumatized forever. How can a 11 month old produce such stinky poops? We had multiple changes of clothing and good wipe sessions.... (Of course, I would have preferred to just have him take a quick bath after each session but it's cold and there is no instant hot water.) It was still a little runny today but no other episodes so I think he might be over whatever it was that he had...

Unfortunately Paul and I are both dragging our feet. I have a case of a cold and food poisoning and Paul, food poisoning. We were invited to dinner last night and we wonder if the water was not boiled for very long....I was up in the middle of the night vomiting. Paul had the squirts all day. It is hard when both parents are sick at the same time. But, we made it through the day and are grateful that we did!

11 Months Old

Mars and Venus Already?

I found this video particularly funny. This little girl is only two months older than Elijah. They have recently begun "playing" together. Isn't it funny how you can already see in this video some of the male/female dynamics? She seems much more interested in the "relational" side of their exchange while Elijah seems only interested in the container itself. ;) Mars and Venus already?

Walker?

This video is from November and I am finally getting around to posting. Elijah is using his walker to move around. However, he has yet to try walking on his own. As we have been watching Elijah, we are learning that he is a cautious explorer - not one to jump in head first. He approaches new things by sizing them up first and slowly seeing what he can do. He examines new objects before grabbing them. I have been surprised to see that when people offer new things, he doesn't take them right away. Moreover, he only takes things that he is interested in.

In many ways, his cautious approach has kept him from getting unnecessary bruises and falls. Initially I thought he would begin walking on his own by end of his tenth month, but it looks like it will take a little longer....I am not complaining though because once he starts walking, I think he will start running. That's what he does while he holds onto his dad. And, I am not sure if I am quite ready for the chase yet!

Going backwards....Thanksgiving 2009

We spent Thanksgiving this year with Anika (an American doing short-term work), Raaj, and Binu (our Nepali friends). No turkey, but we did have a delicious whole roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, fruit salad, and a Nepali cauliflower and green bean dish. We had just returned from Nepal only two days before Thanksgiving, so we were all pretty tired. However, we wanted to celebrate Elijah's first Thanksgiving so we did! Paul spent some time telling the story of the original Thanksgiving to our Nepali friends who have never celebrated Thanksgiving before. Afterward, we all went around and shared what it is that we are thankful for this year. Paul and I have many things to be grateful for this year. But, of them all, we both felt like we are especially grateful for our son, Elijah. He is a long awaited gift and we are so thankful to Jesus for him.

Happy Thanksgiving, Elijah!! We are so thankful to Jesus for giving you to us. We love you!

(Pictures will be posted later...)

Some recent photos

Elijah got his first new pair of shoes!

He loves riding in the shopping cart at the supermarket in the new mall.

First swing ride....he was hesitant to try when he was alone, but when he saw another child on it, he wanted to get on it and give it a try.

And, of course, we have to add a photo with spaghetti sauce smeared all over his face!

Newest Obsession

Bottles, bottles, and anything with caps that he can twist, turn, and take off....

We showed him how to twist and turn the bottle caps to take them off. Now, he does it all on his own and is always trying to take off new ones. What I enjoy the most is when he takes off the bottle cap and then looks at me with a big grin on his face to say, "See ma! I DID IT!!" He seems to be much more interested in objects that have some functional use than just "play" toys.

Elijah's First Words....Maybe??

I am lagging behind in my blogging. I have lots of entries floating around in my head but, unfortunately, finding the time to blog is getting more difficult. So, here are a few "happenings."

Elijah is a talker. He babbles nonstop, and I am not kidding. I love listening to him. I have been surprised at how hard he tries to communicate with words. Beside um-ma (Korean), mama, ah-pa (for daddy in Korean), I thought I heard "gae" (dog in Korean) yesterday as he pointed to a dog. I think he also says "i-guh" (this) a lot too as he points to the objects that he wants. He has a lot to say and so far, he seems to have no problem trying to let us know what he is thinking. I can't wait until I can understand him more. I also want to spend a little more time learning sign language....just need to find the time because he often surprises me with different signs he knows....like, sleep. One night, he was especially tired and at the dinner table he signed "sleep" to let me know that he wanted to go to bed. He fell asleep so fast!

Language development is a lot of fun to watch. Recently, we have come to realize that he now knows objects (i.e. shoes, stuff animals, etc) and people by name. If I ask him "Where is so and so?" among a few people, he looks in the direction of or points to the person or the object. He understands simple words like "give, walk, no, where." (Most of these, he understands them in at least two languages, I think.)

These days he plays phone with us and pretends to be talking on the cell phone. Also when the music is playing on the mp3 player, he holds it to his ear and swings back and forth to the beat. When we sing he claps, and he knows how to give a high five. I'm thinking for Christmas, if I can find a toy cell phone or a laptop, I might get it for him.

Mr. Elijah Graf is also exerting his will more and more and Paul and I agree as his parents that he is quite stubborn. Usually, he is easily distractable. However, if he has made up his mind about something, he will not relent until he gets his way. And, he is only 10 months old! He throws little tantrums here and there if he is unhappy about something. But, for the most part, he is easy going and loves to play! I am having SO much fun!!