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!!

Kathmandu, Nepal Trip

The last time Elijah was in Nepal was when he was in my womb. At ten months old, he got to hear, smell, see, and experience Nepal. Here are some highlights in words and in photos!

• 14 hour bus ride (each way)--We have no complaints about Elijah because he slept fairly well and hardly fussed. We are really blessed with a good traveler. I'm also glad that we chose the night bus because it would have been a challenge to keep him entertained in the bus for that many hours during the day. My wrists are hurting again though from holding him so much.
• Co-sleeping with mommy and daddy on a twin size bed (yes, we were very snuggled up) -- way too cold to sleep alone in the pack n play with no heater! (Oh yeah, this is not a highlight, but Elijah rolled off the bed in the middle of the night while mom was deep asleep. Good thing though that her house sandals were near the bed to provide that extra cushion for the head.)
  
• Eating Korean food and really good pizza
• Elijah's appetite has increased significantly and is eating really well. He loves dhaal-bhaat (lentils and rice)
• Being cared for by Priya didi--we were very pleased with our babysitter in Kathmandu. She knew how to take care of Elijah so that I could attend about 60% of the sessions there.
• Meeting lots of new people--Elijah was the only child at the conference so he got LOTS of love and attention from many different people.
  
• Realizing that our son does understand Korean, Nepali, and English.....he responds to all three languages and shows comprehension.

Below are a few more photos:

1) In front of a shop in Kathmandu
2) After church service with a friend's sister and her daughter
3) Elijah's favorite pose (always reaching for something that he wants to touch or grab!)

Singing Hosana

I'm not sure what language Elijah is singing in, but we love having him sing along with us these days.

ps: Please excuse my "child-like, high pitch" singing voice. :) Hopefully, it won't be too painful to listen to.