Planting Avocado Trees

On Thursday, daddy and Elijah went out to the new conference center that the denomination of our local church is currently in the process of building. It was a work day--a day to plants flowers and plants. We told our friend about how we have small pots of avocados trees growing and asked if it would be alright to plant them. So, we now have two avocado trees planted and growing at the new conference center! Maybe in seven years, we can actually enjoy the avocados!! ;)
Here are some fun photos of Elijah working and supervising the work going on there.

Our Little Indian Toddler

He likes chiya, puri, dhaal-bhaat, raw onions, and is "learning" how to play cricket. It is weird to think that he will grow up learning to play cricket rather than baseball. Paul is starting to learn more about it and has begun following the 20-20 World Championship. He says it is actually quite interesting. I have yet to discover the "fun" in watching cricket -- just like I have yet to understand the "fun" in watching baseball. Elijah got to actually "bat" today. He knows the word, "bat" now.

Oh yes, while we are on to new words, here are a few more: Lock, Rock, Racket, Momo (Indian dumplings), and Juice (although he only says, "sss"), and Babar (Ba-bar). He now says, "ah-pa and um-ma," perfectly. Mila, my niece would be happy to know that Elijah knows how to say her name too!

Another exciting event today: both son and dad got chased by cows! Yes, they were unhappy that Elijah invaded their territory and got a little aggressive.

A funny story

Yesterday, we had a "play date" with a couple of Elijah's Korean friends. While playing, one of the toddlers started to cry because she didn't want Elijah to have any of the stuffed animals in her brother's room. So, he sat there while she began taking every stuffed animal around him while crying loudly. He even offered one to her, perhaps to comfort her... I don't know. But the funniest thing was as soon as she stopped crying, he looked at me and said, "All done." It was as though he was just sitting there patiently waiting for her to stop crying and wondering why she was so upset! I sometimes wish I can open up that little mind of his and see what he is thinking! I really love this toddler stage. And, Elijah makes it really fun!

Up to Something....

We are realizing that our little boy loves to read. We found him reading on his own in the living room. It is really interesting to watch the process he goes through in choosing what to read.... That little mind of his is working constantly, that's for sure.
A budding artist? He has begun to play with markers and color pencils. Now, he would "draw" something and tell us what it is by signing, "elephant," or by saying the word like "ghoon-bah" for ball.
Trying out mommy's running shoes....Elijah thinks it's about time for mommy to get some use out of those nice pair of running shoes...

Trying out daddy's running shoes...."Daddy, did you just buy these because mommy says they're like brand new?" (That's because it has been almost a year and daddy has yet to go running.)

Ghoong-bah

He used to say the word, "ball" fine. But, now he says, "ghoong-bah." Initially, I could not figure out what in the world he was trying to say, but then a light went on! Oh, he is saying, "ghong" in Korean which is the word for ball and "ball". So, I guess he has heard us using both words and decided to put the words together to make, "ghoong-bah." I try to say the right Korean word to help him correct it eventually, but I love saying his new word too.... it's kind of cool. Even our neighbors have begun to use the new "ghoong-bah" to refer to balls. ;)

Ring Around a Rosie

You have to see the look on his face when the three of us (Daddy, mommy, and Elijah) play this game together--a sheer joy, happiness, and pleasure. I love playing it, especially the three of us together because I get to see that joy on Elijah's face.

A couple of days ago, I saw him spinning around on his own in the room, playing "ring around a rosie." So, I told him that he can also play the game with Babar and boy, was he excited! I videotaped him playing and it is one of the cutest videos I have.... Oh, Elijah, you bring so much laughter in our lives.

Trying to Keep Up!

I am finding that I am blogging more frequently these days on Elijah's blog. It is my best attempt to keep up with all the ways that he is growing and changing.

Today, I would say is really the first time where Elijah actually "played" with other kids. I don't know if something clicked for him developmentally, but it felt very different from other times I have seen him interact with other kids. There were some clues that he was starting to recognize others more and that the concept of "playing together or with each other" was forming, but today, he played together and with two older kids--both a little older than three years old. He played car, "talked" to them, and laughed with them. He even ventured off without us into another room with Daya's grandson and didn't even seem phased by it. Something clicked for him, it seems.

I am also realizing that he is using signs to communicate a complete thought. Before, it was one word here or there, but he is now putting signs together to form a complete thought. For example, during meal time, he signed "thank you," than a cross for "Jesus." Interesting to watch....

Oh yes, I can't forget this. At a store today, there were small "potty" or "toilets" that toddlers use during potty training. For the last couple of weeks, each time Elijah is straining as he is pooping, I have been intentionally saying, "Elijah, are you pooping?" I figured somehow he would eventually make the connection as to what pooping is. So today, he saw toddler "toilets" and seemed to want to sit and play with them. So, I sat him on one and told him that this is what you use for "pooping and peeing." He sat on one of the toilets and made a grunting noise. I thought he was just letting me know that he understands that it is used for pooping. Lo and behold, he had actually pooped sitting on the toilet in his diaper. Now, I don't know whether it is just a coincidence or whether he really understood the concept of pooping, but I think I might try potty training him in September after we return from the States.

I laugh at the fact that Paul and I are already s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g words so that he can't understand what we are saying! :D