The wait is almost over

I'm waiting for Feli and Alex at Dulles. The 10 weeks are almost over!


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Farewell...

'Tai -tai' (pronounced ty-ty) Romania… if I say 'tai-tai' to Alex he waves good bye. We had lots of fun here, learned SO many words, had so much fun with bunu and buna, all the cousins, uncles and aunts, ate good food, chased pigeons and played and played… We will miss everyone and everything.

Encouragement

Jesus Calling Devotion

I've been enjoying reading this wonderful devotion book since I got it as a gift at Christmas time. Each day's passage speaks straight to my heart. I've just read today's devotion and my heart swells with confidence that the trip will go well, Alex and I will be OK on the way back to US.

'Stay calmly conscious of Me today, no matter what. Remember that I go before you as well with you into the day. Nothing takes Me by surprise. I will not allow circumstances to overwhelm you, so long as you look at Me. I will help you cope with whatever the moment presents. Collaborating with Me brings blessings that far overweigh all your troubles. Awareness of My Presence contains Joy that can educe all eventualities."

Psalm 25:1-4
"1The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.

² For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.

³ Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?

⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully."

2 Corinthians 4:16-17
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

Three more days...

I've already started packing and arranging our stuff in the suitcases. I just want to make sure we are within the weight limit. I've been buying gifts and all sorts of random stuff so it feels like we are going back with more of what we came with.

These shots were taken on Sunday when Alex was really determined to finish bunu's painting. He loves hanging out in the painting studio, checking out the brushes and faking painting. I do hope he will get bunu's talent.

In the evening, we had a little celebration for Alex. Buna was determined to celebrate his 16th month anniversary so we made a cake for her. Alex enjoyed it too:)

Countdown reality

It's getting closer and closer to our departure… four more days!! My heart is nothing but a pool of mixed feelings: I really miss Michael, my home, my church, my life in US but I also feel terrible leaving my parents behind and not knowing when am I going to see them next. We both had a fantastic time in Romania, especially Alex. He learned so much about himself here, got to try new things, experience a different culture… of course he's too small to realize that but it's a great start to him embracing his Romanian side.

This was one of his favorite playgrounds, just outside the city. Alex spent hours in this sand box and we've already put in a request to daddy and Papa to build one in the backyard. It will make everyone's lives easier having this kind of preoccupation available any time.

I second that …

So, Felicia just posted that Alex is now 16 months old.  It really is hard to believe that he’s that old.  Now, I do know that 16 months isn’t really that old, but considering it just seems like yesterday we were bringing our little guy home from the birthing center …. well, you know.

It’s also hard to believe that as of yesterday, Felicia and Alex have been in Romania for 9 weeks.  We’re finally into the time where we can count the time left in days.  And that, by my count, is 6.

So, six days and counting ….

My 16 months old boy

Today Alex turns 16 months!! It's so hard to believe sometimes that the baby stage is already gone. He's a toddler now, a little boy who walks, even runs, climbs, who is curious about everything, who can express his dislikes louder and unfortunately, a little moodier too. His personality is developing and I can see how serious parents' role can be starting these early days of development. I pray that God gives Michael and I wisdom in raising him to be a good little boy. We love you so much, Alex!!

It's Been Quiet Around Here

Today marks day day 60 that Felicia and Alex were over in Romania.  When they first took off, I wasn't really sure what to expect.  And from what I can remember, neither was Feli.  I remember at the time thinking that 10 weeks was such a long time for them to be away.  Don't let anyone kid you, it is quite a long time for them to be away.  But I think it's also been a good time.

I do know that Alex has had a grand time in Romania with his grandparents.  And I also know that they have had a good time having him around.  What's funny is watching him via Skype and videos that Feli takes of him.  I think he's learned quite a bit of Romanian while he was there.  Not speaking it, but definitely understanding it when spoken to him.  It'd be rather interesting to determine who knows more, me or him.  I think I'd win that one, but only by a small bit.

If you've been reading the blog or following the trip on Friendface, then I'm sure you've seen just how much he's grown over the past two months.  I know that when I was there, he'd grown a bit, but over the last 4 weeks he really seems to have grown.  And not just grown, but matured.  He no longer looks like a baby, but looks like a little boy.

I will say that this time apart would definitely have been more painful if it weren't for the trip I took over there for 8 days.  In retrospect, I should have taken a bit more time there (especially since it wouldn't have cost much more and could have happened in and around Memorial Day here in the States), but at least I as able to see them.  I think that 10 full weeks would have been almost unbearable.

At least while they were away I was able to get some work done on the house.  RIght now, I'm sitting in Alex's room in the glider rocker typing this blog entry.  As I type this, I'm surrounded by not only his stuff, but a decent percentage of the furniture and stuff from the living and dining rooms.  Why? Well, that's because while they were gone I had both the upstairs and the main level's wood floors done.  The upstairs was a complete sand down and refinish (and man do they look different  … you can see pictures on my Google+ account if you're interested).  

The main level wasn't quite as invasive, though they were in much better shape too.  Instead of a complete sand down, these were just screened and poly's.  In fact, it was meant to be a single coat, but due to a technical glitch, our floor guy (if anyone needs a their floors done in DC, let us know, we can definitely recommend him) had to come back and redo the work.  So now the main level has two coats of fresh polyurethane on it and do they look shiny.

So, now as the last 10 days speed past I can look forward to having squirbles and @felioland back from abroad.  It's been a good time apart and now I'm ready to have them back home.  But if you happen to think of them on Wednesday night and/or Thursday morning, could you say a little prayer for them?  I'm not going to be able to help them as they travel back to the US and I'm sure the flight won't be the most fun thing they've ever done.  I'm sure Feli will have something to say about it here in a little over a week.

Happy Father's Day

We wish we were with daddy on this special day and wish him in person a very Happy Father's Day. Alex wanted to send this message for his daddy whom he loves very, very much.

Another haircut

Once or twice a year (or maybe more?!) I get this urge to change my hairdo. With the prices being so low in Romania, I added some highlights to the make over. The whole deal cost me less than $20. I really like the haircut, went short again for the summer but the highlights I'm still getting used to it... The colors are a little brighter then I'm used to.

Here's a picture with a before and a few afters. You like?:-)

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Sick Alex

Last Saturday afternoon Alex started a week of sickness with a violent throw up. I can count on the fingers of one hand the few times his stomach actually upset him bad enough to throw up. This time around he made up for the lost time and made a big, messy statement on him and his mamma. Later that day he started having really bad diarrhea too.

He had these symptoms going on for five long days. The happy little boy Alex was, turned into a very cranky, hard to please, whiny, needy, sometimes violent toddler. He was just unrecognizable, poor baby.  He was just in pain and very frustrated for not being able to express his aches. Between bunu, buna and I, we managed to keep up with him these days but I must say that at the end of the day, all three of us were exhausted from caring for him.

He didn't run fever except a little at the beginning. His appetite was really bad but at least he kept drinking his fluids: water, tea and lactose free formula. We kept him on a simple diet and we finally see the end of this sickness. Today he was a much happier baby, almost his old self. When sick, he hates being in large crowds and outside. Today, he was happy to be outside most of the day. It was a very good sign. I hope he wakes up with a smile on his cute face tomorrow morning.

 

Happy buna on her special day

 

Happy Birthday Buna!

Today is buna's birthday. How special that we are here to help her celebrate her 63th birthday! We are very thankful to God for such an amazing woman my mom is, most loving, giving, modest and faithful woman! We love you very much!

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Thanks to my mother in law, Wendy who gave me a coupon, I just ordered this photo book from Shutterfly. Like I said in my previous entry, I've been taking so many photos that it made it really hard to pick the best ones to include in these 20 pages. It will be a little gift for my parents once that we get back to the States and will start missing us like crazy.

Favorite portrait shots of Alex

I've been taking lots of pictures since I came to Romania, you can see most of them on Picasa. These pictures will help us all, in Romania or back in the States, to relive the fun days we had here. And among the hundreds of photos, lots and lots are of Alex of course. Here are some of my favorite portrait shots of him. He's growing so fast, I just want to capture him in every single moment.

 

Flashback

Today we finally made it to Bodia, the village where my grandparents lived and where I spent lots of summers with my siblings. It was tough for my parents with the three of us, so whenever they could, they would take us to the countryside. We were so happy there:  farm animals to keep us entertained, fresh food, loving grandparents who would satisfy our requests… life was good!

It was emotional and cool at the same time to see Alex walk through the same courtyard I used to play in, climb the same stairs I used to and chase the chickens like most probably I did too back in the day.

Here we are, three kids, happily chewing on some yummy apples from my parent's backyard and watching the world, or I guess just the village, go by… I love my mom hiding behind, peeking from the house at us. The bench is not there anymore, but I took a picture of Alex and my parents just nearby.

My grandparents passed away and unfortunately no one lives in the house anymore. You could tell by the way grass and weeds grow wild all over the yard. Alex had fun exploring a little bit.

Alex is into climbing these days, he likes to do that every time he has the chance to practice on something. Here's at the top of the stairs trying to climb the little gate.

Many years ago, the tops of those stairs were my favorite too. I didn't have a scanned photo of me playing on that very spot, but I did find this one below where I probably just got off those stairs to go to the fountain and bring some water in those buckets.

Being around that many chickens, ducks and other farm animals was fun. Alex thought the same today when he was chasing the little chickens around. I am kind of sad his childhood will be so much different than mine…

 

Missed my boy

I was away for three days to Cluj Napoca and had a little time for myself while Alex stayed behind with bunu and buna. I had an amazing time there but at the end of the day all I wanted was to kiss my baby. I would get on computer or phone and look at pictures of him just to satisfy my crave.

Every time I would call home to check on him he would be playing, running around, having a good time... He didn't even seem to notice my absence. My parents were thrilled having him all to themselves for these few days, especially that Alex started hugging them out of the blue. He's really connecting with them now, it will be tough in three weeks. I almost don't want to think about it.  

Alex was already asleep last night when I got home but this morning, I could hardly wait for him to wake up so I would cover him in kisses. We played all morning and got a few hugs myself. He's the sweetest little boy.

Sent from my Windows Phone

Alex and the flower

Its so fun to notice how Alex's brain works. He has such an amazing memory, he learned lots of new words, can express himself a little better although he's still not saying any words.

I like this little clip I took of him this morning. He likes holding dandelions and for the first time now I saw him doing a 'she loves me, she loves me not' number on it. Not sure if he's seen any other kid doing it (he's very much into imitating phase) or if he came up by himself. I got a chuckle how he got tickled by the longer straw. And than towards the end, after he picks up the flower again, he smells it. He learned that since he's been here, if I say the word 'smell' ( in Romanian of course), he just blows air through his nostrils. So cute!! You can hear him a little here too.

Sent from my Windows Phone