If you're happy and you know it...

Okay, so as all parents know, along with kids comes the dreaded discipline word. And we've been trying to figure out which discipline methods work best with each kid, some methods are more successful than others. 

Today, one of the kids was pouting and speeding along the way to needing some serious discipline. And I just didn't want to go there. I mean, it's way more fun to play than be in timeout all the time, isn't it? So I pulled out one of the songs I taught them. If you're happy and you know it. I can't believe I am admitting this in public, but I said this is the sweetest, most annoying voice I could find, "If you're happy and you know it, SMILE! If you're happy and you know it, SMILE!"

And it worked. The kid became happy and bounded off and was heard singing that song for an hour or so.

Bryan said, "That helped?!"

Don't try this at home.

Learning English

We are working on learning some English around these parts. I try different techniques, including writing different words on sticky notes and asking them to place it on the proper object, doing flashcards, using Google translate, playing "I Spy," and singing songs.

Kid #1 is catching on fairly quickly and knows numbers, colors, clothes, foods, simple commands (Go to sleep, set the table, etc.) while Kid #2 doesn't know as much, but when Kid #2 does say something, there is less of an accent.

A couple of days ago, Kid #1 learned opposites words and today, wouldn't ya know, Kid #1 said, "Mama big. Daddy small."

Thank you. Thank you very much. Now, please excuse me while I go eat some celery ;).

Spring comes to Poland

The trees are budding and flowers are blooming. Spring has come to Poland.

Just two neat things to share today.

1). At our first meeting at the institution, one of the workers told us of a miracle. In a shipment of donated clothes after they knew we had accepted the referral for the kids, the workers found a t-shirt that said "Illinois." The worker said, "It was like a gift from an angel." And Kid #1 was proudly wearing that shirt during the first week.

2). I don't know when to say that we officially started the paperwork to start this adoption. I know we called our homestudy agency in March, 2011, but decided to wait a month. Then we called again in April, 2011 to get into the May training. Our social worker came out to our house on May 2. You know when the kids arrived at their institution? April, 2011.

Our journeys started at essentially the same time.

Crepes and yogurt

We're still doing well over here. Of course, we have been having the challenges that we've been prepared for, but I think we're all doing well given the situation. I am so thankful we have had really honest, realistic caseworkers who told us what we could probably expect. And I would rather have the challenges earlier rather than later, although we prepared for a challenging year or two.

No matter what, we're really grateful to have these two little people who are, at the moment, wrestling and giggling with Bryan.

Yesterday, I had ample opportunity (through requests for corrective action - haha) to study Kid #1's face in multiple angles. And I have to say Kid #1 bears a surprising resemblance to Mitchell Lanz, enough to be his brother. I should warn Mitchell's parents :).

The second week went by quickly. We're ready to tackle the tram system next week, so we can venture out of our neighborhood.

We made nalesniki (crepes) with nutella for breakfast this morning. Since it was requested for supper again tonight, I would say it was a hit.

Also, a certain type of yogurt is sold with stickers that the kids can use to turn into animals...which are really cute. See our growing zoo above.

Apartment tour

How about a tour of our apartment?

This is our bedroom.

This is the living room/kid's sleeping area.  Our bedroom is behind me.

This is our entryway.

We'll take a break in this tour to show you the one of the desserts we got today. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Oh, wow. Another dessert. I hate it when I'm forced to eat things like this.

This is our kitchen/sitting area. Cute little legs.

Shower, obviously. You can see the corner of the small washer. The toilet is in another teeny room, but you know what they look like.

We're very happy with the apartment. It's quiet (not sure the neighbors can say the same) and our landlady is really nice. Plus, the apartment is very bright, something I normally love, though not always at 5:30 am.

It was a great day today! Today started to feel more normal, like we are starting to understand each other. After a walk to the institution to have the Doctor check on Kid #2's cold/cough/fever, we headed to McDonalds...our first time in a restaurant without a translator. It wasn't too bad. We only got one extra Coke and an extra sandwich :). Seriously, we had no idea what she was saying except "thank you" and McChicken, so I think we did well.

As soon as the kids are back to 100% health, we're going to venture further...there is a small zoo and large shopping mall within tram distance. 

Someone stopped me today and asked me something. I shrugged, "Nie Rozumiem." I don't understand. And when we were shopping today, the cashier asked us something and pointed. We couldn't understand what she was saying, so eventually she gave up.

With the kids, it's much easier. For instance, I know that Kid #1 sometimes prefers a blanket instead of the heavier cover and Kid #2 sometimes likes to wear a tank top instead of a pajama top to bed. So when they are in bed and start calling for us, I usually start with that and offer a drink, if that's not it. And we know the bathroom words and "I'm hungry." And laptop. We also use Google Translate, of course. It's most helpful for discipline and to praise good behavior. Since today was such a good day, I used Google Translate to tell them how proud I was that they behaved so well. Then we put them to bed. Does Google Translate have a rewind button :)? So the moments of frustration with communication lessen a wee bit each day. 

The kids are learning Nursery Rhyme songs. It's really cute to hear them sing the ABCs with a Polish accent. I recorded one of them, because, someday, they are going to lose that cute accent. And I think that will make me a little sad.

It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful

Our Polish pizza outing was fun. B, our official translator, took us out (she said, "I won't charge you for this one, this is just friends"). The pizza came to us covered in this plastic dome thingie. Half the pizza was pickles, salami, and hard-boiled eggs. Of course, we served it with ketchup. And our initiation into parenthood continued...Kid #2 spilled Coca-cola on the table.

Bedtime had been challenging the last few nights. I had to prepare for the fight by being adequately hydrated, visiting the facilities, and eating because I didn't know how long it would last. But last night was almost without fight. Sigh of relief. In case you're interested, the routine goes something like this:

1. Eat supper

2. Showers (the order, decided by the kids, makes me last :))

3. Make the beds

4. Eat popcorn (and anything else they can get their hands on)

5. Story and short prayer

6. The kids get massages (in case you're thinking the kids are really spoiled, touch is supposed to be good for attachment) 

7. They usually try to sneak in a drink at this point before being herded back to bed

8. Lights out

9. And then Bryan and I rush to the kitchen and enjoy popcorn and ice cream and/or chocolate :). HAHAHAHAHA! 

We were told the kids have an amazing bond, never seen at their institution between siblings. So we were expecting them to not fight, but they are biting each other as I type. I think they're just like everyone else. It's funny how many phrases come back to me from my childhood. As they're bopping each other on the head, I hear my mom or dad's voice echoing in my head: "It's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt." And I can't wait to break out, "If you want to, you don't have to." Right, mom?

We have challenges as we try to figure out how to discipline, create (and enforce) rules, make sure they get enough food (but not too much of the wrong things), and get enough sleep. Speaking of sleep, the days are longer here and our sleeping quarters are flooded with light by 5:30...which means that both the kids and we are usually up by 5:45. I asked Bryan if my eye bags looked bad yesterday. He just gave me the there-is-no-safe-way-to-answer-this-question look.

We are really enjoying the kids. And I hope we can always be thankful for them. However, knowing myself, I think we will eventually be really frustrated. But, wow, they are cute and funny now :). Life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.

First home visit

When we were doing all our paperwork at home, we had multiple home visits from caseworkers. In Poland, it's no different. So today, we had our first home visit which involved a translator, a psychologist, and the director of the Adoption Center. Most of their questions involved our impressions of the children, if anything surprised us, what our routine is, did we like the apartment (they said the apartment is much nicer than the lift (elevator)!), etc. They also wanted to know our school plans for the fall, medical appointments, and to know that we've been well prepared for the usual adoption issues. 

They also asked the kids some questions. These were some of the responses/questions from the kids:

"In this place, the kids are in charge!" (Really?! Maybe we need more rules! But it makes me definitely feel okay about creating more boundaries. They can handle it.)

"When do we get to fly to America?" 

When told they need to learn more Polish, they said, "We don't want to learn English. When we get to America, people will just talk Polish to us. Besides, our parents are learning Polish and we can communicate just fine."

I think the visit went well. They made a couple of suggestions and gave us some helpful information. We also need to enforce a couple of things, but couldn't explain why they had to do these things. These ladies were very helpful about explaining to the kids why. And we need to change one thing, but yes, the visit went well. I believe we will have just one more visit in a couple of weeks and then we will have our court date the week after that. 

We are going out for Polish pizza with our translator tonight. The kids put ketchup on their pizza at home, so it will be interesting to see how it's different.