Week One - Update

Well, today marks almost a week since we've been home. I've already sent in the info to get Eli registered with the Ukrainian embassy, and am looking in to the forms for his new birth certificate and SS#. We've added him to our insurance and been to two doctors. I have a third apptmt with a pediatrician on Monday to start the process of evaluating his health conditions. We've met lots of new friends, been lots of new places, and experiences lots of new tastes, smells and touches. What a week it's been!

So far, Eli is doing great. We still have yet to figure out his routine, although I have him in a great routine for now. I ended up putting him down for his nap early today because he was so cranky! He almost slept through the night last night, which was nice for me. I'm sleeping on a matress on the floor next to his bed because he gets a little frightened when I'm not around. I think within a few weeks he should be able to sleep by himself, but I'll let him tell me when he's ready.

Food is fun. He loves to feed himself, although he makes a huge mess and immediately wants me to clean it up. It's really funny. Breakfast is a bannana, bowl of cheerios. Snack is either pretzels, a piece of fruit or animal crackers. Lunch is some sort of soup (to get more liquids in him). Another snack of pretzels, fruit or animal crackers. Dinner is a Gerber babies dinner of some sort, and whatever else he wants until he says he's had enough. And right before bed I give him a yogurt. Big appetite, I'm happy to say.

He loves apple skin, bannanas, mashed potatoes, soups, chicken in various forms, ham, apple juice, orange juice, cashews, strawberries and cheerios.

He hasn't quite found a cheese he likes, and he really doesn't like carrots or blueberries or any of the bread we've tried. I only count out foods when he's tried it twice at different times and he doesn't like it.

He loves cars (really anything that rolls), his train set, his cell phone, puzzles and is slowly getting in to books. We "read" to him before bed.

He's quite a snuggle bug when he wakes up from his nap. We sit on the couch and he flops on my lap (I have to remember not to have my cell phone in my pocket!), then sits next to me, plays for a moment or so, then comes back to give me a hug. It's really a great time with him. He's really a very affectionate and loving child.

When Papa gets home, he tumbles freely in our back yard. He rolls around in the grass, digs in our garden, and helps Papa with little chores, like putting mulch in bags. He came in covered from head to toe in dirt yesterday...it was great! He loves tossing the ball around and dunking it in the hoop our neighbors got for him.

His greatest loves are car rides with his toddler music blaring, and being outside with Papa.

He's learned three words so far: Hello, Hi, and Ball. He understands most of the time and is learning fast!