Sam versus the ottoman

Week 1 Orientation

We've now finished week one of orientation for our time abroad. Below are three pictures taken of Sam by one of the childcare providers.

He did very well in the program. He is still a pretty low-fuss baby, especially if he gets lots of time around others and playing. He liked following the two older toddlers around and talking to them. The other older kids also looked out for him. It was nice as times to be able to park his stroller next to a table of fellow orientees and dash off to get food at breakfast, etc.

I am sleeping very strangely. Tonight I slept 9-1ish and then just woke up. I think this is a consequence of life on the move. I find that I do this either (1) when I have a looming deadline or too much work or (2) when I am in the middle of something I need to think about. So far we are having a great experience.

Some more Sam updates. He is signing words more. In addition to "all done," "bye-bye," "high five" or even "shaking," Sam's adding in "more," which he does when wants more apple slivers. He's a pretty expressive baby. He continues to make his usual range of sounds ("dagedagedage," "oooooh," "doiy," "dadadada").

He's adept now also at getting up and down out of a chair, a skill he's been practicing on the hotel ottoman. He was willing to drink out of his sipicup this week, something he has steadfastly refused in the past (maybe this is the benefits of peer pressure). He received a pair of crocs from one of the couples who have a kid the same age.

Sam helps us pack...

We are now totally out of the apartment. It is not a proud chapter in the family history, and is probably best forgotten. Nonetheless, we're glad that we survived and we did complish a lot:

• Most of our things did make it out
• We left "clean"--out of my college office, out of our apartment, out of NJ
• We are basically surviving. Emily met advisor. I am at conference.
• We are all still talking to each other

Sam was probably the bright spot in the move. I know that other babies are disoriented by moving, but Sam did very well. He liked walking around and inspecting everything. He loved having barriers to his movement packed away. He expected the same applause getting off the airbed as the regular bed. He gleefully ate the remants of our fridge. He would sometimes "mimic" our packing. So, as Emily looked through papers, he would be throwing handfuls of them in the air. (I am sure this is what packing looked like to him--us throwing our stuff around.0

Some lowlights: packed my social security card and put it in a box to Ohio (I would ideally have used to send on my I9 today). We didn't get totally out of the apartment until 9:30 last night. We gave away--actually this felt kind of good. It helps that our meagre used possessions were going to people who appreciated them and will use them. I told Emily that somehow it is more fulfilling to see someone enthusiastic about taking, say, your boxing gloves from ten years ago which were very expensive, than, say, offering you $2 for them.

I slept last night. I think I will sleep well tonight. The paper will get delivered tomorrow. The documents will be signed. Things will, hopefully, get better and better from here.

Yet another sampling

Sam continues his charming ways. A new list of things:

• For about the last two or three weeks he's been able to get out of our bed on his own. He lies down and scoots backwards. He gets his legs over the edge and holds on to the sheets. then he (relying on gravity) slowly, slowly inches backwards until he slides and lands on his feet. And then he smiles ecstatically and claps and laughs. I'm sure tying his shoes in a few years will be cool, but this is pretty fun.
• We think he's said "nana" a few times for Emily's mom, Barb.
• He does a lot more motions with his hands. He flings them back and forth, stretches, waves, claps, high-fives, etc.
• We have new dvd we've rented from the library called "Noodlebug." It's pretty interesting, designed by a PhD in childhood development and does lots of songs and musics. Sam loves it. He now dances his way through "wheels on the bus." One of the songs has movements and Sam can do some of them, although at a 15 month's level, of course. The one that cracks us up the most is where he puts his hands on his tummy and leans back. We saw the dvds are on sale for $2.50, so we may buy a bunch.
• Today is Sam's 15 month at the doctors. We also fill out his form for the Taiwan embassy.

That's the news from here. We are whittling down our remaining possessions. I foolishly posted a "free stuff" listing on Craig's list and have received about 100 responses. I have no idea how to respond to all these people. Write the first ones? Offer "open house" times? Blech. Any craigslisters who can share advice?

We also have a return x-ray tomorrow at Rutgers. Emily had something that looked a little funny--99.9% chance it's just shadows or a "bone island," but still aggravating.

Our timeline is: Friday at Rutgers, Saturday and Sunday working working, Monday Em meets with advisor and I probably head to NYC, Tuesday clean out of apartment and Wednesday start our trip back to the midwest.

Friends indeed

One of the pleasant surprises of the last week has been the chance to connect with Mieke and Shannan, first at Shannan’s installation, and then last night. Here’s a picture of the two watching Rick’s sermon. It was a lot of fun. I also saw Bryan, a friend of the two, who is a local pastor and has done some work with Chinese congregations, and met some of Shannan’s Rumson folk.


Last night we went to Shannan’s parents’ house. Here are some pictures of Sam enjoying an antique fire engine toy. He is such a happy guy. At the restaurant he did several laps around, first with Mieke and then later with me. What 15 month old (birthday tomorrow, timed to coincide with Father’s Day) eats, sits on laps, and plays happily for hours in a crowded restaurant? Lots of fun.

Our stress level is still fairly high as we move. Emily is working back into her topic. She meets with her adviser June 29. Pray for her. It’s hard to write as your house disintegrates and your belongings disappear. Today we got rid of the loveseat, coffee table, recliner, an office chair, etc. We were supposed to get rid of more, but the people didn’t return. We’re basically giving things away—no yard sale (no time).

Packing

We're again at that in-between packing time. We sent off a huge load of things on Tuesday. I'm hoping this will help us to get settled more quickly. Having all of our stuff shouldn't make such a big difference, and yet it is nice to have 10 pots with which to cook instead of just 1, and it is great to have a personal library, books, and computers and printers to get started on the academic work. Last time I felt like I did a fine job getting started, but parts were rocky because I only had what fit in two suitcases. This time: three of us and many, many boxes.

Barb remembered an old George Carlin routine about stuff that's been a prophetic voice to us in this time of change also. I'm trying to find the balance between preparing and realizing that there are some things for which you cannot really prepare.

Ohio

We're returning from Ohio in waves. I was back last week and have been starting on packing and pluncking on other projects. Today I enjoyed Shannan's installation. Tomorrow is all manner of preparations.

We did have a good time and a change of pace, and this period of quiet for me is also a change of pace and a rest.