El Salvador Adoption – Home 1 Month
Posted September 14th, 2009
Yes, this past weekend marked one month we’ve been home as a new family.
Hard to believe.
I pause and reflect on just how far Nestor has come in the past month…. another one of those ‘I still can’t quite get my head around it’ moments.
So I thought I’d share 20 facts about Nino Escogido you may not have known about him.
- Nestor sleeps a solid 10-12 hours every night, in his own room, and rarely ever wakes up. In his former home, he shared a three- bedroom house with 8 other kids and slept with 2 other boys in one room.
- He never knew what grilled-cheese sandwich was. He’s hooked now.
- He doesn’t know how to ride a bicycle… but he’s learning.
- He loves horses and dogs.
- He loves to swim in the pool… but he doesn’t know how.
- After only a month in Estados Unidos, he automatically puts on his seat belt without being told. The use of seatsbelts in ES was non-existent.
- He is intrigued by a flashlight… I don’t think he had ever seen one before. He especially enjoyed shining it Mateo’s eyes at 7am.
- He’s really good about trying different foods. Rarely will he say he doesn’t like something without trying it.
- He’s in second grade with about 20 kids in his class… 4 are fluent Spanish speakers, like him. All his studies are in English. He has an ESOL teacher who checks on him and works with him, daily.
- He’s phenomenal at Soccer and really good at baseball.
- Favorite time of the day: (tie) When Papi gets home so they can play baseball; reading together in bed.
- Favorite characters: Spiderman, Batman, Superman
- Favorite fruit: Watermelon, Pineapple, Cantelope, Apples, Grapes.
- Favorite movie: Lion King, Spirit
- He doesn’t fully understand the concept of school shoes/ play shoes; school clothes/play clothes. But he’s getting it.
- He calls cereal “Corn Flakes” regardless of the type, or flavor.
- He knows how to work. He works a mean broom and knows how to work in the yard and sweat. He dislikes hot water and hot showers. All cold for him!
- He has already learned his alphabet in English, and can count to 20.
And the final two, (for now)…
19. He was abandoned around 18 months old. When they found his biological mother, she didn’t want him. They never found his biological dad, but found his dad’s mother: She said she couldn’t afford him.
Until now, he has had no relatives or family for his entire life.
And last but not least…
20. Si! Si!. Te gusto hueves verdes con hamon, Juan Ramon!
Yes, Yes. I do like green eggs and ham, Sam I am.
Green Eggs and Ham, a favorita! Thanks Mami!
El Salvador Adoption – Home – Through Week 3
Posted September 6th, 2009
Author’s Note: I feel like we should rename this journal blog, ‘Stark Reality of International Adoption…’ or something like that.
Hi again–
A thought to open with:
Don’t tell God how big your problems are. Tell your problems how big your God is.
Uh-hem…
Well, I had good intentions of updating this journal every week after we returned home. After all, we managed nearly a daily update while we were in ES, so weekly oughta be a cinch, right?
Not as easy as I thought.
Here’s why…