Communication Gap!

I have been travelling so sorry for being out of the loop and not updating. Things have been relatively smooth sailing which is a good thing. We have discovered one thing that may have been causing some of Akins outbursts and that is a very simple thing called communication. Akins began often saying things like "quiet what" or "rules what" or "hurry what". We just thought it was another way of being defiant because of the way it was stated. Then one night I said "okay quiet time now I love you" and he says "what Mommy-O" I said "I love you" he said "no that other thing". Puzzled for a moment I had to think and then I said "quiet"? and he says "yes, quiet what"? Thinking for a moment I said "What does quiet mean"? He says "yes"? Wow - what a mind blower because I have said this same phrase every night for over a year. So, I explained to him what quiet means. He was satisfied and off to sleep he goes. Since that night and me realizing he has not understood that word this whole time and yet has just rolled along as if he did. Now when he says "..... what" we promptly explain. Also, we have learned to explain before he asks. As we talk about things we say "do you know what that means or do you know what that is"? Based on his response we make sure he gets it before we move on. Interestly, enough since that evening his moods and tantrums have calmed tremendously. My theory is some of his mood was driven out of frustration. I hope I am right.

Labor Day Road Trip to Illinois

Since Akins came home I have been trying to figure out how to accomplish getting him out to meet everyone in the family. The summer was pretty packed with my sister's annual visit and the AFAA reunion. Taking advantage of the three day weekend,Lorea, Mom, Akins and I took off for a long drive to Illinois. This is where I grew up and still have Uncles, Aunts and Cousins not to mention a lot of friends dating as far back as the third grade. I tried to fit them all into one action packed weekend, we even managed to squeeze in the Children's Discovery Museum. Here are some of the highlighted photos...

Givin' Robbie some lovin'

I will beat you Mr. Bones

Marcus was showing Akins how the tongue works at the Museum

Akins giving Marcus a "little" ride

Playing dentist - perfect timing Akins got his teeth cleaned and x-rayed TODAY!

We loved the air games

I'm not sure who is having the most fun

Milking the cows

Who is that guy with his legs wrapped around that thing?

Akins and Flo (Rob's Mom) takiing a little down time before the feast at Rob's resturant

I think there were 13 of us for dinner. This is Mom's side of the family. Her brother Del and his wife Sondie, my cousin Paula and her husband Chip and their kids Lexi and Cory. Then Rob's Mom Flo, Rob and Marcus and of course us.

Say chesse and smile????

Lorea, what are you up to?

Chip teaching the kids how to sew their hands - big hit!

Chip and more games

Meeting new cousins Lexi and Cory

Getting the Grand tour of Robbie's resturant "Lancaster's" He even got to see the kitchen and meet the chefs

Kickin' it with Robbie and Marcus' dog Banky

Hangin' out with Uncle Robbie

Hold still just long enough to snap - ahhh close enough

Helping Uncle Robbie (my best friend) feed the squirrels

Catching up with school friends

All this meeting people wears a boy plum out

All the girls hangin' out at Uncle Del and Aunt Sondie's house

Chow time

There were a whole lot of stories to tell

Playing with Cory and Lexi

Uncle Del helps Akins brush his teeth

Akins got to meet his very first "puppy" with sharp little teeth and all

Even more fishing and more barbie updates

Okay, today we were determined by golly to catch some fish, and we did! Two little blue gills. I caught them both but allowed Akins to help reel in the second one - the look on his face well, one half excitement and one half terror. I split these looks equally as I really could not tell which was going to win out. In the end exccitement prevailed. I was pleased to see him feel compassion for the fish as this is a major accomplishment - remember there were many months of comments like "I will stomp it, crush it, kill it". He did not like that the fish got hurt and did not want me to use the stringer. We did on the first one because I wanted to get photos and of course we were so certain that we would catch nothing we left the camera in the car. After seeing the first one struggle he said "Mommy-O don't put that blue thing on the other one and then seemed even more pleased when fish # 2 wiggled its way right out of my hands back into the lake. No photos of this memorable event! :(

As for Barbie - he refers to it has his "woman" which apparently I missed this dialogue yesterday while on the phone. So, after Grandma told me about it today I inquired just to see what was up.

Mommy-O: Akins, where is your woman?
Akins: Uhhh, she is in my swimming pants.
Mommy-O and Lorea: Look at each other a bit distressed as he is wearing his swimming trunks.
Mommy-O: What?
Akins: Oh, in my bath tub.
Mommy-O and Lorea: A look of relief.

More Fishing and Barbies Dropping from the Sky!

Fishing conversation going on:
Mommy-O: When I poke the seenake (worm Akins calls it a snake and says it funny) does it poop on me?
Akins: No
Grandma: Do you poke the seenake?
Akins: No
Grandma: Why not?
Akins: I don't like it. I don't want the seenake to poop on me.

During the reunion as everyone packed up and left Sharon's girls came up missing a Barbie. Sharon was like "h well don't worry about it, cheaper to buy a new one then for you to ship it to us". So, the reunion was what, four weekends ago? Today out of no where we walk out and there is a Barbie laying under the Magnolia tree next to the pool. So the question becomes where has the Barbie been all this time?
Theory # 1 - One of the dogs found it in the yard and carried it up by the pool and dropped it.
Theory # 2 - One of the kids stuffed it into the Magnolia tree and the morning heavy rain made it fall out onto the ground.

Anyone - got any others or want to take bets on the two above?

Akins was just happy to find out that he gets to keep the Barbie and now wants stuff to fix and brush her hair and well she is lacking any clothes so those too are much needed. He also was quite intrigued with the fact that if you put her in the water and squish her face she makes funny noises out her nose. Boys will be boys!

One Year Post Placement - Check

The post placement study required at 12 months came in the mail today. So, the final requirement for the AFAA adoption agency is complete. Now, annually I personally will file a report for the African government in support of the continuation of African adoptions to American families.

I have but one final task (well besides, baths, stories, school work, dating, cars, sports for the next 15 years and then through college and marriage, grandchildren or grandpets, etc. you get the picture)getting a U.S. Passport so we can travel. I have the docs printed out and completed I just need to make it to the Post Office in Tulsa at some point to apply. Akins has to be present so I have to plan around day care. To ensure this in fact does happen I planned a vacation that requires a passport. That should make sure I get this final task done and then we can just focus on parenting.

One year later still many firsts....

On August 16, 2007 Junior Babyboy Smith was processed through immigration in Chicago as the newest American citizen. A year later we still have opportunities to have first experiences. This weekend it was fishing. On Saturday we headed off to Academy for fishing poles. I have not fished in decades nor has Lorea. I have an issue with hurting animals, that includes worms and fish, but I will lay it down for the entertainment of this young boy. After practising for a while with the new Scooby Doo pole in the pool we were ready, all we needed were some night crawlers. Sunday, Akins awoke at 6:30am and came into to the bedroom fully dressed including boating shoes and says "Mommy-O, I am ready". Gosh, I wish Monday through Friday was that easy. So, after checking out boat rentals with no luck we went off to some urban lakes. In total we visited three and caught a whole lot of nothing. The fish were smarter than us today, but for Akins you would have thought we caught millions. Following are some photos of the days event and below are some of the funny comments that also came.

After about 50 questions of Mommy-O, what is .... (fill in almost anything and you will get the picture) Lorea jumped in to try and save me.

Lorea: "Honey Mommy doesn't know everything".
Akins: "Yes she do, she knows blue, and red and green and abc and jki"!
Well, that about sums it up!

In between lakes we stopped for lunch and ended up chatting briefly with some women who invited us to their church where there just happens to be some Liberians (so maybe we will go, anyway that will probably be another post). Since we had just discussed church the following occurred.

Akins: "Mommy, is that a church"?
Mommy: "Uh, no honey that is really not a church."
Akins: "Oh, what's that called"?
Mommy: "Hooters".

Celebrating "Gotchya" Day!

Today marks the one year anniversary (can you believe it) from when I first held Akins in my arms. Mom and I had arrived in Monrovia and then were driven out to the AFAA house to meet this little boy for which I had so far only seen pictures or video. I worried the whole trip about what if he did not like me. As we were driving I inquired and learned that he had told Jessie (the agency rep at the time) that he was going to "sit on his American Mommy's lap" and he had told the other kids to "stay away"! Well, that should have been a clue to the clinging behavior I get these days. He would sit on my lap 24/7 if allowed! We celebrated what we will forever more refer to as "Gotchya Day" by going out to a nice restaurant with Grandma, (compliments of some friends :)) Sorry those photos did not come out it was too dark.

The moment he climbed into my arms.



So, how far have we come? Well take a look, pictures are worth a million words.


That was then ..... Looks pretty sad doesn't he?

This is now ..... Hammin' it up with Kuker at the reunion.


Akins say "Gotchya"!

Frequently referred to a "goofy boy"! Look at that smile!