Well, they're gone now. I am writing this part while Noah is down for his nap. It is about 1:00 pm, and the flight is scheduled to depart at 1:01. We are practically right underneath the flight plan, so I am wondering if I will hear the plane any minute. We have been watching and waving to the planes the last several days if we happen to be on the terrace.
It was hard seeing them go. Noah and I watched from the lobby as they drove away in Ileana's car. I figured that would be a good thing to do so that Noah could actually see them leave. I didn't want a replay of what happened when his foster mother walked away without him seeing it and then he kept searching and searching for her for the first two days.
Ah, there's the plane. Bye guys!
I am relieved to say that it wasn't too hard on Noah when they left. It may be a different story when he wakes up from his nap, but the goodbye this morning wasn't too bad. After they drove away, Noah let out a cry for literally a couple seconds. We were standing in the dining area where the continental breakfast was still set out. I saw a bunch of bananas, grabbed one, and offered it to Noah. He got that "I LOVE BANANAS" look in his eyes, and that's all it took. God bless the Humuya Inn for having a continental breakfast still available at 10 am. We went up on the terrace, ate the banana, and played ball for a while.
Unfortunately, we are down to one ball left. We brought three, lost one over the terrace the first day (wild throw), and lost one last night (wild shot on goal). These are soft baby kind of balls stitched like a soccer ball with a rainbow of colors. We also have a beach ball that looks like a globe, what we call the baby train that is a fisher-price toy, some playschool-type animals, some plastic blocks, a set of stacking cups, a few board books, a few small cars, a push n go dumptruck, coloring books and crayons, a My First Crayola drawing pad, play doh, and I think that is it. Jerry and the boys took the rest of the stuff home so that I will be able to fit everything remaining in one suitcase. The toys we have left are Noah's greatest hits, and I am sure hoping they will continue to be the greatest hits for the duration of the trip. That and all I got in my mommy's bag of tricks.
We actually have had a fine morning so far. We played on the terrace, came down to the apartment and played blocks and trains, read books, did about ten rounds of "This is how the ladies ride...", colored, and had lunch, and now he is napping. Although I usually have been blogging in the evenings after all the boys are to bed, I figured I would get this written now in case I don't get much time tonight, or am completely exhausted, or both.
Ok, it is later now, and Noah is asleep for the night. Things went much better than I expected today. He woke up from his nap and cried briefly until I scooped him up and walked around with him. He likes to walk around after a nap and cuddle. So we did that for a while, then when he was awake enough, we started playing, and did so most of the rest of the day. The most challenging part was when I was fixing dinner. He found the remote to the tv sitting on a side table and figured out how to turn on the tv. First he acted like it was a cell phone and had some conversations in baby babble. I should mention that he has started babbling much more, more every day. It is music to my ears after him being so quiet. Anyway, I was chopping an onion so I didn't see exactly how it went down, but all of a sudden the tv was on, and it sure looked like he was pointing the remote at it. What a character. I guess he must have picked that up at his foster mother's place, since we haven't watched tv at all. Oh, I take that back: Jerry has flipped channels a couple times after all the kids are asleep, but Noah wouldn't have seen that. Another funny thing he does is squirrel things away. I have heard of children, especially those that have been institutionalized, who hoard food. Well, Noah hoards everything. He ends up putting all sorts of things in every cabinet and drawer he can reach. We have learned that anything of importance needs to go on the highest shelves or it stands a chance of being acquired. Anyway, at one point as I am fixing dinner I need to dry my hands and couldn't find the towels. He had moved them somewhere, and it took me several minutes to find them. All in all, it was rather funny, but I sure hope I remember to keep important things out of reach.
I gave him his shower after dinner -- kid loves his shower. It is funny seeing someone so small in a shower to begin with, and this one showers with abandon. He just loves it. It will be really fun in the summer taking him to venues that have splash pads. He is going to have a riot of a time.
We read some stories, played without getting too wound up, and then it was bedtime. Read the same three books again, said our prayers, and then turned out the light. He expressed interest, in his nonverbal way, of sleeping in mommy's bed, but I think it is best if he stays in his own bed, which is right in the same room anyway. He didn't seem to mind when I said no; it was kind of like he was testing the waters, knowing that I would probably say no, but figuring why not ask. I can respect that.
All for tonight!