32

yes, 32 months.  that is how old i turned last month.  it's just a number to most people, but for me, it's one of great significance ...

people say, "when it rains, it pours".  that was my life last month.  i was busy - very busy.

busy living in 3 times zones (EST, PST & KST).  busy flying on airplanes & being shuffled along from airport to airport.  busy being spoiled by grandparents. busy enjoying my summer at amusement parks & aquariums in 3 different countries. busy figuring out my new role as big brother. busy trying to relive my "younger years" as all my old toys "reappeared".  and busy trying to convince my parents i NEED a starfish -- a BLUE one!

my parents are not the best 'planners' in the world (ok, a certain 'one' of them isn't, but i can't name any names!).  when they found out the my lil' brother's paperwork encountered some issues, they decided to pack up for toronto and spend some time with family, before they couldn't!  i got to play with my cousin, spend time with all my grandparents, eat lots of yummy food, including home baked sugar cookies (!), and generally be doted upon -- that's what i call a vacation!

of course as things would have it, we received our travel call for my lil' bro while in toronto!  upon our return home, we quickly unpacked & repacked, to get get ourselves to korea.

despite the uncooperative weather, i got to experience some fun things.  i went swimming often in my cool, orca swim cap (mandatory to wear in korea), visited the largest indoor amusement park in the world (lotte world), spent time at the COEX aquarium, went up to namsan tower, perused the streets of insadong, was reunited with my foster mom, and became a big brother!

i created a lot of new memories in korea, which i hopefully will not forget.  here i am at ICN departure level, almost 2 years ago from when i originally left.

i was able to learn more about the korean culture and do some traditional korean art.  of course my fondest memory will be gaining a little brother!

and now a few words about that ....

ups & downs
i honestly love being a big brother. i have a built-in playmate, whom i try to teach wrestling moves to. i love it when he is awake, and less when he is sleeping. i think he has cute small feet, and wears cute small socks. i love seeing him smile & laugh. i love sharing my room with him, because i can spend more time with him. i love rocking it out with him.  i love all his toys.

and therein lies the tension - loving his toys. it takes every ounce of my being to let him play with HIS toys. it's also difficult when i'm focusing on building something and he comes and demolishes it.

so my biggest lessons right now are about thinking about others and less about myself.  learning to control my emotions when things don't go my way.  reducing the amount of complaining which comes out of my mouth and trying to have a thankful heart.  sigh.  i think these lessons will take my lifetime to learn!


web album of pics from last month ...

2011-06 Fun @ 32 months