Operation Binky: Success

After talking with several moms (including my own) I decided that I was going to let Carter have his binky back. We never took it away completely, but he only gets it at night and during nap times. He seemed to do so well with it, I thought it had gone so smoothly.
However, after watching what happened today as well as thinking about the last 4 months he's been without it, I don't think he was ready.
While most of my days are filled with Carter at mach 3, today he acted like a normal, well adjusted 22 mo old. We went to breast feeding support group and he didn't bite a single soul. He played well with everyone, there was no screaming or hitting or stealing food out of other people's hands. He had an attention span that was longer than .0000004 seconds and was actually pleasant.
I was able to talk and ask questions and even come home having learned something.
We didn't have the binky when it was just me and him here at home, or when we traveled to get the mail.
So as of now when we're in social situations: binky in, biting out.
Now here's a side note I feel strongly about:
Don't think that the biting back approach was far from being utilized. Several moms (as well as other trusted advice givers) swear it works...it was about to be my next step. And one thing I've learned is that you can't judge ANY ONE'S parenting skills because you HAVE NOT walked a mile in their shoes. Even if you think you have, I promise their situation is different and they may have exhausted every other option. It's very easy to sit on the sidelines and judge or swear that "I would NEVER do that". But the truth is, you don't know.
I don't spank but I'm not 'above it' and I don't judge people that do. I just haven't reached the point where I think it's necessary for my child. Some people think kid leashes are horrible. It's a life saver in my home.
I guess what I'm trying to get across is that EVERY SINGLE CHILD is different and what works on one may not work on the other (even for siblings). Moms need to band together and support one another instead of making snide comments, judging and making other moms feel unworthy, self conscience, and doubtful.
I'm so glad that I'm living in a community with so much support and I wish every one of my children could be raised "by the village" like Osan.

Parenting is hard, and It's only going to get harder (or so they say)

I have to remind myself constantly that Carter is only 22 months old. He's NOT EVEN TWO. But that doesn't mean that he can act like a maniac and get away with it! And when you live at a place like Osan, you're constantly surrounded by other children and thier parents. Everyone knows that 'so-and-so' has a time out and will actually sit there until done. Everyone knows that 'what's his face' won't ever stay in time out after he's put there. 'Who's it' gets a spanking, and my child gets away with murder. Or at least...that's how I feel.
Carter has had a really hard time with biting these last few months. It was really bad a few months ago and it seemed to have resloved after lots of discussion, timeouts, and appropriate positive feedback. However, Monday started a whole new string of biting and this time no one is spared: including babies.
And this kid doesn't just bite and then release, he chomps down and holds until you get to him to pry open his mouth. We've been doing the time outs again, but this time to no avail. Yesterday he bit 6 or 7 times in a two hour period. Each one had a timeout that followed with a "sorry" and a hug to the victim. But, it's just a routine to him now and it's not changing his behavior.
It's especially hard when we're out and about and he bites (or slaps me in the face) and I can't put him in time out. I can give him "the look" or tell him "We DO NOT ____" but it doesn't phase him. It's almost as if he's looking at me with, "What? what are you going to do to me here in public?"
And he's right! I don't know what to do with him in public! I've been reading a few books (and online articles) and asking friends for advice but nothing seems to be making much of a difference.
I just want to nip this in the bud and stop the bahvior. For goodness sake he's going to really hurt somebody, these bites look awful!
I know that at least when we're home, he realizes he's done something wrong (because I can remove him from whatever situation and it startles him if nothing else) but when we're grocery shopping and he slaps me in the face? What can I do? I'm at such a loss, feeling like a total failure and with this new baby coming I'm wondering how I'm going to do this.
When we come back to the states and New Baby only has 7 or 8 toes, you'll know who took them.

Family pictures

Here are a few updated pictures of the fam, notice it (read: me) is getting bigger by the day.

Seoul

I had a doctor's appointment this weekend and we decided to stay the weekend at USAG Yongsan at the Dragon Hill Lodge and explore a little of Seoul.
The first day (after my appointment) we were successful in finding a dining room set that we both liked at the Yongsan furniture store. Woohoo! That will be here in about a week.
We hung around the post and enjoyed the DHL's massive playground and ice cream shop the first evening. Cory had a massage and I had a facial the next morning (I pleaded for a massage but they wouldn't touch me in my 'condition'.)
We took a taxi to Dongdaemun Market (a big shopping district). What it's probably known best for here among the wives is the 5 story fabric building. It's almost indescribable. Every floor has hundreds of 'stalls' (approx 5x7 closets) full of fabric, buttons, beads, feathers, ribbon, and sewing materials. Each one sells something a little different. You can buy fabric for anything from quilts to jeans, curtains, jackets, fine evening gowns, baby clothes, bags, sweaters, and anything else you would use fabric for. Some stalls have thousands of beads and crafts, while others have rolls and rolls of lace or feathers. Here is a small sample of some of the aisles:





At one point we spotted a restroom and I figured I should go while I had the chance. While I expected the hole-in-the-floor- potty, what I didn't expect were men and women eating kimchi at the sink. Yes, it was a ladies bathroom and yes, there were men in there, and yes, you read that correctly, they were eating kimchi at the sink.

We also visited the Doota! mall that has 8 floors of fashion! I can't wait to go back when I can actually fit into something other than maternity clothes. We did buy some winter hats for Carter and me:



We ate dinner in Itaewon at Sortino's, a very authentic Italian restaurant, and it was nice to pretend we were in America for an hour.
On Sunday we traveled to the COEX mall for their giant aquarium. Carter had a blast but had a hard time sharing any of the exhibits. Anytime another child would approach the same case he was looking at he would try and push them away with a "No! Mine!"

Question of the Century

Before I delve into the argument of the century, I am going to show you a picture and I need you to leave me a comment telling me:
Which way would you turn the handle to get HOT water, clockwise or counter clockwise?

I'm a big kid now

I had been anxious since last night about the adventure that I knew I had to endure today. My follow up at Ajou University Hospital was this afternoon and I was going to have to drive to Suwon by myself and somehow navigate and get to a Dr.'s appointment in a country where I don't speak or read the language.
Carter and I headed out at 2:45. I felt I needed to take Carter because he makes me stronger. I can't just pull over on the side of the road and quit if I know he's in the back seat. I know it might sound silly, but I have a lot more confidence and courage when he's with me.
We arrived 13 miles north approximately 2 hours later. Yes, you read that correctly. It's Korea, there's 534,6534,534,596,495,876,948,576,9038,023 people that live here and everyone owns a car (or seven) that they somehow drive simultaneously. While driving 13 miles at mostly less than 20 mph doesn't sound too scary, let me remind you of how many people live here and how they're all trying to merge into your lane the whole 13 miles. There aren't many "rules of the road" over here. You have to be a very very aggressive driver and people will go around you until you have the guts to 'get in there' yourself.
I was proud, I inched and squeezed and sped up and slowed down and crossed lanes of traffic while centimeters separated me and other cars. Maybe one day I will try and video tape the traffic (while someone else is driving) so some of you in the states who haven't been blessed to understand what true traffic is can see it.
I ended up making it there and back all in one piece and only had to make one U-turn. I even had to drive home in the dark.
I can now check several boxes:
I can get on and off big 1 (which includes a toll booth)
I can drive to a whole other city by myself
I can drive by myself at night
I qualify as a comptent, aggressive S. Korean driver

Yay me!

Way gross

Carter has been quite amused at himself lately because he has learned how to "toot" on command. Well, not on MY command, his own. He especially loves to do it while laying on his tummy in the bathtub. At first it was pretty comical so the huz and I would giggle. Then I remembered how Ma Bettie is NOT GOING TO BE IMPRESSED THAT MY CHILD CAN TOOT THE ALPHABET BY THE TIME HE'S 2. So we redirected our attention to signing "excuse me". So, while Carter still finds it uncontrollably hilarious to toot, at least he's saying excuse me, right? That negates the rudeness?
However, he crossed the line this evening when after trying so hard to toot on command he actually pooped in the tub.
That's just way gross, nothing cute about that.