On Saturday, April 9th, Ron, Laurie and John flew to Istanbul, Turkey for a CCC conference (SLI) that Laurie was directing. Due to John's tendency to run FAST toward whatever he is interested in, I did what I never thought that I would do and used a Teddy Bear backpack/harness to try to keep him safely in reach. He ended up liking the bear but not being tied to one of his parents...can't say that I blame him. This photo was taken in Chicago, O'Hare airport during our layover. John was interested in a long flight of stairs and sticking his head through the railing.
 |
| (See photo explanation above) | | | | | | |
 |
| Ever so curious...and very sweet...although not pictured here, instead of waving "good-bye" during the entire trip, he blew kisses at people. Even the TSA agents in Chicago were charmed by this small Chinese boy blowing kisses at them! |
|
|
|
 |
| Always thinking... |
John made the trip just fine (answer to prayers since he was recovering from a sinus infection) and seemed adapt to being in a new place as we put him to bed at midnight. However, he woke up at 4:00 a.m. wide awake and ready to play. After showing him it was "dark time" (this phrase comes from a Besonen nephew who used to refer to time as "day time" and "dark time"). We tried to convince him that his inflatable beach ball had gone "nite-nite", etc. Thinking we had done our job, he laid down in our bed. Then at 4:30 a.m. he begins for the first time ever blowing raspberries on my checks...It cracked me up and I was so proud of him for his new trick that I woke up with him for another hour or so. The bummer was that he got to sleep in and I had to get up early in order to begin the conference...smile!
 |
| The Grand Bazaar |
As part of a team building exercise for the conference, participants had to find things in Turkey's famous Grand Bazaar. According to the Wikipedia, "it is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and half a million visitors daily." What surprised us is how popular our son John was to the Turkish people. Turns out that they love small children. We would stroll John in the bazaar or on the streets and men would come out from their shops to interact with him and women who were shopping would stoop down to play with him. He was approached at least 50 times in this way - people wanting to know his name, how old his is, etc. A dozen people took photos of him as we were passing them on the streets. It was amazing the positive attention that he received.
 |
| This hotel worker liked to pick John up whenever we were in the lobby of the hotel...In this photo, he is showing John what is behind the small lobby bar. |
We were able to hire a friend of a friend to watch John for some time during the days so we both could work.
1q |
| Ron, working in the lobby on his computer in a big "Sultan-like" chair. |
She took him in the stroller and he loved being outside...
The weather was wonderful and the flowers were blooming in all the parks. Ron took these pictures of the Tulips
 |
| John in his PJ's trying to convince us to let him take his stroller for a walk... |
 |
| Although he doesn't talk yet, he sure knows how to communicate what he wants... |
 |
| Like all of us, he prefers things HIS way... |
 |
| And he effectively also communicates his anger when he doesn't get his way...it hard to be a child. |
More to come including John's first ER visit...
