Simple Pleasures

Watching Little N experience the world for the first time is so much fun. The doctor the other day gave her a tootsie pop -- she thought it was a toy. She reluctantly gave it up to Steve when he asked her for it so he could show her what was under the wrapper. Her eyes lit up. She was even more surprised when she got to the middle!

Then today on our way to church we were all in the car when we realized Steve needed something in the house. He opened the garage door and N started to yell in Russian. Her eyes were so big. She was saying "Look mama, another car-- look another car" I smiled and said "Da, Mama's machina" N was so impressed and thrilled to tell Steve when he entered the car and we took off. I guess she hadn't explored the garage yet. :)

Then in church I took her out to go to the bathroom. She was fine until she saw the seat. it was black. I don't think she ever sat on a black seat before.. she started screaming, so I took her off and I sat down to show her it was okay. With a puzzled look she sat down and trusted me that it would be okay. And it was.

Her Aunt Kristen painted her toe nails yesterday and N loves it. It just makes me wonder if she's ever had her nails painted.

N is such a loving little girl with such personality. She has already made herself part of the family. There's no question she's ours and we're hers. I think if she spoke English no one would even know she lived in a children's home. She really doesn't show too many signs of being an institutionalized child. She is adopting very well and seems to understand the boundaries we set.

Just before logging on to put this post up, I had the children's site up and I was looking over the pictures... she came over and smiled really big and started to name all the kids. It's sad to know that some will never be adopted. But we gave N a home and every time I look at her -- all I can think is how lucky we are. She is a gem and a true blessing.

We're HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

We are home!!! It feels so good to be home. "N" is doing great. I'll post pictures after the full 10 days are up... they waved our ten day wait. But as we all know, it's not over till it's over.... so I'll wait until the 10 "BUSINESS" days are over. We took her to the doctor yesterday and found out she has an ear infection. So she's on meds for that right now. The nurse taught her how to say "Good Job" so that is her favorite phrase right now. We are trying to catch up on sleep and laundry. Little "B" seems to like having a big sister. And our two dogs enjoyed her at first, but I think she is wearing them out. She is very cute and loving. She doesn't seem to have any attachment issues really. In fact after court when we went to see her, we were given the option to take her for good or take her in the day and let her sleep there at night, as soon as she saw us she yelled "good bye children's home" in Russian and started to walk out the door. She didn't want to wait to get changed. So while we knew we wanted to take her for good (even against the wishes of everyone there-- they wanted to keep her on a schedule for as long as possible) we got her changed into her new dress and left the children's home. She has not once looked back. She doesn't have any problems sleeping (except for a few active dreams-- which don't seem to be a big deal). She has had a few melt downs. But that's to be expected with the language barrier and new freedom. She does test us, but Steve and I are firm and stand our ground. So she is learning very quickly the boundaries. She knows when she's in time out and that she has to kiss Steve or I when it's time to come out. Since she can't say she' sorry yet, we have her give us a hug and a kiss. She does well with these boundaries and we are very proud of her. I can't wait to share more, but Little B is crying and I must go.

FINALLY -- We're Headed to COURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We just found out we have court on July 23rd!!!!

A Great Mother's Day Gift

I have to say thank you to some strangers I've never met (in person). We met on our agency's chat one night. I had just gotten back from Magadan and she (and her husband) were about to leave. I gave her my phone number and said if she has any questions feel free to call. She did the next day during a long layover. We spoke for about an hour. I told her to give our little girl a hug if she sees her. Well she did more than that!!!


I opened my e-mail one day to find a message from her... and a picture of our little girl. She says she took this picture not knowing it was our girl. She took it because as she watched "this girl" run an errand -- she thought -- wow this girl has such confidence. She saw "this girl" again when she went into her son's group. She realized "this girl" is a helper to her son. She helps keep the peace and tries to keep her son from having little "melt downs". So she took pictures of her son with this girl. Again not knowing it was our daughter.

It wasn't until she was in the car with the agency rep and talking about me and our recent visit that she realized this girl was our daughter. Before I left Magadan I gave a family photo (with me, Steve, our little girl and little B-- we had just taken it on the trip) to our rep. I guess she had it in her purse/ or car and showed it to her. It was at that moment and to her surprise that she realized this little girl she had been taking photos of -- was OUR daughter.

She was soooo kind to e-mail me 10 photos of our little girl in action, playing in her room, surrounded by her friends. It felt so good to see her and to see her happy.

While I don't wish our girl to stay in an orphanage, I have to say she is blessed -- this home is very clean, nice and warm. It has soooo many toys and an indoor playground as well as a blow up bouncy (the kind you find at fairs) for the kids to play in, and there's even a ball pit. So while this wait is so hard, I know she is safe and having fun and for that I am thankful.

Below are a few photos.
This is the Magadan Airport.

This is the bus that drives you from the airport to the plane.This is the Okhotck Sea. Magadan is on the east coast of Russia. This is our little B doing what he did most of the trip. Sleep. No complaints from mom and dad. He was truly an angle.

Stay tuned for the next post.... Steve is trying to get a video post together. He gives you a tour of our hotel bathroom... and it's not to be missed!!

We're Back!!

We are back. It was a long trip -- but sooooo worth it. Our little girl is adorable. She is full of energy and showing affection already. We just love her. We can't post pics of her until after court. But I will post some of our trip. Above is a picture of downtown Magadan. Below it is a picture of the mountains surrounding Magadan. And below is a pic of little "B" on the flight to Magadan.
I'll post more after I get some sleep. Yeah... now we can't wait for court!!


I'll post more after we get some sleep.!!!

Off to see our little girl!!!!!!!

It's hard to believe that in a matter of days I will meet our little girl!!! I can't say much as many of the adoptive parents know... but I will tell you she is "four fingers and a thumb" old!! We leave JFK Saturday and arrive Monday at 9:10 am in Magadan -- that's a direct 9 hour flight from NYC to Moscow and a five hour layover in Moscow before we head over to Magadan. It's a nine hour plane ride with one stop for about an hour on the way. So yes that is 20 hours in flight and a five hour layover --- notice NO HOTEL stop on the way to Magadan!!! 25 hours of travel without a bed and it will only be 9 am when we arrive!! WOW... We are having an agency rep meet us in Moscow to take us to the other SVO airport... since the international and domestic terminals are about 15/20 minutes apart.

We are excited and can't wait!! I better finish packing. I'll try to touch base when I can if not I'll certainly let everyone how it went when we get back.
Wish us LUCK!!!

Magadan here we COME!!!

We've been waiting for an MOE official to sign off on the invite. While everything was ready on Monday it took until Wed. for that one signature. BUT I'm told the invite is official and we were told to book airplane tickets and visas!! So we did!!

Now I'm just waiting on the official referral. My agency says that should be e-mailed to me on Monday. (I've already received a mini referral, but I still want the BIG Referral letter before I start talking about her to family and friends) So today I started putting together the photo book we are going to leave with her. It has pics of me and my husband, little "B", both dogs, our home, her room, and both sets of grandparents. I figured that should be enough people and things for her to start with. I tried to find pics of us having fun and doing things. The photo book is a Disn*y "Princess Book".... and I'm thinking about putting the photos I took of Steve this past August with each of the princesses in the book.

I actually took the photos for him to study up on his princesses, because he didn't know Sno* Whit* from the others...( yes I do believe we have all the princesses represented!!) so I took photos with each one and know he knows who is who!!

Can you guess which two are his favorite.... and no it's not either of the ones here!! (Stay tuned I'll post pics later)

But anyway getting back to the photo book. The orphanage director said in the small bio we have of her, that she loves fairy tales -- so maybe she'll think her dad is cool because he knows all the princesses personally!!