Monday, December 14, 2009

Christmas Boys!



We took Adam and Alex with buddies Sam and Will to the mountains to celebrate Adam's birthday a little early. We had a great time! Alex did awesome for his first day of skiing. He got tired around 3:00 in the afternoon...but enjoyed riding the magic carpet ski lift. It was really fun to see him enjoy it so much.
Adam and Sam and Will enjoyed skiing and snowboarding. It is fun to see how much they improve every year.
We got to go to Adam's favorite Sushi restaurant for dinner and watch them prepare our meal at the table. Everyone enjoyed that!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Christmas is coming!







We had a nice Thanksgiving and Alex did well with meeting the Gratrix side of the family. He was a little shy when he got up from his nap and the kitchen was full of family. It didn't take long and he was chasing around with Adam and the cousins having a Nerf war. He kept coming in telling me "I got one!","I'll be right back."
It is amazing how much English he is speaking. Everyone can't believe it has been three months.
Adam and Alex are doing well. They are enjoying having each other around. Alex always says"Adam at school.""Dazzy at work." "S" is hard for him to say and gets translated to ch......He also has a hard time saying "X".....but all in all it is amazing. He always ask "Mommy,what are you doing?"or "Mommy, where are we going?"
We are having fun experiencing the first Christmas through his eyes. He loves the lights and the trees. They did celebrate Christmas in Russia....but it was celebrated the 7th of January. They have Grandfather Christmas and the Snow Maiden.
We will attempt a plane trip to Indiana for the holidays. We are hoping he won't get too stressed out. It will be fun to have him meet everyone form the Allen side of the family. Taylor is a year older and Bodie is a year younger....so it will be nice for him to have some little ones to play with.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Meeting Mamaw and Papaw











My parents got to visit their 10th grandchild. It was fun to see how quickly Alex bonded with Mom and Dad. He enjoyed having them here. Dad didn't tolerate the altitude very well so he wasn't feeling well the whole time.
Alex is starting to call himself ALex instead of Albert. We talk about his native Russian name and his American name. He is doing very well with his language. He often says "I got it Mom!" I always ask if he understands and he says"Yes Mommy!" His S's are still ch to him..........A boo boo is a boo booch.......yes is yech.....
His little voice is very sweet.
He is doing better with sleep and melt downs are fewer and farther between. It is hard for him to transistion from one fun activity to the next. BUt most three year olds have that difficulty.
The hardest part is the going to sleep at night. Sometimes we are lucky and it can be a half hour.....other times it is hours....After a long day, it is hard.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Easier by the day!!!!!!!







There is no way that anyone can prepare you for the first days of living life with a newly adopted little one from another country. Every child is so different and yet there are several things they all have in common. Life for them totally changes and as well as life for you. Their whole worlds are turned upside down and they are subjected to so many new things. I am amazed that they get adjusted in the short amount of time that they do.
We have been blessed. Alex is doing so well. He is a very happy guy and loves living life. Celeste had told me that there would be a huge change around 2 months. How true! The language barrier starts to disappear and Alex is so much more settled. He loves waking up and seeing all of us and all the animals. He loves to feed Dusty and Tanner (our dogs), Tobie the cat,Rocky the turtle. He is talking so much I can't begin to tell you all his words. He says "Good morning" and loves to have breakfast with Pop (starting to be Daddy)and Mom and Adam. He runs out and says "Bye Bye" to Scott every morning and when he sees the school bus, screams "ADAM!" at the top of his lungs.
It is fun having him with us......We are enjoying doing all the first things with him.......He kept saying..."Mommy more snow?"but he has enjoyed the snow and playing in it and eating it! He did get to play outside on the playground in the snow in Novosibirsk....but he had never went sledding!
It was also his first Trick or Treat......He would only do a UPS costume......No scary masks...or anything over his face. Once he got the whole costume bit...He had to sleep in his costume!!!!!
He said Trick or Treat was Fun! Adam enjoyed taking his little brother for the first time of Trick or Treating.
Lots of new and fun things to do..........

Friday, October 23, 2009

Enjoying Home and Fall






It is amazing how quickly Alex is getting adjusted to life here at home. Our melt downs have almost ceased. He is very happy and is really starting to be quite a character! It is fun to see his personality come out! The words are coming quickly and the language barrier is going away. He tells Adam "Stop it Adam" and "Knock it off Adam" He also knows the school bus and screams at the top of his lungs "ADAM!!!!!" He knows so many words.....All the animals names and some of his favorite sayings are "Good morning", "What are you doing?", "Bye Bye","Have a nice day!","Love you!"He says Hello Ma maw and Papaw.....so many that I can't mention all. It is amazing how quickly they learn our language when immersed in it!
Adam is loving having a little brother and Alex is responding the same. It has been nice to have fall break so they can spend some time together and the only down side will be when Adam goes back to school. Alex enjoys having him around!
When you ask Alex his name ....he still refers to himself as Albert......He is starting to say Alex but it is hard for him to say the X........That will come. He answers to both.....
We are truly blessed to have such a happy guy on our hands...he plays and sings and is just a joy to have around.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Adjusting at Home

Adam posted this post:
Today at home I was amazed that Alex wanted me to come in bed and snuggle with him.Earlier last week, Alex did really well with having very few meltdowns. Last night Dad sat outside his room while he fell asleep and was able to watch TV and he went to sleep with Dad outside his room. We are making progress and Alex is adjusting to life with us. Some neighbors next door were very nice and gave Alex some of their bicycles they had outgrown. Alex loves them. He was enjoying riding them around. This evening Alex showered with Dad and I, he was so excited that he was taking a shower with us.He went upstairs and fell asleep very quickly with Mom.

Friday, September 18, 2009

First Days at Home











We are all getting settled. Alex is getting comfortable at home and we are understanding how to deal with his temporary melt downs. So much about the whole transition is understanding. Over the last two years I have read extensively about the bonding and attachment issues and the issues you face once these little people come home. I can honestly say with all the theory....nothing prepares you for the 2-3 hours of screaming. Emotional support from family friends and a very supportive husband help get you through it!! In the short time we have been home.....Alex is making so much progress. He is such a happy and loving little guy. The experts tell us that their tantrums are the inability to process their emotion. We have gone from having lots of tantrum's to maybe 2 or 3 a day... Usually something small that sets him off.......More the actions of a three year old...Like turning the light switch off before he could.....just little things.
So we feel fortunate. You all ask....How is he eating sleeping and basically doing? He is doing great! He slept with me for the first 2 weeks and then we put him to sleep in his bed and I have a twin bed beside him! After he wakes up the first time in the night....usually around 12:00-2:00...we go upstairs and sleep. I usually don't have a cuddle bug until the morning hours.......and then we play musical beds.......
He eats almost anything and loves fruits and veggies.
Adam enjoys having this little guy around. Alex screams with delight at the sight of a school bus and screams ADAM!!!!!He has a football tackle approach to hugs when he sees something he likes.....Tanner and Dusty, Adam or Dada.
He is learning so many words.....Momma is now Mom and Pappa is now Papa or Dada...Tanner and Dusty, Doggies, Potty, Hello,Bye Bye, Hi, 1,2,3.......Tractor,Rocky the turtle. Hot,cold and Yes, No......He still speaks in Russian and sings all the time in Russian. We have a resource that can help us with what he is saying....that helps a bunch. He loves to give fish kisses and is very much a cuddle bug......He loves cars,tractors and anything with wheels.
He loves to ride in the car......Is learning to stay buckled......and avoids naps like the plague.....The comfort is anytime he gets in a car...he falls asleep and he is going down easier at night!
Right now he is playing in a water table we have set up on the back deck....He loves to play for hours in the water. I knew I had another water child when in Moscow he stepped in every puddle possible. Adam was the same way!
All in all, we are adjusting to this whole New normal and the struggles are starting to be easier.....so we are encouraged and hopeful that the good things continue.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't begin to tell you how glad we are to be home. SO glad to be here instead of a hotel and glad to be done with this process and the paperwork and the flights and the constant craziness!!!!!!
The plane ride was a nightmare. I knew it would be tough....At times I just wanted to cry.....Alex got up at 4:30 on the morning we were leaving and it went down hill form there! By the time we hit JFK....I was fried! Starbucks helped!!!!!!
We are back in the states and couldn't be happier! Alex seems to be doing well. It is just an eye opener to how much your house is not prepared for an active three year old. Every drawer and everything is a new discovery. But all in all Alex is very happy. The nap melt down has gone from 2 hours to about 5 minutes.....I am thankful and hope it continues. We have our little daily issues. Just is so different having a three year old into everything!
Adam gets to find out all about a little brother that is into everything he has! He is mostly excited.......He also is very good with him.....It all will just take time. They are both resting now.....time to relax and get used to this time zone!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Final Day in Moscow!!!!!

WHEW!!!!!We have had a whirlwind since I last posted! We have been on the run with a very active three year old! We flew from Novo to Moscow late Thursday night. Our plane was delayed so we had a 4 hour wait in the airport. We then boarded the plane where Alex had a complete melt down over the seat belt. After a good twenty minutes of screaming, crying and kicking and throwing.......he fell asleep. Then two seconds later the seat belt sign went off and the Russian ladies including Natasha came to reassure him. Which set us up for twenty more minutes of kicking,screaming and crying.On the landing I opted to not use the seat belt!!!!
We then had to fill out all our paperwork for the Embassy. It amazes me that the Translators do everything at their convience and don't consider the first flight with a three year old that has never flown........
But we have done some fun things in Moscow. We rode the subway and Scott figured out how to get us to Gorky park. It was fun for Adam to ride the roller coaster. Since all the rides are in Russsian and all the ticket information is as well. They could only figure out how to get tickets for that ride. Alex enjoyed the carmel corn!
Alex has no issues with the food, potty and most things. However Naps are tough! Thanks to Chris and Celeste they are managable!!!!!
We got Alex's passport and his visa from the American Embassy. We get his registration tonight and we can go home! We leave in the morning! Our flight leaves at 12:00 and goes through JFK. Then home!
We have two boys with colds! Adam thinks he got his from the plane......Alex got his form somewhere. Lots of kisses and hugs shares the love everywhere.........
We are excited to be heading home. 6 days in Moscow is a bit long!
Adam placed the camera in the seat pocket on the planbe and forgot to tell me when we landed. so our pictures are limited to cell phones!No luck with the lost and found. When you call to ask for someone who speaks English....they say Nyet and hang up! So we have had the ladies from the desk call...No luck! Bummer....it was a great camera!
I will post more pictures when I get a chance....We are headed for one last McD's for lunch! This child will think all we eat is Mc Donalds!!!!!!!We are going to enjoy one last sunny day.....most have been rainy.......

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are in Novosibirsk!! We had a crazy flight. After leaving Denver on Sunday morning 7:30am....we flew through Atlanta with a 4 hour lay over and then hit Moscow at 11:00am and then had a six hour layover and heade to Novo where we got delayed due to fog and had to land an hour away and then wait two hours to then fly back to Novo for our 11:00am arrival instead of 4:45am. Crazy! But we are here!
We received Albert-Alex's birth certificate today!
The orphanage let us know they would bring him to us! What an incredible blessing, not to have to drive 3 1/2 hours both directions in a very small car with six people and a child that has never traveled before! WHEW!!!!!
We are so excited! Adam is doing so well with this whole trip! He has bonded with our coordinator,Can't beleive that everyone smokes and is a bit hyper due to the excitement and nerves! But he is a trooper!!!!
We went to the grocery where we got some things to make Alex's transition a bit easier. We are ready to get him on UNcle Bob's birthday at 11:00 am.....Novosibirsk time!
Scott is sleeping and Adam just went to sleep so I am about to wrap this up! We are actually just hours from getting to enjoy this precious little boy that we have eagerly anticipated for years! What a day! Thanks again for all the prayers and support!!!!We will keep you posted and I hope to update pictures tomorrow, after Alex goes to sleep! (I'll keep you posted on how that works!)

Thursday, August 20, 2009

OUR FINAL TRIP!!!!!!

Time together
The Gum-Shopping Moscow style
Basil Cathedral
At the end of Red Square
His room!


This will be our third and final trip! We are so excited to be going to bring this special little guy home!!!!!Adam is so excited to meet him and to see what Russia is all about! It will be so nice to have us all together as our family and to be able to spend the first days together and not apart! All the reservations have been made and we are ready to make this trip. I now get to get everyone packed and do all the things around here to get ready to leave. We will leave on Sunday morning and go through Atlanta and end in Moscow.....then fly to his region and then drive to his Baby home. We will return to Moscow on the 27th and be there to register him as a US citizen....get his passport and visa and head home!!!!!!!!We are thrilled that this will be our chance to get this adoption finalized and get Albert-Alex home!
Thanks to Celeste for all the input of what works and what doesn't! We enjoyed our time with them the 1st trip. We missed them in Moscow, but it has been so helpful to hear what works and what doesn't from someone who just experienced it!
We will return home late September the 2nd!!!!!