Coming Full Circle

This past week, we were lucky enough to be able to speak at our adoption agency. We were guest speakers at an introduction meeting with prospective adoptive parents. I was so honored to do this for our agency. We had an excellent experience with them, and are so blessed to have brought home Angelina. This meeting was exactly two years from when Ken and I sat confused but excited in our introduction meeting, longingly looking at the family in the front with beautiful children. Truly, it was a full circle experience for us.

With that being said, it is bittersweet for me to say that this will be my last blog post. Being a parent, teacher and graduate student have filled all of my free time, and I just can’t continue to do our blog justice any longer.

I started this blog as a way to keep my friends and family updated on our journey, during our (what seemed like forever) wait for the phone call. I never knew then what doors would open for me because of this blog. I am so thankful for all of the support I have received from my blogging friends. Truly, I would not have been able to get through this process without their kind words, supportive comments and funny anecdotes. I love cheering on my friends who are going through the process currently, and know that Lina will benefit from the Russian connections we have made over the past year and a half.

I want to take this moment to thank all of my family and friends who have helped us along during our adoption. Whether it was the excitement from our families during our paperwork stage, or kind comments from fellow bloggers once we brought Lina home, I will forever be grateful for this support.

And, for now, we will just keep enjoying life as a family of three.
Da svidaniya!

She Always Finds a Way to Make Me Happy

It’s been a pretty busy fall with trying to find our new routine and getting back into the swing of things. I started school two weeks ago, and Lina has been back at full time day care. So far, our transition from summer has been great. Lina is doing well at day care, and we have not seen much regression with her behavior. I, however, am still fighting being back at work, and still like to hit the ice cream stand as many times as possible!

I think that I can speak for most adoptive parents when I say that we are always on the lookout for attachment signs in our children. Even after being home for 14 months, I still don’t think we are there 100%, and still have things that I want to see Lina do (or not do) in order to feel secure. This by no means diminishes the work that we have done over the past year. We have grown leaps and bounds in the attachment department, and signs of continual progress make me rest easy.

The latest in positive attachment signs came to me today, completely unexpected, and after a long day of in-service. I went to pick Lina up from day care, she noticed me, and actually RAN OVER TO ME! She gave me the biggest hug and it was all that I could do to hold back my tears! Never has Lina had this reaction to me arriving at day care. I’ve been looking for this sign for a long time, a genuine happiness that I have returned and a knowledge that I am there for her. Again, this is just part of our continual attachment growth, and I am just so happy that she has gotten to feel this secure with me as her Mama.

I never expected to still be talking about attachment after being home 14 months. Though its been a long road, its also one that has provided me with the greatest satisfaction. We still have miles to go, but to see how far we have come gives me inspiration.

**The above picture was taken over Labor Day Weekend. We spend the weekend camping, and took Lina on her first hike.

One Year Home Progress Report

Looking over the past months worth of posts, I realize that I have not given a Lina update in quite some time…here is an attempt!

I have been absolutely amazed with her language development. Lina speaks mostly in 4-6 word sentences, and is starting to make sounds that were so difficult for her in the past (the “ch” and soft g sounds). She has been into singing us songs lately. Her favorite is the ABC’s, she will sing the alphabet over and over again just to see our reactions and hear our praise. She also sings the lullaby that I sing to her nightly on command too. She loves music and listening to the radio, there are about 5-6 songs that she can partly sing along with, it’s amazing to watch her in action!

Eating and sleeping have never been a problem for Lina. She loves to eat absolutely everything, enjoys trying new things and loves her vegetables. Could I ask for anything more?! Over the past few weeks, she has insisted on not wanting to fall asleep during nap time. This, of course, has resulted in one tired child at the end of the day. We are working through it. I am hoping that once I start school next week, she will be so tired at day care that napping will not be a problem again.

On the attachment front, I feel that we are still making progress. Though we have been home over a year, I still don’t believe we are 100% there yet. I do see continual progress, though. This keeps me happy and secure that we are doing something right! I am glad that I have gotten to the point where I don’t obsessively think about the A word, though it is close by. Lina has been going to her babysitter’s half days this week. Still, she does not act sad for me to leave. However, when I asked her if she wanted to go to Karen’s house today, she said, “No Karen’s, stay home with Mama.” This is a good sign, right?
I have no doubts that Lina is secure in our home, and that she knows who Mama and Papa are, and our roles to her. She comes to us for comfort, looks for our praise, loves to cuddle, and always pulls us into her play. We could not ask for more.

As far as two-year-old drama and broken-record syndrome, we have that too. Instead of asking the constant “why”, Lina asks “What’s Mama dooooing?” or “What’s he doooing?” Perhaps I hear this question 50 times a day. To which I answer her every time, because if I ignore her, she just keeps asking it over and over and over again. The other day, she had a bad case of “what you doooing?” syndrome and even asked what the couch was dooooing. Really, Lina?

We have seen some meltdowns and a few tantrums. We are getting good at ignoring this bad behavior, which has worked to diffuse any escalation. Certainly, she is giving us a run for our money now-a-days. I just look at Ken and say “I would be worried if she didn’t do this!” Lina’s favorite phrase right now is “not today”. For example: Lina, Lets go potty. No go potty today, Mama. We hear that as much as “What you dooooing?”

Lina loves story time, and is really getting into Angelina Ballerina. Sesame Street is the only show she will watch, and only when I am there with her. She knows all of the characters and loves Cookie Monster the best! She absolutely loves the water, riding her bike, and swinging. She is getting more and more into dolls, and loves sorting her toys. She have never played with her blocks the correct way, just take them all out of the bag then put them all back in.

We just bought a big girl bed for Lina, and signed her up for Mommy and Me swimming lessons at the YMCA for the fall. It’s going to be a busy time!

Last but not least…Potty Training…well, that’s a whole other post, but I have come to the realization that she will get it in her own time when she is ready. I can only hope that is before she goes to college.

Carolina In My Mind...

If you can imagine a week spent in a beautiful home overlooking the ocean then you can picture our wonderful Mrytle Beach vacation. We spent last week with my parents and friends playing in the surf and enjoying the warm weather at the beach. To say that Lina loved her time at the ocean would be an understatement. She would wake up asking for the beach and took every opportunity to splash the water as the waves crashed her feet.

We had a week full of adventures, including the 16-hour car ride to and from South Carolina. Lina did marvelously in the car, sleeping half of the time on both trips. We visited Ripley’s aquarium, touched a horseshoe crab and walked under the sharks. Strolling Broadway at the Beach with Grammy and Grandpa was a hit because it ended with a creamy ice cream cone.

The adults had just as much fun. We spent time with our friends, ate like royalty, enjoyed long nights on the porch listening to the waves crash the shore, and just simply relaxed. However, the best part of the vacation was watching our daughter enjoy herself so much. She played so hard and loved every minute of beach time that she had. She loved playing with Grammy and Grandpa on the boogie-boards, chasing the seagulls, and yelling to the waves to “come get me, waves!” It was quite the week, and watching Lina in the ocean made us beam with pride and simple joy.

Perhaps, the best part of vacation was putting an exhausted child to bed every night. Ahh, the ocean…see you next year!

Hot Summer Days

On a hot summer day, there is nothing better than...

A Hose

The Kiddie Pool

A freeze pop

And, a beautiful daughter.

Celebrating A Year Home

One Year Ago Today...

You ran through the door of the recreation room for the last time,

And into our arms forever.

Mama nervously got to change you for the first time.

We shared our first meal together, in your stroller!

You enjoyed your first tubby complete with toys and bubbles.

Papa proudly took you on your first stroller ride through Bryansk. You looked at us with eyes that held many questions and doubts. And all we could do was look at you and smile.We spent our first night together, sleeping on a make-shift crib put together by two arm chairs.

A year ago today...We said goodbye to your past, And started a bright future as a family of three.

Thank you, Angelina. Nothing could bring us as much happiness as what you brought to us a year ago today.

Happy Belated Independance Day!

I remember a year ago on the fourth of July, my stomach was a ball of nerves. Just a few days from that point, Ken and I would be making our second trip to Russia to face a judge and ask her for the greatest gift any couple could receive…a beautiful, healthy child.

This fourth of July was just as memorable, but, gladly, for many different reasons! To celebrate this holiday with Lina, who has been an American citizen for less than a year was amazing! I could not help but beam when she was holding her American flag while strolling to the fireworks. I held back a tear when she laid on me while watching her first fireworks in amazement. Though I know she did not feel the same pride as I, I am excited to one day share with her just how significant this day was to us as a family!

Of course, this holiday would not be the same without the great food we ate, the glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets and strawberry shortcake. All of which were alive and well at our celebration!