"Sisters--I've Had It! If I only weighed 20 more pounds...."

Andrei's emotions are drawing closer to a normal toddler these days. He is starting to get down right hacked off when one of his sisters takes something away from him that he is playing with. He lets them know in no uncertain babbling that their actions were not cool! Our pediatrician had asked if he got upset when something was taken away from him, and we had to say no. He never uttered a word or changed facial expressions. Not any more! This week he has begun showing jealousy (for lack of a better word??) whenever Annsley or Kennedi is sitting in Doug or my lap. He throws himself on us--literally--and starts crying and trying to push the "obtrusive girl" off the lap. He gets particularly upset with Kennedi. He's turned into this little scrapper! Quite frankly, Kennedi and Andrei have been having their share of jealousy issues with one another. Kennedi has always had them since we brought Andrei home, and I think that Andrei is comfortable enough now that he is "fighting back". It's interesting watching them. They are like two 3 year olds--twins--fighting like two duct taped skunks under a bed sheet. Are you kidding me??? I really thought that they'd be far enough apart in age that I wouldn't have to deal with this. Funny. Not. Her response lately any time he starts crying, which seems to be a lot lately in efforts to get picked up--is, "I didn't touch him!!!!"

Turning into a regular toddler

Andrei's first swim! He loved it! It took him a few minutes to start splashing as it gets him out of the tub at night, but once he realized that rule wasn't here, he had an awesome time!

I believe Andrei is adjusting rather well. He seems to be acting like a normal toddler would these days....not at all happy to be the only one in the living room, temper tantrums, deciding to eat all of his peas one day and not touching them the next. He has also started to put his head on my shoulder when he is upset and not wanting me to put him down. The hitting me in the face has become non-existent in the last month! Yeah! Whenever he sees you talking on the phone, he puts his hand on his own ear. So cute!

He was running 102 fever Sunday afternoon, and he's been tired ever since Annsley's birthday party this weekend (yes, I have a 7 year old--yikes!). He slept until 9:30 this morning, but he needed every bit of the slumber. I think he did remarkably well with all the excitement at Annsley's party. Usually we see his serious face (the same one we got daily at the orphanage) but this time he actually loosened up seemed to have a good time. He thought Annsley's cake was the cat's meow!

He loves, loves, loves his daddy. I am toast the minute he hears his voice when Doug comes home in the afternoon. (As it was--still is--with my girls. (sigh)) He loves to sit in your lap, and if you're on the floor, he will come over to "sit." And he wants his back up against your stomach; the closer he can get to you the better!His speech comes and goes. He will go days without "practicing" his words, and then a few days later he'll say some of his regulars. He does understand "nyet" and "no"--they usually reduce him to tears. Annsley noticed this the other day, and then just went around the room saying "nyet Andrei" to see if she could make him cry. It didn't, but let his mother say it and out come the waterworks. Notice I said "his mother"--he doesn't hear those words from his father...

Deal of the Day! ***SOLD!***

EDIT: The Russian Adoption Travel Kit and Miscellaneous Items are sold! Thank you Ashley and I am excited to see that they are going to a good home! :)

Here is the "I'm Going to Russia and Adopt Travel Kit." Seeing that I've only made one international adoption run, all products are in excellent used condition and yours for a bargain basement price! The retail of all products combined would total over $175.

First up, what I would consider the "don't go to Russia to adopt without it" piece of equipment: the universal power adapter strip. The cord is fitted for Russia, so you don't even need an adapter to plug it into the wall. I paid $40 for it.

Teresa Keheller's adoption language kit. Well worth the $45 I paid. You will get the CD Rom, booklet with phonetical spelling, flash cards, and a language CD with court phrases.

BUT WAIT..... There's more...

Adapters with a cute little carrying case. I didn't end up using these since I had the power strip, but these would be great if you wanted to dry your hair and not stand next to the computer while your husband was trying to SKYPE. ($18)

If you've read the blog of our travels, you know that this little book got us our mustard among other things. Another travel essential!

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING--IT CAN'T GET ANY BETTER--BUT WAIT--THERE'S MORE:

Russian Pimsleur CDs. Great for those wanting to really learn how to converse in Russian.

10 Steps to Successful International Adoption Workbook--unused. Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child book.

AND JUST WHEN YOU DIDN'T THINK IT COULD GET ANY BETTER...

Focus on the Family CDs on adoption topics. I think there are about 8 or so total here. They range from Steven Curtis Chapman to just question and answers from their radio broadcast.

No, you're not going to pay $150, or even $100. No, you'll get all this for only $80 AND I'll throw in the shipping for free!

I will even throw in a very used copy of The Complete Book of International Adoption by Dawn Davenport if you want it. I would recommend that book to anyone adopting internationally.

Contact me by email and we can arrange payment and shipping details! This stuff is just sitting in a corner and not getting used, and at my age, I don't anticipate using it again (ha! ha!) so I'm making it available to anyone who would like to have it!