Bringing to Remembrance

Sometime Moms (and maybe Dads--I can't say that for certain as I've never been one, but...) have moments of self doubt with regard to their children.  The doubts escalate when you've had an extremely trying day with your child or children.  I had them when Annsley was a baby--when the realization was that I'd never be able to sleep in on a Saturday again for a very, very long time.  When Kennedi was born and I lay down on Annsley's bedroom floor and begged Annsley (who had just turned two), "Please let Mommy sleep for 10 minutes" as she crawled over my sleep deprived body. And now Andrei--when he screams to announce his displeasure at something at decibels that should shatter Waterford crystal or when Kennedi is still trying to find her new role in the sibling rivalry (from the baby of the house to the middle child.) 

Every time in my life, God has brought remembrance to me.  It has been no different with Andrei.  I had a particularly long day last week with the three of them.  I was tired, mentally drained, and the thought shot through my brain, "Did I really hear from God about adopting?  Was a totally crazy at my age to take on a one year old?  Did I have a serious lapse in memory about diaper duty? What was I thinking???"  I think I really underestimated the change in dynamics of adding three to your nest.  And then God prompted me to all the things He had confirmed in my life about this adoption. 

First were all the overwhelming emotions from the past 6 years every time I witnessed a story about international adoption.  The last time it happened, I just relented and said, "I'll obey." 

Second was the scripture from Psalm 68 I read while in Krasnoyarsk, days before we were to pick up Andrei.  It talked about being called to be a father to the fatherless--setting the solitary into families.  Yeah!  That one will get you!!

Third was all the people we met on the planes on our 2nd trip who were involved in adoption.  On the very first leg, we sat in front of a college girl who was escorting a 7 year old boy to his new adoptive parents in Houston.  On the flight from Houston to Germany, we sat behind a couple from Oregon who were on their first trip to Ethiopia to meet the little boy they were adopting.  Now on the trip from Germany to Moscow, there were about 10 people on the plane and we didn't sit by anyone, but who knows??? Of course, on the return flight to the US I couldn't have cared less about meeting anyone even remotely interested in adoption as Andrei screamed most of those 18 hours.  On the flight from Houston to home, we again sat across the aisle from a man who he and his wife were starting the process of adopting from Uganda.  You can't make that stuff up.  You can't call that coincidence. 

I just want to say that to those of you who may be wondering if the adoption call is really on your life--stop--listen--if it is you will hear the whisper of God on it.

Amazing Changes

Andrei's vocabulary is really taking off.  He is adding several new words a week now--even some two syllable!  No one really understands him but us, but he's talking never the less.  His latest word is "fi"  for high five.  When he wants to find something, like his shoes, he says, "Is izzz it."  We seem to think that our little 17 month old prodigy is saying, "Where is it?" 

When he wants something you have, he opens and closes his fingers, motioning you to bring it to him.  If you're eating something he's not, he says, "Bi"  for bite. 

The most amazing thing that has changed about him is his head shape and his feet.  When we brought him home, he had a severely flattened head--so severe his ears did not line up with each other.  His head is rounding out, his ears are nearly in line with each other, and he just has one part of his head we're waiting to "pop" out.  His feet are starting to self correct the severe "duck feet" he had going on.  The last week or so, I've actually seen him stand with both feet pointing perfectly straight.  His right foot was nearly pointing out at a 90 degree angle to the outside when he started walking, and the improvement it has made is awesome!

 He is filling out--he's in all 18 month clothing.  He literally woke up one day this summer and I couldn't get the 12 month shorts over his hips. He is following single commands, ie: Let's go change your diaper (and he heads off to his room).  Let's go eat (and he heads off for his high chair or comes to the baby gate.) He's growing up!  I can't believe he's about to be 18 months old!

One Cool Dude!

I know, I know...he suffers from being one "super cool dude" due to his choice of hats...so sad...

Again, proud of OU...

Loves, loves, loves his big sister's chair--especially now that he can climb in all by himself!

New game of tackling his sisters.  They are not the least impressed.

Makin' his daddy proud! Got his cell phone and "man" purse!

Hats and phones!  His two fetishes!

Andrei's Homecoming

Here are some pictures of Andrei's airport homecoming back in March. We were so blessed with awesome family and friends to welcome us all home! There's nothing like showing up to a crowd of people wearing dirty underwear and a toothbrush not crossing you teeth in over 24 hours.  It's something everyone needs to experience!



Before the "big reveal"...




Here he is!  Yes, that's me in the back ground in tears while hugging my girls.  I was so glad to be home!






A little overwhelmed!




So excited to finally meet their baby brother who they had been praying for nightly for nearly a year!



More Adoption Resource Helps

(1)I found another PAD (post adoption depression) resource for those who need it.  EMK Press has put out a 50 something page free booklet with a wealth of adoption information.  It was put out in response to the Hansen incident over a year ago. It is filled with articles ranging from sleep issues to eating issues to power struggles to sensory issues--all written by IA Doctors, social workers, or therapists.The PAD article is the 6th one down. It is all well worth reading.

Realistic Expectations adoption booklet

(2) And here's another new article on PAD from the same web site. This is one of the most indepth articles I've found to date on this topic. There are a TON of resources at the end of the article.  I so wish I had had this at my disposal 4 months ago!

Disposable Camera Woes

On our first trip, we left a disposable camera with the orphanage.  I was fully expecting to have 27 pictures taken during the weeks we were gone.  I did not leave instructions on how to operate the camera.  I had read so many accounts of where everybody knew how to run the camera that it was not needed.  (**Sigh**) Instructions in Russian ARE needed.  I got two.  Only two.  When they gave us the camera back on trip #2, I noticed the camera had not been advanced after the last picture.  Then I looked at the pictures remaining, and saw 25.  I was really disappointed and frustrated with my decision.  I had so much to do before we left, that I didn't put "disposable camera instructions" on my list.   We didn't get them developed until this last week after Annsley used up the rest of the exposures.  But, we do have two.  Better than nothing.  He's sitting in some kind of reclining chair strapped in with one of his "buddies" sitting next to him in a similar chair.   Really, a sad telling of the life of existence for those children in the orphanages. Always strapped in, always in some type of tight quarters of containment.

So, my advice to those of you out there planning to leave a camera:  leave it with instructions! 

Getting verbal

(Oooooo...this new blogger posting is awesome!)

I am amazed at Andrei's vocabulary lately.  I think he is going to be as verbal (but definitely LOUDER than) as his big sister Annsley.  Although his mommy and daddy can only understand most of his words, here's the short run down right now:

• uh-oh (pronounced ahhh-ahhhh)
• thank you (pronounced da-noo)
• snack (pronounced ack)
• duck (pronounced duh)
• hat (pronounced hat!) He puts his hand on his head any time he sees a hat--any time.  He's obsessed with them. 
• milk (pronounced mmmm)

He is really getting into his foods.  He must be going through a growth spurt because his pickiness has waned lately.  New favs? Watermelon and macaroni and cheese!  All we hear through lunch and dinner is "ummmm" every time he takes a bite! He very rarely drops food off the high chair.  I guess I trained him rather well during my "funk" and not having much patience with him. When his little hand starts to hold food he doesn't want to eat off the side of his highchair, I just say, "Andrei, food stays on your tray."  He looks at me and puts it down.  I can't tell you how nice it is not to have to mop the floor after every meal like I did with Annsley and Kennedi.  In fact, with Annsley, she was a food thrower.  When she was finished, if I didn't get to the high chair on time, she was slinging whatever was left on the tray.  I got so tired of scraping green beans and spaghetti off my blinds that I put up plastic drop cloths over the windows and walls of our dining room.  It was a nice decorator's touch.  I was really thinking that I had started something, but alas, it didn't catch on with the fashionistas of the world.

Happy 4th of July to everyone out there.  We, of course, are fireworkless (yes, new word there) due to our incredible drought, but to those of you with rain....light a sparkler for me!