Growing By the Numbers

We first saw Colby on June 24, 2008, aged 14 months. We brought him home on Feb 21, 2009, aged 22 months. His first pediatrician appointment was on the 23rd. Today April 29, 2009 was his 2 year old check up. Just the day after his second birthday! Here's the data and a few photos too! Watch me grow!

June 24, 2008:
18 pounds
26 inches


February 2009:
23 pounds
32 inches



April 25, 2009:
25 pounds
34 inches

Happy Birthday My Little Man

Happy Second Birthday Colby!

Being 2 is very tiring!

Today is Colby's second birthday. It is his first with us. I can't believe how big he is getting. The little baby I met in late June last year is growing into such a little boy. And so darn cute too! He has come a long way from Siberia to Connecticut and he is learning more and more everyday. Now we enter the realm of the terrible twos. The independent streak has always been there but it definitely is getting stronger. And his communication skills still amaze me. For a little guy who heard only Russian for more than half his life, he is understanding English so well and every day he says more words. His favorites still are: Dada, Daw (dog), Mama, Juice, Cheese, and No no. I think some of his tantrums do extend from his frustration over us not understanding him. We head to the pediatrician tomorrow for his 2 year old checkup so we will see how much he has grown but I do know from going to the adoption specialist at Yale Medical that he has gained a pound and grown an inch. I'll let you know the exact numbers soon. But, for now here are a few then and now photos. The first two are from late June 2008 at the baby home and the last two are from Colby's birthday party at our house on Saturday April 25th.


Mike, Colby, and me at the baby home in Kamensk. 6/08
Colby on the swing at the baby home.

Colby and Grandma (my mom). He just blew out all of his candles. 4/25/09










Colby going down his slide at our house.

The BIg Party

Well, this is it. Tomorrow is Colby's birthday party with my family. I hope we are ready for it. The food is bought and ready to go. The Magic Cookie Bars are made. The cake was baked but now I have to frost it. I haven't made a cake before so we will see how this goes. I would have liked to have made it from scratch but there wasn't enough time and I've never tried it before. So I have to go frost and decorate it. Tomorrow my mom is coming over early to help set everything up and decorate. We were able to find "Backyardigans" decorations and Mike has to go get the helium balloon Pablo character filled in the morning. Colby loves the Backyardigans. I actually like it too.

So a few last minute things but nothing major. The weather is supposed to be great. 80's and sunny. Can't ask for better. Now everyone can go outside and enjoy the swingset. I was a little worried about having 40+ people in our house. Thank goodness we can get outside.

So, off to frost a cake. First time doing that. I just hope I don't make a complete mess of it!

Colby's First Phone Call

Like most little kids, Colby is enthralled with both Mike's and my cell phones. Really anyone's cell phone. He loves playing with the house phone also. I usually turn my cell phone off when I let him play with it. I started doing that after I noticed him pushing the buttons. He flips it open and pretends to call someone, babbling away. However, when someone calls us and we put Colby on the phone, he usually stops talking.

This morning Colby found my phone before I knew it. I noticed him babbling away and didn't think anything of it until I heard it ring. I quickly hung up not sure who he called. It turned out it was my friend Kim. He had actually called her twice. When he was babbling away, he was actually talking to her! How cute is that!

On the update front.....

We have seen a huge growth spurt in Colby's language. He tries to copy everything we say and do. He has even said his first sentence: "No, no, bad dog." Although more like "No, no, ba daw." Our poor dog is in more trouble now than ever, and she rarely does anything. Often Colby yells at her just because she barks. He is trying to say Misha's name but it comes out at "oofa". I have also noticed that Colby is starting to say words that are not nouns. Nouns come first in oral langauge development. Now Colby has started using verbs. "Up, Dow (Down), Duh (Done), Op (Hop), are the most common. He loves to say hi and bye to everyone and blow everyone kisses. He has become very effectionate, seeking out hugs and kisses from Mike and me. He will also run up to my mom for hugs and kisses when he sees her.

Colby certainly is becoming a big boy. His 2nd birthday is next Tuesday 4/28. And yes, we are seeing signs of the terrible twos. Independence is coming but so is his temper. But I must admit, his temper tantrums are rather cute!

Fun With Auntie Karin and Our Anniversary

Just when I thought the excitement from Easter was over, Colby and I had another busy day. My sister Karin had come from NYC with her two boys for Easter and we all went to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch on Tuesday. So, another busy day with no nap. I have come to the conclusion that naps are REALLY important. Colby did really well on Tuesday but was pretty cranky at night. But, we are back on track and doing well.


Colby on the small carousel.
Grandma, Colby, and Aunt Karin.



My sister Karin lives in NYC with her husband Jeff and their 2 boys, Max is 7 and Alex is 5. I don't get to see them too often so it was really nice to have the afternoon with them. Karin and I haven't always gotten along. She is 8 years older than I am and we had very different experiences growing up. My mom married her dad when I was 4 and she was 12. At that time, her dad actually adopted my brother Keith and I and he became my dad too. I was so little I don't remember everything but I do know that Karin decided to live with her mom. We are sisters but I wish we were closer than we are. Hopefully with the boys we will get together more often and build a much closer relationship.


The whole gang! Aunt Karin, Max, Alex, Colby, and Grandma!
Max and Alex. What hams!




Anyway, Karin, Max, Alex, my mom, Colby, and I all went to Chuck E. Cheese. It is a pizza place down the street from our house that has a lot of arcade games. The big boys loves the games and Colby went on the little car rides and carousel like they used to have in front of supermarkets. Everyone had a great time. I am so glad we could get together. Hopefully we will see them again in a couple weeks for Colby's birthday party.


My first sip from a straw!
Sharing Cinnamon Sticks with Grandma!



Mike and I also celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary on 4/15. Yes, Tax Day! When we got married I was teaching and I wanted to plan the wedding in the Spring around our Spring vacation. It also happened to be the day before Easter. So much has happened to us in just 3 years. Some Very good, some not so good. But I am so happy knowing that I have Mike by my side to experience it all with. I am very lucky to have him love me, and to be able to love him in return. Here's hoping for many more years together!

Speaking of wedding anniversaries, a fellow blogger also celebrated her anniversary. Laura and her husband, John, are celebrating their anniversary today, 4/16. They are currently in Ekat for their court date and celebrated by seeing their daughter, K, today! Congrats Laura and John. Happy Anniversary!

Our First Easter!

What a busy weekend we had. Mike and I were a little worried how Colby would handle our hectic Easter schedule, but he was a real trooper. A little cranky today and very tired but he had a blast.

Mike's sister Trisha and her husband AJ were here from Cleveland. It was their first meeting with Colby. We had a quick imprompto pizza party on Friday night to celebrate. Aunt Trisha and Uncle AJ presented Colby with his birthday present.

On Saturday we celebrated Easter with Mike's Dad's family. We really luck out with that. His family is very large and in order to have everyone together they had long since decided to do Easter and Christmas the day before. So, we got dressed up and went to Grandpa and Gram's house down the street. Colby enjoyed his first Easter Egg Hunt there. A quick indoor one due to the rain.

Then Sunday we celebrated with my mom's family at Mamie's house. First we went to church though. Another new experience for Colby. He did really well sitting through the service without any fuss. He even entertained the elderly gentlemen sitting behind us. The celebration at Mamie's was right at nap time so Colby didn't have his nap, another new experience. I was worried he would be cranky but he had a great time. We had another Easter candy hunt and Colby had his first ride on a miniature horse. My grandfather, Poppy, was the ultimate cowboy. I am sure I have mentioned him in previous blog entries. When I was growing up he had 3 horses. He taught me how to ride at an early age. When I went to college, Poppy started his miniature horse farm. At one time he had almost 200 miniature horses and Shetland ponies. Now that he has pasted away, most of the horses are gone but there are a few left on the farm. Colby rode on one of them. It was a slightly bittersweet moment. I wish Poppy could have seen him. But Colby had a great time and looked so cute. I really do need to find him a cowboy hat.

Well, here are a few Easter photos. Enjoy!

Here I am with Aunt Trisha and Uncle AJ.

Playing baseball with Grandpa on Saturday. Thankfully the rain stopped.

My first Easter Egg Hunt. Did I get them all?

Easter morning. Where did this candy come from? My basket was empty last night!

Don't I look grown up?

Playing with my cousins. Teddy is on the bottom and Max is on the top.

Enjoying a Jello Easter Egg with Mommy's cousin Stacy.

Horse kisses with Mommy.

Riding my first horse. Where's my cowboy hat?

A roll in the grass. Hunting Easter candy is hard work.

Rolling in the grass with Mommy.

Enjoying chocolate with Daddy. Yum Yum!

Becoming a Big Boy

This weekend our family made a HUGE step toward Colby being a big boy. Mike and I had a "date" with the Easter Bunny on Sunday so we decided it would be a good time for Colby to visit with my parents and have us leave him for a little while. I know that it has only been 6 weeks since we brought Colby home but I think this was a necessary step. He certainly knows we are Mommy and Daddy and we are the ones who take care of him. This weekend seemed a good time to see how he might react to having us leave him, just for a little while.

So, after our morning routine we drove to my parents around 10:00. We had already brought Colby there the weekend before for a quick visit so he knew the house and the dog, Patches. We stayed for a little while to get him settled and then Mike and I left. I was a little nervous but I think it was a good thing to do. We drove to meet the Easter Bunny and had a quick drink at McD's. We were back at my parents by 12:30. Not only did we meet with the Easter Bunny and get Easter settled but we were able to get things for Colby's birthday on the 28th. So Mommy and Daddy had a productive day and some much needed time alone and Colby had a great time with his grandma.

I was very happy to see that Colby was very excited to see us when we returned. He was playing with my mom but stopped to say hi to us. He even came over and gave me a hug and kiss. What a treat. So, I think this was a good experience all around. We didn't leave him for long and he really enjoyed it.

Just Some Cute Pics

Working with the boys. Are you guys helping or sleeping back there?

Grandpa made me this rocking horse. Isn't it great. I'm a true cowboy!

Look at the cute baby. I'll give it a kiss.

Swinging at Grandpa's. Look at my cute dimple. Will someone push me please?

A Busy Week

I can't believe I haven't had the chance to update my blog in over a week. Then again, we have been quite busy around here. So, I warn you, this is a long update. After babysitting my nephew Keith, Mike and I took the time to do some Spring cleaning. We organized some paperwork and just about completed our taxes. Last year, we had our taxes done and our rebate back by now. Yikes! I am so far behind. We have also started planning Colby's 2nd birthday party. With such big families, I'm not sure what we will do. One party or two?

Last Saturday we took Colby to my parents' house. He hadn't been there yet and my dad hasn't seen Colby much so we stopped in to say hello. We ended up bringing my mom to visit her mother, Mamie. Mamie now lives with my Aunt Linda and Uncle Brian. Their daughter Heather also lives there with her son Corbin. Corbin is now 8 and a sweetheart. He always has a hug and kiss for me and a high five for Mike. He was so excited to see Colby. After we brought Mamie out to lunch at Friendly's Corbin wanted Colby to play with him outside on his swingset. It has 3 different slides and 2 towers to climb up. Everyone went outside and the boys had a blast. My mom and Mamie enjoyed the swings and Mike and I took turns sliding with Colby down the big slide. Corbin also took Colby down the slide. He and Colby played really well together. Mamie then surprised everyone by climbing up and going down the big slide! She looked so cute. I couldn't believe she did it. Luckily Aunt Linda loves to take photos, like I do, and she took some great ones. She promised to give me a CD of them so when I get them, I'll be sure to post some great pics! We had to leave then because it was way after naptime and Colby was getting tired. After a nap and some more outside time with Daddy at home, we were asked to go out to eat with Mike's parents. Mike's dad had built a rocking horse for Colby and he gave it to him today. It was going to be for his birthday or Easter but he couldn't wait to see Colby play with it. THe horse came out great and Colby loves it. What a busy day.

On Sunday Mike brought Colby to his grandparents' house. They live just down the street, night near Mike's parents. His grandfather, Poppy, loves seeing Colby. They played together in the morning and of course, Poppy gave him jellybeans. Poppy loves jellybeans. In the afternoon, Mike went to Lowe's to buy Colby's new swingset. His grandparents and a couple of his aunts wanted to buy it for Colby and so on Sunday we decided which one. Unfortunately it was raining so the swingset would have to wait to get put up.

The terrible part of the weekend is that I was REALLY sick. I have no idea what hit me but I fought off a 101 degree fever, really bad sore throat, cough, and even the upset stomach. Luckily I was ok while visiting with my family but by Sat night I felt terrible. Thankfully it was the weekend and Mike was home to look after Colby. I am still not 100% but I am on the mend. No more fever, YEAH!

Monday brought us to Yale Children's Hospital to the Adoption Clinic. Our pediatrician and Wide Horizons recommended having Colby be seen by someone in the medical field familiar with International Adoption. Colby did very well, even when they took the blood for his blood tests. What a big boy. I am so happy that Mike was able to take the morning off from work to go with me. I was still feeling crummy and we supported eachother through it. Thankfully everything looks great and it seems Colby grew about half an inch and gained about a pound. We are now at 33 inches tall and 24 pounds. No big issues. YEAH!

Tuesday brought the first really bright sunny, warm day and Colby and I went with Mike's Aunt Jo to a park nearby. Colby enjoyed going down all the slides and playing with the other kids. We brought lunch and walked down the hiking path to a waterfall to eat. Another late nap but Colby had a blast and when we woke freom his nap he was surprised by his own playset almost ready for him. It is up and working but not yet set in the ground. He LOVES it! It is a small set with one platform to a slide and 2 swings and a bar swing. My parents had an airplane shaped toddler swing that we put up and it is perfect for Colby. I'm not sure if he likes the swing or the slide better.

So, much happening here. Hopefully I will be completely better soon. This weekend we need to go shopping for Easter and a birthday party looms. So much to do! And we are enjoying every moment with our little man.