Returning to the Beginning

Last night my family had a wonderful opportunity. We were asked to speak at an adoption information meeting at our agency, Wide Horizons for Children. It seems like a dim memory that Mike and I went to our initial meeting with Wide Horizons on Sept 22, 2007. We have come such a long way since then. Seeing the faces of the couples sitting in that meeting, I was brought back to how we felt walking in. We were so unsure, even nervous. We had no idea what to expect and how that day would change our lives forever. There were three couples at the meeting last night.

I am not sure how my talk went. I had made notes to follow but typical of me, I was soon off track. I talked about the timeline of our adoption and how it felt going through the process. I made a point of giving my information out to them so they could call or email me. I wanted to make sure they knew that what helped me most was talknig with people who have gone, or are going through, the adoption process. Family and friends mean well and are helpful to an extent but they can't understand how emotional this process is. I talked about meeting Colby that first time, and again 7 months later. I wanted to focus on the positive things but also mention that it can be a difficult process and that it is ok to ask for help. They enjoyed meeting Colby although he seemed more interested in playing with the toys and ran out of the room. One couple seemed interested in the Russia program. I am not sure about the others. But I can only hope that meeting us will help those couples to begin their own adoption journeys. And I hope that they do decide to check out my blog, call, or email me anytime. I would love the opportunity to help others through this process like so many have helped Mike and me. I couldn't have made it through the long wait without the hlep of my fellow blogger adoptive friends. Thank you all!

Favorite Photo, An Update, and A Question to Ponder

Well, here it is. Colby has now been home just over a year. We had a wonderful celebration on Sunday with his Baptism. I can't believe a year has come and gone. Before he came home, time seemed to be standing still. I can remember willing the days to just finish, going to bed early just to end the wait, and trying to keep busy so I wouldn't think about things. Now I enjoy every moment I can, I try to get to bed eary still but only because a two year old can really wipe me out, and I try to be not busy but there are so many things to do. Things have certainly changed.

Colby has really become such a big boy. He has grown 4 1/2 inches and is now 3 feet and 1/2 inch tall. He has also gained 7 pounds to now weigh 30 pounds. Definitely a workout to carry him! When I look at the early photos, I can see the change in him also. He has lost those little chubby baby boy cheeks and now looks so grown up. His eyes still sparkle and his smile and laugh truly light up a room. He has become very independent, going potty all by himself. He now dresses himself, with just a little help, when he wants to. The trouble: he is very determined and strong willed. He will do things when he wants to and definitely will speak his mind to you. We do have a battle of the Taurus bulls! His language skills completely amaze me. His expressive vocabulary is beyond what I could imagine. He seems to love learning new words and repeats everything he hears. And he loves to build with his blocks and make puzzles. Everything seems to spark his new found imagination. I haven't found much that he doesn't like. Right now he asks often to watch "curlin", hockey, skiin, and "nowboardin". Yes, we have been watching a lot of Olymipcs and Colby sits in amazement as he watches the skiers and snowboarders flip and twist. He tells me "Colby do that after later"! Oh boy!

So, I began this blog when we returned from our first trip to Ekat, Russia. That was back in June of 2008. I am truly in awe of where we have come since then. My life has changed so much and I am so thankful to everyone for all of their help. Through this blog I have "met" such amazing people and have been fortunate to share in their adoption journies as well. I hope that others have been reading this and that it has helped or changed them in some way. That was my intention. Now, as I sit here today, I ask myself the question that my husband has asked me before. "How long will I keep this blog?" The answer, I just don't know. I hope that people enjoy reading it. I enjoy writing it but I often find it difficult to find the time to write. Thankfully the little man decided he wanted his nap today! I have noticed a decrease in numbers and comments. So, I will ask you all:

Should I keep this blog? Will it be read and enjoyed? I will keep it up so others can read about our journey, and it will be my link to my fellow blog friends, I still enjoy reading your updates and seeing new photos. But should I keep updating it? Leave your comments and let me know. Thanks! This blogger community truly helped me through some difficult moments waiting to being Colby home. I only hope I can return the favor in some way too.

Snow, Winter at Lyman Orchard, Colby's Baptism, and A Year

We have certainly had a busy February. We finally had a pretty big snowstorm. All the snow had been staying south of us (sorry Joy). But this week we finally got enough snow for Colby to really enjoy playing in. And he definitely did. While I was tutoring, Mike and Colby built a little snow fort/igloo, complete with crawl spaces. Colby and Misha loved climbing on it, instead of in it. We also went to Lyman Orchard on Saturday. They have a Winterfest complete with ice carvers, snowboarders, and even a small hill for the kids to go sledding on rubber innertubes. The ice sculptures had a medieval times theme this year. Colby enjoyed watching the man use the power tools to carve the ice. Then we had a nice sled ride, all be it in the mud! The snowstorm we had had earlier in the week gave way to warm temperatures and lots of melting. Yuck! But, the day was warm and it felt almost like Spring is near. I think Colby's favorite part was sledding down the little hill on the innertube. He went sitting down first but then I had him lay across the tube. He loved it. That and watching the snowboarders go down the small hill they had made to do a few tricks. In Colby's words, "I do that!" Yikes! Do we have the next Shaun White?

But the weekend ended with a celebration. We had Colby Baptized. When we were planning his Baptism, I wanted to wait until after the holidays. It was such a hectic time. So I called the church in early Jan to discuss a date. I mentioned Feb and was reminded that the church only does Baptisms on the third Sun of the month and the date happened to be Feb 21. When I was asked if that was ok, I said that it was perfect. What timing! We brought Colby home on Feb 21 of last year. He has been home a year! I know many people like to celebrate Gotcha Day, the day they pick up their child/children from the baby home. However, we picked Colby up on the 17th and then had to still go to Moscow to the Embassy. It didn't truly feel complete until we reached home. The moment I saw my mom. My parents and Mike's parents picked us up from JFK Airport around 9 or 9:30 at night, after we had to wait in immigration. The first person I saw was my mom and a total sense of relief hit me. We did it! Colby was home, we were home, and we were a family. That moment I knew everything turned out ok. What a sense of joy!

So, now this year, we celebrated Colby's welcome to our family last year, and his welcome to God's family. And I couldn't have been prouder. As Rev. Gordon brought Colby on his walk down the isle he mentioned the special meaning of the day. He also mentioned that it was Gotcha Day. Another coincidence, our Rev also adopted his little girl. He certainly knew how special the day was. We had a nice lunch with our families at our house and just enjoyed being together. What a special day and what special memories I will always have for February 21st!

GOTCHA!

A year ago today Mike and I made one last 2 hour drive to Kamensk to get Colby. Today was Gotcha Day! The wait was finally over. We had gone to court, we had waited out the 10 day stay and now we could go get him. We spent the morning with Svetlana getting the paperwork we needed. We received his new birth certificate and the adoption decree, along with a few other papers. Then we took the drive to the baby home. I remembered to bring some crackers with us because we went around lunch time.

We got the the baby home and took the stairs for the last time. I wasn't sure if we would get to dress Colby or what would happen. When we got in the room, one of the caregivers asked for his new clothes. She dressed him and brought him out. I put on his socks and shoes though. Svetlana had to get some other paperwork we needed in Kamensk so we had a little time to play. We ended up spending about an hour and a half or so. I had brought a little box of candies for Colby to give ot his caregivers so when we said goodbye I gave him the box and walked with him to give it to them. I am so grateful for the care that they gave him while we weren't with Colby. They really took good care of him. There were tears and many "Spaseebahs", thank yous. What can I say to the ladies who watched over my son? Thank you didn't seem quite right but that's all I had. We finished dressing Colby in his snowsuit and then we were ready. We all hugged and said goodbye and then we were off. Colby did great in the car. He slept for part of the way and then was content looking out the window.

We didn't get back to Ekat until around 6. Mike and Svetlana went to get Colby's passport while I stayed with Colby at the apartment. I made spaghetti for dinner and then we had a nice night at home, our first as a family! The next day we would be off to Moscow!

It is amazing how far we have come! This year has been one I will never forget. And to celebrate our year home,w e will have Colby's Baptism this Sunday. It lands on Feb 21, the day we landed back home as a family of three! What new things will this next year bring?

Feb 4, 2009

This date last year a judge in Ekaterinburg, Russia, pronounced us the parents of Colby Michael. Wow! A whole year. Our stay in the gingerbread house in Kamensk was over but now we had to wait out the 10 day stay. We wouldn't pick Colby up for good until Feb 17th. But hearing that decree let me breathe a huge sigh of relief. Our dream had finally come true!

Happy Birthday and It's Been a Year

First, let me say a big Happy Birthday to my mom. She's celebrating a big one but I won't say which one!

Well, it has been a year since Mike and I went to our first informational meeting with Wide Horizons. I can't believe it! So much has changed yet so much remains yet to change. A year ago I had no idea I would have travelled to Russia, Siberia no less, to meet my child. I had no idea that a little curly blonde haired, grey eyed baby boy was waiting for me to go through a ton of paperwork and come get him. We've met with many different doctors, dealt with a social worker (who is amazing), met lots of great people who have been very supportive through all of this, lauhed, cried, and been totally amazed by this whole process. Where will we be next year? What will we have done? I look forward to celebrating my mom's birthday next year with her grandson as well. It's been a year, and it isn't over yet, but we are getting closer everyday. Hurry up judge and read those papers! We want to get back soon.