October Happenings

Ok. I'm terrible and haven't posted in a month. But, I have good reasons. We have been very busy with school, work, Fall stuff, and parties. I can't believe my last post still had us swimming and enjoying the lake. Now we are watching the leaves change so many brilliant colors and yes, even frost on the grass. I am so thankful that I now have a garage and my husband was so sweet and cleaned it up so my car sits in the garage at night! No waiting to defrost my car! Yippee!!!

Ok. Off topic. Lots of fun photos to post. I'm not sure where to start. Fall started with my mom, Aunt Doone, and I taking 3 little boys to a corn maze and pumpkin picking. Colby and Keith are both 5 and Jaden is 4. They had a great time and we didn't even lose my Aunt's phone in the maze this year! (2 years ago we actually were lost for a little while in the corn maze and when we finally made it out Aunt Doone went to make a phone call and noticed she lost her phone. The boys all looked upset and asked if we really had to go back in the maze to find it. So now every year the boys remind her to hold on to her phone. They are so funny!) We also enjoyed a horse drawn carriage ride and apple cider donuts. Yum!

The next few weekends have been full of parties. My Aunt Doone and Uncle Gordon celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with a surprise party given by their kids. Aunt Doone was so happy she actually cried. We had a luau with an actual pig (yes, head and all) and lots of goodies. Colby wasn't so sure about the pig, especially after my dad told him to check him out, that it was winking at him. Thanks Dad! Last weekend Colby went to a school friend's birthday party. It was a Halloween birthday party and the girl is in his afterschool program but a different Kindergarten class. This terrible mom totally didn't think and didn't dress him in his costume. But, easy-going Colby didn't seem to mind and most of the costumes came off as the kids started going on the swings and jumping in the jump house. It was nice for me to get out and meet some of the other moms though. It is tough trying to meet new friends when they all seem to know eachother so well. Hopefully we'll continue to meet more people. And this weeked coming up is another birthday party. This birthday party is for Sean, another little boy adopted from Russia. I can't believe the boys are 5 already.

As for me, work is going well. I am settling into a routine and enjoying working with my kids. I have also started taking yoga through the park and rec in town. It is really great. I'm not so sure about the restfulness and calmness part but the stretching and exercise feels great.

Ok. Long enough. Much more to say but this is getting long enough. Enjoy the pics!

Corn Maze and a Happy Birthday

This past weekend Colby and I went with my mom, Aunt Doone, and Jaden to a corn maze at Lyman Orchards. We had a great time, even though we were lost for quite awhile, along with a bunch of other people. Lyman Orchard does a corn maze every year. Last year it had a presidential feel, this year was a UCONN theme. Specifically, the UCONN Huskies girls' basketball team. It was in the shape of the coach's (Geno Auriemma) head, the husky mascot and a ball. It was tricky to get through the first part. I think Aunt Doone got a little worried but we made it out and the boys had a great time.

Today is my mom's birthday. Although she's on vacation Colby and I were able to call and sing Happy Birthday to her. I hope she has a great day. She definitely deserves the rest and relaxation.

This weekend, no plans set but I do hope to get to the Big E or perhaps apple picking. And of course it is football season so I need to watch the Pats and the Giants.

Milk, Snuggles, and A Happy Birthday

I am so thankful for all of the kind words and wonderful words of encouragement from all of you. It means so much to know that other people do understand my feelings and have gone through the same things that Mike and I are going through now. Someone had asked about giving Colby milk and if the orphanages give the children milk. I don't think Colby ever had milk. When we fed him he always had a little mug of juice or tea which he drank up quite quickly. We did feed him snack on day and he had a mug of something that looked a little like milk but was more creamy. More like a runny yogurt type of drink. I think they call it kefir. Mike and I stuck with juice in Russia but after a couple days home we started giving him whole milk, mainly at breakfast and right before bed. He doesn't drink much of it but he seems to like it. Otherwise we drink lots of juice, mostly apple although we are introducing other flavors. He really likes the Srtawberry-Kiwi. We haven't tried orange yet.

To update on our snuggles: We have had great days lately. I'm not sure what has caused the change but beginning yesterday Colby has been more snuggly, almost clingy. I really hope that it isn't due to a cold coming on. Perhaps his teeth are bothering him. He is cutting 4 teeth right now. I certainly haven't minded the snuggles at all. Last night Colby cuddled with me in our lounge chair as Mike and I watched American Idol. He wasn't laying down to sleep so I snuggled with him there. He fell asleep after a little while and I just held him, for almost the whole 2 hour show. What could be better than having a sleeping child in your arms? What a great feeling. Mike and I have also encouraged Colby to give more hugs and kisses. He loves to blow kisses so we do that often. We have also started hugging and kissing eachother more in front of Colby so he can see what it means to love someone. He thinks it is funny. He gets a huge smile on his face when we hug and starts giggling. It is really cute.

Yesterday Colby and I had a great day visiting with Mamie and Aunt Doone (my grandmother and my aunt Lorna). Mamie had already seen Colby the day after we came home but Anut Doone had yet to see him. Aunt Doone and I are really close. She also adopted her 3 children so she can understand how I feel. I wanted Colby to meet her before we go for the big party on Saturday. Mamie is turning 90! The whole family is getting together and that means over 40 people. My mom has a big family and I love it but it just might overwhelm Colby. I wanted him to get used to Mamie's house and see my aunt so he knows a few people when we get there. Well, they hit it off. Colby loved Mamie's house and all the things that little fingers can get into trouble touching. Aunt Doone loved playing with him and it was a wonderful day. Unknowingly, I had forgotten that it was Aunt Doone's birthday yesterday. I remembered later. She was so happy and I am glad that I could give her such a great birthday. Colby even gave Mamie and Aunt Doone a hug goodbye all by himself. He just toddled over and threw himself in Aunt Doone's arms first to get a hug. Then to Mamie. It was so amazing, I almost cried again. Tears of joy!

A New Year

Well, a new year has come. Welcome in 2009. So much has happened in 2008, I can only imagine what 2009 can bring. I can hope for so many things. Mainly, I hope that it will bring my baby home to me. And soon.

On New Year's Eve Mike and I went to my Aunt Doone's house. Anut Doone and Uncle Gordon have a few friends and family members to their house for New Year's. It is all about having fun and being with the ones you love. We have a great time and the kids that are usually there get to play together. This year it snowed most of the day so most of the people who usually go to their house didn't show up. My cousin Carmen and her family stayed at their house I think near Hartford. However, my mom and dad did come. And my cousin Jason and his family were there. It was a lot of fun. We played dominoes and just enjoyed the company. A nice low key party.

Something did strike me as odd all day though. As the day progressed I knew that a part of our family was missing, Colby. It felt awful celebrating a new year without him. Around 2:00P.M. here, an odd thought crept in my head. It had kept me up most of the night before too. At 2:00P.M. here, my little boy was not only in a different country, on a different continent, thousands of miles and hours away, but he was also in a different year. There are some days when I do stop and whisper to him to have a good morning but now I had to stop and whisper to him to have a great year. I am sure that we will have an amazing year together once he is home. I can only hope that that happens soon.

We have not received our update on Colby as of yet. The agency was sure we would have it this week but with the holidays I didn't honestly think we would. I hoped but I didn't think so. I am not sure if I am upset or not. I really want the update but if Svetlana doesn't have the time to travel to the baby home, about 1 1/2 hours away on a good day, because she is talking with the judge or working on our paperwork, than I hope she is doing just that. I'd rather get back sooner than have the update. I am not sure what is going on over there but hopefully we will hear something soon. We shall see.

Traditions....Cookies

Well, the latest word is that Svetlana is handing our paperwork to the judge this week (hopefully it was today). Everything is in order and has been translated. YEAH! I can only hope that Colby's paperwork is in order as well and that the judge looks at it all quickly. Perhaps our late January court trip might happen, but I am still highly skeptical about that. We jsut need to wait and see I guess.

Ok, so my last post discussed traditions. I am not sure how I got on such a long post about Poppy. I guess I had been thinking about him lately. I had hoped that he would be here to see my first child. However, I am quite lucky that I still have Mamie and that Colby will see her. So, more Christmas traditions....

The tradition that stands out the most with me when I think of Christmas revolves around my mom. Every Christmas we would make Christmas cookies together while we listened to Christmas music. It was a day long activity. We would make at least 3 different batches of what we call Spritz cookies. They are similar to a sugar cookie but after you mix the batter you put it is a cookie "gun" and shoot it out in different shapes. The gun has different designs and the cookies can be in the shape of trees, bells, ornaments, and pointsettas. Then we would decorate them with sprinkles and red hots for the holly and the star on the tree. We had a lot of fun coloring, flavoring, and decorating those cookies. But mostly I remember spending the time with my mom and just talking and laughing. Mom and I have a very special, close relationship. She is my best friend and spening time with her was always a lot of fun.

Well, we might have lost sight of our special tradition when I went away to college and then got married but we still spend time together. I am very lucky to live not too far from her so we can see eachother a lot. This Christmas I had my mom and my Aunt Lorna (Aunt Doone to me) come over to my house and make those Christmas cookies. We made 2 different batches of Spritz cookies, mint trees and raspberrry pointsettas. We also made holly cookies out of corn flakes and marshmallows, candy cane cookies (which you need to roll the dough into red and white ropes and twist them into candy canes), and we made my Italian cookies. In college I was given a recipe for Italian cookies with Anise flavoring and I now make them every Christmas. My family loves them. The three of us had a great day making the cookies, talking, and laughing. So, although the tradition may have changed a little, it still holds strong. I am so lucky to have a family that I am close too. I love them so much.

A Quiet Day, Lots of Birthdays, and Fellow Blogger Updates

Today was a nice quiet day. The weekend has had beautiful weather. You can tell that Fall is coming. It has been rather chilly in the mornings. Today I went with my mom and my Aunt Doone to a craft fair in Deerfield, Mass. Ever since I can remember, I have gone with them and my cousin Carmen (Aunt Doone's oldest daughter) to craft fairs and other shopping excursions. It was nice to go again today. We had a nice ride up there and walked around. We didn't buy much but the day was great nonetheless. Then we went down the road to the Yankee Candle Factory and had lunch and walked around. I really enjoy spending time with my mom and Aunt Doone but we haven't had much time together lately. Everyone is so busy. When we do get together it is always lots of fun, talking, laughing, and just enjoying eachothers' company. A nice day all around!

I also want to mention a few family birthdays. September is a busy month in my family. My sister (in-law) Jan had her birthday on 9/2. My sister Karin's is 9/15 and my sister Kristin's is 9/17. They are actually a year apart but Karin is older, so on 9/16 they are the same age. My mom's birthday will be on Mon 9/22 and my nephew Alex's is on 9/23. Lots to celebrate. I can only hope that Colby will be here next year to celebrate with them.

A congrats go out to a few fellow bloggers. One family is in Ekat visiting with twin daughters who will be adopted in just a few days. Another couple is travelling to Ekat tomorrow to see their daughter for the first time. Wow! Congrats to everyone. I love reading the updates and either gathering insight into our future trip or helping out those on their first visit. I look forward to all the updates.