[ddahl]

We all post these adorable shots of our sweet angels but for the waiters, I thought it might be interesting to post the worst photo of our kids. Information is always helpfull and in many cases what we imagine the condition of our referrals are is either better or worse.

The good news is with food and lots of love and a good old fashioned bath these little dolls clean up. The first is the referral shot where he is still on baby formula.
When we met our son he looked like the first picture, fat and sassy and still on baby formula.
By the time we went back he was in pretty bad shape and bitten up by horse flies and probably, no certainly in a nutritional crisis. He had lost weight and was 17 lbs at 18 months old. THe next shot is him home 1.5 years. The good the bad and the new and improved shots. Anyone want to add?

[Pinkie]

Dixie, lets see what I can do....

Referral black and white photo is when Antonina is 4 years and 5 months old.

Trip 1 photo is the close up holding a pink toy. She is exactly 5 years old.

Trip 2 is full shot in denim dress and a face full of impetigo. The poor child, she was given a terrible lotion for herpes so no wonder the impetigo wasn't getting any better! She was five and a half years old and so thin I used to pick her up with one hand and place her on my hip.

Recent photo. Six and a half years old and she loves messing with the digital camera and often takes self portraits. I love this one.

[votemom]

pinkie - what a transformation!!!!!!!!

[Pinkie]

Thankyou Votemom, I'm really pleased. She's just completed her first term at her new school and she is a real trouper!!! I've been blessed (except for the tantrums....)

[jimpol]

I don't know if you can really see the first pictures. One is in the orphanage when he is playing with legos and wearing a striped outfit. He didn't smile and weighed about 20 pounds at 15 months. The upclose picture in a khaki shirt was his first full day home in Georgia at 17 months and he lost a pound and weighed 19 pounds.

The Santa picture was this past Christmas 2006 and the one in the bike helmet was the other day. He is now 5 years old and in the 50th percentile on the growth chart. I can't tell you how excited we were to hear that. When we left Russia the doctor there said he would diagnose our son as failure to thrive because he was small and losing weight. Our little guy is truly amazing!

[britfish]

Its funny w/ digital cameras we end up deleting so many of the "not the cutest shots" , but here are a few we just couldn't delete (and definitely not the cutest shots of her!)


The first is Grace on the potty in the orphanage (and doesn't look too happy about it!).
Second is her pouty lip in the oprhanage at 9 mos.
Third is her pouty lip at home at 2 1/2 !!
And lastly giving kisses with her crazy hair we've been trying to tame! (and thats her stlyish way of wearing a headband!)
And lastly, two of her just being cute (one on St. Patricks Day, and one on vacation in Fla.)

[k8c]

How is it possible that all these children are so GEORGOUS?!?!! Maladyets to you all.

[k8c]

ps LOVE the self-portrait of A, Pinks!

[Chris3148]

I just love photo threads. Here goes:

First is our oldest Emmalee, now 4 1/2.

First photo is her first referral photo (3 years old), second is on trip #1, (notice the pattern of not smiling) and third is home 2 months (4 years old), and last is home one year! (2 weeks ago ) She was a tiny (short) little chubby thing at the babyhome, now she has grown 7 inches and has thinned out-except for her cheeks which are sooooo pinchable!

[Chris3148]

Now our youngest, Alexis who will be three in May.

First photo is her first referral photo (15 months), second is trip #1, third is home 2 months (2 years old) and last is home one year!

She was also a tiny little thing (short) at the baby home and came home weighing 19lbs and wearing 12 month clothes at age 22 months. She has grown 7 1/2 inches and those cheeks are still there along with her cute cleft on her chin!

[votemom]

this is kind of turning into a "before and after" thread, but that is ok with me - it's so amazing to see the changes.

[KarynB]

Thought I would add to this - sorry for poking into the Russia thread but the Africa forum is almost non-existant!

The first photo is one of our referral photos - it is just not cute at all!!!! But I can't post a bad one without a good one too! The orphange he came from takes beautiful care of the babies so his "after" shot is only two weeks after Gotcha day....

[Waiting2Be]

I'm in. The first pic is from trip one at 10 months old, the second one is from trip 2 at 20 months old, the third is the first week home and the last one is just a few weeks ago home 10 months.

[votemom]

i'm glad you joined us - your little guy from africa is a doll!

[KarynB]

Thanks votemom - although that referral pic almost scared us off!!! (haha)...