[heikewould]

We have been home 2.3 years. (Mar '05) Life is great. It's the usual parenting stuff, but stuff I waited my whole life to do. I do admit to locking myself in the bathroom for a time out or two....

Life is busy and goes on but I do read new posts and try to keep updated on all the NGO and accreditation stuff. When I talk to others about the adoption process I want to stay current with information. I give out this web site often

To all those of you waiting to complete your families, just remember it's not if you'll have a child it's when. It will happen, I can say, "I Promise."

Photo 1 is the first time we saw Samantha
The rest are in the park and around.

By the way, Did I say GREAT THREAD

And yes, she still loves the Wizard of Oz. It's the third birthday party theme coming next week

[becky26]

It is great to see all the beautiful children and to hear your updates. Thanks for this thread, Karen!

We will be home two years with Colin in July. We are so in love with this child. I cannot even describe our feelings. He is beautiful, smart, witty, challenging, active, funny - I could go on. He speaks fluently in two languages. He keeps asking me "why" questions all day long. Yes, it can be exhausting... Most of all, he is adjusting really well to his little sister. I love to watch them play together. She adores him. And he seems to really start enjoying her company (most of the times). It looks as if his biting phase has finally come to an end. His last biting occurred about a month ago (yes, his sister again). We still have to watch him closely when playing with her. But I can really see so many beautiful changes in him.

Our daughter, Elisa, has been home for 9 months. She is a very easy child. Very happy, very funny, always imitating her big brother. She says about 10 words. She loves the water as much as her brother. And they both love to race through the house on their little ride-ons. She will be a real tomboy which is perfectly fine with me... It is amazing to see how this child has blossomed since we had her home. She spent her first 11 months in a broken crib in a horrible hospital in the Moscow region.

DH keeps telling me: "We have a wonderful life." I remind him of the other moments - but generally, he is so right. These children are much, much more than we had hoped for.

Here are the pictures:
- Colin's picture from the referral video
- Colin driving his "truck" last week (what an imagination!)
- Elisa on our first trip
- Elisa and her brother on the rocking horse yesterday

[cici32]

Another lurker.

We are quickly approaching our 2 year mark 9/23 of bringing Andrei home. In fact, we are already in contact with our SW in order to set up our PP visit for late July/early August.

Andrei is amazing. It's hard to believe that the little guy just graduated from Preschool yesterday and will be in Kindergarten in the fall.

He is such an outgoing little guy who loves to entertain. In fact, we were on vacation last week and he got up and sang Karaoke. I was so proud of him. He ended his "show" with showing off how many push-ups he can do. LOL

He is 42 1/2 inches tall and 47 pounds. He loves to help us around the house and is very lovable. He also enjoys playing soccer and baseball. He can hit the ball over the fence when we pitch it to him. No tees for this kid. He refuses to use them.

I'll have to come back and post pictures. We had computer issues and I lost what I had on it.

I love hearing updates on all the kiddos.

[kcgirlinfl]

I love seeing the updates from everyone. The kids all look great and are getting so big! I don't post a lot lately, but am always lurking.

Gabe will be home 2 years on July 3. It's hard to believe it has been that long. I don't know where the time goes. He will be 3 in August, and other than speech delays, is doing great. He is definitely all boy. I don't think a moment in the day goes by that he is not running, jumping or climbing on something. He is very active and fearless. But can also be a very sweet and cuddly boy when he wants to be. It's hard to remember life without him. It just seems like he has always been a part of us.

I've posted some pictures. One taken after court 2 years ago, and two recent photos.

Keep those updates coming!

[angelkisses0102]

Originally Posted by votemom

gosh, i think skip looks a LOT like karen's son alex.

I agree...
Karen

[teachsafe]

Well, Cameron turned 3 in Jan. He loves the water and is not afraid of diving boards at all! Pretty much fearless with most things which sometimes has me worried. All Boy!

Very independent and talking up a storm. Actually said to me today used correctly when he was mad at me be/c I wouldn't let him do something.. "You are getting on my nerves!" WHAT?! Wonder where he got that from?? Ok, I fess up...I say it to my husband sometimes. Better watch what I say huh? At least I don't curse

He'll start pre-school this fall 3 mornings a week and is excited about that. Does not meet a stranger! Goes up to whoever on the playground and says, " Hello little girl/boy...want to play with me?" We just love him to pieces!

(The pic of him eating is in Moscow and the others are from this year. )

[britfish]

Its so nice to see so many familiar names!
We recently celebrated being home 2 years with Grace. I can't believe she is almost 3, where has the time gone?? Our process began when Russian adoptions were for the most part smooth and quick. Of course when our dossier got to Russia that changed and things really began to slow down! We received our referral Christmas eve after 8 mos. of waiting. We were ready to travel a few weeks later and the day before we were to travel we were called by our agency and told of the databank changes. Our trip was delayed for 3 LONG months. We met our daugther when she was 9 months and were able to travel back for trip two 8 weeks later. Our daughter has adjusted wonderfully and is a sweet girly girl! We are so blessed and remind ourselves of that often. We were very vigilant with attachment parenting upon arriving home and I truly believe that was the key to our success.
Here is Grace at Easter and just the other day. she is wearing a handmade Russian sundress this wonderful woman on ebay made for her!

[leeinmemphis]

I read every day but rarely post... next week will be three years home with William and Timothy. They are 6.5 years old and 7.25 years old and going into first grade. They are full of energy, fun, laughter and that wonderful "little boy smell" that kids get after playing all day!

It took me probably a full two years to feel like I really could do this "mom thing" but thankfully we are running on all four wheels now and everything has fallen blissfully into place.

Our boys came home in 90 days from the first visit to the agency until we had made two trips to Russia and were home with our two best friends who became brothers.

I am not very "techy" so I hope these pictures post!

I enjoy reading about everyone as they go through the process.... its quite a ride before and after!

One recent picture is of the boys at their cousin Vivian's birthday....our Great Dane Dixie with the boys and William at the lake....

alli

[pahlsm]

Wow ... I do lurk when I have a chance. Boy have things moved along for us. Emma became our daughter on Feb 8, 2005 and is from Krasnoyarsk, Russia . Emma is almost 3 1/2 and has been home almost 2 1/2 years. Since being home she has gained 17 pounds and grown 10 inches. She is the light of our lives. She is so smart, loving and funny. She has woke up with a smile on her face everyday since she has come home and gone to bed with a smile too. She will eat anything and has been the best sleeper since day one and still takes a 2-3 hour nap everyday! She loves music and Mickey Mouse. She dosen't like sweets with the exception of ice cream, but give the girl a bad of chips and all bets are off. She is truly amazing.

Emma will be a big sister one day as we are currently doing our second adoption from China. While we are waiting we are moving to a new home with a great yard which Emma will love as she is an outdoor girl.

For those of you who are waiting it does happen. It took us over 2 years to get Emma and it looks like it will take that long if not longer to bring her sister home, but it does happen. Keep the faith!

Hugs and hope,
Kathleen

Pics-- they uploaded out of order
1. Trip two
2. Referral
3. Jan 2006
4. 1 st Gotcha Day 2006
5. Spring 2007
6. 2nd Gotcha day

[KimOH]

I'll update, too.

We adopted DS in Krasnoyarsk in 2001. He'll be 7 in September and we'll celebrate 6 years home in October. He's wonderful.

He recently graduated from kindergarten and is looking forward to (and a little nervous about) first grade. His teachers and I have no question that he'll do just fine though.

He's also taking hockey lessons and *loves* it. He's doing really well, too and it's really exciting to see him trying so hard and learning so much. He recently moved up to the section of the lessons where you wear the full pads, and get a stick. They do scrimmages. Even when DS isn't on the ice, he's still got hockey on the brain... And Pokemon... And Webkinz. He'll talk your ear off about any of those subjects.

He's also about the nicest kid you'll ever meet. He's quick with an "I love you" and, in general, he's a lot of fun to be around.

DD hasn't been quite as long. It will be two years in September. She turned three in May.

This girl definitely has the "world revolves around me" attitude. DS was pretty even tempered, and she's my feisty one. When she's happy she is the sweetest, cuddliest, happiest little thing. When she is unhappy... Watch out. (We only saw her happy side in the baby home, but her "true personality" brings new meaning to some of the things the baby home staff said about her. )

But, she's a sweetheart most of the time, thank goodness. She is also learning a lot and growing so fast. When we brought her home she was a rolly little thing (our pediatrician was actually concerned because she was *too* fat), but her height has definitely caught up with her weight and she's a beautiful little girl.

She's also a girlie-girl who's into hair bows and pretty clothes. That's a lot of fun... Even for me who was a big tomboy.

Here's a Recent photo and a referral picture for each of them.

[Waiting4Skip]

Brittany, She is BEAUTIFUL. Time does fly where the kiddos who are home are concerned....

Originally Posted by britfish

Its so nice to see so many familiar names!
We recently celebrated being home 2 years with Grace. I can't believe she is almost 3, where has the time gone?? Our process began when Russian adoptions were for the most part smooth and quick. Of course when our dossier got to Russia that changed and things really began to slow down! We received our referral Christmas eve after 8 mos. of waiting. We were ready to travel a few weeks later and the day before we were to travel we were called by our agency and told of the databank changes. Our trip was delayed for 3 LONG months. We met our daugther when she was 9 months and were able to travel back for trip two 8 weeks later. Our daughter has adjusted wonderfully and is a sweet girly girl! We are so blessed and remind ourselves of that often. We were very vigilant with attachment parenting upon arriving home and I truly believe that was the key to our success.
Here is Grace at Easter and just the other day. she is wearing a handmade Russian sundress this wonderful woman on ebay made for her!

[KatieIC]

I feel like I am not supposed to update, because I have only lurked in the last year and because my kids are only home 1 year and 15 mos. However...

Finley has been home since March 06 from Novokutsnesk (Siberia). She is now 3 and just fill of you-know-what and vinegar. She adores her big brothers and will follow them anywhere. She is super funny and outgoing at preschool. Yesterday, in her class at VBS, she had the entire room of three year olds, including the teacher, sitting at attention while she read them a book. When the teacher would try to ask her a question, she would SHUSH her and wag her finger at her as if she was in trouble. It was quite amusing (and a little alarming - am I that bossy?).

John is doing well also and hit his one year mark of being home last week! He came home at a little over three and he was my rougher transition. Not sure if it was the age, or the temperment, as he is just absolutely The Alpha Dog. Of my three kids, John is usually in charge of all activities and games - and my third is actually 6 years old!! John is diabetic and very little for his age - so he has not grown much but we are working on that (the diabetes thing is fairly new, we hope the treatment of it will help him grow). He is very sweet and VERY attached to me - very loving - full of smiles.

I will attempt to post pics but can't promise much. I will do referral and recent for each, but remember that John was 13 mos between Trip 1 and Trip 2, so he will have changed a bunch....

[Pinkie]

Glad to see everyone checking in. Everyone's children are beautiful and its so nice to see the photo's and watch them grow. I'm at home but most of my photo's are at work so I'll try and post a few pictures over the next few days (I've been hectic at work).

Started out in May 2004, my Home Study was complete in 9 months (things are done a little different in Spain), registered with my agency in February 2005 and received the referral of Antonina in June 2005. I fell for this tiny 5 year old girl completely and knew she was the one for me. I travelled a few weeks later (Kamchatka) to meet her and then waited the horrid 5 months between trip 1 and trip 2. We came home together in December 2005 so thats a good one and a half years ago.

Antonina has put on weight, she is growing so tall and is coming on in leaps and bounds with her reading, writing, sport (especially since changing her school in february!). Everything is good and gets better by the day.

[Pinkie]

As promised a few photos. The one holding the pink teddy is from Trip 1 in June 2005 and the second one is from June 2007 (her birthday).

[april*rain]

I don't get on the boards much at all anymore but am happy to post an update on Ethan. He is a joy! I just can't believe that we have been home with him since April, 2005, from Moscow City. He was very withdrawn and malnourished when we came home. Now, he is healthy, smart, funny, polite, compassionate, independent, stubborn, cute... need I go on

We are just absolutely in love with our son. It's odd, because for so many years I didn't know if I wanted to be a mom. Now, I can't imagine my life without Ethan. The other day he looked at me and said, "Mommy, I love you. You are my bestest friend." Well, of course I smiled and then cried my eyes out. Those precious moments are what make life so wonderful.

Of course, we have our typical 3.5 year old tantrums, crayon pictures on the walls, potty-training issues, talking back at times, and the million "whys" that can drive me up the wall..... but all in all, I have to say that our son is doing wonderfully. He starts preschool two days a week the second week of July (he is ready, but Mommy is not!) and will start gymnastics classes too. He knows his colors, shapes, numbers, name, and address. He has adjusted very well, and is attached to his family. He can be very shy, though, and I am hoping that pre-school will help with that. He is in the 50th percentile for height and weight and has no health issues other than an allergy to mosquito bites.

Our infertility and adoption journeys were long and very painful, and there were times we almost gave up. I thank God we did not, because Ethan was meant to be our son, and the three of us were meant to be a family.

It is great reading everyone's updates about how well our kids are doing!