[Seasu]

Well, the process is finished. We arrived back in the US on Friday with our new son Eli. We started the process almost 2 years ago. Christmas Eve 2006, we announced to our families that we were going to adopt again. Our fist son Peter(now 4.5 yo) is adopted from St Pete so we decided to go there again. Unfortunately with Russia being.. well .. Russia, the process was not as smooth as it could have been, but it also wasn't as difficult as it could have been either. One thing I learned (again) is that you just do what they ask, dont question why, and laugh a lot.

For example, my Employment verification letter was rejected by the judge because it wasn't embossed with a corporate seal. You know EVERYONE in the US embosses such trivial papers with the official corporate seal. (/sarcasm off) It was almost rejected again after it was resent with the corporate seal since I work in Arizona, but the corporation is incorporated in Delaware.

Our first trip was in July, and our second trip started Nov 10th. We spent the 10 day waiting period in Helsinki Finland instead of travelling home and back again. We have friends there so we were able to stay at their home and not have the expense of a hotel. I'm not sure if that was the right thing to do or not.

While we were away, our first son Peter was at home with my mother taking care of him. We tried to skype as often as we could, but most of the time he didn't want to talk to us. I'm not sure if that was just his way of dealing with us being gone or what. When he did talk he was very excited and happy. There have been some behavior issues while we were away, and since we got back, but I hope they start to clear up now that he understands we're home and that he is still so important to us. I have tried to spend as much time as I can with him since being back. Looking back now I'm not sure If I would have done the same and stayed away during the 10 days or come home. I don't think bringing him for the second trip would be the right decision either, as being stuck in the hotel, court, paperwork trips etc would be so boring for a 4 year old. That and the flights, with jetlag etc, would make it even worse.


Our new son Eli (who was born Christmas Eve 2006, the day we announced to our families) is doing great adjusting to home life instead of orphanage life. Last night he even slept the whole night without waking up. His rocking is getting less. One thing he thought was very funny was the other night, I got down on the floor next to him and started doing the same rocking, grunting behavior as he was doing. He just stopped and looked at me as if to say "Hey.. what are you doing". Anyways, he started laughing then and didn't return to the rocking behavior for a while.

Besides the behavior issues (not listening, tantrums, etc) Peter is very happy to have a little brother and has been so very kind with Eli. The bonding between them has been better than I had expected.

It is so nice to be back as a family, now bigger than before.

[GCS]

Thanks for the update and the intro! What a wonderful story for Eli to have that he was born as you were announcing to your family you were going to adopt again!

Welcome home!

[kretzklan]

I'm happy you are home and Eli too! I hope that things continue smoothly for both kiddos and parents!

[votemom]

how amazing that eli was BORN the very night you announced your adoption! that is so cool!!

congratulations to all of you.

[mommyto4]

Welcome home! and best wishes for a smooth as posssible transition. Thanks for sharing

[Seasu]

Originally Posted by votemom

how amazing that eli was BORN the very night you announced your adoption! that is so cool!!

congratulations to all of you.

I should have included that Peter was born on the day we had "Paperwork day" at the adoption agency. I think we filled out forms for about 4 hours... probably during labor

[MissDaisyofTexas]

HI Seasu! Welcome!!!

[waitinginnj]

Congrats! Welcome home Eli!

[MamaChinch]

Congrats on your new son and welcome home Eli !! How fun will two boys be?!?! I have such a blast with my nephews! Thanks for sharing your story, I am so happy for your family! I have no doubts Peter will be fine in due time, his whole life has changed, as well !!!
My dd rocked from trip one and it worried me at first, ( my niece adopted at one year old STILL rocks at age 10!) but dd's was VERY short-lived! Unless it interfere's with his normal activies, I allow it, it shows he can self-sooth! Now if I can get dd to keep that thumb out of her mouth!! he he!

[angelkisses0102]

Welcome and Congrats!

[coachmom]

so glad you are home safely!
Coachmom

[mikiment]

Welcome and congratulations!

[orenmommy]

That is all absolutely wonderful! Congratulations!

[Bcelli]

Congratulations on your newly expanded family. Our second adoption also did not go as smoothly as the first, though we never had a problem in court. Isn't it a great feeling to see Peter being kind and gentle with his new borther, Eli? (Love their names, by the way.) Our honeymoon period was a little bit chilly and now they both play and aggravate the bejeebies out of each other just like bio brothers. What a wonderful Merry Christmas time for your family! Many congratulations!

[Jessi_76]

Welcome, Congratulations, and what a miraculous twist of God's fate that Eli was born on the very day that you announced your intent to adopt.

Many blessings this Christmas.