Growing Growing...

Yesterday our little sweetheart turned 21 months old!! I hope she had a wonderful day. Rainy, cold and cloudy at her home. I can't wait to get her to the sunshine state!!

love you.

~mama

Grrrrrrrrr!

I was hoping we could at least get on the books for a court date while the judge was out in November. Apparently everything comes to a screeching halt...so no can freakin' do.

To The Bee

Good morning pretty baby!!

Donations are in the House!

We are now at $365 of our $500 goal! Wooott!!! Did I say that you guys rock? Well ya do!

~mama

A Vacation to Recover from the REALLY Long Vacation (and other annoying things)

So there are what seems like a 1000 holidays in Russia and the judges take them all off along with the summer...yes, pretty much the whole summer. Come to find out our judge is also going to be gone the WHOLE month of November...and let's not forget the winter holidays between December 31 and January 8th. Did I mention that they only see international adoption cases on Thursdays? As you can see this really limits our court date options. It looks like we won't be back until January. We predicted this, but naturally behind the scenes my heart was hoping for a court date in December. I'm not sure if they will even schedule a court date while the judge is out. I am still waiting on answers to a small stack of questions.

On a positive note I was greeted via email this morning with some wonderful pictures of our little sweetheart just waking up in her crib. She's beautiful! She's so cute in her crib...she looks like a little jailbird waiting for mama and daddy to come bust her out of the big house. They also sent a few pictures of her from last January all dressed up for the New Year's celebration. Love this girl.

Here's to having her home soon...

~mama

Finishing Touches

We're almost done getting the nursery in order. It's looking really good. It's really bright and colorful. I hope she doesn't get overstimulated! I will post some pictures of it soon. Off to bed now. I always look forward to a new week starting...fingers-crossed that we get some news THIS week!

~mama

Kids are For Families

When the mister and I had been together only a short time we both talked about what a wonderful thing adoption is and that we would maybe like one day to expand our family through adoption. I never knew it would actually happen and let me say it's a wonderful thing! For one thing...kids are for families NOT for orphanages and foster homes. Kids deserve to be individuals, not just another one to feed, diaper, medicate. They need hugs, love, someone to hold them, rock them, kiss their ouchies and smile at them when they wake up in the morning...someone to hold them while they read a book...someone that thinks they outshine the moon and the stars (and let me say that the mister showed me the moon last night...and it is pretty darn bright). Every child should be the smartest, cutest, most creative human on the planet to someone somewhere. I want all these things, not just for our Little Bee, but for all of the kids that need homes, that need forever families- for the kids in foster care, for the kids all over the world in orphanages, for the other little babies in B's baby home (especially you Roman!). I'm not saying this today so that you will run out today and apply to adopt a child (but why don't you?). I'm saying this so that you will do something today to make a difference in a child's life. Hug a child! Donate to a charity! Volunteer! November is National Adoption Awareness Month...have I made you aware?

Loving the Bee,

Mama

P.S. If adoption has impacted you in any way please share your message this November and spread the awareness!!

Two Stray Cats

Two Stray Cats wins the cuteness of the week award with this new lovey blanket. This fabric is adorable!! I pretty much love it lots. Don't forget...her slogan is "Where Every Creation Helps a Critter." 10% of her sales help animals in need! A great blanket? Helping animals in need? Win win. Spread the love and check out Two Stray Cats on Etsy!

~mama

Nothingness

Another day of nothingness. It's almost 10:00 pm in Russia. I guess I can scratch this day off.

sigh.

Thanks Friends!!

We are at $215 of our $500 orphanage donation goal! Wow! It's only been three weeks! Thank you friends for your kindness and generosity! This will really make a difference for the babies at the Little B's (Former) orphanage!

xxooooxxoo!

mama

Not Exactly the Pony Express

"They have promised to send the papers from Moscow to the region in the next few days"...I thought they would have arrived at least a week ago. Sigh.




~mama

Valeriya...could her designs BE any sweeter??

Hi All! It's almost Christmas and you may have missed the deadline for Valeriya Christmas gifts ( it's worth checking with her!!) but who couldn't use adorable kid's fashion all year round? When it comes to sweet clothes for kids...Valeriya is the BEST! Please check out these amazing items. I know some of you have bought from her before and I've seen the pics of your girls in her outfits...SO CUTE!! Anyway, I love her stuff so much I had to share!! Happy shopping and I look forward to seeing more photos of your sweet babies in Valeriya designs!!

~mama

P.S. I've heard that she just went to a quilt show so keep an eye out for new fabrics!!!

Gadgets

I don't have an I-phone and I am about a 3 or 4 on the hierarchy of tech savvyness (thhhpppttt! To those of you that are thinking that I am more of a 1 or 2). I was really excited last night when I discovered that my free sprint phone that I had for a year has a voice command! Ooh lala, so fancy. It will be great to have a kid around to help me figure these things out.

~mama

Home Town Fella Speaks the Truth

I can't say I am a huge Tom Petty fan, although I do have to give him some credit for a few good tunes. I do have to say that he speaks the truth when he says "the waiting is the hardest part." Has it really only been two weeks since I kissed your forehead, let go of your tiny chubby hand and held back the tears as I looked the other way and walked out the door? Please, give me the strength to make this time pass fast.

~mama

Halloween Like Screams

Every time I open my email and I've got no new information I hear a scream...I just realized it's coming from inside my head. I thought I could be more patient than this...apparently I was wrong.

~mama

Hot Helpful Hints (Things we've learned)

This will be an ongoing list of things we've learned to do (and maybe not to do) while traveling for Russian adoption. I will add to it as we go through the process.

• Several people said bring Ziploc bags for travel and I didn't heed the warning. I wished I had when the bottle for the shampoo decided to leak in my bag. Bring Ziploc bags.

• It makes life a little easier to know some Russian when traveling. I listened to CDs in the car and read a few books. I know the courtesies so I could come across as friendly enough. The MOST helpful thing was the husband learning the Russian alphabet and knowing the sounds for the letters. He's great with puzzles so this project was right up his alley. You'd be amazed at how many Russian words sound like the English equivalent when you know the phonetics of the Cyrillic alphabet. I highly recommend The Russian Language Map by Kristine Kershul. This was a hand-me-down from some previous APs that said it was their travel "bible." http://www.amazon.com/RUSSIAN-language-map%C2%AE-Kristine-Kershul/dp/0944502903 Learn the Cyrillic alphabet.

• If you are prone to cold sores when stressed or going from cold to hot locations like I am, bring some Abreva. Russian pharmacies are a challenge and dancing around pointing at your lip doesn't help either. At this time I should give a shout out to the nice man that figured out what I was saying and was able to help. I also want to thank him for walking with us three blocks over to save 40 cents. Thank you for your patience and understanding of my crazy sign language. Folks, bring your Abreva.

• If you plan on saving your receipts to track your expenses write what you bought on each receipt right after the transaction while still in-country. It's no fun trying to translate the receipt and remember what the heck it was for once you get home...trust me, you won't remember.
  

TRIP ONE PACKING LIST

I spent some time looking for a good packing list for trip one, so I thought I would put it here so hopefully someone else will find it useful.

Trip One Packing List (October 2011)

Mama- One pair of jeans (wear one on plane), two (three?) pants, long johns (shirt and pants), two tank tops, four long sleeve tops (wear one on plane), underwear and bras, coat and scarf, hat, three pair of socks.

Papa- Add later

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Moisturizer
• Tweezers
• Q-tips
• Wet wipes- toilet
• Small soaps
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Brush or comb
• Deodorant
• Shaving cream
• Razors (one each)
• Disposable cameras (leave at baby home)
  
• Camera
• Video Camera
• Chargers
• Extra camera card and battery
• Dr. paperwork (info from IA doctor)
  
• Visas
• Passports
• Plane tickets
• Agency Info (bound packet of information)
  
• Program fees
• Train money
• Money belts
• Travel book
• Russia language books
• Hotel reservation
• Measuring tape
• Umbrella
• Cereal bars/snacks
• Power strip
• Computer
• Journal
• Ziplocs
• Imodium tablets
• Tylenol
• Band-aids
• Alcohol wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Melatonin for sleep?
• Photocopies of passports and visas (notarize)
• Cash
• Kindle
• Books and magazines
• Orphanage gifts
• Alarm clock
• Town postcards to hand out
  
• Lady products (in case you need them!)
• Small calculator (very handy for cost conversions)
  
• Our vitamins and medication
  
• Numbers to skype
• Little tripod for flipcamera
  
• Watch (can't use the cell phone clock!)
  
• Ipods
• Extra Money

Baby Stuff

• Diapers (didn't need)
  
• Wipes (didn't need for diaper changing but used for boogers!)
• Snacks (didn't need as we always went close to lunch or dinner- always ask if they can have snacks)
  
• Snack cups (didn't need as we always went close to lunch or dinner)
• Sippy (didn't need as we always went close to lunch or dinner)
• Soft book
• Teddy bear (ask if you can give them plush toys)
  
• Bubbles (too cold to use)
  
• Beach balls (HUGE HIT with the other kids and they pack easily)
  
• Small book
• Three shirts to try on for sizing
  

• Baby bag (I had a special bag so she would know that it was HERS)
  
• Photo album for photos of us
  
• Brag book photos (includes images of pets and toys and family)
  
• Crayons- Biggest hit and gave us a "first" drawing to take home- we could also trace hands and shoes(for sizing) but she wiggled too much.
  
• Paper- for drawing and notes
  
• Links- Plastic colorful links for babies...she LOVED these
  
• Toy cell phone- She loved this. It played music

~mama

Making Miracles

If I check my email every 5 minutes will a miracle occur? I could use a little magic. I could use a little news.

~mama

Fall Food Comforts

Anyone who knows me knows I love the fall food. I look forward to the day when the pumpkin baked goods start showing up on the shelf like most kids wait for Santa (don't get me wrong, I am first in line for Santa too). This morning I made apple cinnamon cobbler for breakfast. It's kinda like pancakes, right? Anyway, that put me in the spirit of cooking so I made a Pumpkin and Potato Soup and some Sweet Crescent Rolls. These sweet rolls are quick and easy so little ones can easily help!! If you try that let me know how it goes. You might also add some chopped pecans or walnuts to the rolls if you are so inclined. I apologize in advance for the lack of measurements but I pretty much always cook to taste. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Potato Soup

• · Cubed red russet potatoes with skins on
• Diced whole onion
• · One small can of pumpkin
• · Whipping cream
• · Coriander
• · Cayenne
• · Cumin
• · Nutmeg
• · Salt
• · Pepper
• · Seasoned croutons (make em' buy em' whatever)
  

Put cubed potatoes and onions in a pot just barely covering the top of potatoes with water. Boil. Once boiling, turn to simmer. Cook until fork tender. Smash a little with a fork. Add canned pumpkin. Stir. Add some whipping cream to thicken. Add seasoning to taste (coriander, cayenne, cumin, nutmeg, salt and pepper). Cook on low for a ½ hour. Taste again and season if needed. I like it a little spicy. Put in bowl and put croutons on top.

Fall Fun Sweet Crescent Rolls

• · One can of crescent rolls
• · Sugar
• · Cinnamon
• · Pumpkin pie spice
• · Butter
• Chopped nuts (optional)
  

Topping

• · Powdered sugar
• · Milk

Unroll crescent rolls on a cookie sheet

Spread butter on each triangle of dough

Mix sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice together (and chopped nuts if you like!)

Put sugar mixture on top of butter (save a little for the top)

Roll triangles large flat side to the point (like the crescent roll instructions)

Put left over sugar mixture on top

Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes (refer to crescent roll package)

Cool

Mix powdered sugar and milk to make a glaze

Spoon over cooled rolls.

~mama

Weekend Home Stuff

We had apple cobbler for breakfast and it was yummy. It's afternoon and I am still in my pajamas. That's what I'm talkin' about! This is the life!! We have been productive though. We lowered the crib, hung some pictures in the nursery, hung the curtains in the nursery and hung up a little zip-line thingee in the hallway for displaying family and holiday stuff. Right now it has photos from our trip...and The Bees's FIRST drawings that she did with us at the baby home. The zip-line looks good, but will take some time to get used to since we really have never had much hanging in the hallway. I hit up some yard sales yesterday and got the B a really nice Little Tykes shopping cart for $2.00! Mama loves a bargain. There are a few more things left on the "to do" list for today but they require putting on clothes other than my gnome pajama pants and my old Tallahassee Tiger Sharks t-shirt and fuzzy socks...I think I will procrastinate those things a little longer.

~mama

P.S- I have a wish and that wish is that we are with our Little Bee for Christmas! Please keep us in your thoughts!