D's first BBQ!

This weekend my sister had us over for a BBQ. She made ribs, steaks, hamburgers, deviled eggs, potato salad, mac and cheese, dessert, you name it, she had it. Afterwards we went outside and played tether ball (an old elementary school favorite) and checked out the lawn mowers. D is such a little man. He loves machinery, tools, anything that he can take apart and put back together again, and any kind of buckle, snap, zipper, button, etc. He thought the mowers were great fun!!

We have been doing pretty well. Our routine is settling down already. D slept last night from 8:30 om to 7:30 am this morning. Troy and I thought we had dies and gone to heaven. In fact at 5 am I got up to make sure he was breathing since I couldn't hear him through the monitor!!

I took him for a walk in his stroller the other day with a neighbor and her little one and he really enjoyed it. He will even wear his little fisherman hat which is good since he is so fair. He actually fell asleep on the ride. He will also now ride in the car seat and won't fight the straps anymore. Originally he would try to get up out of the seat and be so mad when he couldn't. He's so funny because the first few rides we took I rode in the back with him and he did okay, then I started riding in the passenger seat and the first time I drove him somewhere he looked so concerned the whole time, just staring at me like, "Mom, you shouldn't be driving this contraption!" At least now he rides nicely and usually will fall asleep if it's close to nap time or bed time.

Several people have also asked us how the animal introduction has gone as we have 3 dogs and 2 cats. Lucky for us, D loves animals!!! He loves to pet our cat and has only seen the other cat once I think (she's the smart one!) He loves to pet the dogs also, but we are careful with them. They all seem to be doing okay though and the words "gentle" and "be easy" are staples in our house.

D also now gives a high five, puts out his cheek when you ask for kisses, gave his first lip kiss to his mama yesterday and can blow dandelions off their stems now!! He also has started babbling up a storm and repeats just about anything you say. He'll even imitate pitches in your voice. If I say something he'll repeat it. Then if I say it in a higher octave, he will too. It's so funny. He also makes a great horse "neigh" sound that he'll only do for me and it cracks me up everytime!!

I'll leave you with some pictures of this past weekend!! Enjoy!

Checking out the view:

P.S. - Everything can be a hat!

P.S.S. Mom says this is the real hat!

Fun Times in the House

Wow - what a handful. Everything that isn't a toy should be. We are still working on a schedule and last night we had a mini breakthrough. He actually went to bed at 8, got up at 4 a.m. but went back to sleep until 7. Hallelujah!! Lately he's been getting up by 5 a.m. and not going back to sleep even when we tried putting him to bed at 9 p.m. Hopefully the new schedule will work and eventually he won't wake at 4 a.m.

His rash is clearing up!! So glad he is looking much better. We are doing a mix of the cream from the doc in the morning and then a hydrocortisone and Aveeno mosturizing lotion mix in the evening - thanks to Patti on that one!! It really works and the hydrocortizone gives him relief so he sleeps better at night.

All in all things are going well. We feel like he's already attached to us as he loves to be rocked. Lets us gives kisses by holding his cheek out to us when we ask and he now comes to us face forward to be held instead of backing up to us like he did on trip one and the beginning of trip two. I think we are very lucky but know we still have lots to work on!! He's a 22 month old mess, but he's our mess and we love him!!

Swinging at Grandma's

Playing with Grandma

Playing on the deck

Who Needs Toys When You Have

Laundry Baskets and microwave carts??

And Grandma!!!

We go back to the doctor today to for a complete check up. Yesterday they gave us some cream for his face, but I didn't see any improvement overnight. It may take a couple of days.

We'll let you know how the check up goes. We have also schedule the IAD clinic for May 6th. Looking forward to seeing what they have to say. We think he's perfect. Although he does like to stand on toys so we are working on that!!

We Made It Home!!

We made it home to the airport Saturday night at 11:36 p.m. We then had a two and a half hour drive home. We were so happy to pull in the driveway. Our little man managed to only sleep an hour and 45 minutes on the 11 hour flight and then ran us ragged for a 6 hour layover in Atlanta before finally sleeping on the 1 hour 44 minute flight to Dulles. He only threw a few "I'm almost two, cutting all my molars and I am independant" fits on the plane. Sorry to anyone sitting near us!!!

Since we have been home he has pushed his limits, tried everything and purposely goes for anything we have previously said "no" too.

He is sleeping fairly well, although not nearly long enough. He is wakingi n the middle of the night and crying very dramatically. He will go right back to sleep when I rock him but as soon as I set him down, he cries again. I spent an hour and a half getting him back to sleep this morning at 4:45 a.m. Then I had to wake the little bugger up at 8:30 because he was sound asleep!! Go figure. He's napping now, so I am trying to get laundry done and a few other things.

In the world of attachment - things are going well. He finds our eyes constantly and he knows his mama and papa. My sister Cat came over last night and I was giving D a bath and when I lifted him out I put him in Aunt Cat's arms with his towel and he immediately turned and reached for me. It was most precious.

He does have an appointment with the pediatrician tomorrow as he has a rash on his face which started when we picked him up from the baby home and has gone through phases of getting better then worse. We think it is a form of dermatits and stress triggers the rash. It seems to get worse after he cries, and when he gets hot, but we don't think it is a heat rash. Hopefully it is something we can remedy quickly.

Heading Home!!!

We finished up today with our embassy interview and our little man was a show off, but not necessarily in the greatest way! He's almost two and his molars are coming in, so we think he did pretty well. We got to meet Ana & Russ and their precious Eli and several other adoptive families. It was a nice gathering!

We were able to change our tickets to come home tomorrow. While we won't have a chance to take D to Red Square or get pictures of him there, we feel like it is time for us to go home. Our family is anxious and we are also. Plus we plan to bring him back one day. We have been so lucky that this trip has been so short. We are ready to start our lives together in our own home.

So lastly we'll leave you with a few pictures of today -- wish us luck with the long flight and longish layover in Atlanta. We'll need it!!

Introducing...

Daniel McQuin Williams

Trip One:


Trip Two:

Picking him up forever:

Papa and D playing:

Out for a family stroll:

First night in hotel with Mama and Papa:

Bathtime Fun:

(Papa just had to do the mowhawk thing - it's a parent's right he says)

We made it to Moscow with only a few minor tantrums if you want to call them that. Even the doctor today at D’s medical exam said he thought D might be better than George Clooney in the future with all of his drama!! Troy and I have to agree. Even though real tears will come it is often just the word “no or nyet” that starts them and then a minute later he is fine. We are however not looking forward to the 11 hour flight to Atlanta. We will be praying for sleep!!

Did I mention he hates having his diaper changed? Or that Troy handled his first messy diaper change well ----- well…..semi well. He got it off and ran for the bathroom with the diaper and left D sitting there so I had to run for the wipes and clean him up. It was quite hysterical! We laughed so hard and of course D cried because he hates putting on a new diaper.

We found out today that we will done here in Russia on Friday after our embassy interview at 2:00. Our return tickets aren’t until next Tuesday but we may try to change them and go home a little sooner. I will be emailing our travel agent today.

Otherwise we are doing just fine. D’s first bath went great and of course he cried when we took him out. Troy did bath number 2 and they had a blast. Dad’s are so much fun!!

Sleep is going well also. Last night was a late night due to the flight and traffic and trying to get dinner so Daniel slept in bed with us because we were too tired to get a crib. Plus the first person we asked kept trying to give us a cot. So I rocked him for a few minutes and then just as he was about out he pushed me away and crashed onto the pillow next to me. We had a few exciting moments during the night like when he got up on his knees and shook and crawled into my arms. Then a few hours later to his papa’s arms. At one point he was asleep on top of me with his feet on my chest and his head by my knees. Whatever works.

Tonight was a little different. We put him in the crib for nap and he went right down. Bedtime was another story. He played, laughed and even stood up and nose dived into his pillow. Troy and I were laying on the bed watching trying not to laugh. Then he cried and I got up and he let me hold him again and rock him until he was about out. Then he pushed me away and I put him in the crib and out he went!

We are tired, but a good tired. Of course we worry if we fed him enough, played enough, did the bath right, but I think we must be doing okay. We can’t wait to come home though and make meals at our house, have bath time in our own bathroom and lay him down in his own bedroom.

We miss everyone!!

Proud Parents!!!!!!!!!

What a day today!! After almost four hours of court we were finally given the decision that we are to be the parents of a very handsome, wonderful, very active, 21 and a half month old.

Not much can get better than that. Except for the fact that the judge was very kind and waived our 10 days!! What a blessing!!!

We will post pictures tomorrow once we have the official documents and return to Moscow. It was too late today to make the drive to the orphanage to pick him up. We can’t wait to scoop him up in our arms tomorrow!!!!!

We are here!! Long time, no post!!

We are here. We had a crazy flight over. Our original flight turned out to be delayed and we would have missed ourconnection to Moscow so Delta had to send us to another airport pronto last Wednesday and we had to rush through to catch another flight. Delta was great and there's more to the story, but it will have to wait.

We spent the night in Moscow and then traveled to Izhevsk by plane Friday morning. Windy!! Need I say more.

We spent three nights in an apartment with a woman and her mother. All was well. No internet so we couldn't post although our rep did everything within her power to find internet for us. We finally got a couple of emails home by using a neighboring apartments email yesterday.

Court tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Bright and early - midnight eastern standard time. Please pray. We are nervous and will have to go in by ourselves and use the court translator. All should be fine, but again we are nervous.

Our son is wonderful! We have spent the last four days bonding with him and he now calls me mama and Troy papa and he runs to us with open arms and great eye contact. And when he giggles - boy he giggles and it will just melt your heart. Wish us luck!!!

Finished...I Think!

I can’t believe I am typing this post today, getting ready to add pictures of our son’s bedroom. When I woke up this morning I realized that this is the last full day in our home as just Troy and I (and five animals!) Our next full day here will consist of waking up and then hugging our son good morning.

Before I post pictures of the baby room, I have to tell you that it’s been done and then done again about 6 times since yesterday! I would walk out thinking it was perfect and then 10 minutes later go back in, move some things around and then think it was perfect again. Troy just laughs because he knows I’ll be in there again today moving things. He says it won’t be perfect until we’re on the way to the airport and I can’t change anything else!

Without further ado….

I can’t wait to leave tomorrow. We’ll be seeing our son in just a few days and facing a judge on the 15th to ask for the honor of being a certain little boy’s parents, who we already consider our son and have since the moment we saw him. Please pray for us and for the judge over the next week.

Here we come!!

Shelter Shower and Finally the Bathroom is Done!!

I had a fantastic time at the Shelter Shower Friday night. Thank you so much Amber and Melissa for working so hard to put it together and thank you everyone for coming. What a fun time we had. We played games, ate, and were merry for sure!! Amber made the cake herself and it was yummy!! Of course a few photos for you…

As for our guest, now son’s bathroom it is finally done!! Amber helped me out one night earlier on by putting the shower curtain and towels and rugs in for me. Then Troy baby proofed it and I added the potty and a few other things. It’s finally done!!!

Hopefully I’ll be posting pictures of a baby bedroom soon. It’s almost done!! And with only three days before we leave – we better get crackin’!!

Prayers Answered

Just a quick note to say that our prayers were answered! Thanks so much for sending more up for us! We now have all of our paperwork in hand and apostilled (thanks to my darling husband) and we are ready to fly. Now if only we could leave early!!!!!!!!!!

This weekend will consist of finishing the bathroom and baby room, getting together copies of the thousands of documents we have already sent to Russia (I really think there are a thousand!) and packing.

Oh - and how about another baby shower - Yes - I'm being spoiled again!! It's a Shelter Shower from the SPCA!! I told them no surprise pets!!

Paperwork, Packing, Cleaning and a Prayer Request

The title pretty much sums up what’s going on in our house! We have been fortunate in that all of our paperwork is nearly done. We are only missing one form and I would love it if those of you reading would send up a prayer for us-that the form we need will be received. God will know exactly which form that is!! Of course I am trying not to panic – hence the new Bible verse on the sidebar. It is very appropriate. We are so worried about not getting this document in the next day or two as we had planned to apostille everything on Monday as it is really our last opportunity to have it done before we leave. Otherwise my family will be on the lookout for it after we leave, but I would rather have it with us, in our own hands. I'm sure God is listening!

As for the packing – well – not so much. We did sort clothes for our little guy, but are finding ourselves re-evaluating everything! Hopefully this weekend we’ll sort that out. We’ve been putting things in our guest bedroom as we go if we think we might like it to travel with us. Seems to be working although there’s no way it’s all going in a couple of suitcases and carry ons.

Cleaning is a whole other ball game. Tonight we hope to finish redecorating the bathroom for our little guy. Troy’s sister Amber did most of the set up of the new shower curtain, rugs, towels etc. Last night I mounted the frog toy holder and tonight we finish up. I’ll post pictures of that and the baby’s room soon too.

In other news – go over and congratulate Slade and Wendy who received their court date!!

Also – Michael and Carrie, Randy and Susan, and Russ and Ana who have all just recently passed through court with flying colors and are proud new parents!! Congratulations!!