Happy New Year!

I know I'm about an hour early but this is the most that I can handle! I'm happy that 2008 is over! Now every year from here on after will be filled with memories that David and I have been dreaming about almost our whole time together. Everyday he learns a little more, lets us give him more love, and he shows us more love. He played with our friends little 5 year old daughter tonight, even though he is behind with his speech. He did not skip a beat in play and wearing him self out. We left 2 hours after his bed time, and as soon as he hit his car seat he was counting sheep! I was afraid that when I picked him up from the car seat he would start freaking out, but he put his head on my shoulder and kept sleeping until i had to put him down to get him into his pj's. I really dont feel and major red flags yet with attachment. Only and orange flag with food. I say orange, because each day hes slowing down when eating having fun, and willing to mimic mommy while eating. ANd Be silly. When he does get upset or mad, and starts crying we pick him up and put him on the couch, and let him cry it out. And dont pay attention to him, by giving in. He comes off the couch when hes done crying and then its like it never happened. Its working for now.


Happy New Year Again!
Be safe
Patti

Long time since last post

Its been about 10 days since my last post. Christmas this year was great. It took all day with Daniel opening his gifts from everyone. We took him to the park the other day for the first time, to let him get out some energy. He had a good time. There was a little 3 year old girl there that was talking to him, and he just looked at her, with wonder. But still followed her up to the slide ( with me tailing behind him). David and I are looking for things in our area for him to get out, and thats age related for him. Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Daniel is not giving me the time to post. But hes full of energy and loves to check everything out.

All of us are adjusting well!

Tommorow we will be home for a week. Everything is going well. Its been hard to get on here and post, about how wonderful Daniel is doing. He is adjusting well. Each day is getting better. Today we went out to the supermarket, and he was so alert, and happy. Smiling and laughing, while mommy zipped him around in the cart. Everyone is asking how hes is doing with our 3 dogs. Daniel is doing well. Alot better than the dogs. He finds them funny. Our male dog is the one we thought we would have a problem with, but he loves daniel. So no dog worries!

It's getting hard to get on here and update. I was able to catch up with most of the work that I left behind. Sent out the forms to have Daniel registered to the Russian Consulate. Now, I have to look over some forms on getting his Social Sec. # and an American passport. Also have to update my spending budget sheet for taxes this year. No more down time. While he's napping its laundry, work and Daniels paperwork. I did manage to read a little of my book yesterday while I was at the doctors. David stayed home to watch him, I think we have a sinus infection. I could not wait for Daniel to go to bed last night, this way I could! But feeling better today. Daniels day is as follows;
6:30-7:30am- wake's up
8am- breakfast
9am-12 play time
12pm- light lunch
12:30-2pm - nap
2pm- light snack
3pm-6 play time
6- dinner
7-8 clean up room ( hes and excellent helper)
8pm bed time!


Below I posted a video of Daniel meeting our dogs when they come home from Grandpa Leskos House. Hes so funny! The other day I was watching TV on the couch, but really watching him, he was rubbing his eyes, so he took a pillow off the couch, and grabbed a place mat to use as a blankey, and started to fall asleep on the kitchen floor. Of course as soon as I got the video camera, he woke up!


If I don't post before Christmas, I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday!

Last day in Moscow!

Things I will miss:

• the city life
• the electric trolleys
• The Kremlin, and its beautiful cathedral's
• New Arbat st
• Staring at he Russian White house from my Apartment
• the time we have spent here with Daniel
• exploring with April and Dan and little Ava

This I will not miss:

• The sounds of police cars out our window all the time
• the maintenance man coming to fix leaks (and shutting off the water while I was in the shower)
• The constant running out to get water, for drinking and cooking
• Not understanding russian when someone comes up and talks to. (I truly wonder what they are saying)
• The cold gloomy weather. I saw the sun twice while we were here.
• the uncomfortable bed and couch
• the tiny shower
• the smelly bathroom from sewer gas, yuk!
• the tiny washer and no dryer ( note: line drying your bathroom towels become stiff and like sand paper with no fabric softener)

I cant wait to sleep in my own bed, see my doggies. Eat some chinease food, (not sushi). Be able to let Daniel go out side and play, and get out all his energy. Be able to take a drive, and watch Grey's Anatomy. Catch up on some work, I hate leaving stuff lagging behind. But most of all be able to see family and talk to family in the same time zone (and Amy 1 hour behind) Enjoy christmas. Last year I was preggo with Hope and Faith our conjoined twin girls. Glad to not be preggo and worry about their little lives. Now its just giving and enjoying the life and Daniel who is here living and breathing, and tons of energy.

Next post should be when we are home! I miss South Carolina! I posted a Picture Of Murrells Inlet SC

Since we can't send videos, having such a hard time downloading I wanted to try it here in my blog! So hopefully everyone can view this. David showed Daniel how to turn lights on and off, so when he turns it off and on he claps his hands sooo cute. If this works I know I can send some more! I know most of our family has been to see some video. Also want to say Congrats to my parents for finally closing on there new home! Its still going to be a little weird coming to a new house when we have lived in that little shoe box for so long. But a New house can mark new memories with a new grandson! So 2009 should be a better year for all of us. I no longer have to pray that the new year we will have a baby. Because we finally got our wish!

Our final week in Moscow

Here is our itinerary for our last week here to finalize our exit out of Russia with Daniel-
Monday- 11am Marsha will come and we will fill out US embassy documents
Tuesday- 7:30am Medical doctor will come and check Daniel out, this report is needed my the US embassy. In the afternoon David and Vlad will go pick up Daniels Russian passport.
Wen.-Marsha will pick up Daniels passport and medical report here at the apartment and file our paper work at the embassy to get our appointment for his visa.
Thursday- We all go to the embassy to finalize our exit and get his visa.
Friday- Pack. Pack. Pack. nap then pack some more.
Saturday- Max will pick us up and take us to the airport and we go HOME!
If all goes to plan this is it. The weather is going to get colder this week, so not much going out. Cant wait to come home!

Much better day

He came to me with his lips to mine for kisses! he played more with me today. But when it was bed time, he woke up at 3am tugging on both his ears. took me and david about an hour to get him to go back to bed. Now its 12 in the afternoon, and hes clearly tired but will not tap a nap. So going to have to try something else. but wanted to post about our 3 little kisses that he wanted. His head hitting the ground, yesterday was minimal, and not so hard when he landed. So thats also a positive. David and Daniel are starting to get a little congested. So its in doors for us today



Bath time last night went great!

Getting better each day

Its an adjustment for us all. Daniel learning about being in a family, and his parents. Us learning him, and what triggers his powerful emotions of the word no! I dont know how many times I have said it about his head pounding the ground when he cant have something.Its soo hard to watch him do it. I knew it was coming today when David left to meet Vlad, and go get the passport stuff done. Hes very playful with David but not me. I think it might be due to the caregivers. Usually men, they are afraid of, so we heard. But since I do the cooking and changing, I'm afraid he see's me as them. So when he left it was of course tears, and head hitting the floor, and arching his back. I could not hold him to soothe him let him know it was ok. I put him in his playpen, to cushion the head trauma. Let him cry it out. And ask him if he wanted up with my hands out and he did. Went looking for David, and I took his mind off, by playing with all our shoes. He would pick each one up give it to me, them put them back. Occupied him for about an hour. Then fed him some applesauce. And was about to put him down for a nap and daddy came home. Let daddy play with him, and tried again with the nap, but he was just not tired. The couple that is here staying the next building over, whom adopted the cutiest little girl, April, Dan and Ava called and they were going out for dinner on Arbat. I really wanted to take him out and get out of this shoe box myslef, but wasnt sure david was up for it. But he was ate some really good pizza. Daniel just sat in his stroller, quite most of the time looking at everything. Then pointing, I think even checking out some girls! We put him down for bed at 8. Hes sleeping like a baby. Hes out almost all night.

Tomorrow maybe the medical doctor will come and check daniel for the embassy. And the passport should be ready on monday or tues. Then then Embassy stuff should be done I pray by thursday. Friday we pack, Saturday we leave to go home! YAY! God I cant wait to be home!

Leaving a picture if my favorite time! Its when he looks so peaceful and safe!

Our Gotcha Day is here!

Its 11pm now, and just put him down finally bed. Its been a day. Our first nap time didnt go so well. When he gets cranky and tried he throws him self on the floor With his little head hitting the ground. I'm afraid he already has a little bump. Our little monkey can also climb right out of his playpen. David is much better with him. Hes more at ease with david. I guess Hes good cop! But reality has set in, the work to put into him being at ease with both of us, is going to be hard. But we are up for it. I just wanted to post something quick, I also need some sleep. I wonder how long he will sleep for tonight. David is leaving tomorrow @ 1:30 to do some passport stuff. Daniel and I will have some time to bond. Im going to let david get on and check his mail just wanted to update!


ps. changed my first stinky diaper in almost 14 years. Somethings you just dont forget!

Love Patti

Tomorrow is our the big day

We just got the call from our driver saying tomorrow we can pick Daniel up! I didn't think I could make it these last 3 days. But we got out and visited the Kremlin, and went to the underground Mall ( very $$$$) Today went out and found a book store that old American books. Stocked up on food, and just walked until our legs hurt! Just ate dinner and making the phone calls to our family to tell them the good news. So soon we will have much more pics up. I'll leave some pictures from inside the Kremlin, with some beautiful church's!