1st hair cut in America!!

i don't have much time but wanted to share these pics because this was the cutest place to get a haircut...andrey started off crying but then found everything very pleasing to him...what a fun place in San Jose! We got his 1st haircut in Siberia & screamed a fierce scream. This was something i'll always remember.

Our Siberian Tiger

hi friends...it feels like forever since i wrote... i realize that there was much writing before russia & then during russia & now it seems we haven't written at all. It's hard to explain what our home has been like lately...we have had some really beautiful joyful moments watching Andrey running & playing & discovering new things & then there have been the hard moments where thomas is just struggling with the whole little brother concept & life is chaotic...i really had prided myself on having a peaceful home but lately peace can change at any moment. So i'm posting some pictures to share the fun times. By the way, andrey is doing fabulous...adjusting, speaking some english words, understanding most everything i say...he goes around closing all our doors which drives me a bit nutty but all of his habits are most likely from his upbringing at the orphanage so i'm careful how i discipline him, etc. I finally got our announcements out in the mail - this was very special to me because during the adoption waiting i envisioned what the announcement would say, what picture we would use, etc. Our dear friend Heidi helped put it together because i didn't have the time or talent...it's just the way i wanted it & it feels like the last step in a long journey...a joyful step...an announcement that Andrey is finally here with us & happy.
Some of our friends from church had a welcome home andrey reception after church on the playground...it was wonderful! That is one of the pics.

Greg is back to work

Saying goodbye to staff at the orphanage...
Well after 6 weeks of Paternity leave for Greg he got up early & went to work this morning. I have been very nervous about this day because since we got Andrey, Greg has been superman & handled all our challenges with hope & faith & some physical strength too (Andrey is a strong guy!)... So far so good...greg's mom came this morning & spent special one on one time with Thomas & I did some one on one time with Andrey. I'm so grateful that he's bonding to us & especially to me as mommy. I took him for a nature walk today in the stroller - he loves the stroller..i showed him trees & flowers & leaves...this is what i had dreamt about prior to having him here with us. He's super active & curious & i'm so tired much of the time...i have forgotten what 2 year old are like, & you can imagine everything be new to Andrey that he's everywhere & into everything. We have a pretty good eating & sleep routine now...much less crying. We are getting to know each other..i did not realize that our developing relationship is a process...i just want everything to be perfect & complete now. Thomas is spending much time in his room on time outs until he can keep hands to himself. I thought it was tough when i just had 1 little boy, now i realize that 2 siblings adds a whole other element to being a mother...lots of refereeing & keeping them safe during disputes. I'm doing ok, i am amazed at how we as human beings can change the life of another..i was thinking about all the effort & work & $$ it took though...it occurred to me that doing the right thing is real tough some time even when it brings joy. Andrey is a cheerful little guy..he's solid & strong & needs to learn to cry when he falls..we're working on that..i'm doing my best to baby him :)

Happy 2nd Birthday Andrey!

hi everyone....today is Andrey's 2nd birthday....we are going to Vasona to celebrate. Real quick, Andrey is doing very well..he's bonding & attaching to us - this is great news as you never know if a child from an orphanage is going to have issues in that area. We have been very busy & have had little time to do anything for ourselves & update the blog. So sorry to all who follow our journey that we came to a screeching halt. Our Thomas has had a difficult time with Andrey - he loves him but it's so hard to share. Thomas has been regressing quite a bit as is normal when a new sibling comes on the scene. Our days are spent helping both boys adjust & we are doing fun things together to help the bonding process. We finally got the eating/snack routine down. At the orphange, they follow a strict routine, so we're trying to keep order with some freedom too.

We will write again..barely had time to squeeze this update out - thomas was screaming cause Andrey got a birthday gift & Thomas wanted to ride it.