GOTCHA Day -- 2 Years Later!

A part of me feels like Kristina has always been with us.  Yet I am floored that May 13th represents two years since our little girl held our hands as we walked out of the orphanage's doors and into the courtyard, passed the play area as we chimed "1-2-3" and whisked her up into the air.  I remember like it was yesterday -- vividly.  I often wonder what she was thinking.  All the "Paka-Paka"s (bye-bye's) were not like the previous 4 weeks -- this time, the good-byes were to the children, caregivers, director and orphanage doctor.

The moment we walked in to pick up Kristina, most kids were playing outside except for a few.  The caregiver here is explaining to them that Kristina's mama and papa are here to take her home.  Kristina is the blondie hidden behind the girl in pink and her locker was the end one next to the red vase with flowers.
Til this day, this photo still makes me cry ~ mixed tears.

The Orphanage Doctor (Maria) on the left and Kristina's favorite caregiver (we wish we knew her name) saying their good-byes before we change her into her going-away clothes.

Outside the large, heavy metal doors to Orphanage #6, Department #2.

"Один, два, три (ras, duvah, tdree) -- weeeeeeee!!" as we walked away for the last time...

The one thing that really gave us comfort on that day was that Kristina just went with the flow...not even looking back at her "home", shedding no tears (until a few hours later when she was hungry).  To us, we felt that the bond we established by seeing Kristina almost every day for 4 weeks made this transition practically seamless.  Are we lucky?  Yes - not everyone gets this opportunity to stay in Region for so long.  And blessed?  Oh, yes...Kristina is our blessing beyond what we could have ever hoped for.  What I do know is that the last two years have shown us that parenting is indeed one of the hardest jobs.  What I didn't know what just how much incredible joy a child can bring into one's life.

This year, I didn't have the time nor energy to whip up a pot of Borscht Soup for dinner.  So instead, we celebrated GOTCHA Day dinner by going to one of Kristina's favorite places (and one we rarely go to): McDonald's Playland.  After a few bites of a burger (no bread) and 2 apple slices, Kristina abandoned us to climb the tubes and slide down the slides.  We sat there smiling as she quickly made friends with other kids and listening to her laugh as it echoed throughout the playland.

We returned home for dessert:  a chocolate-iced cupcake (her favorite) and Russian Tea Cakes (made with raspberry jelly, raisins, and topped with sugar).  Don't think about asking for the Russian Tea Cake recipe...Betty Crocker took the night off and purchased the dessert from a local bakery!   

It took every ounce of patience for Kristina not to scoop up that cupcake and take a bite!

Our GOTCHA Day, 2011, family photo.

Kristina opened up her gifts:  Sock Monkey Nesting Dolls and a "Koshka" (cat) matryoshka doll.  Wouldn't you know that when Kristina and I stopped at Costco on GOTCHA Day, there was a Russian Vendor who had just set up his table for a 10-day exhibit.  For a split second, I felt like I was in Ekaterinburg perusing through the street vendors' tables looking at amber jewelry, lacquer boxes, matryoshka dolls, birch tree boxes, etc.  Kristina took a liking to the Koshka doll and who am I to say no, especially today?

I guess you can call this the American version of the Matryoshka Doll!

It doesn't take too much to get smiles out of our little girl!

A few days later on May 16th, our 2-year anniversary of coming home to CA, we spent the day just hanging out together until I had to have oral surgery (no fun!).  After the procedure, Kristina was my little caregiver.  Nothing like cuddling with our angel and a marathon of Tinkerbelle and Little Mermaid to make one feel better!

The Deary Family ~ two years together
May 16, 2011