May Madness

So much has happened this past month that it's time for one of those grab-a-cup-of-coffee-this-is going-to-be-a-long-blog entry.  I'm really goint to try and get better about updating more frequently as each day I am reminded that our little girl is growing up FAST.  I'm afraid my memory will fail me so this blog also serves as a journal to relay important events in our life together!

Mother's Day Weekend

I am so happy that I took Saturday, May 12th off -- just a mommy/daughter day.  I awoke to Kristina next to me (around 9:30am...ah, so nice to sleep in past 5:15am!).  Kristina wakes up with a huge smile on her face and lots of kisses and hugs.  Really - the best way to start the day.

It was Open House at all the local Fire Stations so I decided to take Kristina over so she can check out all the fire trucks and "amboolances."  First, Kristina drew a picture of a fire truck to give the firemen.   Then we went to the store and bought a huge box of ice cream sandwiches as well as juice pops (regular and no sugar added).  We figured the firemen needed something cool (since they're always "hot"... he,he,he).

Our little "arteest"

She worked so hard on this picture to give the Firemen.

Wow - got to sit in the Driver's Seat!

Checking out the "amboolance" with a new friend.

"Hey, mom, LOOK!  They put my picture on their fridge!"

Super cool fun hanging out at the Fire Station.  We'll be back!

Then we had lunch together at Burger King.  I think this was Kristina's 3rd time there ~ the BK Crowns are a huge hit with Kristina!

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, is Kristina's year-round pal!

To commemorate our special weekend, I decided to drive 20 miles to a small Russian Deli.  When we stepped into Babushka Deli (Grandma's Deli), I felt like I stepped back in time 3 years ago and was right back into the Mother Country.  There were a few ladies behind the counter and a few customers -- and not a lick of English being spoken.  Kristina gravitated to the cookie and candy section and I looked like a fish out of water as I gazed at the deli case trying to figure out what was what.  I saw some cabbage rolls in a tomato sauce so I played it safe and got some of that.  "Ilga" also recommended a side salad which I liked but Jon felt quite differently about.  But the chicken meatballs and cabbage rolls were delicious!



Kristina scored some free candy just by flashing her Russian looks at the ladies!

OK, not sure what it is except that it's chicken and rice wrapped in cabbage.  Ilga told me to add sour cream.  As for the salad, not sure -- but it was all good!

Chocolate matryoshka dolls and vanilla wafers.  YUM!

For Mother's Day, Daddy and Kristina made us all pancakes and coffee.  Scrumptious.  Unfortunately, the Breakfast Dish Fairy must've been busy at someone else's house...  Later in the afternoon, we picked up our favorite BBQ dishes from the Bear Pit and brought it over to Nana and Grampa's house.  It really was a nice evening spent with the family.  Thanks to Ma Bell, we were able to call Grammy and wish her a long-distance Happy Mother's Day.

Thank you, Kristina, for making me the happiest mommy ever!

Kristina gave Nana a pop-up card.

Mother's Day was also our 3-year GOTCHA Day (God Ordained This Child's Happy Adoption Day) - the day we picked Kristina up from babyhome #6.  Some families celebrate the day they arrived home in the US, the court day, etc. -- we choose the day we walked out the doors together as a family of 3.  When adoption blesses your family, this is a big day.  To have it fall on Mother's Day makes it even more special for me.

Registered!

On Monday, May 14, we enrolled Kristina in Kindergarten.  I remember going to the local Catholic school last year and getting so excited that Kristina may attend there.  But, as the year progressed, we looked at the local public school just 8 houses away from our home.  We attended the open house last month and were really impressed.  The school is ranked in the top 40 schools in California (according to the Principal...) and tuition is, well - free.  The teachers at Kristina's present Pre-school have told us "she's ready to move on, she's doing great" -- so we'll try out our little gem-of-a-school in our neighborhood and pray it's a good fit for our little angel.

All dressed up and ready to go to the "big kids' school"!

"These boots were made for walkin'" -- Kristina always struts her "swagger" in front of us and says "follow me, guys!"

A Kodak Moment in front of her new school.

All registered!  School officially starts August 14th.  :)

Home Three Years

I kept up the tradition and had our family picture taken out front by our flag on May 16 -- just like we did on May 16, 2009, when Kristina arrived *home*.  Kristina has gotten so big (well, ok -- we all have -- working on that!) but I'll keep holding her on my hip for as long as my back will tolerate!

Kristina is holding the bunny rabbit that Aunt Laura gave to her at the Airport back on May 16, 2009.

"Teething"

We missed the opportunity to console Kristina while teething but we were there the moment on the night of May18th when she realized that her first tooth was loose and then when she lost it the evening of May 24th (see previous blog entry).

I know everyone has been dying to know how much moola the Tooth Fairy brought!   Well, the Tooth Fairy wasn't quite prepared but when Kristina woke up the next morning, she found a bag under her pillow with a Kennedy Silver Dollar, two Half Dollars, a Susan B. Anthony Dollar coin and a Russian Kopek (1 kopek is worth about .03 cents).  Even though "Sophia at school got $5 the week before", the Tooth Fairy elected to leave some special coins which Kristina proudly took to school to show everyone.

Kristina is holding up the purple bag that the Tooth Fairy brought.  Our little girl is looking so much older!

SOLD

After 13 years, I sold my Ford Contour this past Sunday.  I bought it Memorial Day in 1999 brand new and it treated me well through many years of commuting.  It's the first car Kristina ever "drove" (she LOVES to sit behind the wheel and "drive"me all over) -- so it holds special memories for us.

Saying good-bye to my sporty contour...

...but first it gets a special washing!

Local Church Carnival

We make it a tradition to attend St. John Eudes Summer Carnival each year.  When we came home from Russia 3 years ago, we went to the Carnival with Nana and Grampa ~ and Kristina did well.  This year she *loved it* so we dropped a small mint (uh, I mean we made a nice contribution to the church) and enjoyed many of the rides.

Kristina's favorite ride -- The Strawberry Twirl

Up high on the Ferris Wheel -- love Kristina's hair!!

Daddy on the Ferris Wheel with a sunset in the background

A view of the Carnival from the Ferris Wheel

Another one of Kristina's favorite rides!

We ended the night with all 3 of us going on the Strawberry Twirl - and Kristina did a great job of getting both mommy and daddy DIZZY!!

Funny sidenote:  We approached a police substation (like a small motor home) that was parked on the church premises for security so we could say hello to the police officers.  After saying hi, Kristina adds "Sometimes my daddy doesn't wear his seatbelt but I always wear mine.  You should give him a ticket."*  Our jaws dropped to the ground...

*Disclaimer:  Jon does wear his seatbelt but there are times he pulls out of the driveway first before "clicking it" and our backseat driver will inform him "seatbelt daddy!!"

Memorial Day Memories

We decided to enjoy a quiet Memorial Day and go to a park.  Just the 3 of us.  Jon sees lots of different parks on his routes when in his FedEx truck so we hiked out to Thousand Oaks and had a fantastic picnic.  We practically had the entire park to ourselves and Kristina had a blast.

Enjoyed some chicken, sun and family time.

Sigh....

Our little slugger getting some batting practice in!

Kristina loves to climb and jump - no fear deary.

Just showing her patriotic side...

Beached

The day after Memorial Day, I had to work but Jon had the day off.  He decided to pack up the car and take Kristina to the beach -- her first time putting her feet into the cold Pacific Ocean at Zuma Beach!  I missed being with them but took time out to text Jon "sunscreen -- and more sunscreen" with the hopes our fair-skinned girl would come home as white as she left.  And she did -- great job, Daddy!  (Although Daddy resembles a lobster...)

LOVED, Loved, loved the beach!

Resting after tackling the waves, finding crabs, and building castles.

So, as you can see, it's been a fun-packed month and June has even more in store.  Life is good.  We are blessed.  :)

Guess who's coming to visit!

It was a week ago when Kristina was in tears realizing that one of her teeth was loose.

Last Friday, Kristina realized that her lower left front tooth was loose.  She's been wiggling it all week!

Tonight, right before bed, I questioned Kristina why she had a cloth to her mouth.

Kristina:  "Oh, there's bleed." 
Me:  "Kristina, did your tooth fall out?"
Kristina:  "Yeah" in a very calm tone.
Me and Daddy:  "Really???  Where is it???  Are you ok??" ... as we jumped up to get a good look at the new crater in her sweet smile.  We were much more animated than our dear little one with a toothless grin.
Kristina:  "Yeah, fine. Hey, the Tooth Fairy's coming tonight!!  I need a baggy."  Then she reminded us that Sophia, at school, got $5 for her tooth last week.  (What???  Inflation?!!)

I came home from a late-night course at work only to have Kristina shortly afterwards lose her tooth.  I'm so thrilled we were at home together with her and she didn't lose it at school!

Guess we have to prepare for a visitor tonight!! 

National Birth Mother's Day, 2012

Having been involved in the adoption community for more than 5 years now, I learned the other day that the day before Mother's Day is recognized as National Birth Mother's Day.  What?  I never knew that and  Hallmark never advertised it!

But seriously, learning this really made today extra special.  I had requested the day off a few months ago so I could spend this entire Mother's Day weekend with Kristina.  We did lots of fun things together but one thing I had in the back of my mind was how thankful I am for the young woman in Ekaterinburg who made the decision to give her baby life, name her Kristina and then have the strength to give her up so Kristina could have a chance at a happy, fulfilling life.  I often ponder if Kristina's birth mother wonders where Kristina is and what she is like.  In my heart, I feel she does think of Kristina...

A few days before leaving for Russia, I received a gift from a few co-workers, Sari and Robbie:  a framed poem I'd like to share here...

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women
Who never knew each other.
One you do not remember,
The other you call mother.

Two different lives
... Shaped to make yours one,
One became your guiding star,
The other became your sun.

The first gave you life,
And the second taught you to live it.
And the first gave you a need for love,
And the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality.
The other gave you a name.
One gave you the seeds of talent,
The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions,
The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile,
The other dried your tears.

One gave you up,
It was all that she could do.
The other prayed for a child,
And God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears,
The age old question through the years.
Heredity or environment, Which are you a product of?
Neither, my Darling, Neither,
Just two different kinds of love.

Author Unknown

I look at Kristina, my daughter, and I see Jon.  I see his white blonde hair that he had at the same age.  I see me.  Many of her mannerisms are like mine (which really keeps me on my toes because I don't condone all of them!).  I also see her birthmother.  We never got a photo of Kristina's birth mother but we know she has green eyes.  When at the doctor's last week for Kristina's 5-year wellness check-up, the doctor shown the light in her eyes and it was remarkable.  The outer circumference of her eyes are blue like mine but the inside part of the iris is green, probably like her birthmother's.

So I'm sold -- Kristina is a product of our love, both her birth mother's and her mother's love.  Today and every day, I thank AC for giving Kristina life, and thus, giving me the greatest gift of motherhood. 

Happy Birth Mother's Day, AC!

Kristina's idea for mommy/daughter time today:  "Let's make cupcakes for daddy!"

Taking a second to strike-a-pose.  Note the good divided attention:  making cupcakes and watching "Barbie in a Mermaid Tale" at the same time!

Great teamwork

Icing a "special" cupcake



All done!
(Note the wardrobe change...and I wonder where all the laundry comes from...)



This is the "special" cupcake ~  to honor Kristina's birth mother.  Kristina has already claimed it as hers, along with many of the others!



Reunion Memories

I returned from Indianapolis late Sunday night.  I was exhausted but oh, so excited.  I don't need so many words for this post!

Cell phone photos don't have the best quality...but this represents the "big hug" Kristina promised me every night when we were on the phone.



One can never get too many kisses!

My own personal attendant pulling both of my bags!

I've been home 48 hours and we've been inseparable (except for Kristina going to school today).

As much as I had a great time in Indianapolis seeing co-workers, talking OT, and seeing dear friends, there aren't many words to describe how heartwarming it is to come home to the arms of the people who love you most.