Happy Holidays and Happy 2008!

Hi everyone! Sorry for the long time between posts but it's just been crazy as always. The holidays were just absolutely wonderful and busy for our little guy. Here is a very quick overview of what we did: On Friday the 21st we were off to Lburg and our 3&ahalf-hour drive took 6 which Rinat was not too happy about but we got there safe and sound and were really happy to finally get out of the car. On Saturday, we had lunch with friends and then Peter took off for an afternoon of martini drinking (his first I think) at the annual Martini Party (yes, that is a capital M and P because it is a capital, invite-only affair). Our friends Mer and Lynden came in town and we had a big dinner out while the grandparents babysat. It was so nice to have a few hours to ourselves. Then on Sunday, our little sweetie was baptised and, of course, threw a fit when he wasn't allowed to play in the baptismal font. But I just kept whispering "Pattycake, Pattycake, Baker's Man" in his ear and it calmed the wild beast so he didn't scare the congregation. But then as Dr. Harbison walked down the aisle to introduce him to everyone, he let out his loudest Kazakh war cry to show his dismay at being removed from Mom and Dad. But he looked so darn cute in his little white outfit that you couldn't help but smile anyway. Then Monday was Christmas Eve and about a million people came over to say hi and have a drink. Rinat just loved having all of the other kids around and was exceptionally well behaved. He even sat still for a photo op entailing about 10 kids ranging in age from 4 months to 7 years sitting under the tree and smiling for the camera. He just watched everyone else and played with his Elmo toy. And Tuesday was Christmas Day and he got gobs of toys and loved them all. But most of all I think he loved the attention of all of his grandparents, aunts, and uncle. And what did I get for Christmas? I got the best gift of all- the sound of laughter from my son and seeing my sweet husband beaming with pride. Then Wednesday was our sweet little baby's first birthday. I can't believe that he is already a year old! We went to Roanoke to visit his other grandparents and had tons of fun. He went to town on his cake and just really had fun playing with everyone. The next day, Thursday, we were back to Lynchburg then Friday home to DC. It took us a couple of days to get back in the swing of things and then it was New Years Eve and as the clock struck midnight, I thought to myself "Really, how could 2008 be any better than the year we just had?" Oh yeah, we could be on our way to a daughter :-) Yes, Tatiana, you will be hearing from us soon! (For anyone who doesn't know her, Tatiana is our paperwork guru at the adoption agency. She makes sure we have everyone we need to get our child. She's awesome!) And then I got up on Jan 1 and drove, hungover, to pick up Ted and Liz at the Baltimore airport. They stayed a week while she did her residency interviews at two of the hospitals here in DC. And we of course did lots of tourist things and showed them the city. We want them to fall in love with the city so that they will chose to be here for a few years while she completes her program. No pressure Liz&Ted but it sure would be fun! So now we sit here, Rinat, Peter, and me, as a family. The great influx of visitors is finally done and we are now on our own. After months and months of craziness, we are finally down to us and we couldn't be happier to be a normal family. Oh, but not for long. No, no. Life would be boring if that was it, right? We have Rinat's birthday party coming up, then his surgery (for the cyst) and then I think we'll begin on the next one. Yes, I know, we should just let life float by for a while but what fun would that be? Happy 2008 everyone! I hope everyone has their life wishes fulfilled as we have this year. Much love to all. -m

Busy as Always!

Hi Everybody! We, as always, have been really busy with our little guy. This is a photo of Babycakes after we had the cousins over to hang out for a while. He missed his afternoon nap and so he fell asleep on the bathroom floor at 6:20 that night as I was putting on his butt medicine. He was tuckered out! We also took our guy to NYC for the weekend and I think it might be his favorite place in the world. It was one of those wonderfully cold, Christmassy, kinds of weekends when tourists take over the city. He was so busy watching everyone and everything going on around him that he didn't even want to eat. I think all he ate the whole weekend was some goldfish and cheese sticks. Other than visitors and trips out of town, he has just been really happy to hang out at home. His new thing is being upside down. I guess he wants to see the world in a different way? He thinks it's really funny when I do it too. That and when I chase him around. He is also really close to walking. He can stand for 10 seconds at a time but for some reason won't actually walk. Soon though. And his favorite toy? A wine cork. I guess it helps his new teeth feel better. He has also started screaming really really LOUDLY! I mean, he's so loud that I my eardrum keeps vibrating even after he stops. Sometimes he does it just for fun- to try his lungs out. Sometimes, though, it's out of frustration. Usually when there is something that he cannot reach or when he drops his spoon during meals. So we have been working really hard to teach him the sign for 'please' (it's easier than the help sign) and I swear he finally did it this morning. We'll definitely keep at it until he gets it because the screaming just rattles me (and the other people at the grocery store aren't too fond of it either). Oh, and I just have to give kudos to my wonderful husband who not only still offers to get up at night when Rinat cries (awesome, right?), but sent me to the spa for several hours on Monday to relax. And then when I came home, he told me to get out and shop or something and don't come home until tonight. How fabulous is that? I hope everyone has a relaxing and fun holiday! -m

Let is snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

Hey all! We got our first snowfall and Rinat thought it was pretty cool. I need to get him a snowsuit so that he can just go to town in the yard.
Here are some things that our guy has been up to lately. He will crawl to door and wave byebye when people leave. He has started to tear bread into pieces just like mom does if I give him a while slice. He's getting so big! His favorite new game is 'where's mama's bellybutton?' He lifts up my shirt and pokes me in the bellybutton. It's not the best game to play in public of course, but it is really cute. I am also starting to realize how much he really understands when he gets a cup out of his drawer, hands it to me, and makes the sign for milk. I'm amazed. Our only frustration has been his constant rashes. I just counted it up and we have had 13 visits to the doctor in the 13 weeks that we have been home. Ugh. But, all in all, things are good and our little sweetie is happy, healthy, and most definitely adored. Happy holidays! -m