The Stats

Alek had his 4 yr old well visit and is doing great-we haven't been to the docs for him since 3 yr old, he is definitely healthy as a horse. He got two shots, tetanus and the last of his polio, we discussed what he will need before kindergarten (yikes--are we already discussing that?!?!?), because she knows I like to spread out the vaccines, so we set our plan for that. Alek was a trooper, he flinched with the shots but didn't cry, was very excited over the stickers.

The big excitement is he finally is over 35 pounds-he was 36 pounds and 42.3 inches tall! Last year he was 32.3 pounds and 39 inches. Still our long string bean. Maks at 2 1/2 is 33 pounds!

He has been talking about his party all week, he loves being the birthday boy, I am sure it will be a blast!

We had our little family party for him on his birthday night, he was so excited, he loved all his new toys, especially the fighter jet plane from Daddy, though I think Daddy was playing with it more than Alek that night. Maks was definitely a little jealous, he wanted all the toys to himself, but he got over that once the ice cream cake came out! It was a fun night, still can't believe he is 4 and we are staring down the door of kindergarten!!

Happy Birthday Aleksandr!

Happy Birthday to our little man-we cannot believe he is 4!! He is growing up so fast, I can't figure out how to make it stop!!
He is so into his birthday this year, he has been talking about it so much.
Today he woke up and came into my room with a big smile on his face, and we sang Happy Birthday, he was so excited.
He talked to daddy on the phone at work and got so excited he started singing Happy Birthday to Kevin, it was funny.
Alek got to bring cupcakes to school today and have a pizza lunch. I just called and spoke with him, he can me the whole re-cap and was also told he was doing a birthday dance earlier for everyone.

We will have our little family celebration tonight, he asked for pasta for dinner tonight and a rocket ship (just like Jakey's) from daddy.
His party is Saturday and he has requested a jungle party, which I am trying to put together as uncrafty as I am in. Thank God I can order most things and thank God for Cynthia for making an elephant game for me!!
So happy birthday to my baby boy, what joy and happiness he has brought to us these part 4 years!!

I attached a cute video of him at 12 months, it is still hard to believe how small he once was!!

Successful

We found out this week that the search for Alek's birthfamily was successful as well, which was a big relief. To top it off we also received pictures of his birthmother, paternal grandmother and one of his siblings along with the house they live in and alot of pictures of Kirov.
She also would like continued contact, which we are happy about.

These searches have brought up alot of feelings and emotions for me, especially with some of the information they have provided. But I am so glad we did it and have this for our kids. To give them this connection to their past and birthfamilies is priceless for us. Of course there were always be the questions and concerns of what we share and when and how much is really necessary for them to know, it is alot to think about and right now I am not ready for that since it is all so fresh.

I do like being able to add info and now pictures to the parts in the LifeBook about birthfamily, those pages which I always thought would remain blank now are filled. I like that both birthmoms want contact and I am happy to provide that. I like that both boys could possibly have contact with their bio sibs if they want (we found out Alek's are learning english in school!), so I envision pen pals in the future? There is still so much to think about and process. As much as some things are hard to hear, I am forever grateful to these two women, because without them my family as I know it doesn't exist. These reports opened my eyes and my heart alot more and I am truly thankful for it.

Fun in the snow

Not much of winter here, I don't think we have had any measurable snow yet!! So I took the boys up to the Poconos to Jimmy and LaLa's cabin to find some snow, thankfully it was still there! The boys had a great time sledding. Alek has no fear and loved going fast. He also got his first sledding injury thanks to mommy, as I was trying to slow him down, my ring caught the outside of his lip and he also bit the inside, so lots of blood, but I think he enjoyed the fact I was letting him eat the snow to stop the bleeding! He was a tough guy though, got right back out there.

I was worried Maks would be afraid of sledding. He did great though, big smile as he rode down with me. Of course though he was his happiest hanging at the bottom of the hill where all the snacks were. He loved it when LaLa gave him his own bag of doritos-life was good.

It was a fun day for sure and Alek keeps asking to go back.

We are due for some snow tomorrow and of course some wintry mix in there, so who knows what we will end up with, I do hope enough is there to pull out the sleds for the kiddos tomorrow~

My political gripe

I have to take a minute to complain about politics and elections. I vote, always have since I turned 18, I believe it is important.
But I have to say I am finally annoyed with it all for several reasons.

1.) The campaigning lasts way too long, it is utterly ridiculous for it start over a year before the elections.

2.) The money that goes into these campaigns. You have all these wealthy people, up there talking about the middle class, the poor, campaign finance reform and at the same time have "war chests" in the millions. Why can't that money go to a program that is getting cut in a budget, or help feed and cloth those in need, or help pay medical bills for those struggling? It just seems so hypocritical to me to listen to their speeches about low income struggles and health insurance for all while they are sitting on millions.
It also bugs me outright that my party emails me weekly asking for money. I refuse to give money to politicians and even though I have expressed this, it doesn't stop the pleading for more money.

3.) They all have campaign promises but rarely do you hear how they will get it done or any specifics of their plans.

4.) many times you don't even know exactly what they stand for or what they have voted for or fought for in the past (yes you can find it out, but it takes alot of research).

5.) The ads on TV, they make my blood boil. I cannot stand how they twist facts on their opponents (they are all guilty of it), the negative ads, the trash talking drives me nuts!!

So what I propose:
1.) You can only "campaign" six months before the first primary. And my idea of campaigning is this:
There is one general website for the election and within it:
Each person has their own website which they pay for. On this website, they lay out exactly what they stand for in all areas (taxes, war/terrorism, abortion, education, health insurance, environment, etc..) and linked with these are their voting records in these areas.
They also have to lay out any and all groups they are associated with (political, social, etc..).
They have to state what they plan to accomplish while in office and exactly how they plan to do this.

There will be an oversight group who will monitor these sites for inaccuracies, lies, or distortions.
There can be no negative information regarding their opponents.

In regards to TV ads, only one ad per politician per state and it can only air one-two times a day and it cannot be a negative one. Facts need to be stated only.

For those without internet, everytthing that is on those websites will be available in paper copies, free to all registered voters.

Politicans cannot raise more than 500K, nor can they use their own money. Since there is less actual campaigning there is no need for all that cash.

Debates can and should continue.

So that is my proposal, I am pretty sure no one in politics will listen, but a girl can dream, can't she?

Our little kitty cat

Maks makes the cutest cat noise, it cracks us up. He has done great lately with all his animal noises so he is really making progress.
Here is a little clip.

Searching

When we decided on international adoption we knew we would have limited info on our children's birthfamily and most likely no contact at all. I know the limited contact can be an appealing reason for choosing an international adoption, it wasn't one of our reasons, but I can't say that it took an extra piece of stress away knowing that we would probably never have to deal with fear of birthfamily changing their mind. And in truth, after working so long and hard to have a family, it would make us feel better if we didn't have to "share" our children with anyone and that we would be the parents.
But I always knew it would be important for our kids to know and learn what they could of their birthfamilies and fo them to know that we were always grateful to their birthmothers for giving them life so we would have the opportunity to help them live it.
We always planned to be as open and honest as possible with our kids about their adoptions, their culture and their stories, though I still do not believe that they need to know everything and I feel that if there is something I can protect them from I will.

So with all this in mind we started a search for both families in each region. We have been using the services of a wonderful group and a wonderful woman, Mary.
We found out that Maks' birthmother was easily located and very agreeable to a phone interview, we were so excited and nervous! I can say it was relief to hear that she was happy to hear from us and that she was willing to answer questions for us. I was however worried about what we would find out. Maks' birth history was a bit complicated and the info we were given in court made it a little hard not to form an opinion of her and even if my thoughts or feelings of her were not that great, Maks would never know that. So now I worried what if we found out alot more bad stuff, how do you know what to share with your child and when to share it. How do you what is too much, what would be beneficial to them or what would be detrimental. So many questions and I am not sure there is a right answer to any of it.
But we forged ahead and compiled a few questions for the searcher to ask of her. This week we received the transcript of the telephone call. It was very surreal, I felt as I was reading her responses that I could actually hear her speak and while we have no picture of her yet, I was building one in my mind. My heart was filled with compassion for her and all she had been through, I felt like I could tell she was filled with love and compassion herself and I loved how she described Maks' two bio siblings who are with her. It was a picture into their lives and one that is so valuable to us and to Maks. Best of all she would like to continue contact and asked many questions of us as well. We are very excited at this prospect to have continued contact with her and truly hope for all involved it will continue.

I remember when Alek and Maks first came home and I would be rocking them and feeding them their nighttime bottles, I used to think about their birthmothers. What she was doing, was she thinking about him, I remember I used to try to send out signals to the universe so she would know he was well and was safe, because I couldn't even try to comprehend what it might be like to give birth to a child and then not know where that child was in the world and how they were doing.
I have to say I always did hope she cared, not that I wanted her to suffer in that, but it was a better picture then what was in my head of some of the women I had dealt with during my time in labor and delivery and nursing.

So now we axniously await word on Alek's search. I am trying to remain hopeful, but now I am also filled with additional worries, like what if they can't find her or some family, what if we have all this info and contact for Maks and not for Alek, how do we deal with that?
But I guess no matter what the outcome, the boys will know we tried our best to find out what we could for them and they will always know how much they are loved and how much we are so thankful for them coming into our lives.

January 2008

Our new year began with a blast as we celebrated with dinner at Mike and C's with the kiddos and then rang it in asleep, well actually I woke up at 11:55 and watched the ball drop. My how times have changed!

That week kevin and I headed down to the Keys for our long awaited anniversary trip. Well the Keys were not too happy to see us as we brought record cold temps down with us. But we made the best of it at our beautiful resort, Tranquility Bay, in Marathon. We loved the house, the grounds and the views. It was very relaxing and peaceful, well aside from the howling wind!

We enjoyed lots of great meals and great drinks, especially mojitos and margaritas. We spent saturday down in Key West, one of our favorite places and altho we talked up doing the Duval crawl, we knew someone had to drive back and we can't hang like we used to. But we enjoyed our drinks at our favorite spots: Irish Kevins, Turtle Crawls, Hogs breath, Captain Tony's, and Margaritaville.

Sunday was our only real beaach day, so I soaked up those rays all day long and Kevin was back and forth between the tiki bar which was showing football and the beach reading. Monday was back home to our little men. It was so great to see them. 4 days was the perfect amount of time. We were ready to go home sunday night. I have to say the sleeping in and using the bathroom without interruption was a very nice treat!! Grammom and Poppy survived their babysitting duties, altho I am sure they were ready for a vacation of their own, Noni, picked up the slack on Sunday and MOnday for us. The boys enjoyed all their spoling by the grands.

January has been fairly quiet. Maks got his first haircut since being home, yes, he has been home 1 yr and 2 months and this was his first haircut. It didn't go so well at first, he is not great in new situations and freaked out, wouldn't even have the cape on, so he sat on my lap and cried, until we gave him a lollipop and that did the trick, he sat calmly and cooperatively the rest of the time. Should have given him that to start, but know we know. He looks so handsome and best of all he still has his curls, especially when his hair is wet. I was afraid of losing them.

I didn't get pictures at the actual haircut, but did managed to save some of his cute curls for his book.

Alek is as active as ever especially with the new moonbounce in our basement. Everynight is filled with bouncing and hurling his body all over it, he is crazy!!

he is already talking about his birthday party and wants a jungle animal party, not sure how I am supposed to pull that off?

So we are in the midst of winter and have had like 2 inches of snow, which we had to race home to play in because it was due to wash away that night and it did, but at least we got to test out one of the new sleds. Alek loved it, Maks not so much, he was more interested in the snow itself. So we are praying for some good snow at least once so we can have some sledding fun. I will be happy with one good snowfall and then bring on spring!

On an ending note, I was coloring with the boys the other day and just was staring at their eyes, I just love their beautiful blue eyes, looking at them makes my heart melt, so of course I had to make them stop coloring so I could get close up photos of their eyes! I know pretty soon they are going to moaning and groaning about all the pics I take, but I feel like I just want to catch everything!!

Happy Anniversary!

I did not marry the person I thought I could live with,

I married the person I thought

I could not live without.

December 27th, marked 10 years for us, and while that seems long, it really feels like it flew past. We have had quite an eventful and memorable journey together, with many highs and lows, but I couldn't imagine going through all of it with anyone else.

We were looking at our wedding album and laughing at how young everyone looked, including us, we looked like babies, and I can't believe I was that thin (back then I used to think I was overweight!--geez I was nuts!).

It snowed that winter, just enough to make it beautiful and just enough to make the trolley ride to the reception a bit scarey!
It was such a fun wedding and a great party.

We had a nice dinner at Dilworthtown Inn last saturday night, thanks to T for babysitting! It was nice to be at a place that didn't hand out crayons and coloring paper!

Thursday we leave for Marathon Florida for our first alone vacation as parents. We are looking forward to it, yet we are both worried and sad over leaving the boys. I am in my normal stress mode as well. I start crying thinking about being without them for 4 nights, but I know this trip will be great for us and we will have blast, but it will be really hard not kissing my babies each night.

I know they will have a blast with grammom and Poppy and then Noni for one night. Hopefully they won't be too spoiled by the time we come home.

So happy anniversary to us, can't wait to see what the next 10 years has in store for us!

Happy Holidays!

I can't believe Christmas is over, all that time, all the preparations and it flies right by! It has been a wonderful month filled with lots of activities and lots of fun for all.

Alek has been so excited for Santa, he talks about him all the time and kept changing what he wanted with each new day.

Maks is still clueless over the whole thing, but one things is for sure, he does not like the big guy at all. Santa came to our neighborhood courtesy of the fire dept. Maks took one look at him sitting on top of the fire truck and freaked out. Not even a candy cane could calm him down. Oh well, maybe next year! He liked the fire truck alot though.

Kevin and I got to sneak away for a night with our friends and did an overnight cruise to no where out of NYC. It was a surprise for the guys, they loved it. It was a on a huge cruise ship. We got to choose from 3 notable chefs of NYC. We chose Floyd Cardoz of Tabla. It was a wonderful meal, the wines they chose were fabulous and we got to talk with the chef as well. We also received signed cookbooks too! After dinner it was John Legend in concert, he was amazing, what a performer. Afterwards, we stuck to cocktails and the casino. We wound up with a late night cheesburger snakc and poured ourselves into bed at 2am. Cannot remember the last time we were up that late, that wasn't due to a kiddo waking up or being sick!! We were off the ship by 8am the next morning and heading home. Our bodies definitely paid the price, but it was fun.
That night it was Christmas open house at Grammom's (Nana's) where the boys got to play with their cousins and as always the food was wonderful. Kevin and I were ready for bed by 7pm!

Sunday brought some rest and last minute shopping and wrapping. I think I was up until midnight wrapping! I need to remember to be more prepared next year!!

Christmas eve morning Pop and Noni came up for brunch. They brought new sleds with them, the boys were excited! Now bring on the snow!!!
Christmas eve we had dinner at JoJo's with the family. We enjoyed a performance of xmas caroles by Jake and Alek, with dancing entertainment by Maks.
We read the Night Before Christmas together, just in case the boys fell asleep on the car ride home. They did not and were pretty much fired up! So Alek sprinkled the reindeer food on the front yard and then Alek and Maks helped put out the milk and cookies for Santa (though Kaiser got to them first, amazingly he drank the milk out of the glass, hardly spilling at thing!).
It was off to bed. Maks fell asleep quick. Alek was filled with tons of questions, but finally passed out.
Then Kevin and I put the drums and ATV together, wrapped the stocking gifts and got everything set. I think we got to sleep around midnight. Maks decided to have a party at 2am and then 4am by climbing out of his crib and pulling out all his toys. So I had to sleep with him at that point.
I was awoken by Kevin yelling at me saying, their here, they are in the driveway, wake up. They were mom, John and Meem, who decided to arrive at 7:15am. My mom's idea I am sure!! Dont want to miss anything. So we got up quickly and then I got the kids up to commence the xmas morning chaos.
The drums were a big hit, so was the ATV, they were mad it didn't go anywhere though.
They loved the moonbounce, altho I don't think they realize what is in the box, but climbing on the box was a hit. We enjoyed a nice breakfast and watching the kids perform on the drums.

Then it was nap time. I took one myself, that was wonderful. Then it was time for round two! We got up and ready and then Granny, Pop Pop and JoJo came by, with more presents (are my kids spoiled?). They loved the dinosaur that walked, he was definitely a big hit. Great clothes as usual too!!
Then we all headed to Jimmy and LaLa's for dinner. Alek was on speed at this point and was so excited to play with Jakey. Poor Maks, stinks being the youngest, he kept getting shut out!
Dinner was wonderful as usual and the kids then had their final present opening spree of the night. The sleeping bags were a hit, Alek has slept in his dinosaur one each night, Maks loves his trucks and a fire truck which I hear in my sleep. Alek has been having fun with a dinosaur kit too!
It was time to say good bye and call an end to one fun filled Christmas day. We all had a blast and were sad how fast it went by. It was definitely a very merry Christmas for us!
So now we look ahead to 2008.....

'Tis the Season!

Well here we are knocking down the door to Christmas, another year flew by!

After starting December off with our visit to Disney Playhouse live, we contiuned the funby going to get the boys xmas tree. This is the one we put in the basement that the boys can decorate and we put the trains up underneath. They had fun decorating and helping daddy with the trains, as usual we started the year off with a few derailments!

We continued the holiday fun buy having a Christmas cookie baking party, well slice and bake and decorate. The kids and moms had fun. The decorating was a big hit, though I am not sure eating the ones Maks decorated was the safest thing to do--but he loved it! We got Alek to sit down for about 5 minutes to decorate.

It was a fun day as evident by the mess in my house the next morning, but messy house equals happy kids!

Monday we were off to the Picture People for our holiday portraits. I made our appt for after nap time and the boys seemed ready to go and in good moods. So we thought, as the camera came out Maks got bitter, he wanted no parts of it and despite Kevin and I's best efforts we couldn't get him happy. So the woman at Picture people was great, she just took her time and got him semi happy with building blocks. We did the best we could!

Kevin and I were looking back at the difference between last years pics and this years, it really is amazing the changes in the boys, from baby faces to little men and alot more hair for Maks (no I am not going for the Kate Hudson look for her son), I do plan to get his hair cut soon, I am just afraid of losing the curls! It is hard to believe that this time last year, Maks was in the hospital fighting off pneumonia and RSV, he is such an amazing little guy, we are so lucky to have both of them in our lives. They make every day and every holiday so special!

After getting our pictures done, we headed to visit Santa. Alek was so excited and went right up to him, as before Maks wanted no parts of the jolly old guy, so we got the picture as quick as we could and rescued Maks and Santa. Alek hung out and told the big guy what he wanted for Christmas, which changes daily now.

So two weeks left to Christmas and the excitement is building. Alek is definitely in the xmas spirit and loves singing carols and practicing for his school production. Maks is still at that oblivious age, which is wonderful. It is definitely going to be a fun Christmas!

Click on the picture below to see some more pics of the xmas tree hunt!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

I have been tagged!

Thanks Tanya!
www.thebaersdengrows.blogspot.com

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Mostly wrapping paper, but some gifts bags if it makes it easier!

2. Real tree or artificial?
Real, we do two, one smaller one for basement with the trains and this is the one the kids decorate and then the larger one for the living room. We are not particular though about which kind, just whatever looks the nicest and the fullest.

3. When do you put up your tree?
Generally about 2 weeks before xmas, that is as early as I can get Kevin do it, altho we did get the basement tree this week so the trains could be up longer.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Usually comes down the weekend after New Years.

5. Favorite gift received as a child?
Barbie Townhouse hands down.

6. Do you have a Nativity scene?
No but I have an angeland 3 wise men.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My dad and Anne

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Alek and Maks

9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Don't ever recall a bad one

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail and I impressed myself with getting them out already!

11. Favorite Christmas movie?
It's a Wonderful Life has always been my favorite movie, though I have to say I really enjoyed the Polar Express and watching it with Alek.

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually the first week in December, but I don't finish up most times until 12/24

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yep.

14. Favorite things to eat at Christmas?
All the side dishes with lots of starch and cheese and pumpkin pie.

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear and colored on the trees and clearlights only outside.

16. Favorite Christmas song?
Fun song-Rockin around the xmas tree,
Xmas Hymn: Oh Come All Ye Faithful

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Just locally to relatives house, but we stay home xmas morning.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
If I sing the song I can.

19. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Angel on the tree in the basement and star on the tree in the living room

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning, though I do try to get Kevin to open one each after the kids are asleep.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
That it is so busy and crazy and so rushed and that xmas stuff comes in out in stores before Halloween. It is all too commercialized.

22. What is the "corniest" family tradition you do, or miss doing?
No corny traditions, but Kevin and I have always gotten our tree, picked up a pizza, some wine and beer and watched Christmas Vacation. The boys watched it with us this year, thought I was going to have to explain some stuff, but thankfully Alek seemed to enjoy the slapstick humor the best.

23. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented?
I saw this handmade angel the other day at a store that was absolutely frightening, she looked possessed with these big red lips and then I promptly saw a woman purchase it saying how beautiful it was!

24. Which looks the best, theme trees or homey trees? Homey trees. I just like when people have ornamanets from their whole lives on their tree and things that make it personal and special.

26. What does Christmas mean to you?
Celebrating time with family and friends and remembering what the season is truly about.

Merry Christmas!!!

kristen and Beth you are up next!

Alek's first art show!

November comes to a close

I can't believe another year is almost done and we are quickly approaching Christmas--the years just seem to fly by anymore, it makes me sad. I wish I could freeze frame some moments.

Thanksgiving was spent at our house this year with both sides of the family attending. It was very nice and very special to have Maks here with us for his first Thanksgiving feast! He definitely enjoyed it, although he attempted to start a food fight by hurling stuffing at Pop Pop. He was none too happy though when Jimmy returned the favor by hitting him with a roll. The glares Maks was giving was truly priceless, he was highly offended. We all got a big kick out of it.

It was truly a fun and wonderful day!

As usual we are well behind our neighborhood with the outdoor lighting displays as ours still isn't up and most of our neighbors had theirs up Thanksgiving weekend! But we are slowing getting the Christmas decorations up.

Alek is definitely getting the jist of Santa this year, he has a list a mile long and sees something new he wants everyday, thankfully he never remembers what he asked for the previous day, so I think we can get away easy again this year.
He is very cute learning holiday songs and has been practicing at school. He tells us that "boys bow and girls quincy (curtsy)" and he can do an amazing bow.

We can't wait to see how Maks reacts this year, I have a feeling he won't be liking visiting Santa too much, but maybe he will surprise us. I know he will be able to open presents this year, so that will be fun.

We started December off by attending a Family Fun Day offered by the IA clinic at CHOP. We could only stay a short time, but it was really nice and the boys had a blast. I dropped Maks back home and then Alek and I headed to see Disney Playhouse Live with Keeley and C. The kids had a ball, it was very cute, they were totally into it. Though as expected the overpriced Little Einsteins baton I bought Alek didn't last longer than a day before the ball was busted offf of it--BOYS! I am sure Keeley's is still working nicely!

One of the best parts of November, is that our bathroom is finished!!! After 3 years of being torn up, it is finally done! We are so excited, it is so beautiful and relaxing. Kevin did a great job designing it and finishing it up and the guys at Mastercraft did an amazing job with the tile. It is gorgeous. It is so nice not to have a share a bathroom with the kids now!