Her Room Is Ready

Well, I probably jumped the gun a little, but I have her room completely finished. It came together so beautifully, a room fit for our princess and that's exactly what she will be. The boys helped me add the stripes and had so much fun doing it. I ordered the bedding a little at a time over the past few months and the last bit got here just as I finished putting up the ribbon border, perfect timing. I have had so much fun finally decorating a room with pink!!! I pulled all my dolls out of the boxes I've been saving all these years, knowing one day I would have a little girl to share them with. The last thing I have to add are the letters spelling out her name to go over her bed, but we don't know what that is yet so that will have to wait, hopefully not too much longer.

As much as I loved putting the room together and buying all the pink, it also reinforced the real reason we are doing this. I have wanted a girl for so long and buying all the pink has been so much fun, but it's soooo much bigger than that. I'm so thankful God blessed me with boys. If He had given me a girl, we might not be taking this journey we're taking now. Giving a little girl a home that might not otherwise have one, giving her a mommy and daddy to love her everyday of her life, to laugh with her and cry with her and support her and lift her up. That is what it is all about, that's it. I knew all this before I had her room ready, but seeing it done, I thought to myself, "yeah, it's nice, it's pretty, but it means absolutely nothing until she's in it, filling it with love and laughter." I can't wait for the first night we get to tuck her in, in her own room and her own bed. A place she can feel safe and secure and know it means she's a part of a family, a family that loves her and will support her and will always be here for her.

( I know in the picture I have a bed set up, but we also have a crib in there as well, not sure what she will need, 15-36 months is such a wide range, but we'll have both and will be ready for whatever it may be)

While Tyler was at school, I spent most of the day on the phone making preparations. I spoke with the International Adoption Center at TX Children's Hospital and made arrangements with them to go over and review the information we receive on our referral (when we get one, hopefully soon). I also spoke with our Homestudy agency about the paperwork I need from them for the court package. They really have been wonderful, I can't say enough about how supportive and helpful our social worker has been. They play such an enormous role in this whole process and are just as excited as we are to see things moving. Eddie traveled with his boss today and was able to share with him the paperwork we need verifying Eddie's job and salary. We should hopefully have everything for the court package by next week and I will be able to get it off to Austin to be apostilled (certified by the state). I know things have started to really move in Russia this fall with referrals and I'm just hoping we're one of those families. I just feel like we're close, I have a nervous, excited feeling. I think the whole family is ready for her to be home. Even little Tyler stopped me before I left his room after tucking him in the other night and said with such desperation, "Mommy, wheeeeen is our baby sister going to get here, it's taking forever." If you know Tyler, you can probably read it exactly how he said it. We're all ready sweet boy, hopefully very very soon.

Much Needed Update

Sorry everyone, I know it's been a while. No worries we're still on track, moving right along. We just had a crazy busy summer. We were gone most of the month of July traveling through TX and OK visiting family and friends. August was filled with days at the beach and the pool, trying to stay as cool as possible in this TX heat. The boys and I were just so busy I haven't had a chance to post. Hopefully now I can get back on track. Austin is back at school, he started 1st grade, and Tyler is going to PreK 2 days a week. He could have done the 4 day program, but Mommy just wasn't ready. I want to get as much TyTy time as I can. This precious time will be over before I know it, kindergarten will be here soon enough. Anyway, that's the reason for being away so long.
On adoption news we're still waiting for a referral. We have heard some hopeful news and we just keep praying that we'll know who our little one is soon. I just started working on getting our court documents together. In Kaliningrad families take their 2nd dossier (court package) with them on their first trip and get a court date before they leave, so I want to be prepared when we get that call. Other than that just waiting and praying. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, I promise to keep up better in the future.

PINK

We painted her room yesterday and it IS pink. It all happened so quickly. Eddie called me on our way to VBS and said he spoke with the painters painting the house next door and they could come over around 5 and paint the babies room if I wanted. Short notice, but to good to pass up so the boys and I headed to Home Depot after VBS and bought 3 gallons of pink paint. I love it!! It turned out great, now I just have to add the stripes and polka dot border and it will be ready for our princess.

Girly Things

Yesterday I went to get a pedicure and they just put in a new chair especially for little girls. It's little and looks like a bunny. There was the cutest little girl sitting there getting little pink flowers painted on her toes. She and her Mom were laughing and talking about how fun the new chair was. I almost started to cry right there in the nail salon. My eyes watered up with joy thinking that one day I'll get to share those special moments with my little girl. I can't wait to have those girly girl times with her and the special relationship that will grow through those times. I think I might have had a few tears of sadness in there because the process is taking sooo long. But I feel comfort in knowing that it will happen, in the perfect time. I'm so thankful that we get to take this journey and all the waiting will be so worth it in the end. I can't even imagine the blessings that will come with a daughter and I can't wait for the day to come when I get to take her for her first little pedicure in the bunny chair.

Father's Day

I just got off the phone with my sweet Dad and had to thank God for the relationship I have with him and what an awsome Dad he is. He's everything a daughter could ever wish for in a father. I couldn't help but think how this day next year will be so different. Eddie's celebrated six Father's Days now, but next year it will be his first with a daughter. He will be the best Dad in the world for a little girl. I can't wait to see him as a Dad to a daughter, he has no idea the blessings that are in store for him. She will have him wrapped around her little finger in no time.

Eddie and the boys

Me and my Dad

Russian Winters

After worrying about how I was going to handle the cold in Russia I searched for pictures of Russian winters and all I can say is "Beautiful". We will get to see things we'd never see here in Texas, gorgeous ice and snow sculptures, Moscow lights in Red Square and so much more. The snow sculptures reminded me of the sand sculpture competition they have every year on Galveston Island, but 10 times more beautiful. I'm actually getting excited about traveling in the winter, it's amazing how differently I can view this now. Bring on the coats and gloves and hats and long johns, I'm ready. "Amazing"

St. Basil's covered in snow

Father Frost, Russia's Father Christmas

Snow Sculpture

Ice Sculpture

Shopping Center at Red Square

Sharing the blog with Austin

I don't know why I haven't started until now, but today I read the blog to Austin. He listened so intently and said things like "I remember that". When I read him the part about how the boys always ask "when is she going to get here" he said, "yeah, when IS she going to get here, how many more years do we have to wait?" I reassured him not years anymore, hopefully down to months. When I read him the post about the cold weather in Russia he said, "Oh Mom, I want to go to Russia, I'd be fine with all that cold. I have like 3 pairs of gloves and probably 20 hats in my drawer upstairs, and my coat is huge, way bigger than Tyler's". I think he's trying anything he can to get to go, but in the dead of winter, at home with Grandparents is a much better place for the boys to be. Plus I want that one on one special time with our little girl, for her bonding and ours. We then went on to read some other adoption blogs together and he could see others experiences and other families in a similar situation as us.

Am I Ready for the Cold???

The other day, I was reading from a Russian adoption chat board and the title was "How Cold is Cold". My eye went right to it because that is something I've been a little worried about. Odds are we'll be traveling in winter and it can get -30 below in Moscow. I'M GOING TO FREEZE!!! I use to tease Eddie that I could never live any further north than Dallas because of the cold and in the past few years I even changed that to I'd never want to live north of I-10. It was around 95 degrees today and I wasn't even hot. Of all things for me to worry about, I can't believe this is on my list of worries. Of course her health and well being are at the top of my prayer list and then there are so many others, but this is definitely going on the list. I just need to pray God prepares me for the cold and her for our heat. Maybe all my friends from up north can help me with this one. I think Eddie will be fine, he's been to NY for business so many years in the dead of winter. I choose to go with him when the business trips are scheduled in Florida. This will be a hard acclimation for me just like the heat in Houston I'm sure will be for her. I need to start preparing my list of clothes now I'm afraid. This is definitely not something I want to try to figure out in a hurry. So to answer my own question "Am I ready for the cold? No, but I will be, NOTHING especially cold weather, could stop me from going to get our little girl!!"

Aunt April and Uncle Brock brought our little one her first present the other day, her first pink Cinderella bike. It's a little big , but she'll grow into it in no time. It's the first girly thing in our garage and I love seeing it out there. I can't wait for the day when she is riding around on it ringing the little bell (which Tyler has transfered to his bike for the time being, but promises to put it back when we bring our little sister home), hopefully very soon. Now I can't wait to start painting her pink room.