Update Way Overdue......

I'm sleepy..playing with one of my favorite toys "the farm"
One of my favorites..Look at her smile " I'm So Big"

Too Cool!

Too Cute!

I'm a Model...Look at me Pose!

No explanation needed! LOL

Hamming it Up!

Snack time after some hard playing!

Such a good Big Brother...his face is classic "Mom stop taking pictures" LOL

Putting some "GAS" in the cozy Coupe (using a purple bat of coures)....I love his imagination!

So the Gas didn't work...Guess it's muscle power for this princess!

So precious...and very tired!

Aug 5th- Appointment with Human Genetics and had Genetic testing done......Everything came back Normal!!!

Aug 11th- Our Social Worker came for our 1st Post Adoption Report. Where does time go???Went really well, she had nothing but great things to say about Samara!

Aug 12th- I had my first meeting with my IAC group for the fundraising event for CCH IAC....I think this is such a great cause and so far seems like it's going to be fun too. Apparently the invitation that has Samara's pic on it looks super cute according to one of the members but I haven't seen it myself.

Aug 15th- Had our first Official family photo's taken and also Ethan And Samara had individual pic's taken....haven't seen them yet our lovely friend Lisa who is a phenominal photographer is really busy so not sure when we get our proofs back...I plan to use one of these photo's for Samara's announcements......I know she will have been home for 5 months Very Soon...Next week in fact!

Today was Ethan's 1st Day of Pre-School......I cannot believe it....My baby is growing up and he did so good and really had alot of fun. He is going two days a week (Tues and Thurs) He's big stuff!

We are going out of town for labor day for a short little trip to the Amish Country....always relaxing and I LOVE all the yummy cheese and sweets! :)

Samara turns 22 months on the 29th...only 2 more months until her second Birthday....CRAZY INSANE!!!

Haircut by Dad

So, Ethan really needed a haircut, and with today being Sunday and not being able to take him to see the barber, I decided to give him a trim to hold him over until we can go see Rick. Other than the time I tried to cut my own hair as a kid, this is my first official attempt at cutting hair........and I'll let you be the judge! Ethan was all gung-ho about letting me trim him up until we got into it, then he was itchy and squirmy and wouldn't hold still for anything...........imagine that, a 3 year old not wanting to sit still while getting a haircut??

This isn't so bad....wait, we just got started...

Really Mom, we have to document everything??

The finished product.

The best part of this haircut for Ethan was getting to take a shower afterwards, the kid loves to take showers! I'm sure this wasn't the best cut ever given by a beard and mustache trimmer, but it will certainly hold him over until we can go see a professional.

21 Months and Tubes in both ears

Life is busy, busy, my brother and his wife were in from Boston so our evenings after work were spent with family and I didn't have a chance to post about Samara turning 21 months old on Thursday. I know I'm such a slacker, and yesterday she had tubes put in and was a BIG trooper.
I am hoping and praying that having the tubes will really start to help with her speech, balance and development as a whole, along with better health of course.
For those of you who know I have volunteered to help with an event that Cincinnati Children's Hospital puts on every year for the IAC to help raise money for programs and needs that the IAC has. The IAC at CCH is such a great resource and I feel very privileged to be a part of it. It is in November at the Oscar Event Center and it is for a great cause. I got a call this week and was asked if they could use Samara's picture on the front of the invitation to represent Russia. I thought it was so sweet for them to have thought of our little girl. The invitation is going to be a globe and they are going to have several children's faces representing their countries. Very cool!

Also at this event they have a fashion show and it is put on by all the adopted kids. So I think I am going to have Samara in it. Not sure how she will do but I will try. :)

I also want to talk about my boy.....my little Ethan is growing up and looking so mature these days. I cannot believe how quickly it happens, he is so handsome. He is also a rotten stinker but so handsome. :) He loves his little sister and can be so good with her sometimes and it melts my heart. Other times not so much but hey they are siblings and it's not like they are going to be hugging and kissing each other all the time! :)

I am going to try and take some more pic's and post them soon.

Some Pic's from Today...Looking so mature these days!!!

Here we go again with the picture taking! Come on Mom!!

OK, Here's a smile for ya!

Absolutely Stunning Baby Blues!!! Look at those features....We are in so much trouble when she gets bigger!!!

" Seriously how many pictures are you going to take mom"?

Smiling Pretty!

Dancing in the Kitchen

Signing "More"...ready for a snack...that was a long shoot!!

Look at those fine motor skills!!!

3 Month Check Up ...BIG PROGRESS..WHOOHOO

Monday was Samara's 3 month Check up at the CCHMC IAC and even though her growth in weight isn't that big her growth in development is amazing to me.
She has gained 2lbs and grown 2 inches. Whoohoo....for those of you who know how hard our first 8 weeks home were with her lack of eating know that her gaining 2 lbs is an act of GOD.
When she was first evaluated her Development was as follows:
Gross Motor: 12 mos Language: 8 mos Fine Motor:12 mos Personal/Social: 12 mos
Now they are: (Look at this improvement)
Gross Motor: 17 mos Language: 17 mos Fine Motor :17 mos Personal/Social: 16 mos

I am so happy at her progress. She amazes me all time....I wish you could all hear her when she is just babbling up a storm or when she says the words Baby or Bubbles...she has the cutest little voice.

As far as her sensory processing goes she still has some things that she does and has a hard time with but these are becoming less and less.

The doctors were very impressed. In fact even a bit shocked at all the improvements in our girl in just 3 months.

Her head even though still small has grown and more importantly has changed shape. When the Doc was feeling her head she said her head is so different from the first time. This is apparent by just looking at it.

We look forward to watching her change and blossom over the next months and years to come.

Her 2nd Birthday is in October and I have already been thinking about what to do. Even though it will be her 2nd Birthday it's her first with us and we will make it so very special.

I will add some pic's soon.

3 MONTHS HOME and HAPPY 4th OF JULY

So I am a couple days late on the 3 months home mark. Where does the time go. I cannot believe it's been three months already.

Samara is doing so good and is really coming out of her shell, we see a little more of her personality shine through everyday. She is such a beautiful little girl. Somedays I just cannot stop kissing her. Both of our children are such a joy and we are so very blessed. Samara has her 3 month check up at the IAC on the 12th. I am really looking forward to this appointment. I think the Dr's will be astonished at her progress.

Today is America's Birthday and it's also My mothers and Justin's nephew Eli. We went to my mom's to celebrate her Birthday and all of us kids grilled out and made the food for her. We also got her a really nice spa package so she could get pampered. She deserves it, she loving takes care of all our children for us. She is a saint.

We will celebrate Eli's Birthday next weekend. We are going to Bardstown Ky with Justin's family. His uncle from Arizona is in and they are playing golf. Should be a good time.

I have posted a couple pic's from today in our festive July 4th outfits. The pic of Ethan and Samara is the only one that was half way decent. Samara does not like to sit still and well Ethan doesn't either. So this is all we could get. :)

Samara is 20 Months Today

My little princess is now only 4 months away from turning "2"...where does the time go?
Samara is doing so much better, I am so happy at how much she has progressed in the last month. Her eating, chewing, swallowing has come so far. She is eating a variety of textures and foods....even some cooler temperature foods like yogurt which she wouldn't even go near two weeks ago.
She is gaining weight and filling out. She is getting quite the little tan too. Who knew our little pale russian girl would have a beautiful tan glow.....it's amazing what love, nutrition and some sunlight will do. :)
We went to ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor this past Thursday and Samara is having tubes put in on July 30th. She still has fluid on her ears that has been there since she got home.

Her 3 month check up at the IAC is on July 12th, I'm looking forward to sharing all her progress.

We also have a genetics appointment on August 5th.

Samara is also starting to say some words...Baby, Bubbles, Thank you......She doesn't say them often but when we say them over and over again to her she will say them back. Of course not when you are trying to show someone else. LOL

I will post some pictures soon, I am so behind and I have neglected this blog bad. I haven't even read any of the blogs I follow either. Being back to work has rocked my boat and I'm still trying to get it to stabilize.

We have a busy weekend coming up and looking forward to spending three days with my babies!

Back to work tomorrow.......I'm so emotional today

So today is such a bitter sweet day. We had a great day visiting our family and giving our Dad's a good pat on the back but I cannot stop thinking about going back to work tomorrow.
I miss the kids like crazy already and I haven't even left them yet. I am so emotional, I cry when I even think about it. I'm trying to remain positive as I was able to take the full 12 weeks off and have seen Samara make huge strides in the last few weeks.
Tomorrow is going to be tough but this isn't the first time, I went through this when I went back after having Ethan. It was just as hard then as it is now.
I Thank God for my wonderful, beautiful family. We are so blessed.

I'm getting ready for bed and I'm going to try not to cry myself to sleep.
I'm also going to try to figure out how to win the lottery....

Happy Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day! Here are a few pictures from the last week or so of the kids playing.....enjoy!

Daddy loves this picture!

"Hi Quinn!"

"Pucker up.....here I come"

"It won't hurt you, I promise" :)

Chillin in the pool.

The big cheese!

Playing peek-a-boo with the kids.

More pic's from Yesterday

Posing Pretty
My serious Pose


"Mom Seriously stop taking pictures"


Cousin Lexi, Samara, Ethan....Samara's first experience in the creek at Mamaw's

Ethan ...He is such a ham!

Hmmmmm So much stuff to touch and play with...where do I start


Ok mom just take the picture already...I'm trying to play!

Mmmmm Crackers are so good

I think she is just adorable!!

Thanking GOD for BIG PROGRESS

I cannot believe it's been this long since I've posted about Samara. It's way overdue.

It's been over a week since we have had a big break through with Samara......her eating has gotten so much better, she is still not a fan of milk or the pediasure but she is eating food and not gagging. THANK YOU GOD!! Here is a list of things that she has eaten and not gagged and really enjoyed


1.) Lasagna
2.) Spaghetti and Meatballs
3.)Mashed Potatoes
4.) French Fries
5.) Mac n cheese
6.)Turkey rice and vegs
7.) Cream of Wheat
8.) Cheddar Bay Biscuit from Red Lobster
9.) Crackers and Cheese puffs


I'm sure I have missed something but I cannot think of anything else. She has Therapy at CCH on Tuesdays at 4:00pm with Rueban Diaz who we are so Thankful for. He works with her sensory and eating.

Also she has finally learned how to drink from a sippy cup!!!! Although she just wants water in it. :(

Also HMG came out Friday for her first speech therapy and it went really well. Obviously she is not saying much yet but she imitates everything and that is really good. We are working on repetition, repetition,repetition......that's how they learn

Most of all I Thank God for all the changes I have seen in her in the last week or so. I go back to work in one week and I just have moments where I can't even imagine going back and then others where I do need a break. Although the break I want isn't work. LOL

Anyway I am so Thankful for the time I have had. I think she will do fine with my parents, she loves them and they love and adore her.

I haven't posted pic's in so long...after Ethan's Dentist appointment my camera battery went dead and I finally replaced it a few days ago. So I have a few pic's to post.

Thanks for all the prayers....they are working!!!

Ethan's First Dentist Visit....He was so GOOD!!!

I have been meaning to post about this for a few days. Ethan had his first teeth cleaning this past Wednesday. I was a little nervous about it, I thought he might freak out...but to my surprise my Boy is getting so big and was awesome. Never complained and listened so well. They complimented him over and over again. I was so proud of him.

It's so neat that he has the same dentist as me and I have been going to Dr. Tom since I was Two!! I LOVE my dentist...most people do not say they love their Dentist but I really do. He is such a nice and funny guy. Also his son is in the practice and once Dr. Tom retires I will see his son Dr. Brian. Justin already sees Dr. Brian. The really cool thing is that Dr. Brian has adopted two children, a boy from Siberia Russia and a little girl from Peru.

Anyway I wanted to post some pic's of my Big Boy.....By the way he needed a hair cut. Just over look the fact that his mother was slacking on that. By the way his hair has been cut since. :)

Waiting to get my teeth Cleaned!!!

Getting my teeth cleaned!

Look at my Clean teeth Mom!!

The BIG tooth where you get a toy after being really good getting your teeth cleaned!

It's the same one I used to get a toy from....Awwwww!!!!

I picked Big Orange Monster Teeth.....How do my teeth look?

Sibling bonding

We had a birthday party to go to today and had to make a quick stop at Target, and so while Leah ran in the kids and I stayed in the car and waited for her. Ethan and Samara were playing together and it caught my eye. The game was simple but it made me think of the times they do well and the times they don't, because this is one of the questions I get asked most.

Ethan, being the big brother he is, thinks that his age and seniority give him the right to each toy regardless of whether he actually had it first or not......or whether or not it was even his toy. A lot of times as he's taking something from Samara she doesn't react much and just let's him have it, however occasionally she'll disagree with him and let us know.

Sometimes the silliest things will end up being a toy, things that you would never expect a kid to play with or what they would even find interesting about it (like a receipt from the store), but Samara will just play with them and laugh at them more than any toy just lying around the house. She has this yellow toy pom pom that we have in the car that she likes, probably because of her sensory issues, and her and Ethan will play with it and just giggle and giggle.

Today Samara was watching her big brother shake his head side to side, like he was saying no, and then she would laugh and do the same, then he would laugh and follow suit. This went back and forth for a little while and I could see everything in the mirror. It made me realize everything would ultimately end up being just fine, and that they really do enjoy each other and love each other. Following the head shaking was the pom pom, which Ethan will shake at her and then Samara will grab and pull on it. Again, doesn't look to be real fun but somehow it works for them.

Ethan is always trying to give his little sister hugs and kisses but she doesn't want to have anything to do with that and will show her displeasure quickly, but it's nice that he feels that way and will try. Many times Samara isn't into what he is playing with and Ethan will get frustrated because she's not playing with him, but she does love when he runs around the house! She will just cackle with laughter and try to run with him, usually getting run down or tripping over her own feet while laughing all the way.

It's wonderful to watch moments like this knowing that not only are we trying to get her to bond and attach to us as parents, but also to create a strong bond with her brother as well!