So, how are we doing??

It’s been 3 weeks since we’ve been back home.  What a whirlwind! I think the kids transition has been good and pretty typical from what we have read about.  Nick has differing opinions in some areas than me, but I do believe that they are happy and healthy and doing great.  Now OUR transition from a quiet house and total freedom to do what we want when we want to a very loud and messy house and not being able to do what we want is another issue. It’s HARD.  If I focus on me, its a  lousy day. If I focus on them, its a good day. I’m learning. The hardest part we have had is getting the boys to go to sleep at night. It takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hours.  We have gone from all 3 sleeping in the same room and the boys in pack-n-plays to moving Anna out and both boys in their own twin bed.  That may sound like great news, and maybe it is- but I’ll  just say it hasn’t been fun.

We joined the neighborhood pool and the kids LOVE it.  Anna keeps asking “Mama waditchka(water)?” We’re teaching her the word ‘pool’. Just a few more days and she’ll have it.  She is doing great with her english.  I am catching her accent here and there. It’s cute. It’s kinda sad too to think she will be forgetting her russian real soon.  It’s so much fun to see her expressions when she hears or sees something new.  When she pulled the plug on the bath water and heard the noise of the water draining, she looked up really quickly, her eyes really big with a look of ‘what was that?’  She LOVES shoes and pretty clothes. She is doing well in her room by herself.  She only woke up crying about 4 or 5 times the first 2 weeks.

All three sleep really well, thru the night–once they are asleep.  Warren has made big strides this week- as I see it.  Last week he started talking to me more than just one word at a time(in Russian). This past week he wanted me to hold him a number of times.  He gives me kisses kinda/sorta (has been for a while- maybe 2 weeks).  When we go on walks he says “mama’ until he gets my attention then points out something he sees (either a dog or a car). Both boys are now saying ‘truck’ instead of machina for a truck, but still insists on calling cars machinas. They will say ‘more please’ and ‘yes mama’.  Warren has the cutest ‘yes’.  Sounds almost like a hillbilly ‘yeayes’

Corey seems to be the clown of the bunch. At bedtime too. Always doing something funny or laughing about something.  He always looks up to me with a big smile. 2 weeks ago he would hug my legs. Last week he stopped that & would put his arms up for me to hold him. He puts his head on my shoulder (something new) and I taught him how to give me a kiss. He will put his hands on my face and pucker up! So cute. 

Can you tell I love affection?  They all love affection too.  Anna says ’skuweesh’  and I’ll squeeze her and she me.  This past week they have been fighting over who gets to sit in my lap. I noticed that they much rather have me swing them than the guest that has come to visit.   Warren is shy, but he will give people hugs if they put their arms out. The other 2 will not. They don’t talk much to other people yet either. I am trying to teach them to say hello or hey, thank you and bye. They are not very good at it yet.  Today Warren did something that he as never done before –he asked me “what’s this?”  when we were looking at picture cards. I thought that was really big.

That’s it for now. Hope everyone is doing well.

 Here’s a few pictures. this one is taken when we arrived at the airport.

Corey 

Warren  

The new playhouse built by my dear friends at Merrifield Garden Center. I hope to get a video to download and post asap.

Anna