Journal #183

In the midst of Cupcakeland, I have neglected to voice some opinions, thank so many people who have contributed to our joy, and talk about my BETTER half who has demonstrated how a marriage can quickly change in so many wonderful ways.

First, those of you who send us well wishes, I always want to email you a reply but if you do not use the email link I can not respond! Helen and Elena (our embassy friends), we have wondered how you are all doing too but do not have your email!

Names(applying to babies only)- Always a debate on keeping the Russian name, moving it to the middle, and changing the name completely. For us this was a NO BRAINER!!!...A name is a gift from your parents. We both appreciate our names chosen for us by our parents. Most Russian names do not fit into American schools. We didn't want our child teased, we didn't want to explain why we didn't give her the gift of a name, and we wanted to do as we would a biological child.

NEXT- I feel like there should be a more spectacular "thank you" but I have never taken the time to discuss our agency. Alliance for Children deserves a special applause. Not only have they handled us properly and successfully but the many I have sent to them have been moved along so quickly in the system I am so impressed. I do believe any agency who didn't take applications when not accredited or without disclosure, runs like a top rated law firm, and does their job well is a company we would use again and again!

The beautiful changes one will see in their spouse...(I will finish later)

Journal #182

Monday was a relaxing play day for us. Everyday I take 4-5 toys into the den. I took her 2 favorites the *NEW* (read post #181) Einstein Jumper. This is neat because the 6 toy hooks that dangle toys all around can be changed so there are always different toys. The piana is one of the toys Marco bought when we were in Russia- It does so many things. She loves to turn the musical pages, click on the lights, and play with the greeen note. Yesterday marked the first day of 2 antenna's.

More excitingly when the phone rang about 4pm yesterday the voice on the other end said "WE ARE LEAVING FOR RUSSIA." Ann Marie & Zach are getting ready for take-off! Big Hugs from us to the both of you! I will never forget the first night we spoke in Decemeber. I was laying in the bathtub in the Safari Apartment in Moscow so I wouldn't wake Marco. This is when you decided to change to Alliance (our agency). You have been such a wonderful friend! We can't wait to hear about all of yoru adventures! Give Kate a SUPER BIG HUG from me too!

Journal #181

YIPPEE- Cupcake claps as she applauds the trip to see Tyler!
Oh Tyler..I just LOVE your toys!!! Thanks for sharing with me!
Tyler, I can't walk with you yet but you are SUPER BABY!
After a wonderful playdate with Baby Tyler on Friday (yes, on Friday-I am always behind these days!) Cupcake requested the same Baby Einstein Jumper. She couldn't tear herself away. Did she get one? Well, Maria, Tyler, Cupcake and myself headed right to Babies R Us to pick one up. We just never seem to get ONLY what we walk into a store to buy! Four bags, one hour, and a small incident of Cupcake bumping her lip and bleeding we made it home for a nap. Most of the weekend I was sick so Daddy filled in. Tomorrow I will try to post Mondays play day but it wasn't as exciting as Friday with Baby Tyler!

Journal #180

TWO WEEKS...Cupcake and I have been home for 2 weeks! We can't believe it! It just seems like she has been with us forever. The house LOOKS like she has been with us FOREVER! Her grandparents are smitten, her puppies feel neglected, and Project Pink is officially Cupcakeland. She has learned so much in 2 weeks. From the beginning I predicted we would have some issues with "grieving" as Cupcake was somewhere she was well cared for. There was so much love and so many children we were concerned about her reaction to being removed from this enviroment. I guess she never had so much one on one. She is thrilled with being hte center of attention ALL OF THE TIME! Seemingly, She has NEVER looked back?

We thank you Cupcake for being the most PERFECT daughter in the whole wide world. We can never love you enough. No matter how much I try to drown you in BIG KISSES you soak them up so lovingly. You go to sleep with a smile and wake with a big smile. Your compassion when you hear other children cry or even the dogs whine is so touching. Your playfulness and contagious giggles give us a new found energy. You give us so much more than we ever imagined. We are learning from you ten folds. We only wanted to give you the world, our hearts, and a forever family. You were the "IT" kid! XOXO

This is a pic of us leaving the grocery store. It is just a regular moment in our day. This is the smiley face I feel so lucky to see EVERYDAY!

Journal #179

First, Tiger and Cupcake played Hard to Get...

Next, they reached out to one another very SWEETLY!

For a moment they forgot they were in the US with unlimited FOOD!
It was an exciting day for the girls! They met at a mall...what could be better while in training! Both girls were so delightful to walk around the mall, to sit in the restrauant, and sit patiently in their strollers while we awed & cooed at little girl's stuff....Thanks Tiger & Laura for such a great day. We can't wait to see you next week! For more pics check out Laura & Rich's blog.

Journal #178

Tuesday we surprised Grandma and her 4th grade class. A very special thank you to all of the staff and students! Your generosity to our family was very special. We hope we can continue bringing Cupcake to visit so you can see her grow up!

My mother was so excited she had her whole class follow her downstairs to introduce Cupcake to another teacher. Blogger limits the photos but when she reached downstairs there is a great aquarium which she was so interested in!

At the end of show-N-tell with Cupcake she looks for Mommy. Yippee!

Again thank you Yeshivat Rambam for being such a special extended to family to my Mother and her family!

Journal #177
SECOND POST OF THE DAY-

Today was my Dad's birthday so Cupcake, Marco, and I met his party of 4 for lunch. This was the first time Cupcake met her great grandmother too. Going to lunch at 12 and home by 2 I was hoping she would nap. Never happened. We put her in her crib at 2. At 3 she was still playing and laughing in her crib. When I went to check on her, I could SMELL this darling daughter of ours as I entered. After changing her, she was not going back. I fed her creating a bit of a fit when the food was finished, gave her a bottle of warm milk-a repeat when it was finished, and cashed in the HAPPY CARD when I showed her the bath water running. Cupcake is a water baby. The site, feel, and taste of water excites her like nothing else. A matter of fact I have to run the water on cool so she can put her face under the facet to drink the water. The downside is after the water finishes draining from the tub she has a fit-EVERYTIME. Quickly I wrap her up in a towel covering ALL of her which pleasantly muffles the screaming. The best way to diffuse a SCREAMING Cupcake is to do the "Baby Massage." She loves when I rub her down with lotion. What a stupid mommy! How could I be so evil to accidently finish off her massage by rubbing down her arms, hands, and the MAGIC THUMB? OMG- call the police! Child Abusehotline & Department of Social Services! She lost it! By far unforgivable! SORRY CUPCAKE, I really didn't mean to spoil your perfectly tasting, chumped up thumb! Before all the drama she a precious little Cupcake!

The good news...by 7:30 she sleeping sweetly in Project Pink now known as Cupcakeland.

Journal #176

One week home...We took a ride to PA so Marco could select some products for the condo (not our home, a project he is working on). She was an ANGEL all day! Three hours in a car, lunch at Ruby Tuesday's, and no naptime. Usually I wouldn't go but I am glad the 3 of us spent the day together.

You know Saturday is a BIG shopping day and Cupcake's Mommy is training her little Cupcake to follow along! In one week she has been to two malls, Target, and Wegman's. She loved Nordstroms (she could crawl around the shoe section with other children) and Target was a close second since I could roll her down an aisle fast and then catch her. She met Tyler (Maria & Jeff's little one-scroll down to see the pic added of Tyler & Maria #175), Auntie Lizzy, Tracie, and Keri & Domenic.

Cupcake's fear of the spoon has lessened. She has completed about 4 meals with a spoon (but a bottle ALWAYS follows!). Please DO NOT show her a metal spoon as she will still lip lock quickly.

She has taken about 8-10 steps. Marco and I play the walking game with her every night.

She is a GREAT sport to do fashion shows with Mommy. We pick out 3-4 new outfits and dress up to go show Daddy. A fashion show blog entry to follow soon!

After one week I realized naptime is Mommytime so I plan my life around the few hours she sleeps. It works out well. Sometimes I find myself missing her when she is napping ( I am sure this will not last long!)

We can't believe it has been one month since our Court Date, and home for a week. Really I can't imagine a day without our daughter home. She brings so many smiles to our faces all day long!

Here is Cupcake at Ruby Tuesday's on Saturday.


"Classic Cupcake" almost ready for naptime
Friday Morning after breakfast pretending to be a calm child


I have to make a mention of this chair by CHICCO - 2 thumbs up! We really enjoy having her sitting at the Island with us.

Happy Reading...In my attempt to catch up I have posted 5 entries #170-#175. This will take you from our last day at SVO airport to our first day out at home. We did arrive home MARCH 10TH!!!

Have a good weekend!!!

Journal #175
STILL CATCHING UP-March 10th-On our way to SVO Airport...
***PIC ADDED***
Today (Wednesday, March 14th) we repeated yesterday but a mini shopping day because today Cupcake had a meeting.

We rushed from the mall to meet Dr. Michelle. Cupcake's pediatrician was quite impressed with her first visit. We did a quick review for about 30 minutes, waved BYE-BYE, and rushed home for a mini nap because tonight was the big date with Baby Tyler!

The moment Cupcake laid eyes on Tyler she reached out to weeble him. He had no clue he was about to hang with a professional "WEEBLER." It was so great to have the kids together for Wednesday night dinner.

For those of you newer to blogland. Maria and I met on the puter in the summer of '06. We realized we lived about 10 minutes from each other, they were in the process of switching to our agency, and we begin to meet for lunch EVERY Wednesday in the city. Our first trips overlap by a weekend in December, and trip 2- 2 of 3 weeks we were living in Moscow only 2 blocks away! We hoped for pics from Moscow of the kids but they were given clearance to leave a day early- The day we got Cupcake.

Journal # 174

We stayed in until Tuesday but I couldn't take it anymore! Cupcake is now one of the girls so it was time to get some hard core training on a day with Mommy & Lizzy. First, I needed a 911 pedicure. STOP LAUGHING! You do not want to see the pic of my feet after 30 days in Moscow wearing damp boots. Cupcake and I did a lap around the mall while Lizzy got her pedicure. Then we switched. After we went to the Red Robin- I could not believe we were eating at a children's style restrauant but it was a great pick since Cupcake thinks it is so cute to throw food on the floor. She ate a few black beans from Lizzy's salad. We thought it was cute until LATER! Lizzy refuses to Target with me as she I am not QUICK enough for her taste! OH WELL LIZZYT..Cupcake and I had a blast!

She was sporting her ever so CUTE leopard sunglasses from Auntie Ann Marie. Thanks Ann Marie- I can not believe you found so many "cupcake" things for her. I may need a separate blog just for the huge box of stuff you sent. WE LOVE YOU BUNCHES!

Here is the Cupcake in training to be a professional Shopper...

Journal #173

Cupcake and I woke about 10 am on Sunday. Since we flew into JFK Marco had quite a ride to pick us up, deliver my Mom home, and put the girls to bed!

I was so excited to check on Cupcake in the morning. I walked into her room with a warm bottle of cereal, rubbed her back, and got the sweetest smile in the world. A whisper of "hands up" got me one little hand grasping my pinky, belly giggles, and a very very HEAVY baby as her diaper weighed as much as Cupcake!

After her bottle & a quick bath we went to visit Marco. He already went to grab an espresso. Next pic we are working on "Say CHEEZZZ."

Journal #172

Finally we landed...It was my pleasure to place Cupcake in Marco's arms! First, A BIG SURPRISE...Andrea, who is also adopting her son from Moscow, came to JFK with a big WELCOME HOME for us! It was great to finally meet after spending so many hours on the phone and emails. Mario and my mother dodged the camera somehow. I think we were just so excited to get home...3 more hours to our final destination!

Journal #171

Cupcake thought I was joking when I put her in the bassinet for a nap after take-off...


10 Minutes later...
She slept for about 2 hours, woke to a warm bottle, read her photo album, took a walk to Grandma, and went down for a second nap...
Here we go again...waking to a warm bottle...Now the joke is on Mama because for the next 3 hours there is NO MORE NAP TIME! ARGHHH!

Journal #170

Waking up Saturday morning...We woke up excited but Cupcake didn't want to wake since she didn't fall asleep until after midnight. My mom warmed her up by showing her video of Marco again and again.

#1 PIC-She loves watching Marco and herself weebling (strumming your bottom lip).

#2 What should I wear to go see Dada?

#3 A very excited Cupcake to put on her Jammies for naptime on Flight 31 to JFK (we hope!)

#4 Mom and Cupcake on the final seconds of our departure from our apartment.

#5 Cupcake and I upstairs at the restrauant (Marco & I ate there too 1st trip-same table). It is a great final place to sit and relax with a snack!

#6 FLIGHT 31 to JFK- When I saw the sign I couldn't believe I finished serving my time in Moscow, we were hours away from Marco, and Cupcake was about to be Little Miss USA.

Journal #169
I am going to try to catch up from our last night to our arrival...

Our Last Night... (March 9th)

Cupcake loves to sleep. Going to bed is never a problem. Maybe Mom and I doing the "We're coming to America" dance made falling asleep nearly impossible! We were happy she could hang with us!

I want Mommy's puter! 9 pm
I am going to get it!!!
GET ME OUT OF HERE! (10 pm)

Cupcake protesting sleeptime. (10:30 pm)
11 pm- Waiting to see the sunrise...

Trying to tune us out! (MIDNIGHT)

Journal #168

We are home safe and sound! The flight was easy. Cupcake is a true traveler like us! I have so many pics and so many details to share but I am so tired I can not see straight. After our ten hour flight we had a 3.5 hour car ride to Baltimore. The BEST surprise EVER was my special friend Andrea & Mario came to the airport with an American Flag, Welcome Home banner, and cute gifts for Cupcake. Andrea-you made landing in NYC so special. BIG HUGS TO THE BOTH OF YOU!!!

Cupcake woke in Project Pink with big smiles this morning. She seems like she has lived here with us forever. I will update with photos tomorrow!

Journal #167

Friday Morning is here! Finally we can scream, "We are leaving tomorrow!" I do want to cry, scream, laugh, and give a final sigh of relief. I have Cupcake! It has been 10 glorious days! Ok, so I have cried, screamed, and laughed over everything from the morning Marco and I were leaving for NYC to when my mother and I were on our way to bring her home to her first stinky (THANK YOU MOM, you know I was really about to pass out!). The emotions are running wild again. We are gladly leaving our space in Moscow for another family to move forward.

Tomorrow will mark the end of our Russian Adoption Journey in Moscow. It will be our daughter's last day in her country. For myself, it will mark the last moments to look around the country and society who has given me the most precious gift. How strange...We can not wait to come, we can not wait to leave. We can not understand the society who forgets about their children but we are eternally grateful for all they have to give to us. How can you not leave with a tear in your eye?

We are so far from home. The journey is exhausting. Certainly the process in not made to accommodate the families. To the contrary, the time away on multiple trips, financial requirements, and emotional rollar coasters can take a toll. Families seperated add to the difficulty of the process. We have to be excited to get home too!

This is a time we need to be together. Marco has not seen Cupcake since February 15th, and me since the 17th. We are excited for Delta 31 to land @ JFK airport!

There are so many I will thank in my final review but I wanted to end with Day 1 of Trip 2.
A MOMENT IN REVIEW:



The lip marked the beginning of trip 2...

A little bling bling washes away the tears...
A new pair of shoes makes it a SUNSHINEY DAY!

My mother and Cupcake are sleeping their lives away. I think they hope to wake up in thier beds at home. Mom told Cupcake to click her heels 3 times! Reality, I have so so so much to clean up, pack, and plan for our flight home. I am not quite sure where to begin but a trash bag may be a good start!

God Bless America!

Journal #166

Wednesday...Olga came by to bring us our passports. It was so exciting to feel completed. After the embassy she registered us at the Russian Consulate. We could have left today but traveling on Thursday or Friday by car to and from Baltimore to NYC is easier on Saturday so my mother, Cupcake, and I WAIT! Cupcake thinks we are home.

Today we went shopping and for a long walk. The weatehr is OUTSTANDINGLY sunny and warmer since I arrived. When we walk into the apartment she smiles so big!

Today was the first day I was able to get her to eat from a spoon. This was the most amazing progress! She locks her lips, rolls them in, and turns her head at the site of the spoon.

How do I feel? Like I need to get He&%$C out of this *&^C$@# place. I have spent 41 nights out of 100 in Moscow. For the most part I have had an enjoyable time and a perfect ending to the most special moments of our life. However, I do miss HOME!

Mom and I are counting the seconds....

Journal #165
4 more days...
So much today!!!
Today was ONE WEEK WITH CUPCAKE. It has been filled with so many hugs & kisses and bunches of fun! She sleeps, eats, and plays easily! She has enjoyed company, restrauants, and long walks.

Cupcake was enjoying her first Bubblegum flavored DumDum. Yes, I had to hold it for her the whole time but she gave me a quick photo op in her "I LOVE CUPCAKES" T.

A nice surprise visit from Baby "D" yesterday so Cupcake had Company. I didn't mention who I met at the embassy since they didn't post but I did run into Rob&Michelle so they came by. We shared a taxi to Arbat St to meet another family for lunch and shopping. All 4 children were so amazing at lunch. The kids enjoyed getting out for a few hours. SO did all of us!
This is Cupcake's classic HURRY IT UP position. Within a sec she turns around as she was itching to play with the switch!


Comfort. Not only has Cupcake developed a comfort with my mother and myself but she has gone to the next level.

Journal #164
5 more days...

Emotional. After the moment in court where they said BLAH BLAH is the Father, BLAH BLAH is the Mother, and the minor child known as, will officially be BLAH BLAH, and walking out with Cupcake last Tuesday from the Baby Home- NOT one moment had me as choked with joy as clearing the US Embassy and seeing her Passport. Even the American flag had me a little emotional! It was a very happy day. ARGH-Mom starting crying and I KNEW PEOPLE there! We ran into another blogger friend at the embassy, and another family who said HELLO after recognizing us from the blog. There was about 11 children. SOOO adorable!

Leaving for the US Embassy
Someone please tell me how to get this child out of the bath?
Yes, I thought bringing a stroller would be insane. She is small, light, and I will love snuggling her in my Hip Hugger...UH NO! Morning #1 I wake up not able to move my neck and my upper back is ruined! Therefore we headed to Children's World on Sunday! Cupcake and I are both
THRILLED with this decision. It was a hard day's work! She has to listen to Mom and Nana singing, dancing, swinging, tossing, and tickling her all day! (CHOU-CHOU she loves the blankie!)

Cupcake's first high chair seating @ Friday's on Novy Arbat. Please take my advice and avoid at ALL COSTS!!! There are so many steps into the restrauant, there are even more when you enter, and if you need the potty you are running down. Too difficult with a little one! We don't like Friday's at home either! We did meet some friends so we had a blast!