No. 60

One month later I am posting the BEST Christmas of our lives with a quick follow up on New Year's. Since I am home sick I figured I would use this opportunity to finish up 200SEVEN. Sometimes it is hard to imagine what life was like before Cupcake but who the heck would want to imagine life without my daughter. Calm as usual Cupcake approached the tree with interest. After opening books, socks, undies, Elmo's, and other misc toys we revealed the big ONE! The Kitchen. Everyday she still enters the play room going directly to the kitchen. She loves make believe! With Nana she is a baby, with Poppy she is an airplane, and with Mommy....She is the BOSS! Where is Daddy in this mix? He is such MUSH it is RIDICULOUS! You know the "bowl of mush in "Goodnight Moon" this is Cupcakes' Daddy!

No. 59

Walking into the Baltimore Aquarium, trying to catch her boyfriend who came to visit from NY...

I can't resist but to share this photo before I try and catch up with Christmas Morning & New Year's. Cupcake and Baby L (they are so NOT Babies) were hanging out posing at the Baltimore aquarium two weeks ago.

Last Friday Cupcake & I hopped on the accela to NYC. We met up with 2 blogger friends and there were 4 Russian babies who all came home in 2007. New train pics, sushi pic, and group pics coming soon!

Last night we had our 1 yr post placement report with our SW. We always enjoy her visit. We have seen her 3-4 times in the past year and now we won't see her for a year.

The time ticks much faster every year you age!

SO much has changed in the past two weeks. Our hands are so full with little girl opinions! She is really trying to catch up on the talking curve, physically she is climbing like a 5 yr old. She is so small I have to supervise. We go so high I could throw up! I found myself shoving her along as I was having anxiety to get off of this crazy climbing aparatus at Port Discovery-Children's Museum in MD. Should of followed Aunt JoJo onto the the stairs!

This past weekend we 9Cupcake and Baby L) met Monkeygirl, and Alexander at the Children's Museum in NYC. All four kids had such a blast. What a great place for 2 yr olds!

Hope everyone is doing well!

No. 58

Late as usual on the posting but this time is really late. Christmas eve I picked Cupcake upi from school. One of her favorite teachers who likes to do her hair helped me get her dress so we could get to our dinner party. I wish I had a picture of Cupcakes' face when she saw the indoor pool. We went to Kathy & Bernie's house. I have had Christmas Eve dinner at their home since I was born. After Santa came on the fire truck, Dr Bernie said a prayer, Cupcake took one more run to see Santa, and we dined on the balcony (indoor) overlooking the beautiful pool. Cupcake got really CRAZY hyper for the first time. I quickly put on her coat and hat...it was time to go!

In the same neighborhood, around two corners, was another baby celebrating Christmas for the first time. A very special baby! We just had to go spend sometime with Maria, Jeff, & Baby Tyler! The children really enjoy each other. They play together, run together, laugh together. This just topped off the night. For Cupcake just pulling into their house so beautifully decorated with Christmas lights was such a treat.

THREE hours later we arrived home. I can't believe it is a 11:30 and I have to wrap the gifts. I wrapped her gifts, put them under the tree, snapped a pic, and finally fell asleep.

Hopefully I will be able to update with Christmas morning before Vvalentine's Day!

No. 57

WHERE DO THE WEEKS GO? Last weekend I did a brief post on both blogs as it was the one year on December 7 since Cupcake was placed in our arms. I wanted to share the FANTABULOUS weekend we had in NY and NJ with so many friends and 2 great birthdays.

NEW YORK first...We hurried to Brooklyn on Friday to see the birthday boy & family. Most importantly it was time to stuff Elmo Boxes, hang balloons, and get ready for the ELMO DISCO PARTY! The kids had a big surprise ahead of them. About 10 we finally got the kids to dreamland, had a drink or 2 or 3, and went nite nite. Saturday we hurried and scurried to make sure all of details were in place. Daddy Leif catered this bash, we did the decor, the DJ did the hOOK UP, and about 75 people made it happen! Everyone was eating, dancing, and playing until late. When the special guest arrived (ELMO) the kids went nuts...

Cupcake got to see a lot of her friends! Other than Baby Leif, Baby Nic arrived, and a surprise visit from Ciara and Baby Mikey. It was just too much fun. They all played so nicely.

Maybe tomorrow I will catch up with Pebbles Birthday Blast...

No. 56

A year ago today we landed in Moscow, Russia. We met our friends Lisa & Scott for dinner. We dined at a wonderful restrauant on Tverskoi Blvd. The name translated to "All in the Mill." I rarley talk about like before on this blog because it is about Cupcake. Last year this time (inbetween Thanksgiving & Christmas) was just the most amazing time in our lives. I hope one day Cupcake really knows our joy through every step of the three of us becoming a family!



Anyway- The day after Thanksgiving was a blast at our home. Cousin Sami came home with us. Her parents put on a fantabulous Thanksgiving for the family.

Marco put up the tree. Lillie who cam e home about a month ago had a fear of dogs which was cured when playing with Buttercup. About 20 came for a late lunch which went until 9pm. The evening ended with the best photo of Marco watching Shrek with 4 TWO YEAR OLDS!

Our first tree is a work in progress...

We are so excited to see all of our friends in NY next week. Big Hugs, Big Birthday wishes, and we can't wait to come party!!!

Last time the "anonymous" poster decided to cross boundaries I decided to turn it into a positive. Many posters reminded this LOSER (probably a former home girlfriend) that blogs are often given to children as journals.

NO ONE in the adoption arena would ever say what was included in the comment received yesterday so I have chosen to delete for no other reason than it doesn't belong on my daughter's blog.

On behalf of all FAMILY BLOGS:

Windows created a "X" in the upper right hand corner of the window. If you do not like what has been written it is easier, faster, and appropriate to click the "X" as the comment section is for friends to support one another.

No. 55

Cupcake and Daddy started off the day together in the city for a walk at the condo and a visit to the ducks. When they got home she was still googling in her Daddy's eyes like I have never seen but she passed out until we had to leave.

Thanksgiving is the one holiday we usually do at our home but we skipped last year because we were packing. This year our cousins said they want to do it so we went to their home. Kim & Ray with daughter Samantha put on a great Thanksgiving Day for the family. It was so nice to relax!

Cupcake just loves Peaches who is Sami's bird and the guinea pig was another highlight. After running around like a nut, playing with the dogs, and knocking everything off one of the side tables. Cupcake and Sami decided...MORE so Sami came with us for the evening.

Did I mention relax? Well since we didn't have much to do I decided to give us something to do so I organized a After Thanksgiving Day Lunch @ 2. Who would have guessed our guests would be departing at 8:30ish. We had a blast!

For the first time the house was seemingly filled with laughter, high energy & babies. Four 2 year olds just changes the chemistry of the 25 people!!!

BLAH BLAH ...It was just the BEST THANKSGIVING for us, Cupcake's first, and THE TREE....I will continue about the TREE.

Also I am having mega issues posting pics any suggestions?

No. 54

No. 53

EDIT: What can I say except for THANK YOU for all of our friends in Bloggerland who are so TRUE BLUE. Many of you I have met, spoken to on the phone, and many who I wish I could email as you always leave the kindest thoughts but no return email address. To those of you waiting for your children is the only reason I continue to blog. I hope no matter what chat boards you read, or rumors that try to convince you that adopting an EE child is a probable problem...THIS IS NOT THE CASE as many of us are home HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T READ THE DELETED COMMENT IS THE POSTER DECIDED TO POST OUR DAUGHTER'S NAME. IN ERROR I REALIZED HER NAME WAS VISIBLE IN A PIC WHICH IS NOW DELETED. WE HAVE NEVER MENTIONED HER NAME AND WOULD APPRECIATE THE RESPECT WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM ALL OF OUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE ALWAYS & ONLY USED CUPCAKE AS HER ALIAS. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT. WE ARE HOME HAPPILY EVER AFTER, MORE HAPPILY THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED. I WISH FOR ALL OF YOU WAITING TO GET HOME QUICKLY SO YOUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER MAY BEGIN!!! MOST IMPORTANTLY>>>>EIGHT MONTHS HOME Cupcake...LOVE YOU BUNCHES & BUNCHES!!!

EDIT: Instead of deleting ANONYMOUS comments I would like to comment regarding the concerns of our daugher being safe in her car seat. First & foremost...When I snap a picture of her I am not DRIVING and taking a photo. Thank you for thinking I am so talented but I AM NOT! Since we were in the car so long I removed her jacket at the prior stop and didn't realize it left so much room. After fixing her ponytail, putting on her shoes, I readjusted her belt too!

The previous photo on our way to the wedding, we were stuck in stand still traffic for many hours. When I turned to check her I noticed she wiggled out so I took a photo, climbed in the back to change her, and placed her properly in her seat. I do appreciate your concern as I have noticed many do not use the carseat correctly. However, even those of us who believe we try our hardest to make sure our children our safe, our little HOUDINIS' wiggle. I am taking the time to respond ONLY because I do believe CARSEAT safety is a great conversation. Thanks for your comments and fell free to speak up with a face and name as I do!

Surprise! We are back now that blogger is allowing me to post photos. There abre a few weeks of fun to catch on so I will start posting. This pic is from October 26 when Cupcake and I were on our to NY. We stayed with another family from our agency. One of our friends had a birthday party for Baby Nic who came home in May so we had a funfilled weekend! I iwll finish this post later

No. 52

Hello from New York-

I finally worked on a post from the past ten days but with Blogger having upload issues the post was quite boring without cute pics.

We met Poppy & Nana for breakfast so Nana could help us finish a list of errands without diverting to more fun things.

First, Cupcake went to the Post Office for the first time to send a very important package to our friend & Blogger friend Lisa. Cupcake and I sorted through all of her clothes and shoes to find there were many great things to pass along to Lisa's little ones' who will be on their way home soon. Finally the Huggie box sitting in the back has made it on its way to Texas.

After we went to Toys R Us to pick out some B-Day gifts to bring with us to NY this weekend. Mission Successful! Daddy surprised Cupcake at the toystore so they played while we shopped.

After running to Target, Drycleaners, Wegman's, Toy R Us, USPS, and Pannera we head home for lunch and a nap.

Great Day? Could it get better?....I get an email asking what would I be doing for lunch on Tuesday? Many of may not know but LUNCH WITH THE GIRLS could be the title of my book. I love lunch with girls. Lisa & I met in Baltimore for lunch. After 14 months it was so great to meet! Lisa, our visit was so special. I am so glad you were to spend so much time with Cupcake and I !

Now we are in NY. Yesterday we met another special blogger pal but i will continue with all of the NY post when we return!

Have a good weekend!

No. 51

As usual I am catching up on the past week. We had a couple of cold days so we bundled up to go play outside but we also had a couple of hot days. Cupcake went to the BMA (Baltimore Museum of Art for lunch with Nana, to the zoo with Papa (my father) and myself. Friday Night (last week we went to the Baltimore Aquarium with our friends.



Cupcake had a great week at school. A big Congrats to HEIDI in the UK who will be on their way to Russia next week. Can't wait to hear from you when you return!