Christmas Blessings!

Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We are so thankful for all five of us getting to be together! The boys have been loving on their sister and Reagan has already grown since being home. She seems to be really enjoying all the space to crawl around and all the attention she is receiving.

The Adventure home to the US

We have been home now a little more than 24 hours! I wanted to make sure and have the crazy trip home written down somewhere because she will hear about it the rest of her life! :-) We are having a good time together and I tear up every time I see her brothers love on her and take care of her. Riley really enjoys when she crawls over to him and smiles or giggles. He says "I think she already loves me and knows that I am her biggest brother." It is pure joy to my heart to see them together. Reed keeps asking her to "Use those feet and walk with me." He doesn't quite get that she doesn't walk yet but I am sure it will happen soon enough.

So actually getting home was a true feat! We were originally supposed to be home Saturday, December 19th- just in time to celebrate my 31st birthday. Michael kept teasing me saying that I would have a 31 hour, 31st b-day. :-) I hate to fly and really am not a sit still type of girl. I am always on the go and my breaking point for car travel is 5 hours. The flight from Russia is usually 15 hours! This trip however was almost 36 hours!!! Some of it was in a hotel, not much, but most of it was either in the airport or in the air. I did get to go to 3 countries for my bday, so I guess I should be thankful. We had 3 flights cancelled, spent the night in Frankfurt, had a brief hotel stay in a scary Russian hotel, and most memorable spent an hour in the German jail! Since Reagan was just a Russian citizen at that point, she wasn't allowed in Germany without a Visa. We had planned to go straight to the US so that we wouldn't have any issues, but the weather in the US and the fact that our Visas for Russia expired that day, we were forced us to go through Germany. We were able to get a One-Day Visa for her and had to stay at the hotel attached to the airport for the few hours that we were stuck there. Thankfully there was a market and we could get her more food since our baggage was lost. We had to be creative since we had a baby and no baggage or way of contacting people. We had an hour of Internet at the hotel so we made the necessary calls and tried to sleep for a short bit. We eventually got to board and since we had so many issues, we were upgraded to First Class for the rest of the travel back to Dallas. We all 3 ate the whole way home and got some rest on the plane. The chairs fully recline into a bed so Michael and I took turns sleeping and entertaining Reagan. She could not have been a better traveler! She smiled at everyone and was happy most of the trip. I think she is even a better traveler than I am! We stopped in Chicago for a very short layover and ran through Customs. Once she got her official stamp stating she was a citizen, we hugged and celebrated as we ran through the airport to catch the flight to DFW. We kept telling everyone that would listen that we had to get her home to meet her super special big brothers!

We finally landed late Sunday, December 20th. We were greeted with signs and balloons and the most important: Reed and Riley! The boys ran to us and hugged their sister. She cuddled right up to them and they loved her right back. We were blessed with some awesome friends that came to take pictures and capture the whole thing for us. We also had grandparents and good friends that have praying us through this adventure from the start. Of course our luggage was lost so we just got to leave and head for good Mexican food! :-)

Lots of Firsts

We had a great day today with Reagan! It amazes me how well she is adjusting! We actually got about 8 hours of straight sleep last night and then we went to the coffee house for lunch. She loved getting out and sitting in the highchair! I made her bottle before we left and when we got there it was half ice! We only went a block but it was -22 this morning!!! She was in a turtleneck, cord overalls, a snow suit, covered in a Snuggie, and then in the Baby Bijorn. She wasn't cold, she was quite happy. :-) Michael and I of course were frozen! Then we went to the baby store and ended up buying a really cool stroller and then to Starbucks! She was a trouper and enjoyed riding in the car and going to the store. She has never done any of this so we didn't know what to expect but she is doing awesome!

It is so cool to see how God has given us the perfect little girl for our family. She is very cuddly and outgoing and I am sure that she is going to grow leaps and bounds when we get home. She did better today getting out and about verses staying at home the day before. Michael says that she is just like me- always on the go. :-) She also really likes making noise and dances when she hears music so I can only imagine her and Reed together!

Tomorrow we are going to the US Embassy for our exit interview and will be about done with all the paperwork here. It is so exciting that we will be all together in just a couple days! Thank you so, so much for all the prayers. We have been blessed beyond belief!

Gotcha Day!

Today was the day that we have been praying for and thinking about for over a year! It seemed like eternity trying to get out to her town, but we finally made it and finally made it back. We have made the 60 mile trek in 1.5 hours and now we have done it in 4.5 hours! She did really well for it being her first time ever in a car! She sleep some, played some, and of course screamed some. It was still music to my ears to hear her screaming since she was with us!

She is amazing! Today when we arrived at the baby home, she clapped and smiled when they handed her to us. We have a lot to learn since we don't know what she eats, how much, and most importantly her sleep schedule. We know that she has spent most of her life in her crib but that is about it. She hasn't taken to a bottle or sippy yet but she has eaten quite a lot. :-) We tried to get a tour of where she has spent the first year of her life but they wouldn't let us. They have been under flu quarantine so they pretty much handed her over said good bye.

She is now asleep in her crib and I have to hold myself back from wanting to get her out and play. :-) She is such a blessing to us and I cannot wait for Reed and Riley to meet her! They cannot wait to big brothers and I cannot wait to see all three of them in action!

We're back in Moscow!

We just arrived and I am exhausted! We have been on the go for what seems like forever! It is snowing and very cold here in Moscow. In just a few hours we get to pick up our daughter! It is starting to sink in as I unpack all her clothes and get her stuff ready for tomorrow. We were so blessed to have an apartment to stay in here and the crib is right next to our bed.

I will post pictures tomorrow!

Baby Shower

I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful friends! Last night I had so much fun at my baby shower! It was really overwealming to have so many great gals take time to come at this time of year. I have had fun today playing with all the pink stuff. :-) The boys have also enjoyed all the new "baby" toys that have taken over in our tv room. It's kinda sweet to watch them play tea party. Reagan is truly going to be the best dressed girl around in just a week! I can't wait to see her!

Nesting

We will be together in just 10 days! Since we are leaving next weekend, I have been running around crazy trying to prepare for a little one. I have ordered crib bedding, a car seat, and today I bought some baby food. I also bought THREE pairs of jammies to open on Christmas Eve. I went to the counter at Gymboree with two coordinating sets and realized that I was missing a pair. I am already excited thinking about three cuties in front of our Christmas tree! I hate to admit it but I really think I have forgotten what to do. Reed keeps saying that he will show her how to do everything. He wants to push her in her stroller and most importantly he wants to make sure she knows about Jesus. :-) He is so excited! Riley says he just wants to be the first person to hug her when she gets off the plane. I love them so much!

A few pictures

Here are a few of the pictures form the last couple days. The lion pictures are from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior Church in Moscow. Then Michael and I in front of the court after we became Reagan's parents.

Thanksgiving in Russia

Our Thanksgiving Day is almost over here and I am most thankful that we are flying home tomorrow morning to see our boys! We have had another amazing week here but by Thursday both times, I hit the wall. I miss my boys so much and it has been especially hard this time since it is Thanksgiving. We just enjoyed turkey dinner at our friends flat here in Moscow and it was great! Turkey, mashed potatoes, and beet something! :-) Although it wasn't the Pine Cove traditional feast, it was good. God is continuing to bless us more than we could imagine! We booked our flights back to Moscow for a couple weeks and the price had gone up significantly. Also, we have a new place to stay since we will have our daughter with us and the hotel costs are crazy here! At least $350 per night! While we were at dinner tonight with a bunch of people that we have really just met; a couple offered to let us stay at their apartment the entire week that we are here. They are leaving for the US the night before we arrive in Moscow and will be back after we leave. They even have a crib! God is just taking care of all the details!


Yesterday was an amazing day for our family! We went to court in the morning to "prove" to the judge that we will be amazing parents to a sweet, Russian orphan named Aleksandra. After a speech from each of us, lots of questions, and a couple hours later; the judge said that we were Saints to come all the way here to adopt her. She granted us the adoption and said that we were to pick her up on December 13th! Everyone started congratulating us and hugging. Michael and I were a little in shock since this whole process has taken so long and it was finally here. The translator kept asking me if I was excited since I was so quiet. I explained to her that since we still have to go back to the States, back to Moscow, and back home that it didn't really seem over yet. We have this amazing daughter and can't even be with her right now.

We called the boys and they seemed excited. Reed said he wishes that we weren't coming home without her but he is happy to see us soon. We will be home again (Austin and Dallas) until the 12th and then off to Moscow for the final trip! We arrive back in the US on the 19th. I could not ask for a more exciting birthday!

Court Tomorrow

The day has finally come- We go to court at 10:30 tomorrow morning! We will know when we get to bring her home as soon as it is over! Please pray that everything will go according to His plan.

I will update as soon as I can!

Reagan Hugging on Dad

Feels like Siberia

We have made it another day here- really missing all of my favorite things back home: my boys, my bed, and good food. :-) We did get to spend 30 minutes today with Reagan, so that of course made it worth it! The Baby home has lots of sick kids so they would only allow us to visit one time all day and we had to wear masks. It is not easy kissing on a sweet baby with that on!
The city that she is in is small and really quite sad. Everything is really old and worn and there isn't anything to do after 6pm. We can't watch tv since it is in Russian and you can't really go for a walk since it is rainy and below freezing, so you have to be creative. Michael just got done ordering new toll tags and I have been looking at everyone's pictures on facebook. :-)

Tomorrow, we get to see her again and then we will head back to Moscow to prepare for court on Wednesday. Please keep praying that all will go well and we may be able to bring her home very soon!

Got to visit today!

We had a wonderful time with our sweet Reagan tonight! She had already changed in just the few weeks that we were back in the States. She warmed right up and gave us lots of slobbery kisses. :-) She has about five teeth and was very excited that we brought her a teething ring. She did not want to put it down. I realized how small she was- her clothes were a little short but were not tight and they were 3-6 month! She turned 1 this past Wednesday so Michael and I sang her happy birthday. Since it was a Sunday, the Doctors were not there and the caregivers let us stay about an hour! We usually get to spend half of that, so it was a pleasant surprise.
I cannot wait till we go back tomorrow to see her again!

Traveling!

We leave tomorrow morning for trip #2! This time we will get to see her for several days, attend Moscow Bible for service Sunday, and go to court! Please pray for safe travels and that the 10day wait will be waived so that we won't have a 3rd trip. We have been told that a 3rd trip is almost inevitable, but we can always pray! God is so good and he knows the desires of our hearts! Also, please keep our boys in your prayers as they are going through so much change right now. Reed is a little upset that we will not be at Pine Cove with them for Thanksgiving and Riley says he just wants to go in my suitcase because we are gone too long. Now more packing!

Happy Birthday Reagan!

Today our sweet princess turned one! I hate that she isn't home yet, but it sure is close! I cannot wait until we see her this Sunday! Riley asked me today why we don't have a cake for her. He said that he could blow out her candle and of course enjoy her cake for her! :-) He didn't quite understand that we wouldn't have her party without her, but I do give him props for thinking about it.
Now it is off to packing- I am determined not to be packing for our trip over there the same morning we fly out!

Finally going to start this!

I have "tried" several times to start this and I just get frustrated and give up. This past week we have met two people that have asked if we are blogging this exciting time in our life, so I figured that it was time! I know that there are a lot of really cool blogs out there and I aspire to be one of them someday but for now, I just want to make sure and get all of these cool experiences down. So, here I go...