A Friend's Party

On Saturday Aidai went to the 4th birthday party for her friend from school, Jackie. Jackie and Aidai are best buds at school. Jackie was soooo sweet at her party. She helped Aidai down the stairs by holding her hand. One time Aidai fell backward off the swing and Jackie grabbed the swing so that it wouldn't swing back and hit Aidai in the head. She is just the sweetest girl so we were thrilled to be invited to celebrate with her. Aidai did well at the party. She got bored watching presents being opened but didn't freak about them not being for her. She loved the candy coming out of the pinata. She was so cute, she got a Kit-Kat and ran over to show me while the rest of the kids were grabbing handfuls of candy. I told Aidai to go get more candy and she was given a bag. When she was done she came over and showed me her bag and then held out her hand which contained 3 starbursts and said "Mama, I got these for you". Isn't that so sweet of her! Jackie and Aidai are definitely a good match. I am just bummed that Jackie is younger and so they won't be in the same class next year. I hope Aidai finds another sweet friend.

One more thing!!

I'm getting pretty good at painting nails!! I'm better with machinery, but I always know what color my daughter's nails are, because there's always some on mine =).....I love my kids!! I'm totally psyched that they love me back!!

Bill

Roughly a year!!

Elizabeth just filed me in that we're about a year out from boarding a plane to meet our daughter. Right now, I can't put into words what that year has done to me, but, I'll admit, I'm glad it's behind me, but would go through it again in a heartbeat for my daughter. It's a little silly, but I'll admit that one of my proudest moments was when my son Josh changed his facebook profile photo to one of he and his sister moments after he received it!!! I love being "Dad" and "Papa"......if that's the whole reason I'm here, I'm totally down with that.....I've got two kids who love me, and tell me that, and two kids that love each other....very cool!! I'm seeing Josh grow into being his own person, but I still feel a big part of that, still seeing him move on is a little hard...Aidai, I think will be a huge connector for us as time goes, it's so fun that she loves him so much and he feels the same, I can't put myself in Josh's shoes, but I have to say he's just been awesome.....I'm Aidai's papa....I'm greatful for that......I fell in love with a photo some 14 months ago, and I wasn't wrong...she's everything I though and more. Everyday brings more...more laughs, more tears, more joy, more incentive to do our best, and we are, she makes it pretty easy most of the time.....I have to finally admit that I am wrapped around her little finger, and that great!! See us on the mower, picture us in the garden, imagine us with guitars and drums with Josh, imagine Elizabeth as "Mama" and doing it all with a flair.....biology be damned.....our daughter has made it home, at any given moment I may laugh or cry, all for the same reason...God bless us and her and Kevin, Maria, Josh and Elly, and all that came before and come after......I wake up still to thoughts of the orphanage and hope for all the children around the world...if you can, or if you think you might want to, please do.....trust me, it's worth it....you'll never think twice once it's done!! Aidai is all excited for marshmallows on the fire pit with Josh this weekend, she has no idea what a marshmallow is, but she trusts that it'll be awesome....glad I'll be part of that!! Once again thanks for your interest in our live, loves, etc!!

Bill

One Year Ago

Pics from Josh's visit this weekend

One year ago today Bill and I stepped off a plane and into early morning Bishkek. We were so exhausted and full of anxiety, excitement and anticipation for what was to come. I can't believe it has already been a year. The 4 months in between trips seemed like years but the past 7 months have just flown by. Yesterday was 7 months home for Aidai.

Aidai is so different now it is just crazy. She laughs all the time, a great big belly laugh. She is speaking English well enough for people who aren't around her all the time to still understand most of what she says. She is wearing a 4T, some 4's. Everyone indicates to me that she is tall for her age. I think it is in her torso since we have to look for longer cut shirts or her belly sticks out. Yes, she has an appropriate preschooler paunch now but she is still skinny and she only wears pants that we can adjust cause otherwise they fall off of her.

Her latest thing is saying "I can't" to everything and she calls everyone "Honey", both of which were cute for about the first 5 minutes. She's had great manners for months and says "Please" and "Thank You" to everything. She loves music and her pretending skills are much improved since she came home. We are working on letters, she has shapes and colors down pat. She's counting to 12 and goes higher but not always in the right order. She has mastered alot of the playground climbing equipment. Overall she is just an insanely happy go with the flow kid!

Weekend in Saratoga Springs

We had a wonderful weekend away in Saratoga Springs, NY last weekend. My Aunt and Uncle live there and so does my Great Aunt who is 93. This is the first time Great Aunt Fran has met Aidai which was a long anticipated event! She lit up the nursing home and burned up the halls. We went to yardsales on Saturday for 4 hours and Aidai did great. She saw a duck for the first time and took her first ride on a carousel and in a wagon. She even had the traditional cheese and crackers that are ALWAYS available at Aunt Nancy & Uncle Geoff's house!

"Another bank bites the dust..."

"Give me $100 on Rachel Alexandra!"

Aidai's chauffeur

Her Chariot

2nd ride on the carousel, brave enough to be on a horse this time

Ridin in style! Mala, Mr. Dee is next

Chillin in Congress Park

We had to point out the ducks numerous times before
she figured out that is what the blobs were

Aunt Fran, Aidai (in her awesome t-shirt) and Me

Quick update

Hi All,

I am hoping to have some photos up after the weekend. We are heading to Saratoga Springs, NY tomorrow to introduce my Great Aunt, who is in her 90's, Aidai. We are hoping to be able to hit some yard sales while we are over there but aren't sure where the best neighborhoods are. We are armed with maps, GPS, and Craiglist ads. Aidai loves yardsaling so it should be fun.

Aidai has her cast on her leg but you wouldn't know it because she is running around like normal! It is hard to find pants that fit over the dumb thing. She isn't going to like the saw that they will use to cut it off. I think I will need to talk it up as a big exciting noisy magic machine....not going to mention that it cuts and gets warm...

We went to kindergarten tonight, this was just adults. The kids didn't get to come but they will go to one in August. The teachers all seemed really nice. She is going to love school.

More soon...atleast that is the plan!

Aidai 2006

I don't know if I ever posted this photo. This photo came along with the video below as well as video from 2006 and pictures from 2007. Aidai was 2 years 3 months when this photo was taken. The video of her is adorable but I can't crop it or cut it in any way so that the other kids or the staff are not in it, she is in the midst of a crowd! This photo is the earliest one we have of her. I really want to share the video but I don't want to upset anyone so I can't!