Rubber Ducky

I just had to post this picture of Oliver in his rubber ducky tub! He just loves taking a bath. Yesterday we went for pictures at JCPenney and I took his tub along and they got some cute pictures of him in it. He was so good and such a ham for the pictures. Of course I took a bunch of outfits along and the girl said it was the most outfits she has ever done (I didn't use one) and the quickest with clothing changes. Brynn and her boyfriend, Michael came along to help me. I should get the digital files emailed to me in about a week so I will post them when I get them. Today Brynn and I are taking him to the mall to see the Easter bunny, hopefully it will go well!

Oliver's baptism and shower

On Sunday March 9th Oliver was baptized and my friends had a fantastic shower for us following the service. My mom and step-dad along with Stephanie (Don's 18 year old daughter), Don's parents and two Don's sisters all came for the weekend. It was fantastic to have so many members of our family and our friends together to celebrate Oliver. He made out like a bandit and charmed everyone there!

He is doing so wonderful! Happy and growing like a weed. He cut his second tooth last week and maybe soon will be eating some chunkier foods. He hasn't figured out any finger foods yet likes to play with the puffs and Cheerios and let Mama put them in his mouth! We are so blessed with a bundle of joy! He is busy and in to everything, see picture below in the laundry room. If only he did laundry instead of creating it!

I finally got announcements done and did a double whammy with them, wrote thank yous on the back of them! I have been so bad with all of it! Sorry!!!

Tomorrow we meet my good friend Marie and her new little Novosibirsk sweetie, Bryson. Marie and I started this journey together a year ago! We were with the same agency and started at almost the same time. We passed each other in the night in Moscow. Hard to believe our boys finally get to meet!

Oliver is doing great!

Sorry that I have been a bad blogger but my priority has been getting Oliver adjusted to his new home and trying to find a schedule. He is sleeping great at night and doing better at naps. His diet is expanding and he is starting to like green veggies! He is happy almost all of the time except when he has to give up and go to sleep! We braved the bath tonight for the first time since Moscow last Wednesday and he loved it. We had gotten a blow up yellow duckie tub and he played in it on the floor for a couple of days first. Seemed to do the trick. Aunt Bell he is ready for a pinch and a sniff! Brynn took pictures and video so I will have to share them soon. He is just doing great!
I got a cold from either an airplane or being indoors in Russia. So I am just trying to keep my head above water at this point with housework and laundry. I spend lots of time on the floor with Oliver! God has blessed us with such a loving, happy baby!

Just a couple pictures of my snowbaby in Russia! He is now a Russian Florida boy and may never see a snowsuit again. This is a loaner snowsuit from my wonderful friend, Donna. Her Daniel left the same baby home in this snowsuit last March!

We made it home!

Yes we are home and doing very well. Of course we are busy adjusting to having a baby in the house. He is just as happy as ever, a real trooper. He did great flying and only had a problem the last 20 mintues of our final flight! We cannot complain. I am trying to make progress on unpacking and laundry but it will take forever to get caught up at the rate I am going. It is more important to lay on the floor and play with Oliver anyway. Who cares that we now where our underwear inside out???? I promise to catch up on all of our goings on in Russia in a few days, needless to say there wasn't a dull moment. Oh maybe the 6 hours we spent in the van one day counts as a dull moment but probably not since we were packed in the van with our 4 fellow families all dreaming of a meal or at least seeing our kids on adoption day.........

Letter from Oliver

Dear family & friends,

You must care deeply for me to be reading this note. I can't wait to meet you, but there are some special things you should know about me. I am learning what it means to have a mommy and daddy and how to be part of a family. For this reason, please allow my parents to do all my caretaking, including holding, comforting, feeding me and laying me down to sleep. You are welcome to play with me and smile and talk to me. My mommy and daddy have been told by experts that this will help me learn as fast as I can how to be a happy and healthy part of my new family. It won't be long and I will be ready to be held by others but for now it is just my family that can hold me. I am already making progress but it will take me time to learn how to trust my mommy and daddy! I am sure they will let you know when I am ready to be held and snuggled by all of you.

Hugs and kisses,
Oliver

Sitting with a little peanut in my lap!

I am sitting here with a little peanut in my lap who is so happy to watch the keyboard and screen! All new to him. Everything is new to him and he is so interested and fascinated by it all. He is already showing great signs of attachment. Following us with his eyes, looking for us when he is with the other one of us, crawling to us and grabbing our ankles to be picked up. In the playroom yesterday he steered clear of the others and just hung with Mama and Papa.

He is eating so much and happy with the new formula. So far everything is going well for him, no digestive issues. His spitting up seems better and he loves his fruits and veggies! He is crawling more on his hands and knees but still does the army crawl a lot of the time. He has cut his first tooth and it is slowly making its way out. He loves to play on the floor or on the bed. A big comfy bed is something new to him, a great place to explore.

Today we went out for the first time in Moscow with him. We went to Red Square and the mall at Red Square for lunch at McDonalds. The first lunch under $50 in a long time! It tasted great. Gave Oliver a french fry but he just mushed it up, doesn't know how to feed himself at all yet. It will be a while before we let him, part of the attachment process. The little Babushkas kept coming up to make sure he was bundled up properly, and he was! Not one said anything. For those of you who don't know the Russian women are very outspoken on care and bundling of babies. Oliver did well out but wasn't too interested in being out. It was windy and cold and his little cheeks turned red even with two hats and a scarf. He also doesn't like that his thumb is inside his snowsuit!

Tomorrow we have our US Embassy appointment at 2:00, all orphan appointments are at 2:00. I am anxious to see all of the adopted children. Everyone says it so fun to see! So far I know of 5 families staying at our hotel. After our appointment we have to go to the Aeroflot office to gt Oliver's ticket. Thought it was taken care but when I called today to confirm his bassinet they said he doesn't have a seat or ticket. Not what the US office said. Whatever just get us home!

Introducing Oliver Maxim

We are in Moscow! And here is a picture of Oliver.

He is just the sweetest thing. The day was long Saturday and the last moments at the orphanage so rushed but it was a dream come true!

Will post more tomorrow! Just know that all is well and he is just a dream baby.