Belated Happy Turkey Day!

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

We have had a busy weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving at home this year. Dinner was very nice; I was able to cook all the side dishes the day before while Sean was having fun. It was very relaxing time for us as a family. We had some of our family for dinner and the rest of the gang joined us for dessert.

It was great having Patrick home for 4 days as we did have a lot of fun together. We did get all of our Christmas decorating done both inside and outside. I put up all but one Christmas tree. Plus we pretty much have our shopping for the kids done. I said to Pat everyday is like Christmas for me because each morning I get to wake up to a wonderful gift! We also brought Sean to see Santa, but it did not go over very well, there's always next year!

Sean had a great time with his cousins and family. We have been blessed with this wonderful boy and we are truly thankful this year! Sean is doing great and is becoming an active 2 year old. I am so amazed how well he is doing and how much he has changed. I love to see him laugh and giggle. Here are some pictures of Sean’s busy weekend and some from the last two weeks.





Dad and Sean on poop patrol in the yard.




Sean finally going down the driveway all by himself.



I am now standing in my crib.

Sean and Goldie wanting to escape from the kitchen

I just had to take a pic of Sean sleeping with his butt in the air.

Sean was happy to meet Nicholas his Russian pal.

Sean happy with his sippy cup!

Sean and Molly having a great time!

Sean loves his big sis Molly to play with him.

One month together photos!

Sean is singing away!



Sean likes to go to the door to look out side.

No socks for this kid he likes to go barefoot. Good thing we have radiant heated floors.

How many fingers can I put in my mouth mom!

One of Sean's many funny faces that he makes.



My first lawn mower ride and I liked it!

I think I can drive this big mower.

I sure do like my swing.

1 Month Home!

Sean is doing great! We had our first post placement meeting and that went very well. Sean is little more reluctant to go to strangers. He clings to me when someone reaches out to him. I felt good about that! Our social worker commented how well Sean has adjusted to his new home and family. He is attaching to us little bit more every day. Sean does something new every day that just makes us smile.

Sean is so funny with making all kinds of faces and noises on a daily basis. I'll make a funny face at him and he laughs; we do this every day. He just has starting touching my lips and we have been touching noses. He just looks me right in the eye, and of course I just give him kisses. He just recently took my hand and put it to his lips-so sweet!

He enjoys just looking at books right now and will go over to his bookshelf and take them out and flips through the pages over and over. Sean is starting to test me and see if I will let him touch certain things. He likes pulling things down off the table on to the floor. But when I say Sean “no, no”, he quickly turns around and moves away.

Sean is walking so much better now. No more Frankenstein when he walks! He is starting to explore the house and goes in every room by himself and now is starting to run little bit. His first two weeks home he did not like his baths now he enjoys them and has starting to sing in the tub and plays with his toys. Now when Sean wants to go somewhere or wants something he will take our hand and pull us to where he wants to go whether it’s to the kitchen for something to eat or to go down stairs to play.

Sean likes to eat a couple of things at the same time, he puts his hand up when he want me to change to something else like fruit cup or applesauce. He is still not ready to try hard food as he likes only things that are soft, and our biggest challenge was getting him to drink. But he does like mom’s meatloaf and stew. When we were in Russia we showed Sean how to drink out of a Sippy cup. Upon arrival here in the States, he seem to move backwards and refused to drink from any cup! Recently I did manage to get him to hold it again and put it to his lips and then we had a breakthrough; Sean drank from his Sippy cup! Yippee! Now its a part of his daily routine.

Birth to 3 services came out to evaluate Sean and because he just turned two he qualified for some of their intervention services. He will have a teacher come out once a week to help with his speech and teaching him English. Maybe she can help Pat too! We have noticed Sean is getting closer to finding his words.

Sleeping is still going very well. Sean goes down at 8:00 PM and sleeps until 6:30 or 7. He does wake up on occasion in the middle of the night and will start to sing. His father has that same habit, but its usually as he is coming home from the Playwright! Sean takes a 2 hour nap or so during the day too. He continues to sing when he goes to bed until he falls a sleep and when he wakes in the morning.

Sean likes to go outside he looks around at everything. He is still not sure of the grass under his feet and prefers mom to hold him or riding in his wagon. He has ridden the lawn tractor with his dad and cited for SWD(Singing While Driving!)

One Month, Happy Gotcha day!

You are the poem of dreamed of writing, the masterpiece I longed to paint.
You are the shinning star I reached for in my ever hopeful quest for life fulfilled.
You are my child. Now with all things I am blessed.

This is our referral picture. He was 8 months old at the time it was taken.I found it on the orphan website along with other children. At the time, I thought this could be our son. For months I would track him and several other children and hoped one of them would be our be our son. My sister in law saw his picture just weeks before we were to leave and said to me he is beautiful and I have a good feeling about him. As it turned out she was right and it was to be our Sean. I am happy to have this baby picture and the one they gave us in court.

This was the updated photo they took of Sean and put it on the website just before we left for out 2nd trip.

More doctor's visit's for Sean!

We have been to the doctor three times already, but not because he is ill. Sean got his flu shots. He also got his chicken pox vaccination. The last test was for TB, which came out negative. He did great up until they stuck him, then he was a very upset boy and Mommy did her best to comfort him. Once we were in the lobby he was back to himself.

Our biggest concern is whether to get his vaccinations redone or believe the medical reports that have been given to us in Russia. I am getting a second opinion from Yale medical clinic on Monday. I also consulted with Dr. Skurkovich from RI that helped us on our first trip. His opinion is we should not have the vaccinations redone if Sean is reasonably well nourished and the records are good.

Sean (and his father) have been healthy since we have been home. It is his mom who has had everything! Sean will be going for a complete physical next Monday. I hope that will be it for awhile. We are enjoying our singing little man. He is entertaining us every day. Here are a some pics of our few weeks home with him.

Sean enjoys visiting his mum mums.

Sean was not sure what to make of his singing dogie.

One of Sean's favorite toys, he love to hug and squeeze it.

Happy Halloween!

It was a great first Halloween for Sean. He did enjoy being in his costume. His cousins Ronan, Eoin, Jack and Madalyn looked so cute. Our little monkey was really a good boy with all the excitement of the night.