Back to Work and First Day of School

Today I went back to work and my sweet baby started school! I was not looking forward to today...it seemed like my 6 weeks with him flew by so fast. I was worried about what he would think in his little mind about mommy and daddy being gone for the day..well really just from 9:00-2:30...I am blessed to only work 2 days a week and he is in a great program at First Baptist Rockwall where he is already so loved by 2 amazing teachers! We have been talking alot about school and he even says "scoo" for school=)

Trying to get a picture of this boy is almost impossible! He thought it was so funny that I was trying to get a picture of him with his Spiderman backpack and lunchbox! By the way... he picked those out...I promise! Michael took him to the store to "pick out" a lunch box for school and he was all about the Spiderman lunchbox... a few days later when I went to the store I let him pick out a backpack..same thing..he was all about Spiderman!! Craziness=)

When we first walked to the door of his class he started to cry...until we walked in with him.. then he thought..wow..this is greatness!

He was all about the toys...then when we left he chased us out the door=( They said he did really good for his first day.. that he cried a little off and on...PE was his favorite.. he loved the hula hoops! He was happy to see me after school! I do think he has had a difficult time processing the day..as he has been very loud all afternoon! We will see what Thursday brings=)

Labor Day Weekend

FRIDAY

We had a fun filled weekend! On Friday evening we went to the eat pizza with some friends and then we went to the park for our neighborhoods Family Fun Friday Night. They had all kinds of games set up, painting, bounce house, and even a movie showing at dusk...We didn't stay for the movie because my girlies wanted to get back for the premier of Camp Rock:The Final Jam=)

Andrew didn't want to take a picture in front of the firetruck.. he wanted to get down and climb on it=)

SATURDAY

Mika had her first soccer game of the season... GO TIGERS! She did great! She even scored a goal!!

Andrew and Kennedy watching from the sidelines... Andrew was so funny... he loved standing there screaming and pointing at Mika!

Then he decided he was done with soccer..got his bag and took off!

And there is my girl!!!

Later that day we went to Michael's families house for a shrimp boil..the kids always have a blast hanging out!

Climbing trees

So sweet! Don't his eyes look great?!

SUNDAY

We went to church for the first time since bringing Andrew home...we had to wait at least 6 weeks for bonding/attaching purposes...I was really nervous about how he would do..We could tell he was nervous..he didn't want to go in his room but he did.. when we went to pick him up I peeked in his room and he was sitting at a little table sucking his thumb and he looked soooo sad... when he saw us he burst into tears and came running towards us! They said he cried off and on but did well for a first time.. I was pleased=) It's a good sign he cried..it means attachment has taken place!

Later that day we went to get ice cream to celebrate Mika's first soccer goal of the season...

Andrew got his first sugar high! I realized he hadn't really had much sugar until he started acting like a monkey...no.. really.. he started jumping up and down in the booth and saying "ooo-ooo-ooo" just like a little monkey... then once we got in the car he was screaming.. not that that is unusual.. but he would do it then just bust out laughing! So funny!

MONDAY

His first American holiday we went to my parents house...for good ole fashioned burgers and dogs..my boy was happy..he was outside .. all day!

All the cousins..minus one!

This is where he spent most of the day... on the tire swing!! Everyone in the family took their turn pushing him.. he never wanted to get off!!

One Month Already?

Andrew has been home for 1 month already! In some ways it feels like we just got home yesterday and in some ways it feels like he has been a part of this family forever. He has learned so much over the past month.. Just one month ago my little boy would panic if he didn't have his socks and shoes on because this is what was always expected in the orphanage..he would also panic if we went outside and he didn't have his hat on...Now..I can't keep socks, shoes, or a hat on him...as soon as I put his shoes on he looks at me and says, "off, off!"... Freedom!!! He is picking up on English so quickly! Everyday he learns new words! He is a smart boy! I am proud that he uses off, open, up, and all done appropriatly! He now says, hello, hi, and bye-bye.  When you ask him what his name is.. he says.."An du"...Andrew! Sooo cute! He says drink, bore (more) I have figured out he can't say his /m/ sound but we are working on that! Papa/Dada...still working on Mama...he can't get that /m/ sound out=) We relized it comes out Papa... When I tell our dog "out of the kitchen", He repeats the full sentence! He will randomly repeat phrases he hears.. like 1,2, 3...or good boy..He will also repeat almost any word you give him..so precious in how he pronounces them!! Probably the best way to fill you in on what he has been up to is to give you a list of likes/not a fan of!

Likes

His mommy and daddy
His sisters- especially at bedtime...they rescue him from going to bed with just one more hug!
To snuggle in the morning when he wakes up and after nap=)
being outside
swinging
music
dancing
water-swimming, bathtub, playing in the sink
being tickled
laughing
books
telephones
food
Our dog Bella

Not a fan of

Tex-Mex food- I cook this at least twice a week=(
veggies
shoes
carseat
coming in from outside-the end of the world has occured when this happens!
Our dog Bella- just depends on the day!

This was the first time we met Andrew back in June... look how sad and scared he looked!

Andrew now!! Happy boy!

Wedding Weekend!

Michael's cousin got married this weekend at a ranch in Graham, Texas! We weren't sure until the day before the wedding if we would all be going or just Michael and the girls..We decided it would be fun if we could all go.. We were mostly concerned about the long drive and the overnight stay with Andrew...The drive down went great until the last 30 minutes..it then quickly reminded us of our train ride in Russia!

What would we do without a DVD player in the car? Andrew mostly ate the earphones...but at least it kept him busy!

The wedding was beautiful!! The reception was sooo much fun! I enjoyed watching my kids dance and have a blast! Andrew surprised us...he loved the music and dancing...he got sad if we took him off the dance floor!! He wanted to be right in the middle of all of it! I think if he had his way he would have been playing with the band!!

                            Getting ready to go home....where's my luggage??

Surgery Day

Today was a big day for Andrew.. He had surgery on both of his eyes to correct his strabismus (crossing of the eyes). He was so brave and such a trooper! The worst part was recovery.. When he first woke up he looked at me, pulled at one of the many wires attached to his little body and said, "off!"...He just didn't understand... It didn't make it any easier that every time he cried his tears were bloody..broke my heart. The anesthestia made him really nausiated.. He threw up several times..Once we got medicine for that he was fine...His eyes will be really blood shot for a couple of weeks, no swimming for 2 weeks, and thats about it! His eyes already look straight! It's amazing what doctors can do in 1 hour! Thanks for all your prayers!

How cute is he in his little scrubs?

A bucket of action figures to keep him happy! Look how huge his pants are! I finally got him to be still long enough to get them rolled up!

At home after surgery! Look at the difference=)