1st Christmas

Ulia's first Christmas with us was great! She had the best time opening gifts with the boys and playing all day long.Her best gift was a bike from Santa,we cant get her off of it now.

one year ago this was our post!

One year ago & now




"We are now the parents of a daughter! Court went well, it was about 1 1/2 hours long and most of that time is spent translating things.We did not get the 10 day waiting period waived,so we will get custody of Juliana on Dec 25th, what a great Christmas "

Its so hard to believe that one year ago we were in Russia! Ulia is such a different child then she was 1 year ago!

A few more shots

Trying to get just one good picture

Ok, It is so hard to get 4 kids to all look happy in a picture!

Parade pictures

Ben and Ulia had a great time on the baby tiller, and Zack was in the float with the Cub Scouts

First time with Santa

We went to the Fire Dept breakfast with Santa this Am.Ulia had no problem telling Santa what she wanted! A bike, a cell phone,clothes, and shoes!We then went to the Christmas parade which she thought was the best thing since..Halloween with all that candy.

First ER visit

Well Ulia had her first ER visit the other day! she was playing around with Ben and they were being silly and she slipped and cracked the back of her head on the fireplace.The Er Dr. put in 4 staples and sent us on our way. Ulia is doing fine, she cried while they did it then stopped and wanted my cell phone! The girl is obsessed with the cell phone!
IN just a few days it will be one year that Bob and I left to meet Ulia! We left the States on Dec 5th and returned home Dec 31st, a month in Russia seems like so long ago.

riding the scooter

Almost a year!

We have had our visit from our social worker for our one year post palcement report,it is so hard to believe that Ulia has been her almost a year. The other day she decided it was time for a haircut and gave herself one, it was not to pretty! so now she has some supper short bangs and we had to take the back up some.So much for the 1 year home pictures.

Update

Ulia has been home with us now for 9 months! its hard to believe she has been here such a short time and has for the most part become Americanized. Ulia speaks great,is super smart and a little spitfire.She has her own mind that is for sure and is not at all afraid to voice her thoughts. She is loving Pre-K and doing great.She and Ben are best friends until one is mad at the other then we here "you are not my bestest friend Ben"! and she walks away its very funny. She has had some good old American Botox! no not on her lips but in her calf and thigh to help stretch her muscle.It seems to be working well and helping her walk a bit less on her toes.

Sad Day

Today I heard from our friend Roma in Russia. They have closed Ulias orphanage due to the salt mines and shifting/sinking ground. The kids have been moved to other orphanages around the city of Perm. I feel for all the children and caregivers,for the children who will most likely go to an all ready over crowded orphanage and the caregivers who have probably lost there lively hood. They try to do the best for the kids that they can with very little assistance or money.

One year ago

Almost a year

It is so hard to believe that almost 1 year ago I made our first trip to Russia to meet Ulia! I was there the last few days of August. Wow how our lives have changed! From that trip we gained a daughter, made a friend in Russia(Roma) who we hope will some day visit us,we can't even express how much we appreciated Roma while we were in Russia.I look back at the pictures of Ulia and can't believe how she has changed.

Well all the kids are in school now! Ben & Ulia go until 11:30 Zack and Alex are all day, I must admit I LOVE THE QUITE HOUSE for 2 1/2 hours each AM. So far everyone seems to be doing well and liking school. I am amazed at how well Ulia has done,she loves to go each morning and keeps tabs on Ben.
This summer has flown by, for the most part not much going on. Unfortunately we had to go to Pittsburgh, my father past away on July 22, it was not a good week for my family as my dads brother died 3 days before my dad.

Ulia & Ben first day of Pre- K

New Job

I am now a Tastefully Simple Independent consultant!
www.tastefullysimple.com


Let me know if you would like to place an order or host a party.

This song sums up our adoption

2nd trip to the beach

Ulia's second trip to the beach went much better then the first. She totaly was into it and had a great time playing with her brothers and sitting in the surf.

Happy Out of the sand

A Day at the Beach

Well with good intentions this Am we headed out to the beach.ONly to find out once we got there that our little Princess does not care for sand AT ALL!! she got into a wading pool since the tide was out and once she realized that sand was getting on her she flipped out.She ran out striped down and screamed for a shower. We washed her off with some bottled water and got her dressed and she calmed down and wanted to go home.We managed to get her to stay a little longer as long as she didnt touch the sand.

4 months home

Well we have been home 4 months already ! Ulia has been accepted into the Pre -K program at the Elementary school so she will be starting in July ( we are in year round school here) She currently goes to the school a few hours a week for therapy and Loves it! I think she will do so well in school. She is so vocal and has no problem fitting in,her English is so great. Ulia is a very outgoing, loving, funny girl. She is very much aware of the fact that she is the princess around here,especially with her 3 brothers.

Ulia the shadow

Juliana (Ulia as we call her) is doing great.She has learned so much English its unreal.The newest pictures our of her in her new black shirt.She wants the same color clothes as me everyday,so we had to go out and buy her a black shirt since I seem to wear a lot of it. She is truly my shadow.

Home almost 12 weeks

Fitting right in

Now that we have been home over a month,Juliana is fitting right in! She has managed to learn so many things....her favorite being "mummy come here" She is my shadow,she does not let me out of her site. Juliana is doing great with her new glasses.

She is starting to play with the boys more and more each day.She will yell at them in Russian when ever she feels they are not doing the right thing,it is hysterical to watch.
Each night she comes to each of us and says "give me kiss,give me hug, I love you" and is just so happy with herself when she gets done with each of us.

New Glasses

This song sums up our adoption

Check out my Slide Show!

My foursome

Some pictures

another outfit!

Almost a month

Its hard to believe that Juliana has been home with us almost a month. She is doing so well and has brought a whole new personality into the house. Juliana has learned to say "I love you" and says it to us all the time ! She loves to give hugs and kisses also. I crack up when you hand her something she always says "oh Thank you" in the funniest little voice, it doesn't matter what it is its the same response.
She has been to the eye doctor and is going to be getting glasses, I think this will make her happy as she always wants to wear mine.
Juliana is still amazed that all the clothes in her closet are hers she takes forever picking out something to wear. I hope when she gets older this wont be a problem..We will never get her out of the house :)

New pictures

Info on the Cadman Foundation

We have had many people ask how they can help and wanting info on our grant. To those interested in the Cadman Foundation here is the link.
Adoption Assistance - Cadman Foundation

The Cadman Foundation, has offered us a matching grant to help with some of our adoption costs, the info is on the web site. It is a tax deductible donation the check gets made out and mailed to the Cadman Foundation, just enclose a note saying for the "Pairman Adoption" and it will go to our grant.
P.S Please don't write our name on the check,only Cadman Foundation

A few Thanks

I just wanted to post a note saying thank you to all of those that helped out during our adoption.
Thanks to my mom Bah boosh ka (grandmother in Russian). Thank you for coming out and staying with the boys while we were gone. We know we probably will never get you back to see us again after so long with them,but they had a great time with you.
Also thank you all who contributed to the Cadman Foundation on our behalf.
Adoption Assistance - Cadman Foundation
With out the donations of those who donated and still are donating we would not have been able to complete this adoption.
To our agency World Links, Adoption Agency - World Links International Adoption Agency who made this a quick and somewhat easy process.
And to all our friends and family who have supported us thru this we thank each of you.

A whole new world

Its hard to believe we have only been home going on 2 weeks Juliana fits right in as if we had her forever.Things are going pretty well,our biggest issue is going to sleep and waking at night but each night it gets a little better.Alex has started to call her DQ for Drama Queen, as she knows how to throw a fit when she wants to. She is picking up words each day which is amazing to me. She loves to play patty cake and give high fives!
I was thinking today about how well she is really doing,Bob and I where in Russia for almost a month and found it so hard to go some places with out knowing the language and here she is 4 years old and has had her world turned upside down and she is doing pretty good with it.
The first days home she screamed when the dog came near her,now she pets him and runs after him.Ben and Zack are the proud big brothers (Ben does not realize that he is actually 2 months younger) and Alex is I think is loving having a little sister.

Say Cheese!

Today was Julianas first ride on the boys tractor,she laughed so hard and thought it was the greatest!

Welcome Home From the boys

Back to the good Ole USA

Well, after a few days on Moscow we have arrived home! Juliana has been very good.She had a pretty good flight for having to sit there for over 10 hours. The boys our just smitten with her! and she with them.
Kelly