July 31, 2005
Summer fun
We're enjoying the hot-hot summer weather. Check out the photo album for some new glimpses of little Tara.
July 29, 2005
A community welcome
More than 30 friends arrived at the park pavillion this week to welcome Tara to the community. They were families from Austin's school. Our friends Mary and Rachel organized the gathering on this perfect day in July. Coincidentally, the party was July 27, the exact day that little Tara Vika turned 2 1/2. We missed her 2nd birthday; we didn't know her yet. She was still a resident of Little Birch Tree Orphanage in Ukraine and we don't know if they celebrated her birthday.
She loved the attention, and she loved the purple and white balloons, the wonderful gifts, the children and parents who played with her. We were overwhelmed by the support and generosity of our friends. Thanks to you all!
July 25, 2005
More words
"Hellloooh"
"All gone."
"All done."
"More, please."
"Again!"
"Go. Stop. No. Yes."
"Mama's car."
"Where's Dada? Where's Austin? There he is!"
"kitty kitty kitty kitty..."
These are just a handful of words and phrases that Tara Vika uses all of the time. Her comprehension is remarkable; her language skills develop every day. She tries to repeat words, and she uses them appropriately.
For instance, when I was changing sheets the other day, she kept trying to help but was sort of getting in the way. I playfully tossed the sheets at her, and she exclaimed with a smile and authoritatively pointed her tiny finger at me:"You're mean, Mama!" The kid is catching on fast.
Sometimes she tells a long story, arms gesturing and all, and we have no idea what she is saying. But when we respond, "Oh, really?" she says "yes!" And at that point, it doesn't really matter, we seem to understand each other.
July 20, 2005
Tara at the low ropes
The little girl from Ukraine--hanging around at a sports fieldhouse.
Her brother Austin and his friends Kirsten and Heath were up above, walking on the high ropes. Cool stuff.
July 16, 2005
Chocolate and Barney
We took Tara to see "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" today. A cool movie. We went with my neighbor friend Carolyn and her kids. We took two cars just in case Tara couldn't make it all the way through without causing a fuss. She managed to spill her water, my Sprite and a few cups of popcorn, lost her flip-flop shoes about 10 times, and kicked the back of the lady's chair in front of us. (Who would sit right in front of a 2-year-old at a movie, then lean way back til your seat hits the toddler's feet?? The theater was less than half full. I'm not saying the woman deserved it, but...)
Other than that, she did really well. Her biggest offense these days is talking too much. The words are part Ukraine, part English. Near the end, I let her walk up and down the hallway where no one could hear her, while I stood watching the movie, keeping one eye on her while she happily hopped along on the patterns on the carpet.
At home, more hopping, this time to a Barney episode, over and over again with glee. I'm sure they didn't have Barney in her orphanage in Ukraine. Since she's an American kid now, I figured she ought to at least know about him. Let's hope she doesn't like him too much.
July 10, 2005
Playing around
Here are a few pics of Tara Vika having fun.
July 06, 2005
Fireworks
Look up in the sky, I told Tara, there will be lots of colors and bright lights and loud noises--BOOM! But I guess words can't really prepare you for your first fireworks ever. It was Sunday night, seven of us at the nearby golf course, perched in our little beach chairs, waiting for the show to begin. At last, at 10 p.m., the first trickle of color jumped into the sky, and little Tara Vika jumped into my lap. She didn't move, and had a bit of a frown on her face. But within a few minutes, she was repeating my ooohs and ahhhs. She loved it.
When the show was over, we decided that the long walk around the fenced golf course was unnecessarily too far, so we all decided to hop the tall fence. That's three adults, two teen girl cousins (Caroline, Meagan), Austin, Tara, a stroller and six chairs. One by one, we heeved the items over the fence, including one pair of high-heeled shoes that would have made the climb impossible. Then we pushed each other up and over, mmmph. Quite a site to behold...(sorry for the nudge, Karen)
We will post some new pictures soon!