April 08, 2007
A true celebration
Two years ago today, little Tara Vika was awakened from a nap at an orphanage in Kyiv, Ukraine and told that her mama was back, and she was going to take her to her new home. I was scared that she wouldn't remember, but she walked right to me. I couldn't believe that she was finally ours forever. My cousin Sally was with me for the "gotcha day." We quickly dressed Tara in new clothes and loaded her into a car.
She was only two years old. If you want to read about it, see this site. Today she is a happy, smart girl who loves to help people and ride on her brother's shoulders and sing in the car. She likes pretty clothes and pink nail polish. She loves to tease and make people laugh. And her hugs are hearty and genuine.
Happy Easter to all, and happy Gotcha Day to our precious little girl.
Posted by Laura at April 8, 2007 06:45 PMPosted to Tara's Story
Happy Gotcha Day, Tara! She looks so happy now. Her eyes are shining with joy.
Posted by: Greta at April 8, 2007 10:44 PMWhenever you talk about Gotcha Day I think of mom and dad talking about "get-some-clean-gacias" (pronounced 'gotcha'). One of the many half-English half-Polish phrases we grew up with, besides "siadz!" and "chodz chodz tutaj!"
I know Dad would have been enamored of Tara, he would have really enjoyed being her Grandpa. And Tara Dactyl has a proud grandma! She is so healthy now, her color and her hair is so healthy looking.
I enjoyed reminiscing about Austin living with us when you first met Tara. You literally searched the world over to find her. Tara reminds me a lot of when you were little, Laura, her hair, the way she bops around. What a blessing. Dziecko kochana!
Posted by: karen wiz at April 9, 2007 11:01 AMhi laura,
i have been reading your site for about 7 months now. my parents are both from poland ( my father's town is now part of the ukraine). i also grew up in michigan. i now live in los angeles with my husband and 4 1/2 year old son. we are very, very interested in looking into ukrainian adoption, but the frua chapter here in LA has folded. there are tons of information on chinese adoption here, but nothing on the ukraine. from reading your blog, i know you are very busy, but if you do have a moment, i would love any information.
best to you and your lovely family,
rachel (rckdesign@aol.com)
I remember Gotcha Day! We've come a long way, baby! We waited in the car with little quiet Tara after we got her from the orphanage for hours waiting for Natasha to straighten out more paperwork so we could get out of Ukraine and take Tara home (it turns out I had to go home anyway without Laura and Tara--because of the horrible boss I had at the time) then we ate some dinner (don't remember what we had?? Laura?) and we gave Tara her first bath.
I remember impossibly tiny Tara with her little drum tummy running around the apartment, (little Commando), free and clean, and Laura holding out her new fresh pjs...and then later, Tara standing up in Laura's bed and spying on us over the top of the couch as we updated the blog...;-) Those little bright eyes...hey, are you my mommy???
Cousin Sally