Ukraine Adoption

Here's to 2008

Three years ago in January, we received a letter in the mail that took three weeks to arrive, announcing our appointment at Ukraine's adoption center on Feb. 2. Our first reaction was, oh no, not in the dreadful winter. Actually I think John's very first reaction was, oh no, we're going to miss the Super Bowl.

I reassured him that we would be able to find a television somewhere in Kiev that had a satellite dish. And we did! But the game started at midnight Ukraine time, and that would mean walking home in the blistering cold down dark alleys from the Irish pub at 3 a.m. and our appointment with the orphanage inspector was the next morning. We ended up not watching the game...

Reading other blogs is like a trip down memory lane--glitches, delays and frustrating paper chases and all. It was a risk, and very difficult some days, and we almost turned back a few times, but for some reason we kept moving forward. So 2005 will be a year that we will never forget.

But we look forward to 2008 as Austin becomes a teenager (gasp) and little Tara Vika turns 5. She will start kindergarten in the fall. She continues to amaze us every day with the spark in her eyes, the things she says, the love she gives. Sometimes she is defiant, often she is determined, and always she is courageous.

May you all have a happy, healthy and adventurous 2008!

Happy Christmas to all

Tara Christmas 07
Originally uploaded by me

An interview with Tara:
What do you like about Christmas: "Getting pictures with Austin. I like my gymnastic Barbies."

Who do you like to see on Christmas. "Santa. And Grandma. And the whole room of people that I know."

Why do you like your picture taken? "I like to look pretty in a picture. And that's it. I don't want to say anything more."

Holiday happenings

Shopping, wrapping, cleaning, preparing. Trying to take a few moments here and there to absorb it all, to really feel the Christmas spirit. It's hard to imagine it is only a few days away.

This picture was taken at Tara's ballet class last week when they could wear any costumes they wanted. Most of the girls showed up as princesses.

Yesterday Tara was whining about something when John said to her: You sound like a little baby. She replied, defiantly: "I'm NOT a baby, I'm a sweetie pie." Indeed.

The gift of time

The television was off and I was in the family room folding laundry last week, a magazine perched on the couch next to me. After a few minutes, I noticed something peculiar: Silence. No one was asking me for something, or fighting over the TV, or telling me they were hungry.

I listened again. Nothing. Concerned, I went upstairs and found every one in their rooms (John in his office) and they were all busy with their own activities. I slipped back down to the family room, unnoticed. Without even realizing it, my family had given me the gift of time. Peaceful moments, and I wasn't even stealing them.

As Tara gets older, I notice that I'm getting little pockets of time when I least expect it. And it's simply lovely. She will be 5 years old next month and has definite interests. This does not mean she has stopped following me around when I'm cleaning until I spin around and bump into her by accident. In fact, last weekend I was trying to squeeze in a 10-minute power nap and she came in my room with her automatic keyboard and announced that she was going to play my favorite song for me while I "rested." It was kind of loud...

However, I remain optimistic that these pockets of time will continue to increase and some day I will wish I saw her little face waiting for me as soon as I exit the bathroom door. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the occasional gift of time.

Say what? Part XIII

So we're driving to school today and Tara blurts out: "It's hell!" Startled, I asked her to repeat. She said it again. It's always funny when kids repeat stuff they hear, but this sounded bizarre coming from her. I asked her to say it again. She says, "Everybody's going to hell."

OK this freaked me out, I was thinking about those scary movies when the kids are possessed. Then she points: "Right there, another hell. We're going downhell." OH! I say, "HILL." Yes, hell, she says. Whew. We can stop blessing ourselves now.

We went to get our flu shots recently. Austin was disappointed that they didn't have FluMist, the painless nasal spray. I got my shot first, then Austin as Tara watched each time. And finally, Tara pulled up her sleeve and that tiny, pale arm was showing. "OK," said the nurse, "this might just sting a little bit." Tara was watching so closely that her nose was almost jabbed by the long needle. Austin and I both gulped when we saw it pierce Tara's flesh. But there were no tears. Instead, Tara giggled. "That tickles," she said.

The nurse was rather surprised: "That's the first time I've ever heard that! I'm going to go home and tell my husband about her. He whines about getting shots." Yes, my sister insists that Tara is going to be a doctor someday. Anyone need more proof?

We went to the dentist this morning to get our teeth clean. Tara was on one end of the room, I was on the other. We couldn't see each other and I was a bit worried about her. The hygenist said she did a great job of opening her mouth and sitting still.

She asked Tara if she liked going to the dentist or the doctor better. Tara replied: "The doctor!" In the car afterward, I asked Tara if the hygenist asked whether she flosses every day, which she doesn't. "Yes, she did ask," Tara said. And what did you tell her? I asked, reluctantly. "I told her yes!" Good girl.

Santa's list

Some friends and family are asking me what the kids want for Christmas. This always feels a little weird to me, to tell people exactly what to buy for our kids. I know it makes things much easier for the well-meaning buyers, but it still feels like it's a bit removed from the true meaning of the holidays.

OK, so now I'll admit that it's pretty fun to send my brother off into the Barbie aisle at Toys R Us, or my brother-in-law in search of pricey X-box games in crowded electronics stores. Time to go work on those lists...

It's beginning to look a lot like ...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go
There's a pile of broken lights
Wrinkled bows and snowflake tights
We never are quite ready for the snow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Soon the lists will show
Lots of toys and expensive stuff
But it's never really enough
They must want me to spend all of our dough.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
My gas tank is running low
I even tried to shop online
But that took even more time
Can't we just donate to charity and let it go?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you look
The cat chewed on the holiday wrap
The kids used the cardboard roll as a bat
And now those paper balls fill my kitchen nook.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Time to to hug your mate
Just buy the children some simple things
Don't jump up every time the phone rings
Because soon enough it'll be 2008.

Happy holidays to all
Play more, stress less.