6th (8/18) & 7th (8/19) Visits

WOW is a word that we say often.  Don't have pictures an videos ready to upload yet but they are really good for certain.  Yesterday and today we rode over to Vorzel with Sivlet (no where near sure how to spell his name).  He is a driver that our facilitator uses to get families over to Vorzel if they choose to be driven as opposed to riding the bus.  In our case we mostly have been going with Anna and Yuri which is great for all of us I believe to make the transition easier. 

Yesterday was a lot of fun and as soon as she saw us round the corner up from the table she came and ran straight to Darlena - we sure wish we would have gotten that one on video.  Her little eyes are the brightest in the world.

Today she was excited to see us but she was eating breakfast or a snack outside when we got there and they immediately took her in to get her cleaned up first.  Well, before we went out to see her one of the ladies took Darlena by the arm and was telling her to wait....come to find out she wanted to show us some pictures of Ivanna - Ivanna was dressed in the Doctors white coat and using a stethascope and playing doctor on one of the ladies it was hilarious.  Then she showed us quite a few other pictures as well.  Tomorrow I am going to photograph them because there are some good ones of Ivan and the workers in there also.

Well, once the worker got Ivanna cleaned up (well I thought that's what was happening) --- goodness Darlena kept saying she smelled the most horrible smell as we were walking her out to the play area - well now I know she has a nose for an Ivanna stinky!!  So she quickly gathered her up and took her inside and the workers took her.  Darlena said she wanted to get her cleaned up but she thinks they were wanting to show her that Ivanna was Miss Independent and could do the majority of it by herself.  Well, soon, she will learn a different side of independence. Well, anyway - here they come finally and I had the video camera on this time.  Ivanna had to stop and attempt to fasten the velcro on her shoes which were worn out and wouldn't fasten and then she finally came running straight to me and ran right in to me while I was videotaping.  That is the cutest thing to see her running towards you like that and the excitement on her face when she does.

We brought her a new outfit to put on today and it was a jumper again not what she was accustomed to so we had a little struggle from her at first but when her attention got diverted to a banana she will basically let you do anything you want as long as she gets her banana!!!  She looked so cute.

We had taken her a new pair of shoes a few days ago but they still keep sending her out with the same shoes on that won't stay velcro'd any longer and are too short.  So, today we went and bought her a pair of sandals that velcro that look similiar to the ones she had on except these light up.  I bet she is going to be so happy that she doesn't have to bend down every few seconds and attempt to fasten her shoes.  Just hope they don't disappear.  We may take her a new outfit tomorrow we just haven't decided yet.  The clothes they have to dress them in are many sizes too small and the diapers they use are the same ... way too small.  Anna and Yuri took some diapers that were appropriate but for some reason they don't use them and they continue to use the ones that are too small.  Before we go and get her we are going to take them quite a few ourselves to help with some of the other children.

She is also OCD about keeping herself clean which is too funny to me.  She gets something on her mouth and she almost immediately wants to wipe it.  Just way too cute.  Spills something on her, she wants to wipe it off.  Today we were able to capture on video her mommy singing ABCs to her and ennunciating a few letters sharply and Ivanna was catching on and attempting to mimic the same thing.  Then Darlena started teaching her how to say I loooovvveee You and she would just giggle.  She said it several times.  Won't be long and we couldn't make her be quiet if we wanted to so I guess we better enjoy it while we can. 

Oh and she thinks grabbing something and slinging it across the yard is funny.  She's not going to think that's too funny if she picks up one of the lego sets that Steven so delicately put together and slings it across the living room.  Guess we have to work on that trait huh?

We have missed Anna and Yuri the past few days as they have been spending time with Anna's grandmother.  But hopefully we will get to spend more time with them on Saturday.  Tomorrow we will go again with Sivlet.  He is such a character.  He has fun trying to figure out what we are saying and he also helps us with our words on the way out.  Yuri has to correct us though and give us the Ukranian version as opposed to the Russian version.  Sometimes they are similiar but yet different.

Well, hopefully tomorrow we will get pictures and videos uploaded again - we again have technical difficulties on our home laptop.  Not sure why it is wanting to give us so much trouble but that may be a good thing.  Darlena is working so just wanted to give everyone an update while we could.

We can't wait to talk to the boys tonight to tell them what all has been going on lately.  Ivanna looked at the photo album again with me today while I called out the names of the boys and she attempted to repeat them.

She has so much capability and will soon be able to express more and more.  Looking forward to it.  She is a complete MESS - I hope all of you in Mississippi that are waiting on her arrival are ready.  Darlena told me that they will probably have security meet us in the airport when we touch down in the US and they will tell us that we are not allowed to board another plan and will have to find an alternate route home.  That is just plain funny. 

We have eaten at quite a few places.  This morning Darlena made coffee in the apartment for the first time.  It was very good we hadn't had just plain coffee since we left and that is almost unbelievable for either of us.  But it has just been way too hot.

Yesterday and today it has been so cool and felt so good outside.  The boys would absolutely love it here there is so much to do.  Hopefully when we have our GOTCHA day we will be able to take her to zoo and a few more things before we leave and not to mention the "official" stuff that must be done before we leave.  But we want her to have time to spend with her biological family before we leave.  This will be a first for them and a first for her and will mean a lot to them and to her grandmother and mean a lot to us because we will get to capture it all on video and camera.

Well signing off for now  -  thanks for your prayers continue to say them and we look forward to introducing our new family member to all of you very soon.