We are 4 days away from receiving our court decree and finalizing our adoption of Victoria!!! Our friends, Chris, Daniela and Sasha may be receiving their paperwork tomorrow. So, we are hopeful for that and are very happy to have had a chance to share this experience with them.
Sharon had the chance to head out today (with Irina and Daniela) to go souvenir shopping for Victoria. This also turned allowed her to do some sightseeing (lots of great photos). Unfortunately, we may not get to do a family sightseeing outing here in Vlad (based on the way the days fall and the business that we have to attend to next week). So, we were very happy that Sharon had the chance to get out today and see some things. We should still have time to do a family outing once we get to Moscow.
Sharon did an excellent job picking out items for Victoria. What a great mom she is!!! She picked up some awesome Russian nesting dolls, a Snow Princess, a teddy bear with “Vika” on it, and a CD with Russian children songs. There are 3 nesting dolls. One is distinctly Russian, painted red, black, and gold. One is the Cheburashka, with all the main characters from the cartoon (including the crocodile, the lion, the mean old lady and her dog). The last nesting doll is Winnie the Pooh and contains a number of the main characters (Tigger, Eyore, Rabbit and Piglet). As for the Snow Princess, it is said that she brings gifts to little Russian boys and girls around Christmas.
While Sharon was out, Steve spent the time in the room watching a movie with Victoria. She wanted to watch Nemo again (hard to believe, right?). So, he may have rested his eyes a little during the movie. Hahaha… The rest of the time was spent coloring and playing ball (some of her typical afternoon activities). Victoria absolutely loves the pair of sunglasses that we brought for her. Of course, we find it hysterical that she loves to use them inside and sees no need for them outside. We were looking through some pictures on the computer tonight (from our trek down to the frozen Sea of Japan yesterday) and we pointed out that she had blinked in one picture. She said that the sun was in her eyes. So, we are working on the concept of using the sunglasses outside.
During the first few days, Victoria would eat anything that we put in front of her and would eat every last bite. Now, she is a little more picky about what she eats and how much. She loves her apple juice (yablaka-sok), banana (banan), and yogurt for breakfast (zaftrak). For lunch (aby-et), she giggles with excitement over her ham and cheese sandwich, along with some goldfish. For dinner (oozshin), she adores plain pasta. Since she has never had sauce with her pasta, we will wait until we get home to introduce some sauces. It will be important to see how she likes these before a meal at her Uncle Joe’s house (who, if you don’t know, can put out a real feast).
The three of us are sitting here in front of the computer as we type this. Victoria does not like to let daddy type as she just wants to see pictures/videos of herself. We have gotten around this by setting up a scrolling slideshow of pictures on the side of the screen. Well, it is time for Zubies and then off to bed for Victoria. The last two nights she has gone into bed alone in the room, without us on the adjacent bed (such a big girl).
Here are a few pics from around the city. The first is a view across the Vlad Bay and into the Sea of Japan, the second is the Triumphal Arch, the third is the first church built in Vladivostok, the fourth is an actual WWII sub (including a WWII monument to fallen soldiers), the last is a nice sea level shot across the bay.
Sharon had the chance to head out today (with Irina and Daniela) to go souvenir shopping for Victoria. This also turned allowed her to do some sightseeing (lots of great photos). Unfortunately, we may not get to do a family sightseeing outing here in Vlad (based on the way the days fall and the business that we have to attend to next week). So, we were very happy that Sharon had the chance to get out today and see some things. We should still have time to do a family outing once we get to Moscow.
Sharon did an excellent job picking out items for Victoria. What a great mom she is!!! She picked up some awesome Russian nesting dolls, a Snow Princess, a teddy bear with “Vika” on it, and a CD with Russian children songs. There are 3 nesting dolls. One is distinctly Russian, painted red, black, and gold. One is the Cheburashka, with all the main characters from the cartoon (including the crocodile, the lion, the mean old lady and her dog). The last nesting doll is Winnie the Pooh and contains a number of the main characters (Tigger, Eyore, Rabbit and Piglet). As for the Snow Princess, it is said that she brings gifts to little Russian boys and girls around Christmas.
While Sharon was out, Steve spent the time in the room watching a movie with Victoria. She wanted to watch Nemo again (hard to believe, right?). So, he may have rested his eyes a little during the movie. Hahaha… The rest of the time was spent coloring and playing ball (some of her typical afternoon activities). Victoria absolutely loves the pair of sunglasses that we brought for her. Of course, we find it hysterical that she loves to use them inside and sees no need for them outside. We were looking through some pictures on the computer tonight (from our trek down to the frozen Sea of Japan yesterday) and we pointed out that she had blinked in one picture. She said that the sun was in her eyes. So, we are working on the concept of using the sunglasses outside.
During the first few days, Victoria would eat anything that we put in front of her and would eat every last bite. Now, she is a little more picky about what she eats and how much. She loves her apple juice (yablaka-sok), banana (banan), and yogurt for breakfast (zaftrak). For lunch (aby-et), she giggles with excitement over her ham and cheese sandwich, along with some goldfish. For dinner (oozshin), she adores plain pasta. Since she has never had sauce with her pasta, we will wait until we get home to introduce some sauces. It will be important to see how she likes these before a meal at her Uncle Joe’s house (who, if you don’t know, can put out a real feast).
The three of us are sitting here in front of the computer as we type this. Victoria does not like to let daddy type as she just wants to see pictures/videos of herself. We have gotten around this by setting up a scrolling slideshow of pictures on the side of the screen. Well, it is time for Zubies and then off to bed for Victoria. The last two nights she has gone into bed alone in the room, without us on the adjacent bed (such a big girl).
Here are a few pics from around the city. The first is a view across the Vlad Bay and into the Sea of Japan, the second is the Triumphal Arch, the third is the first church built in Vladivostok, the fourth is an actual WWII sub (including a WWII monument to fallen soldiers), the last is a nice sea level shot across the bay.
How wonderful it is that Vika is taking to you two! I'm sure she's waited all her life to be spoiled and loved by parents she can call her own. And, how proud you two must be! I bet now, the long wait was worth it! Take care & come home safe! Julie & Brandon
ReplyDeleteTake advantage of the fact that she had not been exposed to too much television. When she starts her life in the states that will change. Our country's programming needs some parental oversight. Not everything on the tele is appropriate for kids. Even at the "family hor" before 9:00 PM. I found that out with my 12 yr. old son. So use the DVD as much as you can to appropriately expose her to good programming. Alison Sudhalter
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