A little bit of bragging...

Honestly, I'm not a bragging kinda mom - in fact, I am probably harder on my 2-year old than anyone else. I discipline her for not listening, throwing her toys or ripping something that shouldn't have been ripped (we've already fixed the pages of several books due to an "oops" rip that escalated into something larger when she realized that ripping paper was fun!), and for not sharing with others. While RP can't yet count, she recognizes the old "1....2....don't make me get to 3...." routine which is probably why her favorite number is 2 - I rarely get past two before she comes running to do whatever it is she is supposed to do. That being said, she has spent countless time in "The Naughty Corner" because she simply enjoyed "Time Out" a little too much to be effective, and she understands what punishment is and hopefully what is expected of her moving forward. (Yep, we DO get past two in the counting game... and with a certain level of frequency!)

Over the last several weeks I have received no less than THREE notes home from "school" because RP was not behaving appropriately in class. The first time she SAT on another child because she wanted the toy he was playing with, the second and third time she was spitting at other kids and trying to hit them because she wasn't getting her way. Then, there have been reports that she has become so angry/frustrated that she attempts to bite herself in an effort to alleviate this frustration. {This is a hold-over from orphanage behavior - she did this on our first and second visits to the orphanage and several times when we first came home. Now it happens much less frequently, but alas, is still happening when she is overly tired, overly-stimulated, and/or overly-frustrated.}

Now, you may be asking yourself, "Um... so THIS is what you are bragging about?" Nope. Not quite. Yesterday I went to pick RP up from school and saw the dreaded "See Comments Below" note at the top of her daily progress report which typically signifies that there has been a behavior problem that day. Lo and behold the notes at the bottom of the page were something along the lines of, "RP had a FANTASTIC day today! She kept her hands to herself, played nicely with everyone in class, and was a BIG helper to her teacher!" I was beaming - I really was. THEN.... I went to pick her up from the pre-school room where the teacher in the room reiterated how well-behaved she was in school that day and that she is always one of the only kids who picks up after herself and often helps the teachers pick up toys and art projects the other kids have left out and abandoned.

My heart was very happy, and still is. I know it's only one day, but I feel that we are truly making progress and hopefully this trend will continue. To anyone else I'm sure this sounds like just what should be expected of any child, and I wholeheartedly agree - and I'm just happy that the efforts both she and I have been putting in to this are beginning to show! Now, if she can only keep it up! :)

One week from today...

Exactly one week from today is the six-month anniversary of the day RP and I arrived in the USA from Russia. On one hand these past six months have seemed to fly by, but on the other it seems like so very long ago that I stepped foot on US soil for the first time in two weeks, exhausted from 18-hours of travel time with a cranky and scared 22-month old. I can still remember that day vividly and how antsy I was just to get off the plane, eat "American" food, and sleep in my own bed - not to mention how I couldn't wait for RP's "Papa" to finally meet his granddaughter. I was also terrified that RP would never fully attach to me, that she would scream, cry, and HATE life in the US, and that we would never be able to fall into a comfortable routine for both of us.

Six months later I can't image my life without my RP and I marvel every day at how far she has come. Does she still throw tantrums? Yep - especially when she doesn't get her way, or when she is overly tired. Do I have concerns about her and her attachment to me? Yes and no - yes, I have concerns, but nothing that "ordinary" moms wouldn't have for their children; no about attachment - some days are obviously better than others, but it would appear that she is a normally attached, healthy, strong-willed child who is thriving in her new life.

I look forward to our next six months and all the wonder, excitement, and yes, even challenges, they will bring. I can't imagine my life without my little RP and can't honestly put into words how much I love being her Mommy - I can't imagine a better feeling in the world, and wouldn't trade it for the world!!

The difference a year can make

Every once in a while I like to go back and re-read my posts from last year. It is odd that the wait and hope and anxiety from last year can feel so fresh in my mind, yet seem like a lifetime ago. It's ironic that last year I had posts from the day before today and the day after, and both make me chuckle.



A year ago I was anxiously waiting for my referral. My file had only gone to Russia a few days before and I was dying for some type of news on when I could expect to receive my referral, and I was convinced that I would become a mommy to a beautiful little Russian prince. A year ago tomorrow I received the best news of my life - I had been matched with a beautiful 16-month old little princess who would soon become my daughter. Even though she looks scared, confused, and even angry in those referral photos (in one photo you can even tell she had been crying) she melted my heart right away and I KNEW I was meant to be her Mommy.



The following six months were no easier - they were fraught with anxiety and frustration in having to spend more time waiting - waiting to be invited to see her, waiting for our court date, then waiting to finally bring her home. It's hard to believe that all of this only took place a year ago, and that she has only been home with me for 5 1/2 months now. In my heart she has been around forever, and I am so thankful and so happy that our story has a happy ending and that she is now, and forever will be, my little Russian princess!

This is the first photo I ever saw of little RP, and I one I stared at for MONTHS before I actually was able to go over and see her in person...

The most recent photo of RP, taken just this past weekend. Not to be TOO cliche', but it truly is amazing what a difference a year can make!

Testing new template

There isn't much new going on here, but I discovered the hard way that "The Cutest Blog on the Blog" or whomever I used to create my old template for this blog removed the background which gave users a lovely "this image cannot be displayed" error throughout my entire blog as you scrolled. Yuck! I'm not thrilled with the new look, but at least that error message is gone, and I now have a bit of motivation to update the look and feel here!

RP is doing well - getting bigger and bigger everyday! Her giggle is infectious and I love hearing it, especially in the morning! This morning she could barely keep her eyes open while I got her dressed for school, but once she realized she was wearing shoes she perked up and immediately was ready for the day (what can I say, the child LOVES shoes!), so much so that she practiced jumping off the step in the kitchen into the family room about 15 times this morning, giggling louder and louder with each jump. It was all the motivation I needed to get through the day, and I can't wait to pick her up tonight for two solid days of RP and Mommy bonding time!