REST IN PEACE UNCLE ARTURO

Can You see Hope's resemblance to her uncle?

Isn't it any wonder how mommy fell hard for her girl?

Hope's Debut On The Beach

I am posting tonight because of How beautiful Hope looked today dancing on the beach. At first glance, it was not even obvious to us that it was even Hope we were watching dance. Our little girl has just transformed before our very eyes...she looked so free and happy. Her hair has grown and has become so shiny. Her cheeks have gotten so much color from the sun, that her skin is just radiant and soft. Her little body is changing also ever so drastically, she has gotten much taller, and I am often buying her another pair of shoes to fit her ever growing feet;)

The minute she hears music-she dances, she shakes, she taps her feet, snaps her fingers and smiles...our lil showboat...Hopee...even drew a crowd-who is this little girl?

She calls Freddy-Dada & Papa

She says "Stop" while pointing her fingers angrily..hehe its so funny!

She carries around an ugly 'Ghostrider' doll in her stroller..uhh

she is developing molars all at the same time..oww.

She comes up to me every so often to rub my head;)

We are in heaven with this little girl!

The Lord is just too good.

Such a ministry he has led us to...and I feel as though we are far from knowing just why or what or where or when...there is just so much to discover about our Hopee.

God has blessed her tremendously, with all her talents and beauty...I think often about her BM...may he bless her too.

Four kids in NY

Our Vivacious Hope..

Who says girls are calmer than boys? HA! Not Hope;) She is so active & daring!

Oh gosh..her father freddy in a nutshell!

Here is what Hope does & says:

Mama-constantly, especially in the morning-she calls me and knows I will come.

Dada-She smiles and runs in daddy's work shop knowing he is there almost always!
She even runs to him and lifts up her shirt-knowing that he will tickle her tummy;)

She says YaYa & NaNa for her grandmas..who are always boasting about her..she knows this and therefore 'performs' for them.

She makes these hand signals when she wants up, and just cups mommy or daddy's legs when she wants their devoted attention.

She likes to play with the computer's keyboard..uhhhh.

She always tries to climb up the stairs to go in her brothers' room to play;) She has even figured out how to climb down the stairs...yep-we got a wild one!

SHE HAS NO FEARS!

She loves to swim and submerge her head into water-with her wings, non of my boys were this fearless.

She babbles a lot..she'll call out to me, and i'll say "yes Hope?" She babbles..we don't understand her yet;)

She does understand us-when we say:close the door/pick up your toys/where is dolly?/ don't go upstairs..etc.

She shakes her head yes or no...my boys have fun with this..cause whatever they ask her..she nods her head yes mostly..."Hopee did you pee in your pants?" She'll nod yes!

She loves to sleep with mummy & daddy.

She is always giggling about something..and she soo loves to dance and shake;)

She has a dolly & stroller that she rolls up and down the house..and occasionally up the stairs...

She loves her baths and loves to get dressed..but still hates things in her hair and shoes on her feet.

She loves to be tickled and soemtimes makes us tickle her:)

She gives kisses constantly, and hugs Noah lots too.



We are going to NY tomorrow morning with the four babies. I hope to take lots of pics to post Hope out and about, especially at FAO SCHWARTZ..and Central Park...Boys are out of school..Hope you guys have a great summer!

Bites found on Hope

Well, I couldn't for the life of me understand why Hope was getting these awful looking bites!

I went to the extreme thinking that they were bedbugs (ewww)..washing all the linens and searching, and vacuming..even putting her to bed with socks..and just being so paranoid. I had my bug guy come over again-telling him that we may have bed bugs etc.

Well-he laughed and told me we didn't and that Hope has an allergy to 'mosquito bites'....huh? Ya! Makes sense..her immunity is not strong enough to tolerate the mosquito bites..and so she has these awful rasberry bites that really don't show up till later on..on at once!! We were horrified!

Well-good news-no bedbugs (eww)...bad news...mosquito season here in Florida with all the rain and fast growing grass, not to mention, we live on the water and many of my neighbors own PONDS!

Well, I felt I should post this-because, PAP's should know about 'all precautions' when bringing their lil sensitive ones on home.

Right now-Hope has cortisone creams galore, triple antibiotic cream and antihistamine;(

Dr. Phil?

Did anyone see Dr. Phil on Wednesday? http://drphil.com/shows/show/1474/

I don't watch much t.v. and I would not begin because of Dr. Phil..but a friend of mine called me up to watch this episode, knowing, that I'd be interested because of the subject matter of IA adoptions. Of course this show was sparked up by the Tennessee mom sending her child back to Russia...it had cases from Belrus, Russia, china & Ukraine...which I am glad, because I get tired of only hearing smack about Russia. All of these stories were quite scary..I really didn't sleep much that night. There are no guarantees in this life no matter what! Be it family planning, marriage, adoption, career choices etc. we just do not know-period.

I take a day at a time with Hopee...at the end of the day when she is tucked in her crib..I just breathe and thank the good Lord for the opportunity & trust, he has given me as a mother, to these four children. I try my best...that is all I can say. We have our awesome days, our tired longer days, the too quick days...one day at a time.

Motherhood is a huge calling, most of us arn't always equipped at all times. No one said it was going to be easy...admire the men/women who have parenting in their hearts.

My Post for This Sunday

Love... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - 1 Corinthians 13:7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7


Sometimes, I need this recited to myself-do you this week?

EWWW..CACA!

Well tonight, we went out to dinner with friends and it felt oh so good and oh so needed! Hopee was showing off her stuff;) She pointed to herself, trying to say "me/mio"..we have been teaching her this. Which toys belong to Hopee, and who is Hopee. She also picked up; today, when I was making faces while changing her diaper I said "ewww Hopee did caca"..she laughed and yelled "CACA, CACA!"...I just thought a minute to myself..sheesh she's smart! What a smart cookie we have on our hands..she is just picking everything up so quickly! She understands so much, and thinks its funny to pick her nose! We think this funny too, but try to keep straight faces and say "Hopee No..don't pick your nose!" She is also, 'Miss Kisses galore'...she just wants to have her face close to mine or Daddy's or one of the boys', and she tries to pucker up..its to die for!

Lord we are ever so blessed with this beautiful child! You have been so faithful and so wonderful to our family. Our daughter is such a GEM in our lives...nothing else truly matters. I was ever so proud today with our family, our life, our marriage, our love-and most of all our four children...the Angels in our lives.

Mackenzie said tonight: "Arn't we lucky to be four kids?" "You got three boys who are cool and one tiny girl who is really cute!"
Couldn't have said it better myself;)As school comes to a much anticipated end..we look forward in planning activities together and possibly, get into better shape (for some beach fun), and just enjoy our new family structure & roles..and most importantly our little Hope..we have so much to learn about our new daughter, she has so much to learn and explore about her new life...a life that she has allowed us to be apart of with GOD's grace and peace;)


P.S. I gotta catch a pic of Hope with her finger in her nose!

Happy Anniversary to us...

Today Freddy and I celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary;) The problem, is that we're both sick..now he's even worse than me! Atleast I have some strength back..so today I am caring for him and the kids. Hope has a bit of a temp as well, but she is very good today. Her earring fell out again, or yet, another earring lost....sheeesh this girl thing is hard!

Children are Taking Over...

I am up this morning with the flu, its lasted now about 5 days now...I am miserable! Hope has been driving me crazy with her aggressive crying and screaming and tugging! In the evening when she is put down to sleep she screams. In the morning when she is awake she screams, and yells and shakes the crib...its so frustrating for me right now. The pediatrician told me, that since she now knows the difference in life style, and in treatment, that she is going to be aggressive and demand her way. She has been getting worse! It was cute at first, but now my nerves are shot. I try to talk to her to calm her..but it can make it worse. Also, Noah has been driving me nuts by 'accidently' breaking Hope's toys! Grrrr...I am so weak..the children are taking over the house!

Hope is also climbing everything in sight..she is a lil daring thing! She has yells at me and talk back in her baby lingo. I take it as atleast she is trying to babble and make sense. Though, she is feisty and possessive over me. If noah comes over to me, she screams and pushes him out of the way, or tries to climb onto me...survival of the fetis here...AHHHHHHH!

I so want my husband back on nights..I can't take him being away from me in the day!

I know I will be better once I am feeling better, because the house is out of control!


YIKES!


Sincerely,

Hope's very sick mother!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOTHERS!

Today is a day that we celebrate our Mothers;) Some of us even get to celebrate being a Mother. I am now a Mother of four, three boys & a little girl..The children just make my day! Hopee just wanted to be hugged and lifted up into my arms constantly...looking ever so pretty with Grandma's diamond earrings-wink* and a pretty, pink dress! She is growing up so fast! She tries to catch up to the boys & cousins...running around and giggling. Truly, one has not experienced it all, until she has Mothered a boy and girl...cause' men and women are different, even as children!

I hope you all enjoyed your day.

I hope for comfort & peace to those who have lost a Mother..

I hope for those who wait to become Mothers..

I hope for those who wish to Mother more so..

The most beautiful words I have ever heard; was when my Pastor once said, "GOD loved Jesus so much, that he wanted him to have a Mother!"

Sniff, sniff...boy did this hit me hard.

GOD BLESS YOU GUYS XOX

Hope-A-Daisies

Hope-A-Daisies

Hope wakes with only one earring!

Great! Now what? I called the doctor's office..and they told me to bring her in and purchase one more earring...after spending $50.00 on supposed tight backs that won't come off! Grrr...I have looked everywhere for this one stud..and nada! So what do I do now? She won't let me near her to even put a temporary in..do I go back to the doctor? Do I purchase one at the mall? The one I purchased at the doctor's wern't even pure gold or a real stone! Grrr...not happy..why Hopee? Why?

I have a feeling she lost the earring in the bathtub last night..she was just enjoying the water wayyy too much!

A Few Thoughts..and Progress..

First and foremost CONGRATS TO JEANETTE (Our family Journey), they finally will be bringing home their precious girl who is from the same baby home as Hope;) SIGH!
How amazing, that happy ending are still being made possible by Lighthouse Adoptions, despite the unfortunate events that has been all over the media regarding future Russian Adoptions;( I pray for all the other PAP's who are still awaiting.


Our little Hopee sure has us busy, but all in a very good way! She is just a little doll! She is so much more content in the mornings when she awakes, and more secure I am sure. She sleeps all through the night now, and it is easy to tell when she is fatigued. She is constantly kissing her brothers and cousins and parents;) She makes us so proud!

We just recently had her ears peirced! I was undecided and divided about this..but then I just thought, she is going to want it sooner or later, and everyone has bought her so much jewelry..so I can take a hint! She looks adorable! It hurt of course, but she recovered well..and now there seems to be no signs of discomfort, despite our having to turn the studs daily and apply Neosporin and Alcohol. We will be snipping her bangs tomorrow, so we can see her eyes lol. Her hair has been growing so quickly (here is S. FL), and since she doesn't keep anything in her hair, we'll have to give her bangs.

Hope has been babbling...but we don't understand a word! She adores our cell phones, and she has a few of her own that she babbles on..its precious. sheesh, two months in America, and she has observed how the cell phone is so interesting to Americans...hmmm. She doesn't really play with her dolls;( Hopefully, yet..she sure loves CARS though! EWWWW! I hope this passes..hehe.

Despite being so busy with four kids, I have had some time to think..and I am returning back to school to finish my degree in Nursing. I will do what I can online for now, until the children are older and possibly all in school. I am excited and scared all at the same time. I don't want to over do it..but Hope has inspired me in more ways possible...praise God for his gifts;)

I hope you guys are well, and looking forward to the wonderful things ahead of us this year, May is a busy month for us. Its my Anniversary on the 16th..nine years of marriage..dunno how we will celebrate...but everyday is truly a celebration.

Isaiah 1:17

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

We Are The Truth! Russia GOTCHA DAY! Mar2010

We Are The Truth! Russia Feb. 2010 Trip 2

We Are The Truth! Saying Goodbye on Trip 2

We Are The Truth! Russia Feb. 2010 Trip 2

We Are The Truth! Meeting Our Hope Dec. 2009

We Are The Truth! Red Square Trip 1, Dec of 2009

We Are The Truth! Russia Trip 1, Dec of 2009

SIGN TO KEEP RUSSIA OPEN!

http://www.jcics.org/Russia.htm

&

Minister Lavrov
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ministry@mid.ru

You send an email using Google Russian translation (free).

AMERICANS DON'T GIVE UP!



Please sign to keep Russia open for Adoption to Americans!
A terrible incident has happend, but why should all Americans suffer for it?
anyone can sign, it affects everybody!

In GOD we trust.

Hope's Many Names

Mommy calls me: Hopee
Bella Hope
HopeNina
HopeBanana
Isabel/Isabella

Daddy calls me: Hopee
Crybaby Hopee
Hope stinky pants

Frederick calls me: Hope

Mackenzie calls me: Hopee
Cheeky girl

Noah calls me: Baby Hopee
Noah's sister