Our Family

Our new addition!

2009-07-02T06:20:00.001-07:00

Well, about two weeks ago we found out that I was pregnant! This is very exciting news for us since we had decided to try again. The first time I had gotten pregnant I had lost it due to an ectopic pregnancy. This all happened while waiting on Logan. 2 days after my surgery, we got the call to go meet him for the first time in a couple of weeks. That sure helped the situation and what an extra blessing he was!

So, this time we were a little nervous. But yesterday I had my first ultrasound and the baby is in the right place! We even got to see the heartbeat. She (per me) is only .15 mm...so small but so amazing :)

I'm so excited for Logan to become a big brother. It will be a change for him, but he is such a good little helper. Plus, he's getting lots of practice with my friend's new baby Ana.

In these pictures, the baby is the tiny white dot inside of the large black area and to the left of the next biggest ring, which is the yolk sak.

Happy First Father's Day Brian!

2009-06-23T04:39:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Father's Day, Brian and Logan went to Qdoba for breakfast. They got their usual...Brian's breakfast burrito and Logan's eggs.

Afterwards we went to find Brian's lawn edger (this was his gift from Logan & me). Then we ate lunch at Heidi's Brooklyn Deli in Carmel. Brian has only been there one other time and so he has been craving the Hell's Kitchen sandwich and wanted to go nowhere else but there for lunch. Logan loved his grilled cheese and chips...I don't think I've ever seen him so excited about grilled cheese before.

We went back home and did what he wanted to do for pretty much the rest of the day, which was cleaning, washing and waxing both cars.

It was a great day just hanging out together. Brian is such a wonderful father and Logan just adores everything about him.

Happy Father's Day ~ Daddy Shepard!

2009-06-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

Well, for our traditional Father's Day we went to Richmond to take my dad golfing. This year it was me, Dad, Aaron and Brian. Alex is away at college so he couldn't make it. Our tee time was at 11 a.m. and the teams were me & dad, and aaron & brian. They played paper/rock/scissors to see who would be stuck with Brian b/c he's really not too good at golf :) It's really funny b/c he is very athletic and good at about anything that he tries but golf is a rough sport for him.

And the winners were....Me & Dad by 5 strokes!! I absolutely love beating my brother and Brian. Plus all the gloating we do is great b/c if it was them they would never let us forget it :)

Afterwards we went back to my parents house, where Logan had spent the day with Nana, Heather and Allyson. We grilled burgers and sat around outside. It was such a beautiful day. Then Scott, Regina, and Megan stopped by and we all got to spend a nice evening together. Logan was in heaven with all his family around...especially Allyson! He figures that if he's going to Nana & Papaw's house, she had better be there too.

So that was my dad's Father's day celebration and it was another great one.

I love you so much Daddy, Happy Father's Day!

Gotcha Day!!

2009-06-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Well, it was exactly one year ago today when we stood in the Russian Court and they said that Alexsei Sergeevich Bigishiev was ours! We wanted to take him home right then but still had two weeks to go until we could keep him forever. But, this is our Gotcha Day because legally he was ours :)

Here's the proud new Papa...

And Mama...
This outfit cracked us up. When we first saw him he was in an adorable shorts outfit, but then this is how they got him ready to go outside :)

Kari & Brandon's Wedding Day!

2009-06-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we woke up to rain...not a good thing for an outdoor wedding! But we kept an eye on the weather channel and it was supposed to let up. We did have until 4:30 so we just hoped and prayed that it would stop and not start up again.

At 10 a.m. the girls went to get our hair and make-up done. Since it was the start of the day and we had to make the 'do stay looking good until early evening, the curls were done very tight and the hairspray was very solid.

And here's the beautiful dress that is hand-made in Spain.

Here's the lovely flower girl so excited to be getting ready for the big day.

Actually, this is the Real picture of her getting ready...she does not like her hair done at all :)

This is Kari resting before we go out for pictures...it's going to be a long day!

Once everyone was completely ready we went out for pictures. Thankfully the rain stopped for the day and it wasn't too cold out. We ended up getting some great pictures by the photographer and Kari looked gorgeous in her dress.

The ceremony was beautiful and Logan made it down the aisle smiling and holding hands with Owen. Cutest thing I've ever seen...this was the part where I almost cried.

After the ceremony was more pictures and the wedding party was finally let go. Logan went with the other children to the babysitters and we headed to the cocktail hour and hung out until it was time to be announced. All the guests and wedding party had a great time together.

Congratulations Kari and Brandon Van Eck! We love you :)

Kari & Brandon's Rehearsal Dinner

2009-06-16T07:32:00.000-07:00

The big event finally came...Kari & Brandon's Wedding weekend! On Friday was the Rehearsal and Dinner.

The Wedding was being held at the Illinois Beach Resort on the grassy area overlooking the Lake. Since it's lake Michigan it really looks like the ocean and was a beautiful backdrop to the wedding. The rehearsal went well and we were really proud that Logan made it down the aisle on both trys. He was walking with Owen and they were adorable together, especially on the first try when they both took off running down the aisle...too cute!

The dinner was at The Tropics restaurant on Winthrop Harbour, which was hosted by Brandon's parents. We had a private room overlooking the lake and it was all set-up so nice. Both families got to hang out before the big day and it was so much fun. Brandon's family is great!

Kari and Brandon got Logan a harmonica for being the Ring Bearer.

He played and played it all night long.

He also pretended that it was a phone and went around to many people having them talk into it.

It was also a camera, so he went around to all the tables saying "SMILE"

As you can see, he was Very excited about his harmonica (aka phone and camera)

Future Mr & Mrs Van Eck

Me (Maid of Honor) and Kari (Bride to be)

Future Van Ecks with Mom of the Bride

There was a ramp at the side of the room and all the kids had a blast running up and down it.

For being a Groomsmen, Brian got a Ball-B-Q set. It's really neat because everything is "golf" related: Golf Flag Kabob Skewers, Putter Basting Brush, Dimples Golf Spatula, Wedge Head Tongs, Golf Ball Corn Holders.

The cake was really yummy...even the shells on it were chocolate!

Logan and all the kids found a wonderful friend in Brandon's cousin. He was twirling them around and standing them on his shoulders. Logan decided to take it a step further and started doing back-flips off of him. Such a dare devil :)

And let's not forget how much he Loves to play with Boppa's cane!

This time it was a microphone and he did Kareokee for everyone. After a song he would raise up the cane and cheer...and of course everyone cheered right along with him :)

Eating with Grandpa & telling lots of stories!

Mommy and her little man

Florida Vacation May 18 - 24

2009-06-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Well our first Family vacation was Awesome! We all had a wonderful time together and Logan was absolutely amazing the entire time. He really enjoyed everything that we did, took regular naps and slept thru everynight.

Here are some pictures from our trip. Naples was a great place with beautiful beaches, plenty of wildlife and the ocean waves were just right to jump in.

On The Way....

Playing at the Hotel Pool...

Sunset Cruise...

Playground by the Ocean...

Hanging Out in the Room...

Naples Zoo...

Out to Dinner...

Days at the Beach...

Hi Ho, Hi Ho it's off to Florida We Go!

2009-05-15T05:45:00.000-07:00

Well, on Monday we are taking off to Naples Flordia for our first family vacation. We are so excited to take Logan and will post our pics when we get back.

Logan Loves the Riding Mower!

2009-05-11T09:31:00.001-07:00

Logan has been on a riding mower since he arrived in the U.S. If there is one around, then someone has to give him a ride...and he can be Very convincing :)

Here he is with Papaw when we first brought him home. He has really grown since then!

Here he is recently with Aunt Tonya mowing her yard.

Here he is with Daddy on the same day. Funny b/c it was Brian's first time on one and I think he actually scared Logan a little...but only b/c Logan can drive it better than him :)
Here he is today with Papaw.

And also today with Uncle Alex and Papaw. Alex had been riding him around all morning.

The big field behind them is mowed once a week by Dad, Tonya, or Eric and Logan is usually riding along with them.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

This year was my first Mother's Day and I enjoyed every minute of it!

On Saturday I went to the Mother-Daughter banquet with my mom at her Church in Richmond. She oversees the banquet and always puts together a wonderful luncheon for all the moms/daughters. It has grown in the past few years and this year there were over 140 people! This year's theme was "How Sweet It Is!"

It is nice b/c the men from the Church, including my dad, serve all us ladies and they do a great job making sure the food is passed out and the drinks are constantly full. Then they tear everything down and do the dishes at the end. What women doesn't love a man taking care of her!

I always enjoy helping out but mainly I love getting to spend the time with my mom...just us and no boys around :) Plus, a ton of my family attend the Church so there are many of my cousins, aunts, great aunts, grandma and great grandma that are there too. It's just a wonderful and relaxing day with great women that I have always looked up to.

On Sunday I spent the day with Logan and Brian. It was so awesome being around Logan and knowing that I'm so lucky to be his mom. He has brought so much joy into my life and is such a wonderful blessing!

We got up early and went to Panera for coffee (me) and breakfast sandwiches (them). Afterwards we went to Lowe's and Menards so that we could get the materials needed to landscape the backyard. I never in a million years thought this is how I would want to spend Mother's Day...working in the yard! But we got a lot done and had so much fun just hanging out together outside. For gifts I got tulips, a beach bag, sunglasses and flip flops. Everything I wanted for our Florida vacation next week :)

Logan decided to grab the hose and start spraying Brian and I. We were laughing so hard b/c by the end of the day Logan was a complete mess. He had mud, sand, ketchup and water all over him. The ketchup was from where we let him eat his chicken nuggets outside with his tray.

It ended up just being an absolutely wonderful Mother's Day!

Welcome Baby Ana!

2009-05-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

Our great friends Juan and Janae just brought their baby girl Ana into the world last Wednesday at 1:11 p.m. She is just absolutely adorable and so tiny...only 6 lbs!

Brian and I went to visit them at the hospital and were able to hold her. I just love her little fingers and how there is just a hint of eyebrows coming in. Plus she had a full head of dark hair.

Juan was making fun of Janae because I took a picture of her chowing down....

So, I took a picture of him stuffing his face while making fun of her :) Notice the puffed out cheeks!

Brian always gets a little scared when holding a newborn...he looks so young in this picture!

And I'm just a natural...Yeah Right...newborns are so tiny and I always feel like I'm squeezing them too tight. A lot different then being handed my 15-month old Logan :)

Happy 30th Birthday to ME!

2009-04-28T07:45:00.001-07:00

Alright, after all these birthday festivity posts, I finally turned 30 on Monday, April 27th! It was a wonderful birthday because I just spent it with my two favorite boys...Brian and Logan :)

It was a beautiful day outside, so we just spent the day working in the yard. And it wasn't torture, we love landscaping!

That evening we went to Olive Garden for dinner and used the Gift Card that I received...Thanks Regina, Scott, Megan and Allyson :) I got the new dish that they have, Chicken with Lasagna rolls...Delicious!

Room with A View

2009-04-28T07:21:00.001-07:00

Well, after Kari's bridal shower Brian and I headed to downtown Chicago and stayed at the Swissotel. We were on the 35th floor and the view was gorgeous...even with the clouds and rain :)

This venture was a continuation of my birthday which wasn't until Monday the 27th. It's funny b/c since he had the party for me a week ago, I feel like I've been celebrating my birthday forever! Oh well, I guess I'll always remember my 30th :)

On Sunday, we decided to drive-by our old neighborhood, Lincoln Park and take some pictures. It's crazy we haven't lived there for 3 years, but it seems like just yesterday we were walking around downtown with Brandon heading to a dog park. We really loved the city, but seeing where we used to live really makes me love our house with a big backyard!

The 2-Flat in the middle was ours. We had the top floor and the inside was actually really gorgeous because they had re-done the whole inside. It's still my fav kitchen with brand new white cabinets and tile.

Just in the middle of the below pic is the back of our place. Where the cars are is where we payed a hefty fee to park.
Salt 'n Pepper Diner was where we would walk to eat Sunday breakfast. We loved this place...Brian always got breakfast and I would get a cheeseburger (not a huge brkfast fan).

Vaughn's Pub was our local watering hole :)
This was the dog park that we used to take Brandon after getting our Chai tea's at Starbucks.

Kari's Bridal Shower

2009-04-28T06:53:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Kari's wedding festivities started off with the Peterson bridal shower. It was held at Aunt Carol's house and there were 18 people that were able to attend. Carol always does a wonderful job hosting parties and so it was a very fun and relaxed shower...not too mention she is an amazing cook!

There were thunderstorm showers outside. We just said that Kari was getting it all out of the way now since on her wedding day it needs to be nice and sunny...it's on a beach!

Children Available for Adoption!

2009-04-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

KidsFirst agency in Indianapolis (who we got Logan thru) has been contacted about a few Russian children that are available for adoption. These are children that the orphanages feel would thrive in a family environment and have great potential.

Here is the information about a sibling group available:

“I just received information about the sibling group. It is a brother and a sister who are 7 and 8 but will be 8 and 9 this summer and fall. They live in a very good orphanage and are well cared for now but came from an abusive home with signs of physical abuse from the parents. Both parents were deprived parental rights.

We are trying very hard to find a family for these children. They were very unlucky to be borne in the family who didn’t have a job and money and whose struggle to survive created a lot of stress and physical violence at home. Caregivers at the orphanage speak very highly of children; describe them as bright and capable and very much wanting to be in the family.”

Here is the information about a 9 year old girl waiting adoption:

“We also have one girl waiting; she will be 9 this summer. We received a request to find her a “very good” family. They stated that she is bright, social, likes to dance and sing, and participates in different activities at the orphanage. She was raised mostly by her grandfather but he is getting older and not in the position to care for her.”

For further information please contact Inna Pecar at KidsFirst Adoption Agency. Their phone# is 317-843-2300. They will try to talk to each family interested to evaluate the appropriateness of the match depending on the family situation, readiness of their home study and to make sure that they can answer any questions that the family may have.

I am trying to reach as many families as possible with this post because these are children that are desperately in need of forever families.

My 30th Birthday Suprise Party!

2009-04-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

Well, Brian actually pulled off a Suprise birthday party for me! Regina, Scott, Megan and Allyson called last week and asked if they could take Logan out to eat and then we would meet them at the bowling alley at 3. So, Brian and I decided to go shopping while they were eating and I was taking my time since no child meant not having to constantly monitor anyone and I can just relax. Problem was that Brian was rushing me. We stop back at home first and then head to the bowling alley. My uncle Scott was upfront waiting on us and said they were on the back lane. We got there and no one was there. He opened the door and there was all my immediate family...including Brian's parents~ What a HUGE suprise!! I can't beleive no one in my family gave it away...they aren't the best with secrets like this :) Plus, I couldn't believe that they were all there. It was definitely one of the happiest days of my life...I just love and appreciate them all so much and to have them do this for me was so awesome. On top of that, what an amazing husband Brian is...he's been planning this since January and I never found out.

He had decorations all over, appetizers, and my favorite chocolate cupcakes with red icing! It was more than I could've asked for. And then on top of that, I walked up and bowled 4 strikes in the first 4 frames. I ended up beating everyone with a 171.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

For Easter Sunday we spent it in Richmond with my family. First we went to Oak Park Church and then afterwards everyone headed to my parents house for a pitch-in lunch. As always, it was great to just be around family...plus the food is yummy!

And of course, what kind of Easter would it be without a basket from Grandma & Grandpa Peterson! He loved all the new books, toys and especially the "grass" from the basket.

Elmo Live!

2009-04-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday my parents took Logan to see Elmo Live: Elmo Grows Up! They had a great time together and Logan was very excited about all the characters. He especially loved when Cookie Monster was in a Fire Truck (his new fav word). During another part a magician had a hat and a loud explosion went off popping flowers out of it...Logan was not too thrilled about this. He jumped up into papaw's lap and was not about to get off. And of course he spent most of the time dancing :)

Afterwards they went to skyline chili where Logan finished off two hotdogs. Definitely one of his fav foods. Then, they brought him home and he was ready for a nap. What a great day to spend with Nana and Papaw!

Extreme MakeOver Home Edition

2009-04-06T05:45:00.000-07:00

This past week the Extreme MakeOver Home Edition came to Indianapolis to build a home for a family on the East side. This show is going to be the 2 hour season finale on May 17th. It was pretty exciting to have the whole crew here working on a home. It went to a really good cause and brought people from all over to a neighborhood that they normally wouldn't go to.

My mom and dad came up to spend the night on Friday and we all went to see the house. The street the house was on was blocked off and you had to walk a good distance to get to it. Not a good thing since my mom is still in a cast from her broken ankle so she was hobbling along. So, we parked on the street over and hoped we could somehow find a shortcut. Well, we did :)

There were two abandoned houses next to each other and they were directly behind the home that was being built. We walked thru the yard and ended up right behind the house. It was a really nice home and we got as close as we could to the caution tape. Then we got ran out by a security guard...people weren't supposed to be in the back at all. So, we got to get closer then any other people looking on and got to see the suprise in the backyard :)

It was a really fun experience and just neat to see all the excitement going on for the television show. So, don't forget to watch the finale!

Happy 31st Anniversary Mom & Dad!

2009-04-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

Today is my parents 31st anniversary!

They met when they were teenagers at a local Church. At age 18 & 19 they took off and got married by a Justice of Peace in Covington Kentucky...it was at his house and his wife was the witness. They did this because they were told they were too young to get married and they thought differently.

One year later they had the best gift of their life...ME :)

Mom and Dad, your love for each other has just gotten stronger over the years and has been a true inspiration to me. I love you!

Time for a Toddler Bed!

2009-03-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

Well, the time has finally come for us to convert his crib to a toddler bed. On Sunday am around 3:30 our dogs started barking (they stay in our room). They usually don't do this unless they hear something outside. Well, we heard Logan give a little cry but then he stopped. And here came the suprise...he was standing outside the door and came into our room! I jumped out of bed and grabbed him up. I think he was just as shocked as we were. We put him back to bed and then in the morning when he woke up here he came toddling out of his room again :)

Here is a video of how he climbs out:

So, we converted his crib and now he has a big boy bed. At first when we were changing it, I was so sad because he's growing up so fast. But, then when I saw him in his "new" bed, I felt such joy to see what an amazing little boy he has become. I actually don't want to keep him little because I love watching him grow. He truly is a special little guy and I'm so happy to be his mommy :)

Monsters vs. Aliens Movie

2009-03-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we went to see Monsters vs. Aliens at the movie theater. This movie is in 3D, so we weren't sure if Logan would actually wear the glasses thru the whole thing, but we thought we'd give it a try. Well, he wore them a little bit, but mainly he focused on the popcorn...thankfully we got a large :)

This movie ended up being a little too much for him. He kept saying "eww" and "yuck" during it. So, monsters aren't his thing yet. And the 3D kinda freaked him out so he didn't use his glasses at all. Oh well, we always have fun going to the movies together.

Pee Pee in the Potty

2009-03-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

Well, Logan finally had his first pee pee in the potty! He has been very interested in it for awhile now but has yet to actually "go" in it. But he does like to say he is and goes and sits on it often. Last night he told Brian that he needed to potty and so we tried it out.

I hear Brian and Logan yelling to me from upstairs that he did it. We were all very excited and so I thought I would embarrass Logan (one day) with a nice little picture of him on his potty :)

Spending time with family

2009-03-26T06:17:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday my aunt Regina and cousins Megan and Allyson came up to Indy to hang out with Logan and I for the day. It was nice because we didn't make any big plans, just decided to stay at my aunt Tonya's house for the day just talking and playing with Logan.

He just thinks he is the star of the show when others are around :) Logan was dancing, jumping and cracking up at Allyson. She is only 9 so he thinks everything she does is just hilarious. She carries him around everywhere and he just adores her. She keeps him very occupied, which was very nice because it gave me time to talk to my aunt and megs.

One thing I've always enjoyed was talking to my aunt regina. I could tell her anything and she would just listen...and then give her opinion. It was nice to have her nearby when I was growing up b/c I didn't want to talk to my parents about everything so I'd just walk to their house and hang out for awhile. Ahhh, the teenage years when I didn't want anything to do with my parents....and that's when I came to realize how much I appreciated my relationships with my aunts and uncles. I always felt they were on my side...even if they weren't.

For awhile now I have had wonderful relationships with my parents and tell them everything. But, I still go to my aunts and uncles for their advice too...I still feel like a kid around all of them even though I'm a parent now. But, I figure they have way more parenting expertise then me so it's great to get all the tips and tricks that help raising a child.

I think that having Logan has also made me realize how important those relationships are. Every family member that he has a relationship with is different and it teaches him new things in new ways. I'm so thankful that he is having the same type of childhood that Brian and I did in that he is loved by so many people and he loves them back just as much.

Kari's Bachelorette Party

2009-03-17T06:13:00.000-07:00

Exciting day....first "Yes" response came in for Kari's bachelorette party.

Probably good to give a little background on this event. Kari (brian's sis) and Brandon are getting married on June 13, 2009. She asked me to be the Maid of Honor...we know it's supp to be Matron but that just sounds way too old :)

So, I've been planning the bachelorette party for May 2 in Chicago and it's time consuming but so much fun! The whole day is going to be filled with fun festivities but I won't divulge those to you until it's over. I sent the invitations out this past Saturday, which is why I was so glad to get our first response today.

Brian and Logan are also in the wedding so I'll probably be posting a lot about wedding stuff....but hey, who doesn't love a wedding :)

Dinner with my Brothers

2009-03-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Aaron and I took Alex to Champs for his birthday dinner. We had a great time just being together. It isn't very often where it is just us three...which makes it special when we steal time alone with each other.

My brothers mean the world to me and I'm so glad to have them around. It's always been great to be the only girl...and the oldest. Which means what I say goes :)

I love you Aaron and Alex!

Happy 19th Birthday to my brother Alex!

2009-03-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

Well, my youngest brother, Alex, turns 19 today. I still can't believe it...I was 11 when he was born and he has been my baby ever since. Alex we love you so much and hope you enjoy your day!

Below is a portrait picture that I drew of him during a college class. Today it is framed and hangs in my hallway. I took this pic with my cell phone, so it's not the clearest...but you get the idea.

Very Special Suprise!

2009-03-10T07:11:00.001-07:00

On Sunday evening, on our way home from Chicago, my brother Alex asked if he could spend the night. I was delighted to find out that it his spring break from college and he will be staying most of the week with us. Granted it is because his girlfriend lives in Indy, but I'll take what I can get :)

Plus, he had another suprise when he walked in with a lip ring. Don't tell him but I think it looks adorable on him...in actuality he could probably pull off anything b/c he has turned into such a good-looking guy. I'm not sure "adorable" was what he was going for when he got it :)

Weekend in Chicago

2009-03-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

We spent Saturday and Sunday in Chicago this past weekend. On Saturday we drove up and went to Boppa's house to have lunch and just hang out for a bit. It's always so nice to see him and he just loves Logan...and Logan can't get enough of his cane :)

Afterwards Logan spent the evening with Grandma and Grandpa Peterson while we went to have our taxes done. He had a great time with them and they realized how much he eats. They took him to Walker Brothers Pancake House and he scarfed down eggs, pancakes, sausage, half a bagel and a couple pieces of chicken! Then they took him to Dick's sporting goods and bought him a lefty baseball mit...Grandpa was very proud of this :) By the time we got back to their house, Logan was passed out on the couch. He had a Very busy day!

On Sunday, we just hung out for awhile and then Kari and Brandon came over to see us before we headed home. It was a nice weekend with family.

Happy Birthday to Courtney, Eric and Mom/Grandma Peterson!!

2009-03-07T05:32:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday to (Aunt) Courtney~ Her birthday is March 5. We love ya and hope you had a great day!

Happy Birthday to Mom/Grandma Peterson on March 7th! We love you very much and are so excited to spend the day with you :)

Happy Birthday (Uncle) Eric on March 8th! We love you and hope you have a great day!

Yummy...No Bake Cookies!

2009-03-05T12:24:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite memories from when I was young is my mom cooking No Bake Cookies for our family. I remember how exciting it was when she laid down the wax paper...we all knew what was coming. Only problem was waiting until they cooled off. It was so hard and we usually got impatient and swiped a few anyways :)

I have tried a few times to make them myself but the first time I tried they never hardened...pretty embarrassing since I had talked them up so much. But I have gotten better and now they are great!

I decided that this is a memory that I hope Logan has of our home one day, so I made a batch today. He already got a taste and I can tell he likes them because he gave me that huge grin that I love.

Here is the recipie for anyone that would like to try them:

Ingredients:

2 cups white sugar

3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup margarine (this is where I messed up b/c I used Country Crock)

1/2 cup milk

1 pinch of salt

3 cups quick cooking oats

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

- In saucepan bring sugar, cocoa, margarine, milk and salt to rapid boil for 1 minute

- Add oats and vanilla extract; Mix Well

- Working quickly, drop teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper

- Let cool

Peewinkle's Puppet Studio

2009-03-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

Today Logan and I joined our friends Quinn and Jessica to go see a puppet show at Peewinkle's Puppet Studio in downtown Indy. The show was very well done and the boys and all the other children really seemed to enjoy it. When you go, they give everyone a bag of popcorn to munch on and then afterwards you can make your own puppet. We had to skip out on the puppet making, Logan's still a little too young for that.

Happy Birthday Laura!

2009-03-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

Today is our good friend Laura's Birthday!

Hope you have a great day :)

Saying Good-Bye

2009-02-27T14:42:00.000-08:00

My Great Uncle, John E. Maitlen Sr., passed away on Feb. 24 at age 75. He was always such a quiet and gentle man. Music was his passion and he could play about any guitar out there.

You will be missed and all our love and prayers go out to the rest of your family!

Music Class

2009-02-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

Logan started taking music classes at the Fishers YMCA. We had our first class and it was so much fun! The theme was planes and automobiles...both things that Logan loves. The teacher was great and really got the children involved. Logan got to play with all different types of instruments, sing songs, act like an airplane, and his all time favorite...He got to dance :)

For the Love of Shoes

2009-02-20T12:19:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Annie and Aunt Tonya for taking Logan to get some new kicks today. I don't know if anything makes him happier then shoes...especially new ones :)

Happy 5th Birthday Brandon!

2009-02-19T05:42:00.000-08:00

Today is our beagle, Brandon, 5th Birthday! I still can't believe he's 5...and still as stubborn as ever :)

We love you so much Brandon...you definitely have always kept it very interesting!

Our Angel

2009-02-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

Today I started Logan's lifebook. I am sitting here going thru all the paperwork about his adoption and his life before us. It truly breaks my heart to think there was a time that he was here on earth and not with us...and that he was put on several TV shows and other media and no one adopted him. But, it proves to me that God had his hand on him and us the whole time...I really believe that we were meant to be a family all along.

He really is our Little Angel sent from Above!

"My Gym" in Fishers

2009-02-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

Logan signed up for classes today at "My Gym" in Fishers. Aunt Tonya got him a certificate there for Christmas and if today was just the start, he is going to love it!

When we got there, a class was ending so we got the whole place to ourselves once they left. The girl working there grabbed Logan up and threw him in the ball pit. This was his favorite part of the whole place. He just rolled around laughing. It was so cute!

Thanks Aunt Tonya for such a Wonderful Christmas Gift!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T06:55:00.000-08:00

Logan got several cards and gifts in the mail for Valentine's Day.

He was a little confused by the chocolate bar so he decided to just take a bite of it...foil and all :)

We are just spending the day as a family and enjoying our first Valentine's Day together.

I hope everyone has a great day and just enjoys being with the ones they love

Logan's First Trip to the Dentist

2009-02-13T05:40:00.000-08:00

I took Logan to the dentist for the first time yesterday. It is a small dentist office in Broadripple and the dentist is Dr. Lucas. The staff was very friendly and Logan seemed very relaxed.

We went into the exam room and he sat on the chair by himself and then he got to play with the different tools used to clean his mouth. He wasn't too fond of the sucker tool, but the others he really liked and let the nurse use them on him. They said everything looked good and so we don't have to go back for awhile. This was mainly a way for him to get used to the staff and goings on of a dentist office so that when he comes again it won't be scary. Plus, he really loved picking out his own toothbrush out of the drawer.

Happy Birthday Uncle Eric!

2009-02-11T06:10:00.001-08:00

Today is also my uncle Eric's birthday!

We Love You and hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy 49th Birthday Dad!

2009-02-11T05:51:00.001-08:00

Today is my dad's 49th birthday! He has always been a great dad to me and my brothers and now he is a wonderful Papaw to Logan. We love you dad/papaw!

Plus, he loves to send me & Logan pictures of himself on the cell phone. Sorry dad, but I had to embarrass you like I did mom :)

Happy Birthday Megan!

2009-02-09T06:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Megan on Feb 4th!

Now she's officially in the 20's...welcome to being old :)

We love you so much sweetheart!

Happy Birthday Aunt Tonya!

2009-02-09T06:36:00.000-08:00

Today, Monday, is my Aunt Tonya's Birthday!

She is a wonderful aunt to both me, Brian and Logan and we love her very much!

Happy 50th Birthday Mom!

2009-02-09T05:51:00.000-08:00

Sunday, Feb 8th was my mom's 50th birthday. Unfortunately she spent most of it in the hospital! On Thursday evening she tripped off the front porch step and broke 3 bones in her ankle. So, on Friday Logan, Tonya and I went on a road trip to see her since she went into surgery that day around 3:30 p.m. It is never easy to see someone that you love in a hospital bed, but when it was my mom I felt sick. She has always been so strong and has a very high tolerence for pain. Seeing her lying there like that just freaked me out. Thankfully all our family was there and they helped with Logan all day/night so that I could focus on her. The surgery went great and she just has a long road to recovery...around 8 weeks.

I went back to stay at the hospital with her on Saturday and came home on Sunday night. Sleeping overnight in a hospital is exhausting because it makes you feel like you are sick too. But it was all worth it and I had a great time taking care of my mom. Guess she's done it for me my whole life, so it was my turn to repay her. I used dry shampoo on her hair and had a great time styling her into a rocker, 80's band lady, and my hawiian princess :)

Needless to say, she was laughing at me and my dad b/c we don't make good nurses. Whenever something was said or she had to do something we would be like "that's disgusting." I honestly think that I covered my eyes and/or ears more in the 3 days at the hospital then I have in my whole life :)

On Sunday we got her home and settled...oh yeah, I bought her the best gift ever...a drink holder for her walker :) I know, I'm so funny.

Brian and Logan had some good bonding..."men time" at home together. I sure was glad to see my boys...I do love my little family :)

KidsFirst Foundation

2009-02-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

I have recently joined the board for the Kids First Foundation. It is a not-for-profit organization that is focused on providing better lives for orphaned children around the world.

Since we started the adoption process with Logan, I have felt so passionate about giving back and helping the children left behind. This organization is everything I could have hoped to be apart of. The members are all adoptive parents and are such special, caring people that are dedicated to helping left behind orphans and current families of orphans.

I am really excited about this opportunity and if you are reading this, please take the time to check out what they are all about at their website.

http://www.kidsfirst-foundation.org/index.php

Logan's 2nd Birthday!

2009-01-26T10:56:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, January 17, 2009 we held Logan's birthday party at Snapperz. I have posted on this place previously. It is a huge building with themed inflatables, 4-story climbing area, trampoline, toddler area, etc. The place is great for not only children but adults too. When we realized we would have about 50 people in attendance we realized we needed somewhere big to accomdate them so this was the place! I can't rave enough on this place and how awesome the staff were! If anyone out there has a party coming up you should really look into this place.

http://www.snapperzfun.com/Main.aspx?Page=default

All Logan's family and friends showed up and we had Elmo cake, pizza, playtime and gifts. It was such a wonderful time. The best part was watching all the kids on the trampoline...and the kids included me, Heather and Megan :) I showed off my mad skillz by doing front and back flips in sequence.

On Logan's actual birthday, January 20, 2009 we kept it pretty low key. He was still a little exhausted from the long weekend. When Brian got home we took Logan to play at the mall playground and eat at Chick-fil-A. He played until he was absolutely so tired he couldn't really walk straight. He decided to start spinning in circles and when he stopped he crashed his head into the slide. I grabbed him up and there it was...a huge knot in the middle of his forehead...time to go home. We sat his little cake in front of him so that he could just dig in. Well, it's kinda hard to just dig in if mom forgot to thaw the cake! Hey, I'm still new to all this :) As he sat there it started to thaw a little so he finally got to dig in a little. Definitely a memorable moment!

Happy Birthday Logan! Mommy and Daddy Love You So Very Much!

December 2008

2009-01-26T09:51:00.001-08:00

We went to get our Christmas tree at the normal place...Season's Gardens. It is a landscaping company across from our housing edition.

My brother, Aaron turned 26 on December 2nd. So, since he is still such a big kid we met him and his girlfriend, Heather, at Chuch E Cheese. We ate pizza, played games, and took lots of pictures. I got the most tickets and got Aaron a Chuck E Cheese birthday doll that we all signed for him. We all really felt like a kid again :) We love you Aaron...Happy Birthday!

Brian and I took Logan to Disney on Ice. We really planned on being there for maybe the first part and he'd be ready to leave. But we couldn't believe it...he sat thru the entire thing! As soon as the show started he was just staring and then he would sing and dance. At intermission we shared an ice cream and then headed back to the show. The only part he was bored in was the prince/princess dances....he's all boy. For me, I loved this part because it was all the "couples" that I had grown up with as a little girl. Brian was laughing at me...he's also all boy :)

Heather and Aaron brought pizza one night during the week and we had our gift exchange with her since she would be with her family for Christmas. Logan really likes Heather and loves to do her hair. He also like to point out Aarons "moley."

We went to Chicago for the weekend before Christmas to spend it with Brian's side of the family. Brian's mom, dad, sister, Brandon, Erik, Courtney and Boppa were there. We ate appetizers, sat down for a nice dinner, opened gifts and stayed up late talking. The amount of gifts for Logan was insane. When we left we barely fit everything into my Jeep. Some of the things he got was a radio flyer wagon, giant radio flyer horse, Elmo Live, books, and so on.

For Christmas this year we had it at our house. I turned the front room into a Whoville with lots of colored lights and decorations. This was really fun and different for me b/c for the rest of the house I use white, silver, and blues to decorate. The decorations all turned out great and Logan seemed to enjoy all the colors.

He wasn't too fond of Santa though. We took him to see Santa at Reynolds farm and he actually sat next to him but was continuing to hold my arm the whole time. Santa started saying Elmo and that got Logan a little interested but he was much happier when I took him away.

My mom, dad, and brothers came to spend the night on Christmas Eve. We did our normal tradition of going to see lights, eating appetizers and opening sibling gifts. I also had a gift for everyone...matching sleepy pants. This way we could all match when we woke up on Christmas morning. Yes I know I'm a dork :)
On Christmas morning we videotaped Logan's waking up...he wasn't very cheery at first but perked up once he got going. We then tore into the gifts...my brothers and I still rip them open like when we were young. Logan was obviously tired of opening gifts because he stopped opening them and said "done." Once done opening, we ate the casserole my mom made and played with our new gifts. Around 1 p.m. Tonya, Eric and Nick came over and I fixed a mid-day dinner for everyone: chicken cordon bleu, roasted potatoes, ceaser salad, and appetizers. Once everyone left, Alex hung around for a little bit and Brian and I opened our gifts to each other. We got Logan to open a couple more, but then we went ahead and opened his too. What a Christmas! It was all I could've hoped for.

We got to have one more Christmas celebration with my grandma & grandpa Cummins....Logan's great-grandparents. They got him a Thomas the Train bike and much needed helmet and knee pads :)

Brian turned 30 on December 31. The night before I had Aaron, Heather, Tonya, and Alex over for a small get together to celebrate the big day. Then for his actual birthday we decided to keep Logan with us and spend the evening as a family rather then getting a babysitter. We went to Qdoba for breakfast...Brian's fav...and then had a late dinner at the Kona Grill in Carmel. Once home and Logan was put to bed, he didn't even come close to staying up until midnight, we watched the ball drop on television. Another family night together that we will always remember.

November 2008

2009-01-26T09:30:00.000-08:00

By now, Logan has really gotten to know his extended family. We have made sure to see the Peterson family in Chicago at least once a month. They have been coming to spend the weekend with us or we have been going there. Logan has also spent weekends with his Papaw and Nana Shepard. He loves to point everyone out in the pictures around our house and is finally starting to say a couple words on the phone when they call...rather then just sitting there listening.

We've been taking him with us to workout at the YMCA but he's not too fond of the children's watch area yet. He cries when we drop him off, but then as soon as we walk away he's fine. He gets really excited when we pick him up and we also get to see him playing with other children...which is always a joy. In February we are starting music lessons there, so I really think that the more we go and do activities there, he will like it a little more.

Logan has a tent that he was given to him by his Papaw and Nana and he loves it. He gets into and rolls all over the place. Well, I found a tunnel that attaches to it and he has a great time crawling thru it, only problem is that it takes up the whole living room. I'm really considering making the office into a playroom for all his larger toys.

For Thanksgiving we went to my parents house in Richmond, Indiana. It was weird to have it there because they have moved from the house we have lived in since I was a freshmen in high school....so about 15 years. Wow, I won't be putting any age information again. Anyways, the whole family was there and it was so exciting to spend our first Holiday with Logan. We have a very relaxed atmosphere at Thanksgiving. First we stand in a circle and say what we are thankful for, next my dad says a prayer and we start eating around 1:30. Football is on the television all day...we are a big Cowboys family...except Brian is a Bears fan. They are fighting on what Logan will be :) Afterwards we'll play games and just hang out. Then later on everyone usually starts munching again. The day couldn't be any better.

The day after Thanksgiving my mom and I got up at 4 am and went shopping. We always talked about doing it, but this year we finally did. So, for hours we shopped at several different stores and got some good deals, but mainly we just had fun spending quality time alone together.

October 2008

2009-01-05T07:38:00.001-08:00

October was a busy month for us. Logan has really come a long way and we are enjoying spending time at home together and lots of outings with friends.

We had our first play date at the Indy zoo with Jessica, Quinn, Marsha and her two girls. It was very fun watching Logan interact with children around his age. He's still a little behind but not much. V is Logan's age, about 18 months, but she has an older sister and so she is a little monkey. She follows right along with the older children and can usually keep up. Logan was getting better as the day went on and so I think it's going to be great for him to hang around with the other children.

The following week, we all went to a place called Snapperz. It is a huge building with open area filled with bounce houses, slides, 4-story climbing area that reminded me of chutes and ladders, and toddler areas. It was another great day with our new friends.

Jessica and Quinn met us at the A+ gymnastics another week and we had a blast! The whole area and all the equipment is available to the children and adults. We ran, jumped and hung from all types of gymnastic items, like the pit filled with foam squares, the rings, and spring floors. It was a great workout and Logan was tired for the night.

We headed down to Louisville, KY because I had a conference to go to on Sunday. So, we made a mini-vaca out of it. On Saturday we met with the Orr family. They are the couple that we became very close to during the adoption b/c they adopted from the same town and one boy from the same orphanage as Logan. We first went to their home and Logan got to play with their boys for a bit. Then we all went to a petting zoo and pumpkin patch. All the boys did very well and it was great for pictures to have all of us together!

For Halloween, Logan was a dragon. Funny story about the costume...when I bought it, it was just a little tight, but the only size left. So, he was so adorable in it I just went ahead and got it since he wouldn't prob grow that much in a month. OK, I was wrong about that....when it came time to wear the costume I had to cut the bottoms of the feet out so that he could walk. Otherwise, he fell on the floor and couldn't get back up...which was absolutely hilarious to both of us. I was laughing so hard that I was crying and he was just rolling around on the floor laughing too. But, it all worked out once the feet were cut out and you couldn't tell, so it was still really cute on him. My mom, dad, aaron, and Tonya all came over to go with us Trick-or-Treating. We had a great time and he got lots of candy...for us...we wouldn't want him to ruin his teeth :)

September 2008

2009-01-05T07:28:00.001-08:00

This month we had Logan's dedication ceremony at Oak Park Church in Richmond, Indiana. What a beautiful day. All of our family/friends from both sides were there to celebrate with us and the ceremony was done by Pastor Shindoll. This was very special to us because he has become a great family friend and has seen what we went thru to get Logan. Afterwards we went to Golden Corral and feasted on all they had to offer. With so many people and so many different types of food likes and dislikes we figured a buffet was the best way to go. Everyone seemed happy and full, so I guess they liked it :) Afterwards, we drove home and Brian's side of the family came to our house. Kari, Brandon, Boppa, Mike & Rachel had never been there so it was nice to finally show them where we live.

August 2008

2009-01-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

Well, Logan has proved to be the best thing that has ever happened to us. It's still like a dream at times because we can't imagine our lives without him. He has been growing steadily and his vocabulary is definitely picking up. He is also a climber...on everything. But so far he minds very well and when we tell him to stop or no he will usually listen. And to us and everyone that knows him he is the smartest child alive...and the cutest :)

Oh, and how could I forget, he is obsessed with shoes! He says the word all the time and walks around in my shoes everywhere...and yes that includes my high heels. He is better then most women you see :) Brian would love for him to stop and to just wear his shoes but whenever he does, he falls because Brian's are way to big for him!

This month we have kept up our "journeys" with him. This time we've added Chicago to our traveling, which is Brian's hometown. We had a baby shower at Carol's house and all the family & friends from Brian's side attended. Carol is always a delightful hostess so it was another great shower and once again Logan was the center of attention and loved the cake :) We spent the night at "Grandma & Grandpa" Petersons. Logan got plenty of attention and got to play with his new toys. He especially liked the sports center that Kari and Brandon bought him so they played that over and over again with him....(came as a nice break for us!) The following day Logan got to meet a few special lifelong friends...Rhoda & Lowell Merrilatt.

At the end of the month, our friends from Church, Janae and Sommer, threw us another baby shower for Logan. This time the guys were invited too, but they had to stay in the other room, even though they kept sneaking in and stealing food. It was so much fun! Logan got tons more stuff and so I think we are pretty set until he is about 4 in clothes.

We are just so thankful for all our family & friends and how much love and support they have given us throughout the whole process! Since we brought Logan home, we have been put on the back burner and he gets all the love and attention. This is perfectly fine with us because we know that he deserves it :)

Our little cuddle-bug Sophie turned 3 on August 27th. She is the sweetest little dog ever and we are so glad to have her. Here she is enjoying her birthday ice cream from Dairy Queen.

July 2008

2009-01-05T06:43:00.000-08:00

Well, for the rest of the month we toted Logan all over Indianapolis and Richmond!

In Indy, our home, he has went to the zoo, children's museum, Church, shops, playgrounds, restaurants, doctor visits and he loves the Y pool. He is a regular little swimmer and is already trying to go under...but not allowed to yet...still too young. One thing he really enjoys is running thru the sprinkler in our front yard. Definitely glad he's taking after his mom and not dad with the water!

He's also spent a couple days in my Hometown of Richmond, Indiana. First we just went to spend a day at Church and Lisa's parents so that everyone who has been awaiting his arrival could finally meet him. On a seperate trip there, a baby shower was held for him with all our family & friends. He was the center of attention AGAIN and he loved it all, especially the cake :) The whole day was wonderful and we got so much needed items for him.

This was a great month for us because he went to the neurologist and we were told that everything checked out and we were able to start weaning him from the seizure medicine. The pediatrician has also had a look at him and said that he seems to be coming along just fine.

Sat/Sun July 5-6, 2008

2009-01-05T06:36:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we all went for a walk and took Logan to the neighborhood park. He of course loved the swing and we all took turns pushing him. My grandparents left and so did my parents. Brian's parents headed out on Sunday. It was weird because we were all alone with him. The only thing left to do was go pick up the dogs from the kennel. We had no clue how they all were going to react to each other since the dogs aren't used to a child and Logan's definitely not used to animals.

The dogs really didn't care too much about him b/c after 3 weeks they were just very glad to be home. Logan, on the other hand, was intrigued by them and a little scared at first. We had to hold him whenever they were around, but he constantly wanted to be near them. Imagine this...his first english word was "dog." That's my boy :)

Friday, July 4, 2008

2008-12-31T11:46:00.001-08:00

Well, Logan did not exactly sleep the night thru and so we were up with him pretty early. Everyone was at our house and we headed out to Crackel Barrel for breakfast. Logan enjoyed all the different types of food. I still cannot believe how well he is doing for such big changes in his little world.

Afterwards we came back to the house and they all told us to just relax and they would take care of him. This was such a blessing, because we were still so exhausted. They gave him a bath and played with him and all his new toys...it was like Christmas in our living room. Brian and I took this time to take a much needed shower and nap. Oh how thankful I am for family!

When we woke up we went to buy tons of fireworks. Logan loved them and was laughing and smiling the whole time. Once again we were shocked at how well he adjusts to new situations. One thing we wanted to always do was continually expose him to new things and experiences. He sure makes that easy to do!

I don't think we could've come back at a better time....Happy July 4th! We truly do love America.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

2008-12-31T11:31:00.001-08:00

We are on our way home! It seems like forever since we were there. This is definitely an experience I will never forget. The driver picked us up and we headed to the airport. We bought Logan's ticket and next thing we knew we were in the air. Our first stop was Frankfurt Germany. We got there and first thing we did was loose one of Logan's shoes on the bus. So we had our first mishap with him, and we were positive it wouldn't be the last :)

We had a long delay and then finally boarded the plane for Washington Dulles airport. Were not looking forward to this flight b/c it had already been a very long day and this was our long flight. Unfortunately Logan decided to not sleep the entire flight and wanted to cry alot....actually so did Brian and I. We couldn't console him to sleep so none of us got any sleep at all. Then, we finally landed in Washington and he still did not sleep, so neither did we. One good thing is that we were finally able to call our family b/c the cell phones would work. Logan got to talk, actually listen, as grandma's and grandpa's spoke to him. After the layover there, we got onto the smaller plane to Indy and finally he slept for an hour on my lap. Needless to say an hour in 24 is not enough for any of us. We were all exhausted and pretty grumpy with each other (first family fights).

I will never forget the excitement and feeling of love that I felt when we got off the plane and saw all of our family there waiting on us. Tears instantly came as they stood there with their excited grins and balloons. We were so tired, but at that moment everything was just perfect and all that I could ever have imagined. Logan was a lucky little boy to have these wonderful people as his family. There was my mom, dad, brothers aaron & alex, grandma & grandpa cummins, aunt tonya, uncle eric & cousin nick, and brian's mom & dad.
Logan obviously welcomed the change too b/c he actually went to pretty much everyone and we were oh so thankful for that! We all headed back to our house and a couple hours later finally all went to bed.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

2008-12-31T11:23:00.000-08:00

Today we had to go to the US Embassy in Moscow. Our driver picked us up and dropped us off. It was a little daunting to go alone, but we felt comfortable immediately b/c there were other Americans. Once we got to the final waiting room it was neat to see all the different families and their newly adopted children. Logan was the cutest of course :) We were pleasantly suprised to see the lady that translated for us at the Moscow hospital in the beginning of the trip. She was so happy to meet Logan since at that time she had only seen pictures.

Our driver picked us up and gave us some places to go since we still had the rest of the day. We headed out with Logan in the stroller and walked miles and miles again. We saw a whole new part of Moscow and were glad for the info from the driver. Only problem was that as we got away from the hotel it started pouring down rain. We grabbed Logan out of the stroller and I held him. We stood under a store front and I had him stick his hand out into the rain. He really enjoyed that and thought it was pretty funny.

That evening we got everything packed up and ready for our departure the next day....Finally heading home!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

2008-12-31T07:25:00.000-08:00

Today the doctor came at 8 am to check out Logan. He came to the hotel and examined Logan in our room. He kept saying how good-looking Logan was and it would be hard to keep the ladies off of him :) He also said that he was positive that the seizure medication could stop once we had Logan checked out by a neurologist.

Once Logan got a clean bill of health the Doctor left and we were one step closer to getting home. We had the rest of the day to ourselves so we decided to tour the city of Moscow. We took Logan everywhere! We pretty much walked miles and miles that day and he really seemed to enjoy it. He ate Sbarro pizza for the first time and really only liked the crust. We fed him cheerios all day long and he drank lots of bottled water with us. That night we gave him a bath and he wasn't too thrilled at first, but then he started to like it. It was a great first day as a family!

Monday, June 30, 2008

2008-12-31T06:39:00.000-08:00

Well, today was the big day. We arrived at the orphanage to pick up Logan forever. We got there and gave them the clothes for him to be dressed in and then we had to meet with the doctor for instructions on his eating, sleeping, meds, etc. What a wonderful moment when they brought him into the office. He was wearing the yellow striped shirt and tan pants and gave us the biggest smile. He actually looked so happy to see us...especially since it had been a couple of days. He came right to us and then we had a couple pictures taken and we were off. So long orphanage forever!

He was a little frightened of the car, but he sat on daddy's lap and just watched out the window. We stopped by a baby store to buy neccessities such as formula, food and of course diapers. He loved playing with brochures in the store and was doing very well with us, what a brave little boy.

We did have one scare on the way to the airport...I forgot the papers from the visa dept stating that we could be in Moscow and Rostov. Usually the officers ask for them before you can leave Rostov and if you don't have them then you have to get them. Man did I start praying fast. I couldn't imagine being stuck in Rostov all because I left that folder at home....of course I could envision it lying on the desk at home where I left it. Guess that's what happens when you only have a couple days to pack for a 3 week trip. So, anyways, we got up to the officers and all they did was congratulate us and play with Logan a little. Larissa told us that we were very lucky...I told her luck had nothing to do with it, I had been praying like crazy in my head :)

Logan did awesome on the plane. He just watched out the window and was playing with us. We were a little scared at the end b/c we weren't landing very smoothly, but I looked down and he was fast asleep in my arms. How good that felt.

When we got to the Courtyard Marriott in Moscow the first thing we did was just let him run around the room and explore everything. He loved the mirror and thought it was so funny to walk barefoot on the carpet. The orphanage was vinyl flooring so were pretty sure he hadn't ever felt carpet before. Then, the couple from America, the Orrs, called and said that we could meet for dinner that evening. It was such a wonderful time to spend the evening with them because well we really missed Americans. They were on there way to Rostov that next morning to meet their two little boys. Logan was loving the french fries and did a great job just hanging out at dinner.

After that we headed back to the room and got him ready for bed. There was a crib in the room so we put him in it and he actually layed down and went to sleep. I couldn't believe it. The next morning we woke up around 7 something and there he was looking at us over the rail of the crib. It was probably the happiest moment of my life...just to know that Brian and I were actually parents to this beautiful baby boy.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

2008-06-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

First of all HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WRIGLEY...he was 3 years old yesterday! He'll get some vanilla ice cream when we get back. I know they are very spoiled and we sure do miss them a lot.

Logan is doing great. He has started not wanting to go back to the caretakers. And on Friday we heard him crying when they put him in the room. We hated to leave but Friday was the last time we ever have to give him up! We can't see him Sat/Sun and on Monday he's ours forever! We are picking him up around 10 am and then we are leaving to Moscow at 1 p.m. It will be very interesting to see how he does with us for all day/night. One good thing is that we are meeting up with a couple I've been talking to at home who are traveling to Moscow this week. It will be nice to see Americans again.

The weather is actually very hot here. It has only rained one day, last Sunday, and it was like an instant monsoon! All of a sudden it started pouring rain and the streets all backed up with water. We saw a tree split in half right in front of us and block the street. Then, in the middle of the city it all meets together and there was probably about 4 ft of water gathered there. So, there was this guy in this tiny car and he became the hero of the town b/c he made it thru. Everyone was laughing and cheering him on. We got stuck under a small stand and then rain was pelting us. Then we jumped out and ran for it again. It was really a funny site. Other then that it has been sunny and hot. Today is almost unbearable outside. But I'd rather have this weather then their cold :)

We are still scheduled to come in on July 3rd at 11:55 p.m. I will keep you updated on if anything changes but that should be it.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

2008-06-24T06:57:00.000-07:00

We are still getting 3 hrs a day with him b/c of his schedule. It is enough for him b/c he seems to get tired faster everyday. We play with him alot and he's not used to so much attn. He actually fell asleep with us today for about an hour. We let him sleep and then when it was getting time to go he woke up and we were there. He gave us a huge smile when he saw us. This was the first time we've ever been there when he woke up. Usually he's going to nap when we leave.

We bought the plane tickets to Moscow today...YEAH, almost time to leave with him. Also, Brian signed for his birth certificate today. We also got his schedule and all the documents from the orphanage, but Larissa has to translate it out for us and is giving it to us on Thursday.

Not going to lie, we are both a little homesick...which is very weird for us. It's not like we aren't enjoying ourselves, but it is very different from home. Mainly we just can't wait to show Logan off to everyone! Our translator and driver were laughing at us today b/c they couldn't believe how much stuff we've done in the city...all by foot. They kept pointing things out that we could do and we'd laugh stating that we'd already done it. They said we were very good walkers. We are definitely glad we are staying the wait period here because now we get to see him everyday and also we can tell him about where he was from one day.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

2008-06-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

HELLO!! Time is going VERY slowly for us...especially this weekend because we can't go to the orphanage on sat/sun b/c they are closed to the public. We have been spending 3 hours a day with him an he is really opening up to us more and more everyday. He is absolutely adorable! His laugh is the sweetest thing on earth. And I had my first gross mom moment....while he was sitting on my leg he started farting and then pooped :) Very weird but hilarious...and he thought so too.

On Monday we are getting his schedule of eating, sleeping, etc. As of right now, we are just playing with him alot. We get him at noon after he eats and then at 3 we give him back. It is so hard to leave him everyday. We just feel like he is ours and we want to take him with us...the court already said he's ours! Only 8 more days til we take him and head to Moscow.

To pass the time we are reading a lot and walking around for hours everyday. We are in the best shape of our lives. Yesterday we went on a boat tour that lasted about an hour. It was really nice. Still not doing to well with the food situation though. We've only found little things here and there that we can eat...mostly McDonalds. We are actually going there for lunch today. It is very hard b/c if we don't see a picture or the actual food, then we cannot tell what it is. 99% of the restaurants do not have english menus so we are very limited on where we can eat. But, we are making the best of it. We went to the grocery and got bread, packaged cheese, and mustard...it may not sound great, but it is actually delicious. We brought snack foods from home that are holding us over too. We can't wait to get back to Moscow b/c there is more english menus and english speaking people...no one here speaks english in rostov.

One thing that is really cool is that the Russian Soccer team is doing extremely well in the Euro2008 tournament. They won again last night and people were in the streets yelling, fireworks were going off...it's a huge deal around here. They are now going to play Italy or Spain in the semi-finals. Vladimir, our driver, was explaining some of it to us because he is a huge soccer fan...used to play himself.

June 18, 2008

2008-06-18T06:56:00.000-07:00

We are officially parents today! We went to court this morning at 10 am and it was very nerve-wracking. On our side there was the orphanage doctor, translator, and social worker. They all stated that they backed us up as being parents of Alexsey. The judge asked many questions and Brian was the main speaker for us. The prosecutor was also there and asked us several questions but nothing too difficult. The judge then left to decide and came back in about 15 minutes and told us that she & the court decided that they accepted our petition to adopt Alexsey Sergevitch Bigichev. They also waived the paperwork part of 4 days. This was a blessing because we found out when we got here that if they did not waive that part we could not leave for home until July 9th. We did alot of praying about this and as always GOD IS GOOD! Tomorrow the paperwork from the court should come through and we will sign them. But as it looks, we will be on schedule to arrive home on July 3rd.

As for the other days we have been here, it has been a good trip. We arrived in Moscow on Sunday and then went to the medical center on Monday. After we got there and got started it wasn't as scary as it sounded. We saw 8 different doctors and pretty much added up to going to the doctor for a regular check-up. They were all very nice and we ended up going thru it with 2 other couples from America that were on their first trip. We did get into trouble by an old russian "babushka" because we were all being too loud. She walked by scolding us in Russian...but this just made us laugh louder :)

We got to tour Moscow the 2 nights we were there and we really enjoyed the city. Our hotel room was very nice...THANKS BARRETT !! Best part was we found a Sbarro Pizza place and I fnally got to eat something besides french fries :)

We arrived in Rostov on Tuesday. We were met at the airport by Larissa and Vladimir and they gave us a wonderful suprise...from there we were going straight to the orphanage to see Logan. We went straight there and of course he didn't remember us at all and started to cry a little when he was handed to me. But, after awhile of playing he warmed up to us again and gave us that beautiful smile of his. He is also walking now. Actually pretty good...looks like he is a little athlete. Also it looks like he is left handed...I know, now he's even more of a freak like Brian :) But, as Brian likes to say: Future Left-Handed Pitcher for the CUBS.

Today after court we got to go back to the orphanage again to see him. He is really opening up to us more and more. Today he even blabbered a little and laughed even more. It was so amazing to be with him knowing that he is now our son. What a great feeling!

We hope all is well with everyone at home! Take care and we will be posting again soon.

June 13, 2008

2008-06-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well, tomorrow we are off to Russia. Our schedule is to leave Indy at 10 am and arrive in Moscow Sunday around noon. We will be eight hours ahead with the time change. We will try to post as often as possible, but here is our tentative schedule:

~Leave Indy Sat June 14
~Arrive in Moscow Sun June 15 (staying at Courtyard Marriott City Center)
~Go to medical on Mon June 16
~Fly to Rostov on Tues June 17 (staying at Hotel Rostov unless it is changed when we get there)
~Go to Orphanage and then Court on Wed June 18
~Spend 10-day waiting period in Rostov
~Leave for Moscow with our boy on June 30th (staying at Courtyard Marriott City Center)
~Go to Embassy for boys medical and paperwork on July 1 -2
~Leave Moscow for Indy on July 3
~Arrive in Indy July 3 at Midnight

Well, I'm going to bed. We finally got all our stuff packed and are ready to go. Thanks again to everyone for all the love and support. We can't wait to bring the little guy back to meet you!

June 10, 2008

2008-06-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

We are so very excited, WE GOT THE CALL!!! We leave this Saturday the 14th for Moscow and then onto Rostov for our courtdate, which is on June 18th. It seems so unreal...except for the fact that we have so much to do. Mainly we just cannot wait to see him again!

May 16, 2008

2008-06-10T18:28:00.001-07:00

Well, we're in Frankfurt Germany for the night. We were upgraded to the Junior Executive Suite and it is very modern, which we love, and the bed is so comfortable. Best part is that we couldn't figure out how to turn the lights on...Brian had to call the front desk and they told us to use the key. Well, guess we're still not that modern :) Tomorrow we'll be back in Indy and all we can do is wait to get back to our boy in Rostov.

May 15, 2008

2008-06-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

Today is a sad yet happy day. Unfortunately we have to leave for home today without our boy. But, on a good note we get to spend 3 hours with him before we leave.

We got to take him outside when we got there...just the three of us again. He was much more alert outside today and actually played with us pretty much the whole time. We had him walking, playing on the teeter-totter, and playing with toys. One thing he like to do was put his forehead up to mine...in this moment I don't think it is possible to love anything more. Plus, his smile is so sweet and when he looks at you with those big brown eyes you just melt. He ended up falling asleep in Brian's arms...what a wonderful sight. Another first..."dad & son" moment that we will never forget.

When it came time to leave it was very hard because he was still asleep and I had this aching to take him home. But, now we know he's there and will be waiting for us to come back for him.

May 14, 2008

2008-06-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

Well, today is the big day...we finally get to meet our little boy. We were picked up at the hotel by our driver, translator, and independent doctor that was accompanying us to the orphanage. We were a little more alert today after a good nights sleep and really got to take in the city. It was very busy and they drive much different then in the states. We were very glad to have a driver taking us around.

We got to the orphanage and it was very nice. We first met with the director of the orphanage and she gave information to our translator and doctor. There was no way we could keep up with how fast they were talking so we just sat by and waited until we were told where to go. We were sent into a medical room and then they brought him. I couldn't believe my eyes...he was so adorable. Of course he was scared to death of us. But, after awhile he warmed up to us and eventually smiled a few times.

This was our time to decide if he was the child for us...either we accept him or pass and meet another child. After the pictures can you tell immediately what our answer was! Of course we knew he was ours. This was the first time we put all our Faith into God and didn't try to be in control at all. Well, it proved that God is good and knows what he's doing. Logan was ours and a perfect fit.

We got to go back to the orphanage that afternoon and spend another hour with him. This time were able to take him outside...just the three of us. He was definitely more quiet and reserved but we found out that this was the first time he had been outside. It was kind of neat to have a "first" with him. Other children were outside playing while the caretakers were planting flowers. It was a wonderful day!

May 12 & 13, 2008

2008-06-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

Today we left the indianapolis airport around 2pm. From there we changed planes at the Washington Dulles airport and took off on our first overseas flight. The flight wasn't too bad because we were tired so we pretty much slept the entire time. We arrived in Frankfurt Germany and had to rush to our flight to Rostov. At first when we got to Rostov-on-don we were very nervous because we were in a different area then we thought we were going to be in. It was a huge relief when we saw our driver and translator waiting on us.

They took us to our hotel, Hotel Rostov, and we settled in for the night. We decided to just go to a restaurant in the hotel since we were exhausted. We had a slight problem with the bill because we didn't have any roubles only credit cards. This is where we realized that there was definitely a language barrier and would be a very interesting experience. After bed we went straight to bed. Can't wait to meet our boy tomorrow!