Vacation or was it?

I guess I shouldn't complain, the weather was great all but 1 day and then it was just cloudy on that day, no wash outs. Logan did have an hour here and there that he was good :) not throwing something or himself on the floor or even the sand. It did not help that I was PMSing and bloated.

It started out OK but by the time our flight was 2 hours delayed we were getting a little frustrated. We tried to make the best of it but after sitting in the Airport for 6 hours I said to Jeff "I hope this is no indication for what's in store" I should know by now to just keep my mouth shut.

We finally did get to Myrtle Beach at 4:00 and Logan slept for the 20 minute drive back to our room. He slept good the 5 days we were gone and that is about all that he did good. He had no appetite, he was only in a good mood for about the first 10 minutes of the day. He did LOVE the Ocean and playing in the sand. A couple of other first for him was playing Putt-Putt and we went to the Ripley's Aquarium and he loved all of the fish. Logan is not shy at all and just went up to other kids and started playing in the sand with them, he was is funny and cute.

I think it was all just a bit much for him, first and foremost he is 2, second it was his first time not staying at home and third we stayed with my Mom, Step-dad and Nephew so there was always something going on, not enough down time. I did stick to his schedule, he napped and went to bed pretty close to the same time as always and meal time was right on also. If we would have had our own place I think it may have been a little better but who knows.

I was very glad he had no trauma triggered from the plane ride, I was worried about that but he was excited and really seemed to enjoy checking everything out. On Wednesday he started saying "Mommy Home" over and over again. I am glad we did not go Saturday to Saturday and cut it short we went Sunday to Friday and that was plenty long. Our first night home was full of tantrums, yesterday was a little better and today he seemed to back to himself for the most part. He is still throwing things on the floor so I have decided if it goes on the floor he is done with what ever it is for a few days.

OK, enough bitching. It is nice to be home and today he seems to be doing better still not totally himself but close. On a POSITIVE note L has decided that he will go 1 & 2 on the potty now and we went the whole day today WITHOUT a diaper besides at nap time and had no accidents. He went #2 for the first time on the potty on vacation, YAHOO! He has been going pee-pee for about 2 months now and I decided that I was not even going to ask him to go on the potty anymore because I didn't think he was ready but since he went poop I am going for it. He is only 28 months so we are way ahead of where I thought we would be, I wasn't even going to start trying until he was 3 but I guess he has a different plan :) Good Job Logan!

Here are some pics from vaca, the first one I had to post, this lady looked hilarious I had to take the picture, I am sure you will get a laugh also.


Just When you thought You Seen It All!!!!






Ripley's Aquarium







href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3y0nNbxU-geVc-j5Yrh-5kdzzZmoz7cqe8JJSG8hc1FgWYQhpN-P0Qz2YJt6J_Oh7VlIEeUmOt_CnWg4lqbIsK_-oCImRoY0VB0OqmmlUqrkPdcORv1oQ5S7NAE7-t-7tWSU_Q/s1600-h/DSCN2289.JPG"> Austin Riding The Bull

Putt-Putt

At The Pier

Summer Fun

Cool Slideshows!

Happy 1 Year "Metch Day" To The Lang Family

Kim, Lance and Jackson on their "Metcha Day"
One Year Later!

Can you believe it, our boy's have changed so much in a year. It is such a special day. I cannot even begin to imagine how I am going to feel on our 1 year "Gotcha Day"
That day to me is going to be just as important as the day Logan was born. That is the day that our family was born and I am sure you feel the same.

I am so happy that Kim and I started chatting on-line and arranged to meet for dinner in Moscow on our first trip to meet our boy's. We were flying back to the States and they were flying into Novokutznestk, both of us had a night in Moscow so we met for dinner. Kim and I stayed in touch through email and late night calls once we returned home. You helped make those 11 weeks bearable and I am so happy to call you my friend. Jackson is so preciuos, you can see how happy he is by the smile on his face and the light in his eye's.

Happy 1 year "Metcha Day" Jackson, Kim & Lance

COngratulations, Sending love your way,
Dawn, Jeff & Logan

1 Year Metcha Day

I will never forget the day we met you. As we sat in Dr Lubmilla's office listening to her tell us all about you I heard the door open behind me, when I turn around there you were. My dear sweet beautiful boy who I longed for for so many years. I always new there was a reason why no baby ever came, I know it was because of you. We were ready for you but you were not ready for us and finally you were, you were worth the wait.

Our visits with you were great. You were so serious on the first day, you analyzed everything, you still do. It took everything to get you to crack a smile and finally at the end of the day you did. You didn't not want to leave me when your care-taker came for you and it was so hard to hand you to her. We gave you a lot of hugs and kisses and bid you farewell to the next day.

The next day was wonderful, they woke you up from your nap so you were a bit cranky at first but you soon warmed up, you even laughed :) We decided to get you up and moving and before we knew it you took your first steps by yourself, Yahoo Logan! You snuggled into us, held our hands and even looked into our eye's a little bit. Our visit came to an end all to soon it seemed just as we were all getting really comfortable it was time to leave, THE HARDEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

We had faith in our agency and I think that is what got us through such a difficult time. Leaving our baby was tough but we knew Adoption Ark would get us back to you our son as fast as legally possible. We missed you for the next 11 weeks, that was definitely the longest 3 months of our lives. When we got that call for court I knew it was the agency, the phone rang about 1:00 am, who calls that late. I am so glad we only had five days to get out of the US any more than that I would have went nuts:)

It has been such an incredible year, you amaze your Dad and I everyday. We love you more than words could ever say and it is such an honor to be your parents, we have been truly blessed.

I love you baby,
Mommy

I hope you all like the pics and my other first, VIDEO. The first video is from the first visit w/L. The second one I took today. The Pics are from our first 2 visits with L and of the last couple of days. Our time stamp is wrong, in Kemerovo it is
12 hrs ahead of us so when we met L it was 10:30pm here on July 5th, so it was 10:30 am there on the 6th so you could say I guess it was the 5th or 6th depending on where you were, LOL. Any ways, I hope you enjoy the show.

Cool Slideshows!

One Year Ago!

I just can't believe it was one year ago today that we set out on that jet plane to meet Logan. It was one of the most emotional day's I have ever had in my life. It was a day filled with EXCITEMENT, ANXIETY, JOY, SORROW and so many other emotions, I was so nervous. It was the best day and yet one of the saddest.

It was one year ago today that the BEST dog in the world passed away, my Baylee. I miss her everyday and I know I will probably never have a dog again that will be as good as she was, she really was the best behaved dog EVER.

What a day, my dog dies and 2 hours later we are jetting off on the journey of a lifetime to meet our son.

Look for my exciting post on the 6th, our "Metcha Day" a day I will NEVER forget. I have something special for that post, another first on here :)


On the plane waiting to leave Detroit (notice the swollen eye's)

Baylee opening her Christmas presents

HEARTBREAKING

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS, THIS POOR FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH HELL BECAUSE OF ADOPTION INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM, OPERATED BY ORSON MOZES. I KNOW THEIR PAIN ALL TO WELL, THIS IS THE SAME AGENCY AND OWNER THAT GOT US. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THIS FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH, THIS IS THE SADDEST STORY I HAVE HEARD WITH AIP AND I HAVE HEARD MANY MANY SAD ONES. READ THEIR STORY AND THEN SEND AIP/ORSON MOZES AN EMAIL ON THEIR BEHALF THEY HAVE INFO AND A LETTER TO COPY AND PASTE ON THEIR BLOG.
YOUR CAN READ THEIR STORY HERE AND GET CONTACT INFO FOR AIP/ORSON MOZES

www.quest2kaz.blogspot.com

HOW CAN THEIR BE SOOOOOO MANY HORROR STORIES WITH THIS AGENCY AND HE STILL BE ALLOWED TO DO BUSINESS. I THINK IT'S TIME THE SANTA BARBARA, DA STEPS IT UP AND SHUTS THIS AGENCY DOWN ONCE AND FOR ALL. HERE IS HER NAME AND EMAIL SEND HER A LETTER
Laura Cleaves lcleave@co.santa-barbara.ca.us,

I AM GOING TO FORWARD THIS BLOG TO HER. WHEN WE GOT SHIT ON BY AIP I TALKED TO THIS WOMEN FOR A WHILE AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO THINGS, I GAVE HER A LOT OF EMAIL'S OF FAMILIES THAT GOT THE SHAFT BY AIP. SHE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME THAT AIP/ORSON MOZES WAS BEING INVESTIGATED SINCE 2002, WE TALKED TO HER IN 2005, WOW,SAD! SHE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE A VERY LONG INVESTIGATION, I WONDER WHAT EVER HAPPENED. I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE HOW MANY OF US ARE OUT THEIR THAT HAD OUR HEARTS BROKEN BY THIS AGENCY.

MY HEART ACHES FOR THIS FAMILY AND I KNOW THAT EVERY THING HAPPENS FOR A REASON BUT THIS TYPE OF PAIN COULD BE AVOIDED IF AIP WAS OUT OF BUSINESS. THERE ARE A MILLION GREAT AGENCIES OUT THERE LIKE ADOPTION ARK, www.adoptionark.com

Wow, I cannot believe we have been home 9 months today, crazy! Everyday brings something new and L does something that is totally amazing. Everyday I think I couldn't love him anymore than I do and I wake up and my heart has expanded even more:)

We took a trip up to our cottage for the first time this summer w/L and we had a great time. We even stumbled upon a Fawn (see pics) I am glad we didn't scare it, man I got close. Logan loved walking through the woods, he didn't want to hold our hands, he needed to be a big boy and balance, it was so cute.

I posted some pics in a new way for me but I think I like it, what do you think? They are from our trip to our place and some other random photo's. Logan loves to have me hold the camera and take pictures of us together and he really is into smiling for the camera right now.

Cool Slideshows!

I just heard this and I LOVED it so I wanted to share.
"Before you become a Mom you are the picture, when you become a Mom you are the frame"

LOVE IT!

I love you Daddy, Thanks for all you do!

Happy Father's Day!

We Are Still Here :)

Like I said we are just busy, it seems like I barley have enough time to keep my house clean. We have been on the run for the last week and a half. Jeff was on vaca last week, poor guy all he did was work and I mean really work hard for about 9 hrs a day for 5 days, he busted his put lifting all of our pavers around the pool and leveling them all , removing flower boxes and then putting one back and taking the other one away. It looks great, nice job Jar! I helped as much as I could but with L I really was limited as to what I could do that was safe for him to be around.

We went and seen Jeff's cousin and his girlfriend for dinner. Ricky & Jane gave L some really cool gifts, he plays with the truck everyday, Thank you, it was great to see you! We have had 2 different birthday parties and had company over also, not to mention playing in our own yard, going for walks and playing with the neighbor kids, WAY TO MUCH FOR MY LITTLE MAN in 10 days.

We opened the pool and today was L's first time in. We have swimming class and have been to the rec center but it's not like your own pool. He was not scared at all, I am not sure I like that, we'll see.

L is doing GREAT, he is definitely attaching but we still have some of our PI issues. There are 2 other blogs that I read that they were just talking about the same thing, is it just the TERRIBLE TWO's or PI issues? Kim brought it up the other day and she got me thinking :)
http://ukraineadventure.blogspot.com/ http://www.lifeofelle.com/page/2/
I believe most of L's moods are TT's but he definitely has some PI issue's like self regulating, bringing himself back to a comfort zone, it usually takes him about a week to get back to himself if he gets way overstimulated and we both pay. Being on the go this past week has not helped that and we have been having some issues. I have been just dealing with it with lots of extra love (as if we could give him anymore :)

Throwing fits, testing boundaries and things like that are the age and just figuring the world out. Oh and lets not forget that famous word "MINE" that can drive you nuts. It's funny L has really just started using it, I don't say it, I try and say that's Mommy's but when you play with other kids the thing's they will learn :) He's a pretty good sharer for his age and he's a good turn taker. He usually lets the other kids take his toy's but lately he has started to not let them and I am glad he is sticking up for himself.

Some of his sleep issues are from his orphanage days but he is a pretty good sleeper and has been since day one. We have had our share of sleepless nights, we just deal with them but very rarely now. Mostly it's he doesn't want me to leave and this happens on a regular bases every couple of months. It takes about a week and then he will be fine for months. I think that's a PI issue, L definitely wonders sometimes if I am coming back I can see the look in his face, poor baby, I can't wait until he totally gets :) :) :) :)


L's new recliner

playing in the sprinkler

AAHHHHH the pool

Pictures

I have been wanting to post some new pics but we have been so busy I haven't had time. So here are a few. We have swim classes on Saturday and we started a playgroup on Weds and with playing w/our friends and just getting out we are really busy. I will post an update on Logan soon but he is doing very well and it seems like within the last month something clicked and I think he finally knows I am his Mommy, YAHOO! There is on pic w/a bump on his head, for the first time he took a tumble down the very last step and landed his poor head on the tile, OUCH!

Happy Mother's Day!

This is my first Mother's Day and after so many years of trying to become a Mom I finally am. It's nice to have joined the Mom's club, to hear someone say Happy Mother's Day and it is so special to be Logan's Mom. I always new that there was a reason why it wasn't happening and now we know that reason is Logan. I can't imagine being anyone else's Mommy than his (maybe a B or S).

The last few years Mother's day has been a little strange. Two years ago we waited to go to Kazakhstan to bring home our child(ren) and the emptiness was deep. A couple days after MD we got the call we could finally go to Kazakh and Jeff sent me a beautiful bouquet of flower's. You all know how that turned out so there is no need to got there. Last year we waited for a referral and a few weeks later Logan's came. So these last couple of years MD has been a little empty and that makes me think of all of those waiting for their baby.

I know the pain they feel on this special day, I have been there. To all of them I say this, hang in there and know that your time will come, there is a plan and it will happen when your baby is ready for you.

Happy Mother's Day to all you special woman out there :)

I will post an update and some pictures of the last couple of weeks soon. It has been really nice out and we are taking full advantage of it so there has been no time to post, plus we have started a play group on Weds morning and we have swimming on Sat morning so we are busy :)