The second most common series of questions that we get since our return home is: How does Asher like the dogs? How do the dogs like him?
Check out the slideshow below to see what Asher thinks of his furry friends (and to see what they think of him). :) It helps that Asher doesn't mind a spit bath.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Family Anniversary
One month ago today, we woke up in Semey to a perfectly pristine layer of snow that made all that was gray the day before sparkle. We also woke up to an inbox full of notes of encouragement and joy. One month ago today, a rotund Russian woman handed down a decision that forever changed our lives. We went to sleep that night knowing that although we were parents on paper, the next day when we would pick Asher up from the Baby House would mark the true beginning of our experience as mama and daddy.
It is hard to remember before - that is before we held Asher, heard his laugh, and gazed into his sparkling eyes. We're not sure if it is the pure joy and delight or the whirlwind that we have been living in since...September, but our memory seems hazy when it comes to recollecting our lives before Asher. There is after court, after the apartment in Semey, after that unforgettable flight from Semey, after our 10 day stay in Almaty, after our first week home, after Asher's welcome home party...and now. I hear Asher in the bathtub, splashing and vocalizing his great joy, and I hear my wonderful husband blowing raspberries with our son. The tinkling of his bedtime music plays over the intercom, and all seems right in our little corner of the world.
It is hard to believe that a month has already gone by, and yet, it feels like our little man has been a part of our family forever.
p.s. We have some great pictures and video to share as well as riveting reflections to record, but we decided that today would just be about celebrating our family's anniversary. Thank you for rejoicing with us.
It is hard to remember before - that is before we held Asher, heard his laugh, and gazed into his sparkling eyes. We're not sure if it is the pure joy and delight or the whirlwind that we have been living in since...September, but our memory seems hazy when it comes to recollecting our lives before Asher. There is after court, after the apartment in Semey, after that unforgettable flight from Semey, after our 10 day stay in Almaty, after our first week home, after Asher's welcome home party...and now. I hear Asher in the bathtub, splashing and vocalizing his great joy, and I hear my wonderful husband blowing raspberries with our son. The tinkling of his bedtime music plays over the intercom, and all seems right in our little corner of the world.
It is hard to believe that a month has already gone by, and yet, it feels like our little man has been a part of our family forever.
p.s. We have some great pictures and video to share as well as riveting reflections to record, but we decided that today would just be about celebrating our family's anniversary. Thank you for rejoicing with us.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Asher Checking In
Mama and Daddy are extra tired today so I thought I'd help them out by posting this morning to tell you that we made it safe and sound. We are finally home; they kept telling me about this "home" place...so far it's living up to everything they said. When we got here, there were decorations courtesy of mama and daddy's friends, Erica and Josh, outside welcoming us. I loved the balloons and streamers!
When we stepped inside, I saw flowers, balloons, presents, fresh fruit in a bowl, and yummy food in the refrigerator. Mama kept saying how wonderful everything was; she especially appreciated the floor to ceiling cleaning (she was pretty sure she left the house a wreck when they left to come get me). My grammy and great-grandma were very busy preparing for our homecoming. It made mama and daddy happy and feel so special so it made me happy too.
I had a pretty big day. It felt like it was 36 hours long. We began our travels when we left the hotel at 1:30 a.m. There was some trouble at the airport when we checked in, which frazzled mama and daddy and Joanie and Jayne. Finally the problem got worked out after an hour and a half. We thought we were in the clear until we went through passport control. This frowny-faced lady dressed in green asked for our immigration cards, and my daddy patted his jacket pocket, then his pants pocket, then he ran his fingers through his hair, and began freaking out. I guess the cards got packed into the suitcases...that were already loaded onto the plane! Mama ran like a wild woman to the counter to beg the ladies in blue to retrieve their bags; these ladies were not happy about it, but they did it. Suddenly Daddy was running like a madman and disappeared for awhile. He told me later that he had to go up into the plane with a man who only spoke Russian and who also was not happy about our little problem. Daddy said it was stressful to be under and in the plane and be able to hear people boarding at the same time; he kept checking his watch to see if we would have time to go through passport control and security. It all worked out, but for a little bit, it was looking like we might spend a few more days in Almaty . (Later my daddy whispered to me that it was an even closer call...he almost threw those little white papers away the day before when he was packing!)
I was a very good boy on both flights. I think that I might have a magical power to make people disappear. On both flights, the person sitting next to us mysteriously disappeared before take-off. So I sat in a seat like a big boy, and I also slept in the aircrib. In this picture, I was taking a break from sleeping to provide some comic relief to everyone around me. All the girls flirted with me...who am I kidding? I flirted with them too!
When we arrived in Orlando, my daddy fell down and kissed the ground! Sometimes I think he is a strange fella, but he makes me laugh. We went through customs, and I became a U.S. citizen! My mama couldn't take any pictures...something about following the rules or something. The customs officers were very nice and smiled at me...I think I'm really going to like this place (even if one of them did think I was a girl!). They said I should get my certificate of citizenship within a couple of weeks, but it is official now. Even though it was very exciting, I was pretty tired from all of the traveling so I just didn't want to smile for the picture.
I met my grammy, my poppy, my aunt, and my cousin last night too. They think I am pretty terrific, and they love my smile and the funny faces that I make (they kept telling me this - that's how I know. I might be able to type, but I am not a mind reader!). I love this thing called "family."
I also rode in a car seat for the first time. I'm not a big fan at all. It was much more fun to ride in my parent's arms, but they say it's the law so I guess I'll have to get used to it. We finally got to this place called "home" a little after midnight, which felt like 11 o'clock in the morning to me. I went to bed at 2:30, then I woke up at 5:30 - I had a great nap. :)
My mama is calling me and she is holding my bottle. Once the day stops feeling like night, mama says she is going to write more. For now, it feels so good to be home.
Wub you,
Asher
p.s. Today is a big day too! I'm going to Starbucks, and I get to meet these furry things that mama calls puppies. I'll let you know what I think of them later.
When we stepped inside, I saw flowers, balloons, presents, fresh fruit in a bowl, and yummy food in the refrigerator. Mama kept saying how wonderful everything was; she especially appreciated the floor to ceiling cleaning (she was pretty sure she left the house a wreck when they left to come get me). My grammy and great-grandma were very busy preparing for our homecoming. It made mama and daddy happy and feel so special so it made me happy too.
I had a pretty big day. It felt like it was 36 hours long. We began our travels when we left the hotel at 1:30 a.m. There was some trouble at the airport when we checked in, which frazzled mama and daddy and Joanie and Jayne. Finally the problem got worked out after an hour and a half. We thought we were in the clear until we went through passport control. This frowny-faced lady dressed in green asked for our immigration cards, and my daddy patted his jacket pocket, then his pants pocket, then he ran his fingers through his hair, and began freaking out. I guess the cards got packed into the suitcases...that were already loaded onto the plane! Mama ran like a wild woman to the counter to beg the ladies in blue to retrieve their bags; these ladies were not happy about it, but they did it. Suddenly Daddy was running like a madman and disappeared for awhile. He told me later that he had to go up into the plane with a man who only spoke Russian and who also was not happy about our little problem. Daddy said it was stressful to be under and in the plane and be able to hear people boarding at the same time; he kept checking his watch to see if we would have time to go through passport control and security. It all worked out, but for a little bit, it was looking like we might spend a few more days in Almaty . (Later my daddy whispered to me that it was an even closer call...he almost threw those little white papers away the day before when he was packing!)
I was a very good boy on both flights. I think that I might have a magical power to make people disappear. On both flights, the person sitting next to us mysteriously disappeared before take-off. So I sat in a seat like a big boy, and I also slept in the aircrib. In this picture, I was taking a break from sleeping to provide some comic relief to everyone around me. All the girls flirted with me...who am I kidding? I flirted with them too!
When we arrived in Orlando, my daddy fell down and kissed the ground! Sometimes I think he is a strange fella, but he makes me laugh. We went through customs, and I became a U.S. citizen! My mama couldn't take any pictures...something about following the rules or something. The customs officers were very nice and smiled at me...I think I'm really going to like this place (even if one of them did think I was a girl!). They said I should get my certificate of citizenship within a couple of weeks, but it is official now. Even though it was very exciting, I was pretty tired from all of the traveling so I just didn't want to smile for the picture.
I met my grammy, my poppy, my aunt, and my cousin last night too. They think I am pretty terrific, and they love my smile and the funny faces that I make (they kept telling me this - that's how I know. I might be able to type, but I am not a mind reader!). I love this thing called "family."
I also rode in a car seat for the first time. I'm not a big fan at all. It was much more fun to ride in my parent's arms, but they say it's the law so I guess I'll have to get used to it. We finally got to this place called "home" a little after midnight, which felt like 11 o'clock in the morning to me. I went to bed at 2:30, then I woke up at 5:30 - I had a great nap. :)
My mama is calling me and she is holding my bottle. Once the day stops feeling like night, mama says she is going to write more. For now, it feels so good to be home.
Wub you,
Asher
p.s. Today is a big day too! I'm going to Starbucks, and I get to meet these furry things that mama calls puppies. I'll let you know what I think of them later.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Leaving the Kaz-bah
On this, our last night in Kazakhstan, it seems like we should write something profound, but the only thing that is running through my mind is "woohoo!!" I know...not what you expect from the class nerd. :) Today marks day 39 away from home.
We leave for the airport in three hours and have opted to forgo sleep tonight...maybe we've lost some of our sanity? I guess that we are hoping that adrenaline and unadulterated excitement gets us through our long day tomorrow. We'll let you know how it goes. Crystal, Jayne's friend that visited earlier in the trip, said that the jet lag felt a great deal like being hit by a mack truck. Fantastic! Really I must be hyped up on joy - who says "fantastic" about the inevitable fatigue, lethargy, and general mental haze inherent in jet lag? Someone who is very excited about home - that's who!
Tonight at dinner, we talked about some of the things that we are most excited for. Here is our partial list:
1. Being reunited with loved ones
2. Witnessing our son become an official U.S. citizen (it happens the moment we go through customs in the airport)
3. Introducing our little man to all of you
4. Seeing Joe, Pete, and Roy, our yellow labs (will they remember us? will they forgive us for being gone so long? will they just love Asher?)
5. Wearing clothes that have been dried in a dryer (there is something about the cardboard texture that our clothes have taken on that leaves something to be desired)
6. Wearing clothes that are machine washed (the liquid detergent has been tough on my hands, and leaning over the bath tub has been hard on my back)
7. Being able to understand others and communicate effectively (we are so ready to abandon our caveman-like gesturing!)
8. Using the telephone without dialing several access codes and without that tinny echo echo echo
9. Being warm (I wore two layers of everything to bed last night)
10. Taking a shower without having to bathe in standing water (Derick has been looking forward to this since day 2!)
11. Sleeping in our king-size bed
12. Going grocery shopping
13. Eating our favorite foods
14. Driving
15. Sipping a Peppermint Mocha from Starbuck's
16. Being able to read labels on Asher's food and formula
17. Having high-speed internet
18. Getting caught up on our blog posts and journaling
19. Breathing clean air - smokeless and smogless
20. Being home
Don't get us wrong - our time here has been wonderful, but we are ready and filled with excitement to be home. Upon our arrival, we are sure to realize even more that we have missed; we imagine we will also realize what we miss from Kazakhstan too.
Our thanks and love to you for journeying half way around the world with us.
We leave for the airport in three hours and have opted to forgo sleep tonight...maybe we've lost some of our sanity? I guess that we are hoping that adrenaline and unadulterated excitement gets us through our long day tomorrow. We'll let you know how it goes. Crystal, Jayne's friend that visited earlier in the trip, said that the jet lag felt a great deal like being hit by a mack truck. Fantastic! Really I must be hyped up on joy - who says "fantastic" about the inevitable fatigue, lethargy, and general mental haze inherent in jet lag? Someone who is very excited about home - that's who!
Tonight at dinner, we talked about some of the things that we are most excited for. Here is our partial list:
1. Being reunited with loved ones
2. Witnessing our son become an official U.S. citizen (it happens the moment we go through customs in the airport)
3. Introducing our little man to all of you
4. Seeing Joe, Pete, and Roy, our yellow labs (will they remember us? will they forgive us for being gone so long? will they just love Asher?)
5. Wearing clothes that have been dried in a dryer (there is something about the cardboard texture that our clothes have taken on that leaves something to be desired)
6. Wearing clothes that are machine washed (the liquid detergent has been tough on my hands, and leaning over the bath tub has been hard on my back)
7. Being able to understand others and communicate effectively (we are so ready to abandon our caveman-like gesturing!)
8. Using the telephone without dialing several access codes and without that tinny echo echo echo
9. Being warm (I wore two layers of everything to bed last night)
10. Taking a shower without having to bathe in standing water (Derick has been looking forward to this since day 2!)
11. Sleeping in our king-size bed
12. Going grocery shopping
13. Eating our favorite foods
14. Driving
15. Sipping a Peppermint Mocha from Starbuck's
16. Being able to read labels on Asher's food and formula
17. Having high-speed internet
18. Getting caught up on our blog posts and journaling
19. Breathing clean air - smokeless and smogless
20. Being home
Don't get us wrong - our time here has been wonderful, but we are ready and filled with excitement to be home. Upon our arrival, we are sure to realize even more that we have missed; we imagine we will also realize what we miss from Kazakhstan too.
Our thanks and love to you for journeying half way around the world with us.
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