Monday, February 02, 2004
January 30,2004 - 11:38 PM Moscow time
Hello, again, from big, blustery, snowy, sassy Moscow!!!
Yesterday it snowed approximately 5 inches, with more snow on the way. Moscovites continue on about the business of the day as if nothing was unusual. (It is probably not unusual for them!). Although, the traffic which is congested to say the least, is more of a nightmare. The temperature is a balmy 25 degrees during the day, but expected to drop below zero most nights. Velvet and Meredith - I am forever in your debts for loaning me the hat and the headband. They have kept me warm and most importantly fashionable. Thad is learning how to keep up with both gloves. Thad looks like a fashion savvy Russian in his chopka. Anyone want to bet he will not make it home with both gloves????
Drivers make U-turns all over the place, and they cut each other off at random. Dad - you would have a heart attack at the crazy Russian drivers. You basically hold onto the handles and pray everytime you are in the car - no matter how good/bad you think you driver may be. Enough of that... on to the reason for our Moscow journey.
Mary Katherine Olishka continues to amaze us everyday. Her bright blue eyes and her amazing smile light up our day. The caregivers say that she does not stop moving. Perhaps this is why she weighs 23 pounds and wears 18 months size clothes. After we were officially declared parents by the Russian family court, we went to visit MKO, and she had a huge black eye. Her eye was so black, blue and swollen that she couldn't close it. Thad and I opined that the little boys in her group (she is the only little girl) know that she is leaving and were beating her up. Later we found out that she is always on the go and runs circles around the little boys and the caregivers.
MKO is also a great dancer. We put on music in the play room, and she dances and dances. Moreover, if you hold her and dance, she puts her head on your shoulder and just loves to be held. Her eating habits continue to dumfound us - for a little one, she packs it away. MKO eats a banana and an apple in no time flat. We have to give her one or two pieces at a time and tell her to chew. Another personality trait - drum roll please - not surprisingly - she is sassy and has a mind of her own. We were sitting today, and the banana that we were feeding her had a spoiled piece that we needed to throw away. She found the piece in the trash and tried to eat it. Of course, we took it away. Simultaneously, a huge temper tantrum ensued. She layed on her floor on her back and kicked and screamed. Thad and I laughed and took pictures. We told her "nilsa" - stop that - and she stopped. MKO was up and playing about 5 seconds later, running around the room and playing with blocks and balls. MKO will certainly be a good big sister to Frank Payne Seroggia.
For those of you who don't know, we celebrated FPS first birthday yesterday (29th) with quite a party in the orphanage. Cake and champagne were enjoyed by the caregivers; bananas, green apple juice and Russian tea cakes were the order for the tots, numbering 7 in all. The gifts for the caregivers for Payne's orphanage were a big hit, and we presented the orphanage director with a huge arrangement of flowers, along with a ganache and champagne. We played with all the children in the group and took lots of pictures. Anyone wanting to adopt a Russian child, we have several candidates and an agency who is ready to help at a moments notice. FPS received a play piano from the Russian toy store - Destsky Mir - 5 stories of everything for children and a fancy sippee cup. The doctors evaluated him on his birthday - he weighs 22.5 pounds and the neurologist was impressed because he is saying "pa-pa-pa-pa" and "ka-ka-ka-ka". We are putting him in 18 month clothes because he and MKO are only 1/2 pound apart.
FPS continues to be one of the happiest babies we have ever seen. He laughs, giggles and smiles all the time. One important tidbit - he entertains himself with toys for large amounts of time. The caregivers keep telling us that he is the best boy because he poops on the potty, he eats like a good boy and he plays by himself. We'll see how long this lasts, but it looks like he is pretty laid back. He also loves laying on Papa's belly to rest and playing washing machine. Yes, we are silly, happy parents.
If you haven't seen some of the pictures I sent home, check out www.thethomaskids.com that my sister, Lynn, created and my dad helped fund. Also, there are so many people to thank for all the thoughts, prayers and support. James and MiMi - thanks for the calling card, we are putting it to good use.
Much love and best regards,
Georgia and Thad
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Hello, again, from big, blustery, snowy, sassy Moscow!!!
Yesterday it snowed approximately 5 inches, with more snow on the way. Moscovites continue on about the business of the day as if nothing was unusual. (It is probably not unusual for them!). Although, the traffic which is congested to say the least, is more of a nightmare. The temperature is a balmy 25 degrees during the day, but expected to drop below zero most nights. Velvet and Meredith - I am forever in your debts for loaning me the hat and the headband. They have kept me warm and most importantly fashionable. Thad is learning how to keep up with both gloves. Thad looks like a fashion savvy Russian in his chopka. Anyone want to bet he will not make it home with both gloves????
Drivers make U-turns all over the place, and they cut each other off at random. Dad - you would have a heart attack at the crazy Russian drivers. You basically hold onto the handles and pray everytime you are in the car - no matter how good/bad you think you driver may be. Enough of that... on to the reason for our Moscow journey.
Mary Katherine Olishka continues to amaze us everyday. Her bright blue eyes and her amazing smile light up our day. The caregivers say that she does not stop moving. Perhaps this is why she weighs 23 pounds and wears 18 months size clothes. After we were officially declared parents by the Russian family court, we went to visit MKO, and she had a huge black eye. Her eye was so black, blue and swollen that she couldn't close it. Thad and I opined that the little boys in her group (she is the only little girl) know that she is leaving and were beating her up. Later we found out that she is always on the go and runs circles around the little boys and the caregivers.
MKO is also a great dancer. We put on music in the play room, and she dances and dances. Moreover, if you hold her and dance, she puts her head on your shoulder and just loves to be held. Her eating habits continue to dumfound us - for a little one, she packs it away. MKO eats a banana and an apple in no time flat. We have to give her one or two pieces at a time and tell her to chew. Another personality trait - drum roll please - not surprisingly - she is sassy and has a mind of her own. We were sitting today, and the banana that we were feeding her had a spoiled piece that we needed to throw away. She found the piece in the trash and tried to eat it. Of course, we took it away. Simultaneously, a huge temper tantrum ensued. She layed on her floor on her back and kicked and screamed. Thad and I laughed and took pictures. We told her "nilsa" - stop that - and she stopped. MKO was up and playing about 5 seconds later, running around the room and playing with blocks and balls. MKO will certainly be a good big sister to Frank Payne Seroggia.
For those of you who don't know, we celebrated FPS first birthday yesterday (29th) with quite a party in the orphanage. Cake and champagne were enjoyed by the caregivers; bananas, green apple juice and Russian tea cakes were the order for the tots, numbering 7 in all. The gifts for the caregivers for Payne's orphanage were a big hit, and we presented the orphanage director with a huge arrangement of flowers, along with a ganache and champagne. We played with all the children in the group and took lots of pictures. Anyone wanting to adopt a Russian child, we have several candidates and an agency who is ready to help at a moments notice. FPS received a play piano from the Russian toy store - Destsky Mir - 5 stories of everything for children and a fancy sippee cup. The doctors evaluated him on his birthday - he weighs 22.5 pounds and the neurologist was impressed because he is saying "pa-pa-pa-pa" and "ka-ka-ka-ka". We are putting him in 18 month clothes because he and MKO are only 1/2 pound apart.
FPS continues to be one of the happiest babies we have ever seen. He laughs, giggles and smiles all the time. One important tidbit - he entertains himself with toys for large amounts of time. The caregivers keep telling us that he is the best boy because he poops on the potty, he eats like a good boy and he plays by himself. We'll see how long this lasts, but it looks like he is pretty laid back. He also loves laying on Papa's belly to rest and playing washing machine. Yes, we are silly, happy parents.
If you haven't seen some of the pictures I sent home, check out www.thethomaskids.com that my sister, Lynn, created and my dad helped fund. Also, there are so many people to thank for all the thoughts, prayers and support. James and MiMi - thanks for the calling card, we are putting it to good use.
Much love and best regards,
Georgia and Thad
