Life's a Journey.... here's a glimpse of ours.: November 2011

Fun Photo's

These past three weeks have gone so well. Everyone seems to be adjusting well to the changes in our home. I find myself sometimes just waiting for the bomb to drop. Not that I want it to but seriously I feel as though Varvara and Matvey have been with us since the day they were born. I forget they once had a home far far away; that they once had comfort in the arms of other caregivers. Of course it's nothing like having your very own mommy but they loved them dearly. I saw it in their eyes as we said good bye for the very last time. I felt it in the hugs they gave as we walked out the door. I wonder if they miss them. I wonder if it feels different now that they are gone. I know I would miss them and I know it would be different with them gone. I bet they miss the way Matvey hisses when he is staring at you. That's right, he hisses very quietly like a snake. He gives the very best hugs, wrapping his arms around your neck and laying his head on your shoulder. Who wouldn't miss that? I can't forget the way he looks with his big blue eyes when he drinks his bottle; it is so super sweet. Also he is a character always making us laugh always bringing sunshine into our day.

Funny Photo's of Matvey...... I told you he was funny!

He always has funny expressions.

This was so funny. If I get to close with my camera he grabs it
as fast as he can. This is a chin shot of Matvey after he got a
hole of my camera. :)

He loves this turtle. He has even learned how to make the music play.
He is one smart little man.

Check out the lump to the right of his bottom tooth. Can you say TEETHING!!
That is his tooth coming in. :( Poor guy, I had to give him Motrin the past few nights
so he could sleep with out crying. Other than bed time you wouldn't know he was teething he is always in
a good mood unless he is super tired and then he get very angry and cries and cries until you put him in bed.

We can not forget Varvara. There are so many things that we would miss about her. For one thing she has a fiery spirit. She knows what she wants and does not have much patients for it. That would be food. This girl loves to eat. She could out eat a grown adult if we let her and she does not like to wait for food either. She sits on the mat in the kitchen and cries the whole time I prepare dinner and there is no one who can distract her. Okay maybe for a minute, but then she heads right back to sit down and cry. I have now served her roughly 100 meals and snacks, you would think by now she would realize I would never skip her at meal time ;)

That isn't all she is about though, she loves to brush your hair. She will do it as long as you let her. She wants to love you to play with her feet but she doesn't. Every time I change Matvey's diaper I play with his feet and she comes to lay next to him so I can do the same with her but she doesn't really like it. I practically can feel her skin crawl :D but we do it anyways or at least as long as she can stand it.

Varvara has now learned how to give the "Plummer" hug, you have to squeeze real tight while saying "eeeezzzzz", she does them real well. Varvara also loves putting on cloths, it doesn't matter what it is she will put it on. Scarves, hats, vests, Matvey's sock which are way too small. He is wearing a size One or two in infant size.

Varvara always has funny little sounds she makes with hand gestures and she talks with her eyes. I will post videos soon so you can see what I mean, it is so funny.

Here are some fun photo's of Varvara. Enjoy!

I just love her face here :)

Here she was trying to put the bottle in my mouth.

One of the photo's I have with Jason in it. By the time he gets home we
are too busy for photo sessions.

Brushing my hair or should I say ripping through my hair? ;)

First time poppin Popcorn!

As long as it has butter and salt she liked it.

Varvara is always trying to look under the camera at me.

The classic Bean. We spent an hour going up and down the driveway.

So we are having fun and doing well. I will post some videos in the next couple of days. Oh and tomorrow i will post decorating the Christmas tree photos. Until then "Thanks for stopping by and catching up"

God Bless!

Posted in: on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at at 10:18 PM 3 comments

A Day of First Thanksgiving

Our holidays seem to be full of excitement with two new little one added to our family. Thanksgiving seems to be a perfect one to for their first. As food was prepared and family and friends gathered Varvara and Matvey fit in as if they were never gone. I though of their life back not just two weeks ago. A life that seemed hopeless in the eyes of others. It was just a month ago we stood in the court room fighting for the right to give them a life. If only the courts could be fly on the wall now. This is what they would see........

An auntie who adores them.

Grandpa and Grandma who loved them as their
own.

A big sister who plays when ever they need
a friend.

Fuzzy cousins too! (Izzy)

They would see a princess who held perfectly still to get her
nails painted on this big day of Thanks.

A mommy who loves them with all her heart.

Not only would they see the love of a family but also the love this girl has for
FOOD!

They also would see our multicultural family. Aleena was adopted
four years ago from Ethiopia.

Abigail and my niece Veda

Dinner time and Matvey was not wanting to take pictures

They would see a little boy who is starting to become the little boy
he was meant to be.

Big brother Keegan; he takes his job very serious. There is nothing like
having a big brother by your side.

A famliy who is so happy their home.

Family is just irreplaceable.

I am so thankful for the love of my family. They have been nothing but supportive. They have shared this amazing journey with us and I could not be any happier to share the joy of Varvara and Matvey. I am thankful for the grace of God and his promises. I am thankful that I have faith to hold on to those promises no matter what anyone says or does. I am thankful for all the people God spoke through and for all the prayerS that were said on our babies behalf. Each time I think back on the past year I am just humbled and amazed that God choose us for this mission.

I am so thankful that my family is complete

Posted in: on Friday, November 25, 2011 at at 9:55 PM 1 comments

For My Friend Connie :)

Thank you Connie for sending sunshine warmth. On this day I asked my friend Connie to send sunshine and warmth from Guatemala so I could take the babies to the park and because she loves us she sent it to us!

So thankful for the time I get to spend with all five of my kiddos.

We did a one mile stroller ride around the park.

Matvey babbled the whole time we walked. :)

Varvara's favorite thing was the swings

Don't forget to watch the video at the end of this post.
No doubt this was Matvey's favorite.

Keegan and Matvey

Isabella and Varvara

Matvey was just happy to be out in the fresh air.

Abigail and Matvey

One of my favorites, Matvey is giggle and laughing more and more
each day.

Varvara is just a beautiful little girl and she has a beautiful
spirit to go with it. :)

Sorry about these videos I didn't realize I turned my camera but I just had to share they joy of these two little ones.

Posted in: on at at 8:29 PM 0 comments

Home Sweet Home

Finally and update that I know you all have been waiting patiently for. You will have to bare with me this is the third time I have typed this. Each time I sit down to type this out I start to fall asleep and then realize the next day it doesn't make since. I am still trying to recover from jet lag while trying to get a new normal in our lives. Things have been really busy around the Plummer house hold but a good busy. Everyone seems to be adjusting well and really enjoying have the babies here. There are lots of details to catch you all up on. First of all I have to share with you our experience with the United States Embassy in Moscow. It was so fun entering a room full of American adoptive families each and everyone unique in their own way. We received each of the babies visa's with a warm welcome from the staff. Our facilitator, Boris, shared with us the next morning that the later that afternoon the United States Embassy contacted him to congratulate us on our adoption, now this isn't something normally done. They called because they were so happy we were approved for both of the babies, they told him that we have opened doors for other children with Down Syndrome. They said they understood that the process must have been very difficult not only because the babies had DS but because we were adopting two. They said not only our region but all regions in Russia are very worried and cautious about American adopting children with DS because of a case some time ago where a father killed a little boy with DS, he was adopted by an American family from Russia. So how cool that we persevered and that our perseverance could change many lives.
Anyways on to photos and updates on the babies. They both seem to be adjusting really well. They are both very easy going kids that are not hard to please. Just sitting and playing with them seems to be enough and with 5 other people in the house there is never a time for boredom. Varvara is just a typical little girl trying to figure out her place in our family. She is learning rules and at times is quit stubborn at following them. Although she is four she seems to be developmentally 2 years old so you know what that means..... terrific two's ;) She is very lovable and will take a kiss and hug at any moment. She is very smart and can understand most commands already. I did have to learn how to say no more crying in Russia because nap time seems to be a not so happy time. I usually stay up stairs and assure her I am still right in the hallway but she get pretty angry. Her cry is a angry cry not a sad cry and she says stuff in Russian while she is crying. I think she is saying "Hey Mom! I don't want a nap!" The workers at the orphanage said she has a very hard time falling asleep I think it is because she really does not need a nap, most likely I will be skipping naps unless she seems like she needs one. On the days she has no nap she seems to do just fine. As for Matvey he is just a hoot to be around. He is always making funny faces and lot and lots and lots of babbling. He still does rock a lot but we have been trying to keep him busy so he does not feel the need to rock. For those of you who are not familiar with why they rock it is usually a self soothing mechanism due to being bored and neglected in the orphanage. He is very sweet though and loves being held and rocked and I am loving the fact he still takes a bottle because it gives us more opertunity to bond.
They both have a very healthy appitite; they will eat anything you put in front of them. Varvara seems to be confused on preparing dinner she cries quitely everytime I am preparing her meals. Its is sad but oh so sweet :) It must be because she had never seen dinner prepared it just magically appeared in her groupa at the orphanage. She is getting better about it and is beiginning to understand the waiting process better ;)
So here are some photos since we have been home. Sorry it has taken so long. Coming home video coming soon, I almost have it done.