It has been a humbling experience as a  new parent on all levels.  There is a new found respect for all mothers that I was blinded to before.  Being able to watch my child develop and flourish on a day to day basis is purely magical.  She brings so much life in to our family, and our hearts.  Sasha is adapting better than we thought. Everyday Sasha is eager to learn a little more, and we get to see her little soul gleam when she knows a new task has completed correctly.   In just 2 weeks, she is now smiling at people instead of looking at the ground, saying please independently, love's ABC games, pointing at objects for English definition, establishing a great bond with Papa, and keeping up a new routine.

We had our first, "Play date" with a good friend's daughter Dani, last Friday.  We didn't know what to expect, but Dani took Sasha as she was, and befriended her.  After 3 hours of play, Dani asked if Sasha could spend the night, but we settled on another play date instead.

I have to say one of the best things witnessed is watching Scott as a parent.   When he comes home from a long day at the office and walks through our front door, Sasha is absolutely thrilled to see him. She screams with excitement to welcome Papa home.   It tickles his heart as it does mine, and his child like nature shines and he is ready to take on the world for her.  He loves being a parent. I make sure to ask him daily to see if his response changes. Time to go wake her from her nap. Maybe there will be a trip to "Glammy's" house...

Home

After a long weekend of traveling we are all home and recovering from the jetlag. We met in the France airport and began our trip as a family from there. Sasha is a good traveler after the stress of security and boarding she settled into her seat with a smile. My mom sent me with some toys and drawing paper which kept us occupied. Every so often Sasha would look over and give me a bright smile. After a long flight we arrived in salt lake city at 3pm we had to wait in customs for about an hour while we worked through her citizenship status.

Sasha is adjusting well in her new home she loves her new room and is fascinated with the koshka (cat). She is still a little concerned around the dogs, but has started walking around the house calling for sussie. Bath times are her favorite she loves splashing in the tub and has already started using the big potty. Bed times are a little rough she will still cry, Sam will read her bedtime stories and comfort her.

We still struggle with the language barrier Sasha still has a limited english vocabulary. I have started to learn a little more of her language so we can communicate and teach eachother. Even with the challenges speaking its amazing how much we can say without words.

 .Happy St. Paddy's day! As I hope you are cherishing today with a tasty green beverage, Sashoi and I are celebrating  today's completion of all the remaining legalities with cookies.  Our paperwork came to an end as a Visa was inserted in her passport.  It still feels surreal that we are done here, and only have two more days until we return to the US.  I have made it a point to immerse Sasha into the busy life here so she could adapt to change a bit better. It seems to be working! Today, we walked all around the neighborhood we currently reside and  went to our first restaurant together.   I sat next to her to help her with her big girl fork, and introduced the dipping of bread into the soup. She put smiles on the restaurant workers, and exited with a lollipop in hand.  We are very lucky to have such a well-mannered child, and have the caregivers to thank for that. 

    Sasha is picking up english words quickly. I make up new little games to make learning less intimidating.. Tonight we were playing with a thin plastic bag, swaying it side to side so it would fill up with air then pushing it up to the ceiling. When it floated down, we repeated the motion this time we both counted to 3, and released it back into the air. Happiness filled the room, as she screamed and laughed with excitement. She understands now the phrase, "Be nice to..." when she gets a little too overzealous.  There is a spark of hope that she will not have such a hard time adjusting overall. 

    On another note, tomorrow I hope to successfully go grocery shopping with a few items to last, and not return with 6 cucumbers.. This is twice now that I have asked for "One"food item, and instead of giving me the desired amount the vendor gives me the amount of one kilo.  I have to smile because everyday is an adventure.

    Yesterday, I saw my little girl open her eyes to a new world, and be a part of it.  Once she stepped foot in our current apartment, She shed her little protective cover and gave life a possibility.  I was debating whether or not to write a note to her addressed as a post. Instead, I will share some of the sweet first intimate moments caught. Her favorite item of discovery: a hairbrush.  She LOVES to brush her hair, and put ornaments in it(That's my girl). She likes to watch herself while walking by mirrors. Her goal is to do everything mom tells her not too. Right now baths are her most absolute favorite thing to do, and looks forward to them at the end of the evening. I look forward to cherishing her newly discovered moments because it has progressed from when we met.  We are starting to understand each other's language.  Earlier today, I picked up that she is saying "HI"to me.

    We will be heading home a week from Sunday. YAY!!! I cannot wait to be home. Scott had to change our    flights, yet again.  We were notified that we cannot stay in Paris overnight because France requires a transit, or short term Visa for Alexandra.  We could apply for the visa, but it would delay our trip. We will be back in SLC on 3/20 around 4pm :) I miss my family, CrossFit family, friends, you name-it I miss it, and cannot wait to introduce Sasha to her new relatives..

Homestretch!

      Scott has booked our flights home. Our departure date is next Saturday.  Sasha and I will be flying into Paris, France and Scott will meet us there. We will spend one night there, and head back to the states the next day..  Tomorrow, the Court decree gets issued..  We (Translator and I)will venture to get Sasha's original birth-certificate located in her home town. We will return to the town we are staying in currently, and submit for a passport. Hopefully, Thursday Sasha and I will start her new journey together. 

    Having a kid was described to us from a friend, "Think of the Wizard of Oz, your life compared to the black and white ho-hum regular day.  Then you get kids, and Bam! life is in Technicolor!" He was right. Just in these few weeks my life has opened up to so much possibility that I never thought possible. I couldn't imagine my life without Sasha.  I am really lucky to have her and both Scott in my life.  

    Sasha and I have been sick this week with fun head colds.  We are on the homestretch of being well again. We have been pushing her baby in the stroller non-stop all week for about a few hours a day. Sasha's orphanage has a mobile play tractor that she likes to be pushed in.  We also have been doing a lot of that.  She likes to put her head back while I am pushing, and feel the breeze in her hair.  Her newest thing is her talking me into scaring her in the play castle, screaming like a little girl eyes wide-open, and us giggling non-stop.  Sasha is going to keep me on my toes as I find clever ways to keep her entertained.  

Scott is trying to coordinate a plan with our travel agent to have Sasha and I return to Utah on March 19.  Hopefully, this will follow through(please keep us in your prayers).  When you are a foreigner even for just a short period of time you start realizing how lucky you really are to live in the US.   It has been a truly humbling to experience the cultural differences that are unlike your own.  I am a wee bit homesick, but in less than a week Sasha will unite with me. We will brave the rest of this trip together! If our travel plans can be executed Scott will join us on a connecting flight.

On another note, Sasha is presenting more sides of her.  Yesterday, I got to attend another program Sasha was in.  Afterwards, she ignored me, cried when the caregivers left her with me, and didn't want to participate in any activities together. I was at a loss what to do next. A caregiver gave us a crepe to share, and it was then apparent to me she was incredibly hungry.  In spite of that, the rest of the visit was pleasant. Last night, a caregiver brought out a stroller with a baby in it for Sasha to play with.  Her baby is now included with every activity we do together. She sets the  baby in her stroller, takes it out, talks comforting words with it, kisses it and make sure she is properly snug in the stroller. Sasha is a great mama, and I know what she will be getting for her birthday this month.

Waiting Period...

If all continues to go smoothly we will get the court decree issued on March 9th, and Sasha will then get to leave the Orphanage.  The ten day waiting period feels like it will never arrive soon enough.  I have brought things to occupy my time, and still visit Sasha twice daily.  Our visits together have been quite special. Her favorite thing to do lately is to play tea party with the  stuffed animals and her Kookla(doll).  She will pour me some imaginary tea, and fills hers cup then we both take a sip. Now, the fun starts here.  We have both made up appropriate sound effects with correspondence of the ahhh! part following the sip.  The Ahhhh!!! part is quite dramatic, but giggles continuously flow as we catch one another's eyes.  We have been flipping through the family book daily to help her remember her new relative's names.  She pays special attention to when the pictures of our pug, Suzie appear. Sasha says Suzie's name and then kisses the page. She loves Suzie already! who wouldn't?  A few weeks ago, Scott and I bought her a 30 big piece puzzle of Winnie the Poo and friends .  She seemed interested when we first showed her how it worked, but she didn't quite catch on. Today, this was the first activity we did together and finished.  With a little help from Mom, she is discovering how the pieces work together.  Tonight will be a movie night together...on the laptop, maybe. Instead, it may turn into "Identify the keys of the keyboard night".