2 Months and Counting....

First Sucker!!!



I have finally gotten a free minute to try to catch you up to speed on little Alyssa. It is Sunday night, and Alyssa is sound asleep after a restful day. I cannot believe that it has been just over 2 months since we had "Gotcha Day". We had picked up Alyssa on November 21st from the baby home in Sosnovoborsk. To see her today you would think that it is a different child. She has already grown over
1 inch, and she has gained over 2-1/2 pounds!!! Someone who had looked at her picture then, and then her picture now said that they could tell that she was growing like a "weed". Her little face is filling out, and her pants are getting shorter and shorter on her. She also has 4 more teeth coming in!!!
We have been extremely busy with bonding with Alyssa. She is very attached to me, and seems to be getting closer and closer to Wade everyday!!! She comes to him to be held and for hugs and kisses!! We have been trying to get her used to our close family, and so far that seems to be going well. She has taken pretty well to my mom also, which is good since she is now watching her since I went back to work on Monday Jan. 19th. We are trying to get used to our new routine now that I am back to work. Alyssa is very excited when she sees me there to pick her up after work. So far, me leaving her with Grandma has not been a problem.
She is starting to say a few more words everyday. She surprised us this past Friday morning when we were leaving for work and she said "Hi Toby" very clearly!!! She tries to copy what we say, but usually it just comes out as the first syllable of the word. When she tries to say blanket, baby or bee, she says "Be". She continually makes us laugh, sometimes even to tears!!! She loves every kind of animal that there is, especially Toby and Wendy!! She got to see Grandpa and Grandma's cat named Miss Kitty this weekend, and she loved it. She kept trying to pet the cat, but since the cat wanted nothing to do with a little girl, the cat hissed a little. This made Alyssa run and wonder what on earth was wrong with that cat!!!!
We have learned tonight that a family that is very dear and close to our hearts, will finally get to return to pick up their little boy in Russia. He is in the same baby home that Alyssa was in. They had traveled on the first trip with us when we met our kids. We got a chance to visit with him on our second trip and sent pictures back home to them by email while we were there. They have been in our thoughts and prayers this whole time. We were so happy to hear that they will be leaving soon for Krasnoyarsk.
Sorry once again for not posting sooner..... We get so busy anymore, that it is a struggle to get on here to update all of you.... Many people have been asking for more pictures and updates, and we feel so blessed that all of you are still following this little girl's journey!!!!
She is our dream come true......
God Bless,
Julie, Wade & Alyssa