Our journey to becoming parents

One Final Thank you ...

2012-01-06T11:10:00.003-05:00

I would be remiss if I closed this blog and didn't thank the one person who shared this journey with me ... my best friend in life ... the man who has brought me so much and been with me every step of the way ... my husband!

Stephen ... who knew when we first met each other in the fall of 2000 that we'd share so much more than apple picking and pancakes! You have been my rock on this journey of becoming parents. Who knew we'd experience so much as couple just trying to become parents and there is no one else I would have wanted to share this with than you!! Your strength, patience and above all else .. YOUR LOVE is what made it possible to get out of bed on the worst days and to keep moving forward on those days that seemed so rough. What a journey it has been ... there were some very, very LOW moments and then there we some EXTRAORDINARY HIGH's ... and through it all we shared it together!! I love you more than this letter can ever express and I thank you for standing with me and beside me through the past 7 years!

I love you!

"the pretty lady"

Final Letter to Roman and Maxim

2011-12-31T22:31:00.006-05:00

I began this blog in Spring 2008 as a way to chronicle and share the journey Stephen and I were beginning to become a family. Writing this blog and recording our adoption experience became a labor of love and also connected me with so many new and amazing friends!!! It's funny because when you begin the adoption experience one of the questions you get asked by your agency and social worker is how you will talk to your children about being adopted and the journey you went on to become a family ... all I can say to that is "START A BLOG". This has been a great adventure in writing about not only our experience to become a family but it also tells the story of our family life since we all arrived home on November 14, 2009! Two years ... AMAZING ... these boys were meant to be ours and this is the journey Stephen and I were meant to take to become parents ... just like a puzzle ... the pieces were there and just needed to come together to make the family we are today!!! I have enjoyed keeping this blog ... the friendships I know have with other adoptive Moms is a treasure I will always be grateful for ... the friendships span the entire United States and I don't think you could get that out of Lamaze class!!! I will continue to post on Facebook pictures and stories of life with Roman and Maxim so if you aren't my FB friend and want to follow along ... please let me know!!! One of these days I will make our blog a book for each of the boys so they have a keepsake of our Adoption Journey and the first two years as a family. This is on last letter to them so they know how much love they give us each and every day and that we are so blessed to have found them and become their Mama and Papa!! Thank you for being a part of our journey and for all the love and support you have shared with us!!

Christine and Stephen

Dear Roman and Maxim:

It's been 2 years since we stepped out of Baby Home #6 in Yekaterinburgh, Russia at approximately 4:30pm. It was a chilly night, snow was on the ground and it was getting dark and we were headed to the airport to board a plane to Moscow and then back to the United States to begin our life as a family of four! Roman, you were so talkative on that ride to the airport! You talked about everything you saw out the windows .. the houses, the cars on the road and the people walking! Maxim you were our silent observer, just looking with those big, brown eyes of yours at everything we passed ... you never said a word ... you just took it all in! Papa and I were so anxious to begin the next step in our journey with you, our dream of bringing you home was finally coming true!!!

You have brought so much joy and happiness to our lives! You are amazing little boys with defined personalities ... Roman you are our on the go, little energizer bunny. You are constant motion and don't like to sit for long periods of time! You are always affectionate and give hugs and kisses freely and let us know that we are "best friends" and will always be friends because we are family ... a quote from you on one of our drives to school!!! Maxim, you are such a happy child! You are always singing and you can be stubborn. I'm not really sure if you will ever learn to blow your nose or button your pants and I guess with that cute little smile you have, it will be okay. You are also constant motion ... there is a song in your heart or your head because it is seldom you aren't singing about something. You also share hugs and kisses whenever possible! Both of you are very loving little boys and I hope you never lose your kind spirit and willingness to help other people!!!

Roman and Maxim ... thank you for bringing the sunshine into our lives and making every day an adventure! We have truly been blessed to have you as our sons and to be your parents ... the receivers of your hugs, kisses and smiles! Thank you for making my dream of being a Mama come true!!!

Always know and remember that we love you ... BIG BIG!!!

Mama and Papa

Pictures of our life as a family:

First "official" family meeting - October 26, 2009

First Ever Family Photo - November 14, 2009

Family Photo - October 2010

Our Family Today - January 2012

Christmas 2011

2011-12-31T22:00:00.013-05:00

We had a great Christmas this year ... each year gets better and better and the boys are getting more and more excited as each year passes!!! We were able to get a picture of the boys with Santa ... not sure who was more excited the boys or me!!! The boys also had their school concert just a few days before Christmas ... Roman sang at the top of his lungs and Max was our shy one ... although you'd never know from the way he sings in the car!!! Our favorite songs this year are Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!!! The top toys for this year .. Buzz Light Year and Woody and of course the Hess trucks ... Santa also left a bouncy house in our basement for the boys for cold snowy days or rainy summer afternoons!!!

Winter Fun .... 2011

2011-12-31T21:41:00.014-05:00

This year we did quiet a few things leading up to Christmas ... the first started on Thanksgiving Day when the boys looked through the toy fliers and catalog and began making their list for Santa!!!

Even the bigger kid in the house started to make his list early!!!

We went to a few Christmas light exhibits around our area to get us all in the spirit of the holiday season!! The boys had a great time and began to get really anxious for Santa to arrive at our house!!! Here are a few pictures from our trip to see Eggbert! This is something Stephen used to do when he was a boy but the business who sponsored this event stopped doing it for awhile and it was brought back this year so we brought Roman and Max!!!

Of course we had to get our own house ready for Christmas so here are a few shots of the tree decorating and I have to mention the biggest "elf" to help us get ready for Christmas ... our very own Elf on the Shelf ... Jake!!!

Where has the time gone ....

2011-12-14T11:37:00.015-05:00

I can't believe that it is December and Christmas is a little over the week. I have seriously slacked in keeping up the blog and posting about Roman and Maxim!!! We had an exciting October with our SNOWTOBER storm and I can't remember the last time we did trick or treating in the snow or had a snow day for school but this year will definitely be remembered for some time!!!

Pumpkins ... Trick or Treating and Snow!!!

November came and went just as fast as October and this year we got celebrate our 2nd GOTCHA day with the boys and our 2nd Family day outing!!! We are trying to mark every GOTCHA day with a family activity and this year we decided to travel to Brighton Beach, NY ... also known at "Little Russia by the Sea". We had a great day and for a short time felt like we were back in Russia ... the smells, the language and the food were so reminiscent of our time in Yekaterinburgh while we waited to bring the boys home!!! We ate in a "true" Russian restaurant and when our waitress brought our soup, Stephen and I were both transported back to our baby home visits and the smells that would greet us as we walked in to the building to visit with the boys!!! We walked in and out of the little shops and smiled as we heard all the people speaking Russian ... we still remember the basics and people seemed genuinely pleased with our attempts to say "hello" or "thank you" in Russian! We stocked up on our favorite pelmini's and at the end of our trip we had a great Family Day with our own two exhausted Russians!

GOTCHA DAY 2011

December arrived and this year the boys are very excited for Santa to arrive! We began a new tradition on Thanksgiving eve ... Our Elf on the Shelf arrived from the North Pole! After much deliberation the boys named their Elf, "Jake" and each morning they excitedly look to see where Jake has landed that day! Maxim was very excited to see Santa this year and for the first time both boys agreed to visit with him and take a picture with Santa! Stephen commented while we watched, he didn't know who was more excited for this .. me or the boys!! ME ... I've waited for this day ... to take my boys to visit Santa and have them tell their wishes and tales to the jolly man in red!!! Roman and Max told Santa all about Jake and Santa promised to look for Jake that night when he returned to the North Pole .... he also requested a few cookies for him and carrots for his reindeer on Christmas Eve and both boys happily agreed to leave them out for him!!

VERY, VERY Excited to speak with Santa!!!

It's been a busy Fall and even busier Christmas season for all of us!! Roman and Max are getting so big and continue to surprise, amaze and make us laugh on a daily basis!!!

I recently made the decision to close the blog at the end of the year! Life with the boys is certainly and adventure and doesn't leave much free time for posting! I will post some of our holiday happenings over the next few weeks and on December
31st I will close the blog with one final letter to the boys who have blessed our lives and bring us so much joy! Thank you all for following our journey to Roman and Maxim and for being a part of our life over the last 2 years as we have become a family!! We have loved all the comments left for the boys and hopefully one day when this blog becomes a book for them to read they will feel all the love that has been shared with us over the past few years!!!

I will post about Christmas and I'm sure there will be lots and lots of pictures to share so keep checking back to see how Roman and Max enjoy Christmas this year!!

Fall means ... soccer .. apple picking and the Big E!!!

2011-10-05T12:41:00.026-04:00

Fall is here in New York and the Pupek's can tell just by looking at our calendar and seeing that weekends are busy with something from September - November!!!

Roman and Max began playing soccer this Fall! It's so funny to watch ... they should call it magnet ball because once the whistle blows and the ball goes into play ... no matter what team they are on all the kids run to the ball and chase it!!! They only play for 6 weeks so our first time playing soccer will end just in time for Halloween! Roman really enjoys the game and Max is having fun!!!

Fall in New York also means Apple Picking ... YAY!! We went early this year to get the best selection of apples .. Cortlands, Macintosh, and Red Delicious! The boys love apple picking and they really enjoyed the home made apple pie we had for dessert that night(my first attempt at making the dough from scratch) YUMMY!

Taking the wagon ride out to the orchids

Roman helping our friend Jason pick some apples

Getting a ride from Daddy

I love this pose ... all done apple picking and heading back to the stand!

Fall also means a trip to the Big E in Springfield, MA!! For those who don't know the Big E is the New England State fair and it's such a blast! I couldn't wait to share the GIANT slide with Roman and Max and they LOVED it ... now we can't wait to again next year!!!

Stephen made some new friends in the dog area!!! This boys name is Hunter ..so cute!!

Roman and Grammy making a new friend!

Here comes Roman and Mama on the GIANT Slide

Max's first ride on the GIANT slide with Daddy

Hanging out with Grammy

The Big E Cream Puff ... a must have!!! So good!!!

The end of day ice cream cone!

First Day of School -- 2011

2011-09-09T11:44:00.008-04:00

Tuesday, September 6th was the beginning of another school year in the Pupek house!! This year both Roman and Maxim are attending Montessori school but they are going to a different school than Roman went to last year!!! They were both very excited to go to school on Tuesday and meet their teachers and make some friends!! Roman is still with Ms. Sheeran (she left the old school and we loved her so much we followed her) and Maxim is in his own classroom with Ms. Ellis. They both love the first day and surprise of all surprises they had a day off already this week when school was cancelled on Thursday for the floods caused by all the rain we've been getting since Irene!!!

Here is the best part of the first day ....

New pack packs ... so excited!!!

Sporting the new "jammies" for the first day of school!

Summer time....

2011-06-22T10:07:00.006-04:00

I have been bad at posting updates about the boys but I guess that is a casualty to life with two active children, a full time job and trying to maintain my sanity on a regular basis!!! Max and Roman are GREAT ... full of life and looking forward to summer and swimming daily in the pool!!! Roman finishes his first year of Montessori school on Friday and is already excited to go back in the Fall ... not sure how he is going to fare this summer without Ms. Sheeran so maybe we'll invite her over for a barbeque just so he can get his "fix"!!! Max has one more week of school/daycare and then he gets to start Montessori in September and he is very excited about going to "big boy" school!!! He is going to do great but I know he will miss his friends ..Lucas, Gavin and Rian and not to mention Miss Stephanie and Miss Sherry ... he has loved his pre school room and all that he's done since January when he moved up!!! A few pictures ..courtesy of my mother in law ...her camera is never far away when she is with the boys and these are great shots of some summer fun!!!

Only one more week of work and then July off so look for more summer posts and pictures of Max and Roman as we enjoy our July adventure and lots of summer fun!!

Big Boy Rooms

2011-05-12T09:39:00.000-04:00

I finally got a chance to finish Roman's room and he is now in his new "Car and Truck Room" and Max is still enjoying his "Thomas the Train Room". Both boys have fish ... Max's fish is Harry and Roman names his fish Monkey!!! It's nice they have their own space and they do spend time in each other's rooms!!!

Roman was very excited for his "Car and Truck Room"

Max in his "Thomas the Train" room

Meet Harry!

Red Fish .... Blue Fish ...

2011-05-12T09:29:00.000-04:00

When you have a pool in your back yard and the weather starts to get warm ... the question you get every day is ..."Can we go swimming???" ... You might think I'm nuts but there are only so many ways you can say "No ... it's still to cold" ... sometimes the only way to explain is to let them learn first hand!!!

Everyone is getting ready for the first swim!

This is as far as Max got ... once his toe hit the water he turned around ... went back into the house and got dressed!!! Hasn't asked to go back in yet =)

Roman's first jump of the "season"!!!

The face says COLD but he said NOPE and kept swimming!!!

He swam for 10 minutes before getting out!!! He's crazy but he will be the "fish" in our group!!!

Notice the wet suit ... SMART MAN!!!!

Okay ... just in case you think we've lost our minds as parents ... the water was about 68-70 degrees when they went in ... we had towels and sweatshirts waiting on the deck!!! Has it detered Roman ... NO ... he was back in this weekend ... the child is NUTS ... he loves to swim and when he goes in he stays in for a good 10 - 15minutes!!! He's going to be a blast this summer when it's actually warm enough for the adults!!! Max ... now Max is a different story ... he has yet to ask to go back in ... he does NOT like cold water and he won't want to go in until he knows for sure the water is WARM!!!

Easter 2011

2011-05-12T09:20:00.000-04:00

A few pictures from Easter ... the boys had 2 egg hunts ... on at our house Easter morning and one a Grammy's in the afternoon!!! They had a blast and slept all the way home from Massachusetts to New York!

All the Pupek boys get Easter baskets ... checking out their stash!!!

Looking for eggs that the Easter Bunny hid around our house!

Egg Hunt outside at Grammy's in Massachusetts

Building a Pool!!

2011-05-12T09:07:00.000-04:00

Can you say STAYCATION!!! The Pupek's will be spending the summer at home in New York ... no big vacation travel plans for us ... have you seen the gas prices!!! Instead we now have a pool in our back yard and fingers crossed this summer will be as hot as last year and we will get many, many days and years to enjoy all the hard work that went into putting the pool in!!! BIG BIG THANKS AND HUGS to Stephen ... he did most of it... now we just need the water to warm up and we can jump in!!!

The trench for the electric for the pool. We spent one entire Sunday digging this from the house to the pool ... 18inches deep and way to long to count... the dirt was not dirt but shale and rock!!!

The pad for the pool!!

The frame is up ... thanks to our AWESOME neighbors!

Smoothing out the sand for a nice even bottom!!!

Putting the liner in!

The liner is in!

Everyone got to help smooth out the liner ... not sure who is more excited ... Roman or Daddy???

The Birthday Boys

2011-04-02T14:58:00.019-04:00

Roman turned 4 in January and Max turned 3 in March!!! They both had family birthday parties and got to pick out their special party theme ... Roman went with "Barney" and Max chose "Thomas the Train". As you can expect they were both spoiled on their special day and really enjoyed eating cake and ice cream and opening presents just for them!!! Roman invited his teacher Ms. Sheeran to his party and she came... that was a special treat for him!!! We haven't really gotten into the big kid parties yet .. I know one day we will paying to rent somewhere with Inflatable Bouncies or something along those lines but for now we are just enjoying small parties with family and close friends!!!

Roman's 3rd birthday was actually his first day back at montessori school after Christmas break. The tradition in his class is to do a "birthday walk" for each year you have been alive. Roman was really looking forward to this and we had to send 3 pictures to school ... one for each year!! Luckily we had a picture from when he was a 18months old and first went into the baby home so we were close and could see how much he has changed since his very first year!!! Since this was a special day for Roman, Max and I went to school with him for the birthday walk and dinner that night was Roman's choice so we went to his favorite place .. the Alexis Diner and had the BEST chocolate cake EVER!!!!

Pictures from Roman's "Barney" Party ...

We started celebrating Max's 3rd brithday the day before by going to see Elmo and all his friends from Sesame Street!! The show was great and both boys had an AWESOME time. After the show Max got to choose lunch and we headed to RED ROBIN ... YUM!!! It was a great day for all of us and a great way to start the birthday celebration for our Elmo fan!!!

Pictures from Max's "Thomas the Train Party"

And just in case you are curious ... Grammy (my Mom) is the cake maker!! She make wonderful cakes and they are all unique to what the child wants!!!

The end of the journey the beginning of LIFE!!!

2011-03-15T20:08:00.006-04:00

It's been some time since I sat down and blogged about life with Roman and Maxim but that's not to say that we haven't had anything to share ... we've just been living as a family and enjoying each and every experience as a family of four.

I've also been trying to decide if I should continue blogging or if it was time to say goodbye to the blog... I'm still not entirely sure ... after all I started this blog almost 3 years ago when we began thinking about adoption as a way to keep family and friends posted on our journey to parenthood and now that journey is over and we are enjoying the journey of life with two very active and loving boys!!!

The journey we have taken to become parents was not an easy one but in the end we made it through and fulfilled the dream we both had of being a Mom and Dad and some nights when I watch my boys outside together playing I find it hard to remember life before they invaded every inch of our being!!! What a ride it was just to get to this point and to be honest every day since we've become a family has continued to be a hell of a ride!

My favorite quote along the way hangs just to the left of my computer in my office at work ... at times it kept me going and other times it brought me solace for the difficulties we were experiencing "The journey only looks long from the beginning. When we look back up the path, the reality is, we can be happy we started or we can wish we had." When I look at my boys, hear their laughter or their many request at night to sing "pleasant dreams" ... I know .. KNOW this journey was worth it in every way we experienced it!!!

Our journey to having a family is complete but the journey of life together continues and I think I will post occasional updates of the boys and what life brings our way!!

Sledding Fun

2011-01-03T11:42:00.001-05:00

After our "holiday blizzard" the boys got the chance to go sledding in our back yard. They are pushing each other into the area that will have our pool this summer ... it's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time!!!

Enjoy!!!!

Christmas Day and the beginning of the New Year

2011-01-02T16:28:00.012-05:00

We had a great holiday season at the Pupek house!!! Santa was very good to all of us and we stayed home this year and enjoyed the day with all our new presents and relaxing around the house!!! On New Year's Day we piled into the truck ... Lucy and Happy with us and headed to Grammy's to celebrate the beginning of 2011 with the Nadeau's and to celebrate Christmas and more presents!!! We hope everyone else had a great Christmas and New Year and we wish everyone a wonderful 2011 with lots of new memories!!!!

Santa came ... Santa came!!!

So excited for the presents from Santa

We LOVE LOVE BARNEY

New hats ... a kitty and a penguin

Giving his brother a lift in his new tractor

Christmas Morning ... our little family!

Presents from Grandma and Grandpa

Light Up sneakers for Roman

New boots for Max

Getting ready for Santa

2011-01-02T16:07:00.012-05:00

Christmas Eve 2010 - we began the night by joining some of Roman's classmates at the local hospital to hand out gift bags to any children who were too sick to be at home and had to wait for Santa in the hospital. After, we headed to Marist College for Christmas Eve mass with Fr. LaMorte and friends we know from the college. After church we came home for a quiet dinner just the four of us and opened our first gift of Christmas ... Christmas pj's ... a family tradition!!! After the boys got on their new pj's and then we got ready for Santa to come visit!!!

All ready for Christmas Eve mass and dinner ... handsome little boys!

Opening the first Christmas gift from Mama and Papa

Christmas pj's for Maxim

Christmas pj's for Roman

All the Pupek boys ...Happy, Papa, Roman and Maxim

Cookies for Santa

Carrots for the reindeer

Snug in their beds waiting for Santa to come

A Shepard and a Sheep

2010-12-18T20:39:00.007-05:00

Roman's school held their nativity play for Christmas the other night and he played a Shepard (thanks for a great costume Grammy). He did much better in this role than he did the Fall school concert ... he sang his heart out and we were very, very proud of him. Max got to star in the play as well .... he was Roman's understudy in case Roman couldn't remember his line "the wise men ... Maththew 2, 1-12" but at the last minute they called Max to be a sheep!! You've never seen a cuter or more animated sheep!!!

Christmas Spirit 2010

2010-12-15T14:21:00.010-05:00

This past weekend we took Roman and Maxim up to the North Pole ... Jefferson, New Hampshire to visit Santa and get ready for Christmas!!! After the 6hour ride from New York it really did feel like we travelled all the way to the North Pole!!! The boys had a great time and we are definitely ready for Santa to come to our house this year!!!
The other highlight for Roman and Max was the indoor swimming pool at the hotel!!! The minute we arrived Roman was constant chatter about going swimming ... we got to see first hand "nature vs nurture", because Stephen said he was the same way when his family did a similar trip when he was a little boy!! Every time Roman asked about going swimming, Stephen just smiled and said "you are definitely my kid"!!! Another moment of "what a year it has been and look at how far we've come as a family"!!!

Pictures from our visit to see Santa at the North Pole!!!

Santa's Reindeer ... they really DO exist!!!

Our Journey Home - November 14, 2009

2010-11-15T19:15:00.005-05:00

If you are a follower of our blog you probably noticed last year that I never did the "obligatory" post about returning home and the welcome at the airport. Well, there was a good reason for this ... there was no HUGE fanfare welcome by family or friends ... oh not for lack of planning, arranging and trying but because the limo company we hired DROPPED THE BALL!!!!

Let me explain ... the one thing Stephen and I REALLY looked forward to was walking through the doors after going through customs at JFK and seeing the faces of our parents, sisters and the signs and ballons welcoming Roman and Maxim home. We always thought of it as the "going into labor phone call" and well since we never got to do THAT ... we couldn't wait to share this final leg of our journey to become a family with those who had been through the worst with us!!!

I started planning our trip home from JFK in July 2009. I contacted various limo companies in New York and New Jersey for prices and found a company that was willing to work with us on pricing. Now if you are familiar with NYC and JFK airport you would understand that part of what I needed was a way to get our two families (parents and sister) from our house to JFK and then return with all of us back to the house. JFK is crazy to try and negotiate if you are not familiar with the airport so a limo was the best way. By August I had secured a limo company and being the Type A that I am I had every detail in place ... or so I thought! The very last email I sent before boarding the plane on October 24, 2009 was to the limo owner to finalize all details and giving him all contact information for my mother and sister and reminding him that they would all need to be picked up and that they would bring the car seats for the boys! Well as they say ... best laid plans and all that!!!

On November 14th ... we boarded Delta airlines in the Moscow airport to JFK in New York, with Maxim and Roman .. they were amazing on the 11hour flight!! They played, slept and ate and hardly ever made a fuss ... excellent travelers!!!

As soon as we landed in New York I turned on my cell and texted my sister ... EXPECTING she would text back "We're Here" ... instead I got "Call Me" ... this was NOT good!!!! In a nutshell the limo company SUCKED ... they never showed at the agreed time to pick up our parents and my sister and THEN tried to say that was NOT the plan ... well that's is to say until my sister started reading the emails back to him with the agreement! So at this point it was to late for any of that to happen and since they didn't have car seats in the Town Car for the boys the limo service was cancelled and Stephen's sister jumped into our Expedition with her husband and my mother and made the journey to JFK to get us! Again, Type A me had put the boys car seats into our truck before leaving just to get used to driving around with them ... GOOD THING, Huh?!?! The only problem ... we live 1.5hours with traffic from the airport, the plane was early so you guessed it ... we walked through the doors of customs with no signs, no greetings and no balloons .... we had our sons ... we were home and very, very tired and now we had to wait outside of departures for our ride entertaining two children who were probably just as confused as we were!!!!

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

No welcome home picture outside of customs for us BUT instead a more traditional New York picture ... us outside the departure doors in front of a trash can with all our luggage, strollers and the best gift anyone could ever wait for ... OUR SONS!!!! It wasn't the ending we imagined but at least it ended with us coming home with the two boys we had waited sooooo very long for and I hope someday when the boys read this blog they can find the humor in what on that day was just a real kick in the pants!!!

Now that we have been home for a year I've come to learn it doesn't matter so much as how you get there but just that you GET THERE. It took us longer than we ever could have thought to fulfill our dreams of having a family but WE DID. It was not the road we expected to travel for becoming parents but in the end WE DID ... we are parents and one year later we have experienced some AMAZING highs with our boys and along the way a few lows but HEY, isn't that what parenthood is all about!!! One year has passed ... there were some days I never thought we'd make it or I'd ever know what sleep was again, okay so I'm still not sure what sleep is but isn't that what those teenage years are for ...PAYBACK :-) .... just kidding ... we made it from start to finish and in the end that is what really matters!!!

GOTCHA DAY as a family

2010-11-13T15:07:00.006-05:00

A year ago ... November 11, 2009 - outside Baby Home #6, Ekaterinburgh, Russia

Today - November 11, 2010 - outside our home, Newburgh, New York

Best Friends

We marked our first anniversary of GOTCHA Day by spending it together ... no school and no work! We went to Bear Mountain and explored the zoo and a few of the trails!! Roman and Maxim had fun and we started a tradition of celebrating our family and remembering the journey that brought us all together!

Happy GOTCHA Day 2010

2010-11-11T16:10:00.010-05:00

Well ... here we are ... one year later and the "first" anniversary of our November 11th GOTCHA Day. We can hardly believe a year has passed since we walked out of Baby Home #6 in Russia with Roman and Maxim! It has been an incredible year with lots of new memories and fun times for us as a family!!! We decided to celebrate our first Gotcha day on Friday, November 12th since Stephen and I get that day as our Veterans Day holiday ... we are planning to spend the day together as a family doing something fun and starting a tradition of GOTCHA Day celebrations for many years to come!

Here are some never before seen photos from GOTCHA Day November 11, 2009....

These woman were some of the caretakers that watched over the boys til they found their forever families ... look at the love on their faces!!

First Halloween ... October 31, 2010

2010-11-01T13:32:00.010-04:00

This was the last "first" holiday together for us and we had a BLAST trick or treating with Maxim and Roman!!! They really got into the knocking on doors and really liked wearing their monkey costumes!!! After early naps and a quick lunch to counter the candy and treats they would be eating we headed out to Marist College for some "safe trick or treating" in one of the residence halls! It was so much fun but a little chilly!!! After dinner at home we headed to Stephen's parents to surprise them with our monkeys ... they didn't know we were coming so it was cute to see the boys knocking on the door and waiting for Grandma to open it!!!

Mama, Papa and the monkeys!!!

Romans' best gal pal Auntie Sara came from Massachusetts to trick or treat with the boys!!!

sooooo did Grammy!

getting to pick their own candy was a HUGE hit!!!

waiting to surprise Grandma Pupek with a Trick or Treat!

The monkeys with Grandma and Grandpa Pupek who were surprised to see these monkeys at their door!

Two tired monkeys at the end of a GREAT day

At the safe trick or treating they do a costume contest .... guess who got the cutest award ... CMON GUESS ....

We've been parents for one year!

2010-10-30T15:12:00.003-04:00

A year ago today we went to court in Ekaterinburgh,Russia and after almost 2 hours of telling our story to the judge and both of us answering questions he "officially" announced us PARENTS!!! After a year of trying to get pregnant, a miscarriage, another 6 months of trying and then a year of infertility treatments, our dream of becoming parents finally... FINALLY came true! We were so excited that day - well once court was over and we didn't need to be nervous anymore!!! Here we were outside the court and beaming because we were done!

We wouldn't get to see the boys that day or over the weekend so we had 3 days to keep ourselves busy until we could see them again .. this time knowing we were their parents and now we just needed to wait the 10day period and then we would be taking them home with us!!! We celebrated that night with some Russian vodka and spent the rest of the weekend exploring Ekaterinburgh!

Day 3 & 4 - October 28 -29,2009

2010-10-29T18:38:00.013-04:00

Day 3 ... boys come into the room excited and like to go through our toy bag!!!

Our fourth day with the boys was actually the day before court so the boys social worker came along to watch us with the boys! Here she is with Svetlana!!!

Roman always arrived first for our visits!!!

Day 4 - Look who is coming down the hall!!!

Day 2 - October 27, 2009

2010-10-27T19:33:00.006-04:00

Our second day visiting the boys at the baby home ... they are beginning to warm up to us!!!

10/26/09 - First visit with the boys

2010-10-25T19:45:00.007-04:00

The first day we got to see the boys was on Monday, October 26, 2009. After two days of traveling to Russia from New York we got settled into our apartment and anxiously waited for the morning to come so we could go and see our boys!!!
Here are a few pictures of our first visit on trip 2!

Both boys were very shy and skittish when they first came in and because we got to the baby home just before lunch/naptime Max was very sleeps and actually fell asleep in my arms. For us it was a great visit and we couldn't wait to spend more time with them!!!

What were you doing a year ago today ....

2010-10-24T09:53:00.002-04:00

We were getting ready to board a plane at JFK that would take us back to Russia and our two boys!!! Hard to believe at times that it's been almost a year since we packed 3 HUGE suitcases and 2 carryons and were getting ready to board Delta airlines and travel to Moscow and then onto Yekaterinburg for trip #2!!!

I'm not sure how much I remember about that day ... I remember it was warmer than anticipated ... I remember the confusing process to check into Delta ... self checkout is NOT friendly and the rude woman who was behind the Delta counter did not ease any of the travel tension we were dealing with!!! Oh and since we had 3 suitcases we had to pay for the 3rd one and we also had to pay since our bags were over the weight limit ... talk about "friendly skies" ... but everything we went through in that airport was worth it by the time we were on the plane and traveling back to Roman and Max!!!

Over the next few days I will post some never before pictures of our trip to Ekat ... the sights we saw and our daily visits with the boys ... we are coming up on our 1st year together ... we even completed our 1 year post adoption interview with our social worker this past Friday.

Stay tuned for some great memories of our journey to bring Roman and Maxim home as we prepare for our first Family Day on November 11th.

Another birthday in our house ...

2010-09-30T21:28:00.011-04:00

Tuesday, September 28th was my birthday and it gave the boys the chance to sing their favorite song "Happy Birthday" and to do a little singing and dancing for Mama!!! Roman drew a card for me at school and that night we all went to Red Robin for dinner .... Red Robin ... yes, this year we went for family friendly and the boys always like to look for the Robin. The Robin was napping so we didn't get to see him but they boys did get a souvenier balloon on the way out and that was better than anything!!! Max's card ... it's a music card ... the chicken dance ..inside it says "I hope you like this card as much as I do!" Roman's Card ... inside it says "flattery gets me every where ... aren't I so cute Mama"

Wordless Wednesday ... September 29, 2010

2010-09-29T14:16:00.013-04:00

Roman had his first school "event" this past weekend for Montessori school! They had a brunch and then all the children sang ... turns out we have the shy kid! Roman got very shy when everyone began signing and sat with me for most of the performance ... however, he did rally for the kazoo playing portion. Check out his kazoo performance in the video!

Wordless Wednesday - September 15, 2010

2010-09-15T09:31:00.008-04:00

Sorry I missed a week but the boys started back to school/daycare on Tuesday, September 7th and our week was CRAZY. Roman has started preschool montessori and Max is back at Pattycake Playhouse with Miss Rory!!! Both boys had a great first week and were so anxious to head out the door each morning!!!

Brothers ready to head out!!!

Roman in his school uniform ... he looks so cute!!!

Max in his "uniform" ..he's been wearing BIG BOY underwear and working on using the potty!!!

Wordless Wednesday ... September 1, 2010

2010-09-01T10:44:00.006-04:00

First "Boys Night Out" at their First Baseball Game with Papa!!!

Playing with their Rascall Racoons to stay awake!

Do they look tired??? They had a BLAST at the game!!!

Wordless Wednesday... August 25

2010-08-24T09:10:00.008-04:00

What do you do with two children who have been cooped up all day in the house because of rain ... put on their rain boots and send them out doors to play in the rain and jump in the puddles!!!

Look who had a birthday!!!

2010-08-24T08:56:00.004-04:00

Monday, August 23rd was Stephen's birthday and the boys had a great time celebrating with Papa!!! We all went out for dinner at Ruby Tuesdays where the boys were outdoing one another singing "Happy Birthday to you" ... when we got home they were more than ready to continue the celebration with cake and singing!!! After they sang "Happy Birthday" to Papa they continued the celebration with a birthday dance and then a few cards and Papa's gift of a Food Dehydrator .... it was a great birthday celebration!!! Happy Birthday Papa!!!!

Wordless Wednesday, August 18, 2010

2010-08-17T21:29:00.006-04:00

First family vacation ... Cape May, New Jersey!

July ... how fast it went!!!

2010-08-03T11:02:00.014-04:00

One of the perks of my job at Marist College is that I get the month of July off ... it's a nice perk and by mid June I can't wait for my month of "do nothing"!!! This year the month of July was even sweeter because I got to spend it with Roman and Maxim and we had a BLAST!!!! I enjoyed being home with them and getting to see them spend more time together and really enjoying being brothers!!

I will admit the time I took off from work just after we came home from Russia was NOT FUN! I was so overwhelmed with too small children and for awhile I was depressed and it made it very difficult to bond with the boys and to get to know them. Not gonna lie when January 18th rolled around I was VERY happy to go back to work and let the boys go to daycare ... it was still difficult but after a few weeks we all got into a routine and the boys really blossomed at daycare and I started to feel more like my old self! Fast forward through the Spring semester and July finally arrives ... it was GREAT!!!

We kicked off July with a heat wave in New York ...
the heatwave ended up being a benefit for me and the boys because we have AWESOME neighbors who let us use their pool anytime and the boys have really become "fish". They love to swim and Roman has gotten braver and braver as the month went by. He started with a tube and now swims with just arm bands! Both boys love to put their faces in the water and blow bubbles ... we are still working on actual swimming but little by little they are getting there!

One of the first weekends we took the boys to see their very FIRST movie, Toy Story 3... they did really well and enjoyed the movie AND the POPCORN!!!

We were able to make a few trips up to Massachusetts to hang out with the Nadeau side of the family ... it was so much fun and again, thanks to Uncle Josh and Auntie Deanna for letting us use their pool ... it's inground so bigger then the neighbors but the boys loved being able to sit on the stairs and play and splash!!!

We took the boys kayaking for the first time towards the end of the month. They did great ... hopefully we will be able to get them out on the water a few more times before it gets to cold!!! They are going to be avid outdoorsmen, which is awesome because Stephen and I love to hike, kayak and try new things together!!!

The last week of July .. they boys and I headed back to Massachusetts for fun with Grammy and Auntie Sara!! Roman was very excited to be going on "vacation" ... and Maxim was glad to be heading back to "Mimi's". We arrived on Monday and spent that afternoon settling in and then spent time playing at Purgatory (a state park with hiking trails and a fun playground).

The next 2 days we spent time at Uncle Josh's pool and the boys got lots of time with their cousins Brooke, Billy and Nikolas. At night we would head to the local ice cream place for some homemade ice cream .. "monster mash" and walked through the barn and saw all the animals ... Max got to see his first real live sheep!!!

On Thursday, we headed to the Ecotarium in Worcester ... it was great for the boys ... it's like a Children's Museum ... lots of hands on stuff for the boys to play with and learn from!!! There is also a real live polar bear at this museum ... Kenda ... we got to see her but she was sleeping!!!

Thursday night, Papa arrived for the weekend and on Friday we headed out with Grammy and Auntie Sara to Water Country in Portsmouth, NH!!! The boys did great on their first trip to a water park ... it took a few times down the water slides to get them into it but when they had so much fun that when it was time to leave we had a couple of cranky boys who just wanted to stay!!! Oh, and the wave pool was a huge hit as well so we know they are going to love the beach in August!!!

Saturday was a sunny day so we headed back to Uncle Josh's pool for another day of swimming and working on our tans!!! The boys were able to show Papa how well they could swim and Roman showed what a dare devil he has become by jumping into the deep end!!! Saturday night we went to church for the anniversary mass for my Dad and then ended our time in Massachusetts with a family BBQ ... it was a GREAT week and we had so much fun during our last week off in July!!!

July was a blast ... I had such fun with my two guys and it was so much better than our first few weeks home from Russia ... now I can't wait to spend a week in August with all my guys in Cape May!!!

Wordless Wednesday - July 28

2010-07-28T09:41:00.003-04:00

Learning to swim!

Wordless Wednesday - July 21, 2010

2010-07-21T14:14:00.006-04:00

Summer time FUN!!!

Wordless Wednesday - July 7, 2010

2010-07-07T09:30:00.009-04:00

Having a heatwave in NY ... finding ways to keep our cool!

Wordless Wednesday - June 30, 2010

2010-06-30T11:58:00.005-04:00

First Father's Day

2010-06-28T10:37:00.011-04:00

Happy Father's Day ... Papa with his boys today!!!

Being silly with Papa!!!

I know I'm a week late but I needed to find some good pictures of Stephen with his boys!!! This was a great father's day ... well at least I think so!!! I have to admit father's day hasn't really been the same for me since my own Dad passed away almost 5 years ago but now that we have the boys it has a whole new meaning for me and for Stephen (at least I think it does for him :-))!!! When I was growing up I always said I wanted to marry someone who would be a great Dad ... you know... that guy you see who can't just get enough of his kids and enjoys doing things with them ... well I guess I got lucky because I not only married the Great Dad but also the Great Husband!!!

Fathers' Day was all about Stephen and what he wanted to do ... we started the morning with a little snuggle time with Papa and then it was time for presents and cards ... the boys love presenting cards and they did a great job!!! Papa then got to do what he wanted for the day and in true Stephen form that meant some projects around the house and then a little time in the pool with the boys .... dinner was Papa's choice so Chinese food was the pick of the day and Mama even went to pick it up while Papa stayed with his boys!!!

Here's a few pictures of Papa with his boys ... then and now!!!

Happy Father's day to a great Papa/Daddy/Father/Stephen ... just depends on what Roman feel like saying in the moment!!!

Papa with his boys a year ago!

Papa with the boys this year

Wordless Wednesday - June 23, 2010

2010-06-23T13:50:00.005-04:00

Meeting new friends - WHFC, Bristol RI picnic

2010-06-16T09:50:00.008-04:00

Our adoption agency plans different picnics for families over the summer so this weekend we ventured out to Bristol, RI!!! It was the boys first visit to the ocean and our first time to meet so many of our friends who also adopted from Russia in person!!! Even though the days was a little chilly and overcast ... we had a great time!!! The boys got to meet other children from Russia and Mama got to meet many of the people who supported us on our journey in person!!! We had a great day with a few minor mishaps, Roman gave himself a black eye and fell while pulling Max in the wagon ... let's just say both boys slept on the ride home to New York!!!

We can't wait to go again next year!!!

Max and his new pal Aaden taking a ride!

Roman with the bat that caused the black eye!!!

Roman's black eye!!!

Aaden, Max and Roman walking by the ocean!

The entire group of children home from Russia

Wordless Wednesday - June 16, 2010

2010-06-16T09:37:00.010-04:00

Visiting with Aunt Loretta - thanks for the Animal Crackers and we hope you feel better soon ... Roman and Maxim

Playing the piano with Grammy

Wide Horizon For Children - Rhode Island Picnic, Bristol, RI

Wordless Wednesday - June 9, 2010

2010-06-09T08:43:00.003-04:00

So you think you can dance??? I'm not posting any pictures this week because the video of the Pupek boys dancing is PRICELESS!!!! The boys were playing in the other room while I was watching the country awards I had taped from some time ago ... they came RUNNING into the Family Room to show me their moves. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!!! Yes, they love to dance ... we even "car" dance in the morning on our way to school and if they "feel" the music they will STOP what they are doing and bust out their moves!!!! Enjoy!!!

Roman's very first "motorcycle"

2010-06-02T08:30:00.008-04:00

Roman has become OBSESSED with motorcycles ... he looks for them where ever we are and if hears one while we are driving in the car he quickly points them out!!! It was finally time to get him his very first tricycle so we did some searching at Toys R Us and now Roman has his very own "motorcycle"!!! He is loving it and doing great with the pedaling ... he has a harder time on the inclines but he is getting it!!! Everyone wants to know where Max's tricycle is ... he's not ready yet but now he can have the toy car all to himself and he is VERY happy with that!!!

Check out Roman riding his "motorcycle"!

Wordless Wednesday - June 2, 2010

2010-06-02T08:09:00.011-04:00

The boys first Memorial Day!!!

Washingtonville Parade

Backyard BBQ fun with friends and neighbors!!!

Wordless Wednesday, May 26, 2010

2010-05-26T08:29:00.012-04:00

The Graduate ... Stephen with his MBA!!!

So proud of the Papa ... Stephen with our friend Bob Lynch!!!

6months home and the boys are baptized!!!

2010-05-17T09:20:00.013-04:00

May 14, 2010 marked 6 months home together as a family and what a DIFFERENCE 6 months makes!!! We feel like a family and the boys have adjusted AMAZINGLY well and you'd never know that we haven't always been together!!! The boys are having a great time exploring outside and enjoying the warmer weather ... we have started swim lessons to prepare for all the time we will be spending swimming this summer and they get a "kick" out of the pool and all the splashing and blowing bubbles they get to do each Sunday!!!

May 16, 2010 - the boys were baptized!!!

Roman and Maxim having a snack before the church

We invited immediate family and a few close friends to join us at Our Lady of the Rosary church in Poughkeepsie, NY as the boys were baptized into the Catholic faith. We asked Fr. Lamorte from Marist to officiate and it was a beautiful and personal ceremony!!!

While Stephen and I were in Russia for our second trip we collected some Russian snow and kept it in a bottle to use as the water poured over the boys head to signify their birth country and the new family they were now a part of! The boys did great ... they were very curious about the whole experience and neither of them cried as Fr. Lamorte poured the water over their head!!! Fr. Lamorte was the perfect choice for this blessing and sacrament ... he made it so personal for us as a family and did a blessing at the end for not only Roman and Max but for Mama and Papa as well who had waited so long for these special little boys to come into their lives and complete us as a family!!!

Listening intently to the scripture and history of baptism

Maxim being blessed with Russian snow - Godparents - Auntie Joanna & Uncle Richard

Roman with his Godparents - Auntie Sara & Uncle Josh!

Blessed boys with Godparents

The LIGHT has been lit!

After the baptism we headed back to the house for a cookout with everyone and a great afternoon of playing with cousins and visiting with family!!!

Wordless Wednesday.... May 12, 2010

2010-05-12T09:25:00.003-04:00

A quick word ... so many have asked ... YES, the sweaters are handmade ... courtesy of Grammy and the boys LOVE them!!!!

First Mother's Day ... May 9, 2010

2010-05-12T09:19:00.002-04:00

This was my first mother's day with Roman and Max and it was GREAT!!! It was a very relaxing day spent with my boys and Stephen. We didn't do a whole lot and that's how I think it should be! My mother's day actually started on Friday with "Muffins for Mom" at the boys daycare ... it was a nice kickoff to the weekend and each of them had made me a little present that I have proudly displayed at home!!! I also got a flower from Max and I will be planting that in our yard. Sunday dawned bright and early, but then every morning with 2 busy toddlers starts early in our house!!! The boys came in to our room with cards they purchased with Papa and then we had pancakes together downstairs and Stephen brough in my gift ... a new hammock!!! We headed off to swim lesson and then after a quick lunch we ALL took a nap ... talk about a LAZY sunday afternoon ... it was FANTASTIC.

Dinner was my choice ... so we headed to FIVE GUYS for some burgers and fries ... a real treat and then followed by some Cold Stone ice cream!!!! What a day and I'm happy to say the boys love ice cream as much as their Mama!!! I enjoyed my special day with my little men and the last thing Roman said after hugs and kisses and being tucked into bed was "Happy Mother's Day Mama" ... and it was!!!

pictures coming soon!!!!

Wordless Wednesday ... May 5, 2010

2010-05-06T12:15:00.007-04:00

Wordless Wednesday - April 28, 2010

2010-04-28T08:39:00.011-04:00

A few words this week but from Max and Roman!!

Check out their new shades!!

And a few our our furbabies :-)

Oh and remember the child who was petrified of the dogs ... NOT anymore!!!

Wordless Wednesday...(a day late)... April 21

2010-04-22T13:39:00.005-04:00

The decision to be parents or to be pregnant.....UPDATE

2010-04-15T15:47:00.002-04:00

April 19, 2009 .... UPDATE .... I started this post while I was sitting in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport on my way to Cabo San Lucas,Mexico for the weekend. I wanted to make sure it had the post date of April 15th to show support for future Russian adoptions and to show our successful story. Since I was posting on my blackberry I could only write so much ... but here is the rest of our story!!!

April 15, 2009 ... Our Russian adoption story:

Today families who have adopted from Russia have been asked to blog about their success.I want to be sure to show our support for all waiting families who are praying that Russia does not suspend adoptions for the USA.

Stephen and I first decided to stop infertility treatments and explore adoption on March 18, 2008 after our 2nd failed IVF attempt. We asked ourselves what we wanted more, to be parents or to be pregnant.... Parents was the answer we both said so it was off the infertility roller coaster and on to the adoption roller coaster that would hopefully end with us having children to love.

The ironic thing about our decision on March 18th is that Maxim, our youngest son was born the very next day ... March 19, 2008 ... they say everything happens for a reason and every adoption tale has some "weird" connection for parents and their children and this was just one of ours!!!

Once we returned from our Florida vacation on March 19, 2008 we found the information packet for Wide Horizon for Children in our mail! We were excited it had come while we were on vacation and we were quick to fill out of application and start the adoption process ... we attended our very first information meeting with WHFC at the end of March ... who knew one year later we would be making our first trip to Russia to meet the boys and accept our referral!!!

One of the best things about adoption for us was knowing that no matter how long it took ... the end of our journey would mean children for us... something no one could GUARANTEE with infertility!!! What a roller coaster ride our adoption journey was at times with explanations to employers, paperwork for NOT only WHFC but for Russia but in the end we are now a family of four ... six if you count Happy and Lucy and our lives have changed in ways we couldn't imagine before we met Roman and Maxim!!!

First Family Photo with Roman ... March 2009

First Family Photo with Maxim ... March 2009

A Family at Last ... November 11, 2009 ... first family photo leaving Baby Home #6!

Wordless Wednesday - April 14, 2010

2010-04-14T14:41:00.005-04:00

Sunny Days are a comin!

Wordless Wednesday -- Easter shots

2010-04-07T14:37:00.011-04:00

Happy Easter - April 4, 2009

2010-04-05T14:22:00.010-04:00

We celebrated our first Easter together this weekend!!! On Saturday night we colored eggs together to get ready for the Easter bunny and on Sunday morning you were both wide awake early so we headed down to see what the Easter bunny had left for each of you!!!

The we were off to Massachusetts to have dinner with Grammy and everyone up there!! You got to enjoy your first egg hunt and if the chants of "more" from Max were any indication you both had a great time and really enjoyed your first Easter!!!

One Year Later....

2010-04-05T13:49:00.012-04:00

Dear Roman and Maxim:

I know I'm a few days late with our 12 month letter but we have had a busy weekend celebrating our first Easter together and enjoying all that the Easter bunny brought you at home, at Grammy's in Massachusetts and from Grandma and Grandpa Pupek!!!

It's hard to believe that a year has already passed since Papa and I first met you in Russia and then left to come home to New York to complete paperwork that would allow us to return to Russia for trip 2 ... the trip where we would go to court and "officially" become your parents. We felt like your parents since we first got the call about you on March 5, 2009 but the 2nd trip would allow us to bring you home with us forever!!!

It's been an incredible year with LOTS of ups and a few downs and the most important thing is that you are now a part of our lives EVERY DAY and you continue to make us laugh, smile and shower us with all the love that two little boys can have for their Mama and Papa!!! You are also becoming great friends as well as brothers. You enjoy playing together and if the giggles coming from your room or the back seat of the car are any indication you crack each other up and just have fun together!!!

You continue to amaze us with all that you are learning and the new words you are able to say each day!!! Roman ... we recently found a dairy product you probably enjoyed in Russia "Kiefer" ... you LOVE LOVE this drink and we can tell from the smile on your face that you remember having it in the baby home ... so for you it's been a little taste of Russia brought to New York"! Maxim ... you are becoming such a big boy and very independent.... you have learned how to give hugs and kisses and you aren't stingy about sharing them with your brother Roman or with me and Papa!!! You enjoy playing outside More now that it is getting warmer and you just love "tasting" the outside ... you are always trying sticks, mulch and rocks!!!

I can't believe how fast this past year has gone and I'm so looking forward to exploring with you now that it's warmer out ... we are going to have so much fun this Spring and Summer and trying new things together!!!

Love,
Mama and Papa

Pictures from the past year ......

Roman referral picture - March 5, 2009

Maxim referral picture - March 5, 2009

Max and Mama - trip 1, March 28 - April 3, 2009

Roman with Mama and Papa - trip 1, March 28 - April 3, 2009

Brothers together - June 2009

Max - August 2009

Roman - August 2009

Brothers together on April 4, 2009 .... Easter Sunday!!!

Dancing Monkeys

2010-03-31T08:58:00.004-04:00

These two just LOVE LOVE to dance to any music ... this is a musical card Max got for his birthday .... they feel the music ... no matter where it comes from!!!

Now they are hitting the Elmo balloon that Max got for his birthday that sings "happy birthday from Elmo" ... again ... dancing to whatever music they hear..

Wordless Wednesday - March 31st

2010-03-31T08:48:00.007-04:00

Wordless Wednesday - Max turns 2

2010-03-24T09:55:00.015-04:00

A great weekend for a 2nd birthday party!

Cake made by my Mom ... it was an Elmo kind of day!!

Pappy Birfday to you!!!

2010-03-19T20:11:00.003-04:00

This is a big day in the Pupek house ... Maxim turns 2!!! When Max woke up this morning the floor in his bedroom was covered with balloons ... I guess when Max saw all the balloons on the floor he climbed out of bed because when I walked in he was sitting with all the balloons and having a great time!!!

I brought cupcakes to his class today and we celebrated turning 2 with all his friends and Roman got to join us for the party!

mmmmm.... GOOD!

Roman got to join the celebration fun!

For dinner we got to have a family dinner ... something we haven't been able to do all week since Papa has been working so many hours of overtime because of the storm a week ago down in the NYC/Westchester area!!

The book of choice before bed was "Curious George's Birthday Surprise"!!!

The birthday celebration continues this weekend with a family party on Sunday ... I'm sure there will be lots of presents and more cake and ice cream!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Maxim!!!

Wordless Wednesday - St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T08:31:00.012-04:00

Two little Russian Leprechauns say "Happy St. Patty's Day!!!"

Our favorite time of day .... BATH TIME!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-10T09:04:00.012-05:00

One Year Ago TODAY...

2010-03-05T10:36:00.008-05:00

Dear Roman and Maxim:

I waited til today to write our 11th month letter because today was a VERY BIG deal for me and Papa a year ago. Today, March 5th was the day that we got the call from WHFC that they had a referral for us .... I can still remember what that call was like and that once we spoke with Vica we got nothing done except to call friends and family and tell them about the two little boys we had been matched with!!!

I remember being in my office and meeting with my friend/colleague, Roberta when my cell phone rang ... it was Vica who was calling to tell me that she had a referral of two brothers and she EVEN had pictures she would be sending us!!! Getting pictures and even knowing anything about a referral in Russia is very rare so we were very blessed to know you were boys and to even know what your little faces looked like! I couldn't believe it!!! As soon as I got off the phone with Vica I called Papa ... he was at some job site ... I could hear the noise in the background so I asked if he could talk and he said in just a second he would be able to ... Papa went to sit in his car and I said "Are you ready for some good news ... IT'S BOYS ... just about to turn 1 and 2 years old"! Papa was very excited (secretly he wanted boys... so it was a VERY lucky day for him)!! There were just NO words to express how excited we were ... we had waited for this day for a LONG time and now it was here and we knew we had 2 boys!!!

Vica said she would be sending us some paperwork that day and she also had PICTURES... we would know what you looked like before we arrived in Russia!!! We couldn't wait and once we got the email with your little faces we knew who you were and we started sending them to Grammy, Auntie Sara, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Richard and Auntie Joanna! Everyone was SOOOOO excited to see who you were and couldn't wait to hear more about you!

It seems to surreal that just a year ago we were hearing about you for the first time and TODAY I was eating breakfast with you ... AMAZING!!! You continue to make us laugh and brighten our day each and every day we spend with you!!!

Roman ... you have become quiet the chatterbox these days and you are speaking in short sentences ... you make us laugh when you walk around chanting "GO MAMA... GO MAMA... GO MAMA" whenever I am doing something no matter how big or small the task is!

Maxim ... you are saying more and more words each day ... this morning, everything was "OK" with you ... and you laugh at just about everything and you LOVE LOVE music and just dance whenever you hear a song with a good beat!!!

A year ago today you were just two little faces in Russia that we couldn't wait to meet and today you were two little faces that greeted me with "Good Morning Mama!" ... what a year it has been!

We love you,
Mama and Papa

Roman's referral picture

Roman TODAY ... making faces for the camera

Maxim's referral picture

Maxim TODAY ... saying "cheese" ... look at all that hair!

Brothers Together Today .. hamming it up for the camera!

Wordless Wednesday - March 3, 2010

2010-03-02T19:31:00.011-05:00

Here are the pictures for this week! If you haven't heard New York was hit with a HUGE... I mean HUGE snow storm last Thursday - Saturday .... we lost our power for 3 days and finally got cable and internet back yesterday!!! Total snow fall for Newburgh,NY.... 2.5 feet!

ENJOY.....

Had to put one in of Papa since we haven't seen much of him since last Friday because of the storm and damage done down in Westchester County!!!

Looking up our driveway ... the house is somewhere at the top!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-24T08:04:00.012-05:00

Can you believe it's Wednesday AGAIN ....

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-16T19:10:00.015-05:00

Introduction: I follow a few blogs and one of the friends I have started doing a post on Wednesday's but just pictures no words ... I think it's a great idea so I'm going to try and do this each week ... to share past and present pictures of the boys because I know we have so many people out there who don't see them each week but really enjoy seeing pictures of how they are doing.

This week I'm going to do a theme of Then and Now!! I hope you enjoy what you see and I promise to try and keep this up each week or at least every other week!!!

Our first trip to Russia ... Remember the Martian Man??

Our first visit with Maxim on trip 1

Our first time together as a family on Trip 2 in October

Maxim and Mama on Trip 2

Roman and Papa on trip 2

Together FOREVER on November 11, 2009

And here are the boys today.....

Max's First Haircut

2010-02-14T16:59:00.009-05:00

Yesterday we all ventured to the mall to get our haircut!!! It was the first haircut for Max since he's been with us so we weren't too sure how it was going to go. We had Roman go first so Max could watch and then it was Max's turn. Alla (our hair stylist) gave Max a lollipop while she cut his hair so it actually went okay!!! She had a little fun when he was all done and styled his hair with some gel ... it won't look like this every day but for yesterday it was good!!!

The Before

Getting Started

Looking down

All done!!!

Roman and Max looking good!!

First Snow Ball Fight

2010-02-14T14:10:00.003-05:00

This video is from back in January when most of our snow had melted. As the boys were playing outside one day ... Max decided to begin a snowball fight with his brother .... it was very funny to watch!!!!

10 Month Letter & 3 Months Home!!!!

2010-02-11T13:22:00.004-05:00

Dear Roman and Max:

I'm a little late in writing your 10 month letter ... 8days actually BUT today is important day too ... it's been 3months since we came home together so I think today is a GREAT day to tell you about the past month!!!

January was a month of first for a lot of things. You started going to "school" for 1/2 days on January 11th. Max, your teacher's name is Miss Rory and Roman you have Miss Jillian and Miss Courtney. You are really enjoying going to school and we haven't had to many adjustment issues ... you seem to learn something new each day!!! You started going to school all day on January 18th and Mama came back to work on January 19th!!! It was quiet the change for all of us but we have gotten into a great routine in the morning with getting dressed, brushing our teeth and having breakfast before we head out the door together at 7:40am!!!! You are excited when we drive up to Pattycake Playhouse ... Roman you usually say "Go to school today" and recently you started adding .."Papa pick us up"!!! You are learning so many new words and your favorite song these days is "Pappy Birthday" ... you must sing this at school alot because you weren't too sure about the song at your birthday but now you know the whole song and LOVE to sing it and read about Curious George's birthday party at night with Papa!!! Max ... you love to go to school, especially since they let you have breakfast when you get there ... you are a big fan of Cheerios!!! You also started working with your speech therapist, Cathy, and you are saying new words each day. Right now you say ..."baby, Lucy, Pappy(happy), NO (this is your favorite) book, juice and so many more ... you will begin talking sentences before we know it!!!

The other first for this month was all the sickness we had!!! It got so bad between the two of you and Mama that we had to call Grammy for reinforcements and she came to stay with us for a week so we could all get better! Max, you started our sickness with a fever and cold but you were better by Monday and back to school. Roman, you and Mama got sick that weekend with fevers and you had strep and the CROUP!!!! Mama and Papa thought you should stay home for the week so we called Grammy to see if she could stay with you while we went back to work, well Papa went back to work but Mama got sick and stayed home with you and Grammy!!! You had a great time with Grammy ... you got to hang out with her every day!!!

We also had our "first" playdate with another little boy from Ekat, Colby ... he and his Mom, Melissa came out in early January to meet you and for you too play together! Colby and Roman are almost the same age but all 3 of you had a great time playing and thanks to Colby ... you now realize that Papa had a broken lawn tractor on the side of the house and the two of you like to go and sit on it when you play outside!!!! We were supposed to get together at the end of the month again with Colby and two other little boys from Russia but since we were all sick we decided to stay home and not share our germs!!! Hopefully, we will plan another playdate soon and you can meet Sean and Nicholas!

You had your first snow day from school yesterday ... well actually Mama did ... they closed Marist for the day so we all got to stay home together and enjoy a day off from work and school ... even Papa ... well he worked from home but he was still with us!!!

We've had a pretty busy month but most importantly ... WE'VE BEEN HOME 12 WEEKS TOGETHER!!! You are both adjusting very well ... you are so excited about Happy and Lucy.... hard to believe you were scared to death of them when we first came home!!! You love to try new foods... pizza, salad and brocolli are some of your favorites right now ... and fruit!!! Max, your favorite toy is usually ELMO, although you love your cars too!!! Roman, you love to ride your train around the house and you love your cell phone ... I think you take after your Papa with this!!! You both love to read books at night with Mama and Papa and you are sleeping so much better and usually all night, which Mama can't THANK YOU enough for!!!

This Friday, February 12th is our second Post Placement visit with WHFC. We've come along way since the first time she came to visit in December ... I think she will be very surprised to see how well we are doing!!!

Here's a few pictures of our last month!!!

Love, Mama & Papa

2 Months since we left the baby home as a family

2010-01-11T15:21:00.004-05:00

Hard to believe but 2 months ago today we drove to Baby Home #6 for the last time and when we left we walked out the door with Roman and Maxim!!! What a difference 2 months can make! The boys are doing great and today was their first day of "school" aka, daycare! They are only going for 1/2 days this week and when we dropped them off this morning they were excited and we saw smiling faces when we walked out the door. We picked them up just before lunch and both boys were having a great time! Max did his first "art" project for Mama and Papa ... we have a 4 sided pyramid with 2 hand imprints and 2 feet imprints. Roman was enjoying story time when we walked into his room and has already asked to go back tomorrow!!! I think they are going to adjust well and really enjoy playing with all their new friends!

2 months ... who can believe that these cute little faces have been 100% ours for such a short time!!!

The Birthday Boy

2010-01-03T10:19:00.007-05:00

Look who is turning 3 today!!!

I don't think it really means much to Roman that today is his birtday but we planned a little birthday celebration for today with his favorite things! PIZZA for dinner and cupcakes for dessert!!! We sang "Happy Birthday" as loud as we could to celebrate year number 3 for our little guy!!!

Happy Birthday Roman ... Papa and I hope this is a great year with lots of new experiences and reasons to celebrate!

We love you!!!

9 month letter

2010-01-03T10:05:00.003-05:00

Nine months can you believe it ... it's been nine months since we first met Roman and Maxim in Russia and then had to leave them there and return back to the states and begin our next round of paperwork ... 9 months and SO much has happened in our lives and family!!!

Dear Roman and Max:

9 months ago today Papa and I were getting on a plane in Yekaterinburg to return back to the United States... leaving you was the biggest LOW of our first trip to Russia ... of course the biggest high was meeting you and seeing your beautiful faces and knowing you would be our sons and one day soon we would be coming back to bring you home with us!!!

So what has happened in the past 9 months ...

* we finished our next round of paperwork and heard from the judge at the end of August on what he needed updated.
* we completed the updates and had them to the judge by his deadline of September 18th!!!
* we got our "tentative" court date in September of October 30th
* we boarded a plane on October 24th to return to Russia for court and most importantly to bring you home!
* we went to court on October 30th and "finalized" your adoption to make you our sons!
* we picked you up on November 11th from the baby home and began the trip home
* after 3 days in Moscow we boarded Delta airline on November 14th and flew home to New York!!!

That is just a quick synopsis of October and November! We have been home with you for almost 2 months and since coming home you have both adjusted very well to being with your new family! You have met so many people who have been waiting along time to see your cute little faces!!! You celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and rang in the New Year!!! Roman today marks your third birthday (that's another post) and you are beginning to learn English! We are enjoying each day with you and each day you show us a new side of your personality!!!

You are the best little boys in the world and 9 months ago we couldn't wait to bring you home and now you are home with us and we are beginning our life as a family!!!

We love you!

Mama and Papa

Christmas 2009

2009-12-29T14:28:00.012-05:00

Ready for Church

Opening our Christmas Eve present

PAJAMAS!!!!

My Ride on Truck

A very happy Lucy with her present

Playing with cousin Aiden

Our first Christmas with the boys and our first Christmas together as a family!!! Roman and Maxim had a great day and even though we think they were over stimulated at times they really enjoyed the new ride on train and truck they each got and their new Christmas pajamas!!!

This year we stayed in New York for Christmas .. we decided not to travel the 3hours to Massachusetts on Christmas day so for Christmas Eve we went to mass on the Marist campus and then came home for dinner and our traditional Christmas Eve present of new pajamas!! The boys were in bed at the usual time but you would have thought they knew Santa was coming when they were up and ready to go at 5:30am!!! We got them back to sleep and they slept "in" til 7:30am!!! The boys each got a new ride on/push toy ... not sure that Happy and Lucy are excited about the toy but Roman and Max seem to really enjoy them. They also each got to open a present .. Max got a remote control car and Roman got a toy vacuum!!!

We spent the late afternoon/early evening at Stephen's sisters with her family and Stephen's parents and brother. The boys had a great time there playing with their cousin Aiden and opening a few more presents!!!

We will be heading to Massachusetts on December 31st to celebrate Christmas and New Years with the Nadeau side of the family! We can't wait ... it should be a lot of fun!!!

Highlights from December

2009-12-29T14:00:00.016-05:00

Well ... the month of December is quickly coming to an end ... it's been a busy month for the Pupek boys with lots of new things to see and do! Here are just a few highlights:

- First snow fall ... we got our first winter storm in early December and the boys had a blast .. they even got to go outside and build a snowman with Papa!

- First road trip to Massachusets ... the boys and I went up to visit Grammy and Auntie Sara December 18 - 20th ... they even got to shop at Patriots Place!!! We all had a great time and Roman and Max got to meet their cousin Billy and Uncle Josh! Billy was a big hit and the boys really like to play with him and well ... Billy is excited to have two new boy cousins!

Helping Grammy sew their winter hats!

- First time baking Christmas cookies ... just before Christmas the boys and I made gingerbread men ... it was fun but I had to "fire" Roman half way through ... I think he was licking the M & M's before putting them on the cookies!!!

- First haircut in the states for Roman ... Roman got his haircut just before Christmas! The woman who cuts his hair is from Russia and she was able to talk with Roman ... although he became very shy and wouldn't say much ... he looked so cute getting his hair cut!!!

- First ride on Papa's new tractor!

-First time having popcorn as a snack!! (this is Mama's favorite snack and also Lucy and Happy's)!!!

The biggest first was our very FIRST Christmas together as a family but that deserves it's own post ... coming soon!!!

Enjoy!!

Home a Month

2009-12-13T20:14:00.009-05:00

Tomorrow, December 14th will mark our being home with the boys for one month ... at times it has gone quickly and at times it seems like it's been FOREVER!!! I have been so busy with the boys that I completely missed December 3 and writing an 8 month letter for them ... I'll make up for it with a Christmas letter.

The boys are doing really well and enjoy playing and being together! Tonight as I was checking email I could hear these giggles coming from their room so I decided to go in and sneak a peak ... well apparently Roman was standing on his bed and jumping up to land on his butt and Max was standing in the rocking chair at the end of Roman's bed just laughing his head off at his brother!!! I thought it was very cute and had Stephen sneak up so he could see what they were up too! We get to hear their giggles very often because their other favorite passtime at night is chasing one another up and down the hallway upstairs and giggleing at each other! Oh and they also LOVE to empty the laundry basket in our bedroom and push each other up and down the hallway ... they do this several times a day ... especially when Mama dares to try and take a shower!

Roman has really adjusted to the dogs ... he's lovin Lucy and Happy and even lets them sleep on his bed and gives them kisses all the time!

Check this out ... Lucy and Roman playing in the snow!

Roman is beginning to learn some English words and phrases ... the first thing he said was "knock it off" ... guess I say that a lot ...mostly to the two dogs when they are wrestling in the house! He's also turned into quiet the doorman for Lucy and Happy ... he is willing to open the slider when ever they want to go out or come in! He also LOVES ... I mean LOVES to brush his teeth ... he asks to "brush our teeth" at several points in the day ... it may be the electric toothbrush like we have that is the reason but at least he'll have some pearly whites!

Max is adjusting pretty well also ... he is a MONSTER eater ... pretty much eats anything you put in front of him ... although he's NOT a fan of brocolli or carrots but most anything else he'll eat it up! He also loved to brush his teeth and is a little curious about what he sees on TV! He also sat on Santa's lap ... Roman wanted NOTHING to do with Santa but Max had no problem sitting with the man in red!!!

So in the month they have been home they have been to the pediatrician, gone to have blood drawn, been to the store several times, been to Marist to visit new friends who have been waiting for them to arrive, enjoyed our first winter storm and our first snow day, and today we went to get our Christmas tree! They seem to be adjusting very well and are not shy with kisses and know who Mama and Papa are and even talk with Grammy and Auntie Sara on the phone each week!!! They like to ride in the car and when they went to Auntie Joanna's today Roman did okay with her 3 dogs .... I'd call that progress!!! It's been a busy, hectic, overwhelming, crazy month but we all seem to be doing well and are now getting ready for the boys FIRST Christmas and New Year's!!!

A few pictures from the last month:

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds with Mama

Building a snowman with Papa

Getting in the holiday spirit

creative cup holder

laundry basket races!

First Week at Home

2009-11-23T13:52:00.009-05:00

Well... we've been home for a week now and I know many people have been looking for updates and want to know how it's going.... all I can say is IT'S GOING ... it's been a little crazy and each one of us has/is having adjustment issues but each day gets better and at this point that's all we can hope for! Many of the blogs I read talk about everything being great and fantastic and kids adjusting and attaching quickly ... I'm not sure if I would say our first week has been fantastic but the boys are doing as well as can be expected after having been home for only a week and Stephen and I are learing to function with little to no sleep some days and we are getting to know one another and beginning to be a family.

Some low points of the week:
- Stephen had to return to work on the Monday after we got home
- the boys are NOT sleeping for long periods of time and are often awake and ready to go at 4am!
- Roman screams and cries any time he has to go nap or go to bed
- Roman being terrified of our 2 dogs and screaming any time they come near him

Some high points of the week
- hearing the boys giggle through out the house
- hugs and kisses from Roman and Max
- they boys playing together
- Roman learning to like Happy and Lucy and not cry or scream when they are in the room.
- taking the boys for a walk in the double stroller

A few pictures from our first week:

Playing with Papa

brothers together

look who can climb the stairs

playing in the yard together

look who is patting Lucy!

watching football with Mama and rooting for the best team EVER!!!

I would say the first week at home has been rough ... I'm not sure what I expected but the reality was VERY different than anything I could have imagined!! However, each day is getting better ... we are getting used to each other and becoming a family and getting into a routine together ... now if we could only get them to sleep just a little longer in the mornings ... I know, I know ... welcome to motherhood!!!

Gotcha Day ReCap

2009-11-13T04:03:00.006-05:00

At this point we are in Moscow with the boys and spending time playing with them and getting to know them. Since we picked them up at the baby home they have both REALLY come out of their shells and we are seeing their personalities in FULL bloom!!

After running around with Svetlana for some last minute paperwork and picking up the boys passports we headed out to the baby home and arrived at 5pm!! We went into one of the little rooms where we have been playing for the last few weeks and got the boys clothes and shoes out and got ready for them. Roman came in first and the minute he saw us he started undressing from his shorts and t-shirt and started putting on his new clothes. Max came in next and it was pretty much the same ... we got them dressed and then said a final good-bye to the boys caretakers and headed off to the airport.

Both boys did great in the car and neither got sick (I was a little worried about this)! We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare .... 4hours with 2 small toddlers ... luckily Svetlana got us signed into the nursery room and the boys were able to play with toys for about 2hours of the wait. I think we may have a new Russian nanny coming one day soon!!! The woman who ran the room wants to come to America and be a nanny or babysit so she gave me her number in Yekateriburg ... oh and she asked for ours!!!!

Once we got on the play at 10:10pm ... they boys did great ... Roman chatted the whole way and Max pretty much slept!!! The nicest surprise of the trip ... it appears Roman is potty trained because he tells us when he has to go ... even on the airplane and he gets very upset if we don't get what he's saying ... we are teaching him to say "potty" but the look on his face is usually the biggest clue!!!

So today we are in Moscow ... keeping 2 boys occupied in the hotel room when we aren't out sightseeing and later today we are going to the Embassy and tomorrow at noon we are headed home ... HOME ... we can't wait to get there and get the boys settled in!!!!

Saying Good-bye

Waking up in the hotel and waiting for the doctor to come!

Gotcha Day - November 11, 2009

2009-11-10T23:17:00.003-05:00

This is the day ... it's finally here ... the day we will become a family of four and be together FOREVER!!!

In the adoption world the day you actually "get" your child is known as "Gotcha Day" and a day that we will celebrate going forward as the day we became a family!!! Some people don't really like the term "Gotcha" but my friend Laura has it on her blog as "God Ordanined This Child Happy Adoption Day" ... and I think that is fitting so we will keep it!!!

We don't have alot to do this morning except pack and be ready for Svetlana to pick us up at 2:30pm. Tuesday was the paperwork day ... we went to one family office to get the boys adoption certificates that list us as their parents and then we drove across the city to another office to get their new birth certificates with their new names and listing us as their parents!!! The family offices were very interesting ... there is no line system so people just come in the door and look at the people and say "who is last in line" ... people kept looking at me so I would point out the last person who had come in!! The other interesting thing is that ALL offices and place close from 1pm - 2pm for lunch so at 1pm the woman behind the closed door comes out and tells everyone to leave EXCEPT for the americans!!! It was a little nuts at this point because some people were upset they had been waiting and now needed to come back!!! We got everything done and then Svetlana went to get requests their passports ... we pick those up at 3pm today!!

Once we have the passports at 3pm we then head to the baby home and get Roman and Max and then it's off to the Yekaterinburg airport and our flight tonight at 10:10pm to Moscow!!!

I'm sure today will have many highs for us but also a few lows for the boys as we take them from the only home and staff they have known ... I'm sure there will also be a few lows for the staff as they say good-bye to the children they have cared for ... we can't thank them enough for all the love and attention they've given our boys!!!

It's going to be a whirlwind of a day!!!

Snow Day ... Russian Style

2009-11-09T04:35:00.008-05:00

It's snowing today and let me just share with you what an experience it is to be in Yeakterinburg when it snows!!! Stephen was "kind" enough to let me ride up front today in the car as we made our way to the baby home. Now, I have driven in snow my entire life ... I've lived in Colorado and experienced snow storms there ... I have even driven over a 14,000ft mountain pass in a freak spring snow storm ...head out the window to see the edge of the mountain and all that and NOTHING has ever prepared me to drive in snow like this!!! I have no idea how Svetlana is able to navigate these roads and highways but thankfully she does and make it from point A to point B with little trouble ... although I have to admit I think I may have left my fingers permanently glued to her door at one point!!! Check it out and let me know what YOU think ... definitely a good day to stay home in pj's with hot chocolate and a movie!!

the road outside our apartment

traffic outside on a snowy day

Getting ready to head back to the city ... snow is a fallin

We did spend about a 45minutes with the boys today. THIS IS OUR LAST DAY VISITING. We will not go out on Tuesday because we have to run around and do paperwork for them so we can all leave on Wednesday.... Wednesday is the BIG day ... we will go to the baby home in the afternoon and we will all leave TOGETHER ... A FAMILY AT LAST!!!

Pictures from today!!!

Silly Boy!!!

Look at ALL these toys!!!

Silly boys

2009-11-06T05:14:00.006-05:00

Today as we were waiting for Roman and Max to come to the room for our visit we could hear Roman walking down the hall talking to his caregiver ... he was saying over and over .."Mama and Papa, Mama and Papa"! He is becomng very familiar with us and today we got to see a little of his "wild" side after Stephen got him all hyped up while playing. He wanted to give Stephen a toy so he said "DadDy and then DaDa" to get his attention.

Max continues to be "quiet serious" but we know it's a matter of time before he cracks and we see him smiling and laughing!!! We won't see them this weekend so Monday is our last "visit" with them since Tuesday we will be working with Svetlana to gather all the paperwork to leave and the embassy and then Wednesday when we go to see them they will be leaving with us!!!

Check out our silly monsters!!!

batsaloy mishka ... hugs and kisses for the bears

just a little crazy at the end of our visit!

They gave us mask to wear but the director told us we didn't need to put them on unless someone came into the room ... WHAT ... ok, whatever ... but I think it's ironic they want us to have masks NOW ... now when we are both better and not sick...oh well ... only 1 more day for visiting and then they come with us for good!!!

5 years ago today....

2009-11-06T04:45:00.007-05:00

I got to marry an amazing man, my best friend.. who has made every dream I ever had and some I didn't even know I had, come true. It's been a LONG road to make this final dream of becoming parents come true ... but we did it and we did it together!

I love you Stephen and can't wait for the next part of this journey as we take it with Roman and Max!!!

getting ready ... see the veil in the background

introducing Mr. and Mrs. Pupek (ring bearer and flower girl too!)

cutting the cake... "I want to grow old with you"!

And here we are today ... 5 years later with our newest additions!!! Just gotta love the path that life leads you down!

A day of massages and music

2009-11-05T03:38:00.009-05:00

Ha ... most of you probably read that title and thought .."WHAT.. Christine is getting a massage in Russia"? Well... I wish that were true but it was actually Mr. Roman who got the massage!!! When we got to the baby home this morning for our visit Svetlana said they would be bringing Max but that Roman was scheduled for his massage ... apparently they get massages at the baby home for circulation and health! Since we were there they brought him to play .. he was NOT a happy camper but if you took me out of line while I was waiting my turn for a massage I wouldn't be happy either!!! When his turn came ... they came to get him and after his massage they brought him back and he was in a much better mood! I mentioned this to Stephen on the way home and he said "well you are usually in a better mood after you get a massage so stands to reason he would be" ... was that Stephen's way of telling me to get more massages ....hmmm I'll have to think about that!!! The best part was when he was walking to get his massage the woman asked him what he was doing and he clearly told her "Mama and Papa" .. yay he knows who we are!!!

Max was his usual curious self today ... it was nice to play with him for a few minutes by himself ... we don't usually get to do that since he comes in 2nd and is always the first to leave. He was having a good time with Stephen's cell phone and really liked listening to the music ... that's why the cell phone is up to his ear in the picture below ... he's listening to the music!!! He is so cute how he comes in the room and then scootches himself into one of our laps ... what a cuddly little monkey ... I can't wait to get him home and just watch him blossom!!!

Oh and before we left the director brought in the 2 cameras we left for each of the boys back in March ... not sure how many pictures they took but it's GREAT we got them back and give us hope that we will get the picture albums, stuffed dogs and other toys and clothes we have sent!!! We shall see.... I hope we do just because those things will have the smell of the baby home and since that scent is familiar to the boys it should help on the plane and while we are in Moscow... fingers crossed!

Pictures from the day!!!

Roman getting his massage

Max listening to music on Papa's cell phone

Roman and Mama

Max and Papa

7 month letter from Russia

2009-11-04T02:02:00.004-05:00

Yikes .. in all the excitement of seeing the boys and getting to post pictures of them I totally forgot that November 3rd was time for our 7 month letter! I am thrilled to be able to write this months letter while we are in Russia with them and knowing that yesterday, November 3rd we got to see them!!!! So here's what we have 7months after our first trip to Russia to meet Roman and Max and accept our referral for them to be our sons.

Dear Roman and Max,

November 3, 2009 ... we have COMPLETED our court date and officially become your parents as of Friday, October 30th! Your Papa and I were very excited to hear the judge announce that from this day forward you would be officially known as Roman Robert Pupek and Maxim Vincent Pupek and that we would be known as your parents in every way!!! It was a day we looked forward to over the last 7 months and the day we worked so hard to get to ... the day you would officially be ours forever and be coming home with us!!!

Papa and I have been here for over a week and most of that time has been spent with you and getting to know you and you getting to know us! We are having a great time playing with you and it seems you are really enjoying all the toys we bring to you!

Roman - you are the curious one of our bunch ... you like to explore what we have and this week you have begun to play with things that aren't "toys" but are fun to have anyway ... you were really interested in Mama's chapstick on Monday and Tuesday you were all about having Papa's cellphone and wearing it around on your belt like he does. You are a chatterbox! We aren't sure if you are always saying words but you do talk up a storm and you are beginning to repeat words we say in English! You love to play with the shape puzzel and have gotten very good at putting it together! You are also good at sharing the toy cars with Maxim... when he comes into the room you immediately go up to him and give him a car ... you are a good brother!!! You are also beginning to smile and giggle with us ... you like to laugh at Mama when she does crazy things .. that's good because Mama is always doing something crazy at home so you'll be laughing LOTS!!! At the end of each visit you give lots of hugs and kisses ... nice big HUGS ... and say "dysvidania" and wave as you walk out the door ... always knowing we will be back tomorrow or the next day!!!

Maxim - you are still are quiet observer! You are very funn with your "little old man walk" ... you love to come into the room and look at the toys and you have been going to find the animal puzzle and you like to play with that. If you love that puzzle you are going to love your room because we have lots of jungle animals in there just waiting for you!!! You haven't said anything since we started to visit with you but you keep watching us and looking at everything that goes on so we know one day you will share your voice with us. Not to worry though Papa says he was the same way when he was your age and now Mama can't get him to be quiet ... he's a huge talker ...epecially in the early morning when Mama is still asleep!!! Yesterday we were able to get a little smile out of you so we know you are having a good time with us and we know once we get home you are going to just open up and show us who you really are!!!

We are having so much fun with you boys and can't wait until November 11th when we will come to the baby home one final time to see you and when we leave we will all leave together ... FOREVER A FAMILY!!! There are so many people at home waiting to meet you and counting the days until we arrive at JFK and they can see your cute little faces!!!

We love you,
Mama and Papa

Together AT LAST!!!!

Papa's Cellphone

2009-11-03T04:44:00.008-05:00

Our visit today went VERY well! Both boys come into the room excited to see us and Roman always has a big smile on his face!!! He was very excited about the new toys but his favorite toy today was Papa's blackberry! He was busy typing on it and carrying it around with him! When he noticed that Stephen wears it on his belt ..well then he wanted Stephen to help him put it on his pants as well! We got a giggle out of Max today and a hint of a smile!!! The pajamas he has on today are ones we sent in June so at least we know his clothes will fit! People have asked why Roman is always in shorts .. the baby home is VERY hot so alot of the kids are in shorts ... not sure why Max isn't but he's always bundled up .. usually with tights under his pants and a onesie under his t-shirt ... I think he has an extra 5lbs in bulk just from his clothes!!!

A few shots from today!!!

Fun with Papa

Mr. Giggle Pants

Don't mess with me ... I have parents!!

The funny story we heard today at the baby home was that Max got into a "little row" with 2 other children in his grupa... not sure if this is really true but the told us that Max was the "bully" and it's because he now has parents ... really... but he's just 18months old and I'm not sure how much of this he understands!!! He's always so gentle and good when he's with us .... time will tell but he is coming up on the terrible two's!!!

Brothers

2009-11-02T06:31:00.005-05:00

Today we journeyed out to baby home #6 for our visit with Max and Roman. We had a great time and the boys seemed to remember who we were even though we didn't see them for 3 days!!! Roman has LOTS of fun going through the toy bag we bring but since we had already emptied he went through the side pockets and found my chapstick, hand sanitizer, gum and tissues. I was able to get all but the chapstick away so the chapstick became the toy OF THE DAY ... I think he enjoyed putting the cap on and off. Tomorrow I will make sure all the goodies are out of the bag!!! Here are the brothers hanging out together!!!

We then spent the afternoon driving around with Svetlana as she delivered paperwork for us and another family who will be arriving in a few weeks to adopt 3 children! It beat sitting in the apartment all afternoon and she's always a hoot to spend time with. Our reward for being such good helpers was a little taste of home ....

Only 9 days to go until we pick up the boys and head to Moscow!!!

First Weekend in Yekaterinburg

2009-11-01T07:38:00.011-05:00

This is our first full weekend here and we spent most of the weekend exploring the sights around the city! First thing first... it's COLD here ... and not just a little COLD but cold like January is in New York.... on Saturday we walked down to Cathedral of Blood .. this is where the czar and his family were killed and then they built a cathedral on the sight. We got to see a wedding party in front taking pictures! On our way back to the apartment we walked through a street fair .. kind of like a farmers market ...lots of produce,eggs and fish and I mean FISH ... like whole fish and the sellers had scales that they would weigh your products on!! There were also sweaters, scarves and a collection of winter items for sale (boots, hats, mittens) it was very cool!

Today,Sunday, we walked down to the Park Inn. We were looking for a toy store that another family had found when they were here in April/May but no luck! We did stop in to the Park Inn for lunch .. they have an english menu and the food is pretty good so for a taste of home we had burgers and fries! Our walk back to the apartment included a stop by the Greenwich .. this is the large supermarket down the street from our apartment ... seems like we are there every other day and today we stopped for some water (we buy this in bulk since we drink ALOT of water and you can't drink for the tap) we also got some chicken and lettuce!! You have to pay for the bags and I guess the checker didn't understand we wanted one bag so it was NO BAG FOR US so while Stephen carried the water I carried the lettuce and chickne!! Oh and it was snowing so it make the walk more fun!!!

Here are some pictures of our sights over the last few days!

This is our apartment building ... we are on the 3rd floor!

Cathedral of Blood

Our Sunday in the Snow!!

Last ... the market we go to daily ... it's in a mall!!!

Pupek ... Family of FOUR!!!

2009-10-30T03:08:00.007-04:00

Court was this morning at 9am and at 11:09am we were officially named the parents of Roman and Maxim! Court was something ... really can't describe unless you've been through the experience but the end result after 18months is that we have finally realized our dream of being parents!!! After court we had lunch with Svetlana, Helen and the social worker who went with us! On November 11th we will pick the boys up and head to Moscow for the Embassy paper work and then it's off to New York!!!

A few pictures from our preparations and then court!

Stephen preparing for court

After court in front of the court house ... we are PARENTS!!!

With Svetlana outside the court house!

And now for the pictures you have all been waiting for!!!

Introducing.....

Roman Robert Pupek- 2 1/2 years old

Maxim Vincent Pupek - 18 months old

We will post more pictures soon of the last few days but at long last here they are!!! We are so excited and can't wait for the rest of this journey as new parents!!!

Thoughts from today

2009-10-28T09:49:00.004-04:00

Today was day 3 with the boys...it's getting easier and easier for them to be with us..I think. The first day both boys came in and were fine, played and we had about 25 minutes with them.. Max was sleepy and it seemed that Roman remembered Stephen's watch from our first vist. Yesterday was tougher .. Max was still a little sleepy and confused and Roman was plain scared!!! He came into the room and took one look at us and started to cry .. he didn't want much to do with us, well until he saw the books and puzzles and then he warmed up some. Max is still confused but is okay to be picked up and cuddled and will play with the toys after some time. Today, Roman came into the room and was excited to see us and went right for his puzzles! Max was a little more scared, cried but again was okay when I picked him up. He's more aprehensive of Stephen but will go to him eventually. Today's visit was short and tomorrow when we vist the social worker will be coming with us to "observe" us as a family and see how we are all getting along. NO PRESSURE THERE!!

I was a little nervous about our visit yesterday ... I think there is so much going on for these two little guys and in a few weeks what will be very exciting for us is going to be DAMN scary for them. I know they will adjust but I just worry about there feelings and what they think is going on. I just keep thinking of my friend Amy's words of wisdom to just get them home and then we can begin to bond and adjust as a family... it breaks my heart to see them cry and looking so scared and we will do all we can to help them and have them feel safe with us.

Here's a picture of some Yekaterinburg snow ... I'm going to bring it home to hopefully use when we baptize them!

And here's one from our day with them today ... you can't really see their cute faces but you can see how big they have gotten!