Social Security Number

Katerina and I went to our local Social Security Administration Office today. When our number was called, I carried Katerina up and calmly said, "this young lady would like to get a social security card." I also did not feel comfortable putting her Certificate of Citizenship in the mail. By going in person, I got it all back after the person assisting us finished entering the data.

I know the certificate of citizenship is the important thing. But, I still feel like having the SSN is so important. In my eyes, it takes citizenship to a higher level of proof. As if it is the absolute proof of Katerina being an American.

I know it is probably crazy but that is how I view it. In a couple of weeks, she will have a SSN and a SS Card. :)

Certificate of Citizenship

We just got Katerina's certificate of citizenship in the mail!!! Now there is more to her citizenship than just a stamp in her Russian passport. Woo Hoo!!! Looks like tonight I will be working on getting her a social security number and starting the process for her first American passport. The finishing touches on her citizenship.

Also, the certificate says it is punishable by US Law to copy, print or photograph the certificate so I will not do so. But this raises a question in my legal mind. Specifically would a scan be considered a photograph because it is clearly not a copy nor a print. I prefer to scan such documents so I do not completely lose them in case of emergency (flood, fire, etc). Oh well this one will be one of a kind with no back up in my possession.

Food to Mouth

Katerina also just began putting foods in her mouth on her own. Strawberry yogurt treats from Kelly's hands to Katerina's to Katerina's mouth. "Boy they grow up so fast" to quote Kelly. :)

She has been getting some adult foods the past few days but we had to put them in her mouth. She likes ice cream but LOVES nutter butters. She also likes bananas and grapes without the skin.

Clap Hands

She cannot say clap hands but understands what it means. When we say clap hands, in a similar tone to Adam Sandler in Waterboy, she claps her hands. It is cute.

UP - First English Word

While Katerina has made sounds resembling mama which is how they say mother/mom in Russia, she said her first obviously English word a few days ago. And surprisingly it was the word "up." Only surprising because we expected it be some form of mom or dad. Although she came to us nearly saying mama. We are just not sure we has put mama together with Kelly. While with the word up she has put together what happens when she says up.

It is not a complete shock though because whenever we pick her up we say up. And when I lift her above my head, which I do a lot, I say up. So it is the word she probably hears most other than some form of mom/mommy/mama.

It was cute though. "UP"

Updates

Katerina is crawling like crazy now, speeding around the house on her hands and knees when we put her down. For a brief few seconds tonight she stood on her own before crashing down on the bed. What I call "booms." Her hair is continuing to grow in quickly since we got home.

We have been taking her outside although usually in the car as we have places to go. She is getting used to the car.

Kelly went back to work this weekend so the tough starts for me tomorrow. As I will be the stay at home parent as well as trying to squeeze two hours a day of work into the schedule. Will be early to bed nights for me now. And preparing cases whenever I get a chance.

WEll a few minutes to read before bed now that Katerina is finally sleeping. Good night folks.

Cranky Little KaterinaTonight

Been awhile since I posted. I am tired often now so not posting as much (which is obvious). But I figured tonight was as good a night as any with Katerina crying in her crib right now. She just does not want to go to sleep this evening. On the positive side it means I will be able to sleep longer tomorrow morning as long as this is not an all night thing.

Tonight is Katerina's 30th night home and there have been two nights where she was up much of the night. We chalk it up to teething but that is just a best guess. Hopefully tonight does not become night 3 out of 30.

7 year old flight to Moscow

What kind of idiot sends a 7 year old on a trans-Atlantic flight alone? Irrelevant of any issues the 7 year old may or may not have had (I would think nothing that couldn't have been expected for a 7 year old who has been in an orphanage most of his life), who would do that to a child?

Our thoughts are with our friends who just received their referral and are worried Russia may shut down to American parents before they can finish their process. I hope this is just tough talk by politicians. To let a few bad apples pose such a problem to the significant majority of adoptive parents is sad. I think I read that about 1600 children were adopted last year. No child deserves to be treated this way or worse but the percentage is barely 1/10 of a percent.

So in closing, I think the mother and her mother should both be punished criminally for what they did. And I hope to God that Russia keeps their doors open for our friends and every other family in their position: that it is just politicians talking tough. Especially when one considers today's article stated there were currently around 740,000 children waiting to be adopted in Russia.

A few pictures of Katerina

Katerina in Grampa's hat.
Katerina dressed up for her first day out in the USA.

Birthday party

Because Katerina was just barely past her first birthday when we got home, Kelly and I decided to have a small birthday party for her so that we could have pictures of her first birthday party for her scrap book and her memories. Had she been closer to 2 years old, we would not have done this. It was late and she was a bit cranky but we got some pictures as did our friends who came over with their two children. One of whom, nearly 3 year old, was so anxious to meet Katerina. She had been talking about Katerina, weeks before we brought her home.

Clinging

Katerina has only been introduced to a few non family members thus far. Our closest friends here in town and Kelly's staff. I was happy yesterday when she met Kelly's staff because she was quite clingy to Kelly and me. She has been very social when seeing people in the few stores we have been in with her as well as with all her grandparents. But at the office, she just clung to me. Hugged me in the shy somewhat uncertain type of position for awhile. And when they came near her she just buried her head in my shoulder for a little while. Made Kelly and I feel good that Katerina understands who we are - her caregivers and protectors. Better put her parents!!!

Thoughts about Katerina

It has been some time since I posted a real post (the one a few minutes ago does not count). Now that we have been home for 2 and a 1/2 weeks we have seen certain things and come to certain thoughts about the orphanage and Katerina's time in Moscow.

First, we still thank the orphanage a ton as it appears Katerina was a favorite there. That being said, we were told she was crawling and nearly walking. We have a tough time seeing this as Katerina just started crawling in the past couple of days. She is cruising along now when she wants something but still prefers to be carried. We usually give in :). She is, just as she was there, standing with the help of either Kelly and I or stationary objects.

We have also seen significant growth in small things since she has been home and eating the recommended amounts of food (based on the book..."What to expect * Toddler Years"). Her hair has grown in quickly and is much thicker now than it was 3 weeks ago. And her stomach is round like a baby's should be rather than not being round when we got her. Once again, this is not a knock on the baby home as we are grateful for all they did for Katerina in her 13 months there. But these are noticeable differences we have seen in just the nearly 3 weeks we have been home.

Tough bed time

Katerina cried loudly and heavily this evening for about 2 hours after we put her to bed. We of course would go in after 5 or 10 minutes and hold her and change her diaper but otherwise, after going through our mental checklist of things that could be wrong, we got nowhere. We gave her some food and hoped for the best. She finally fell asleep. The crying was tough to take. I hate not knowing the answers especially after trying everything.

Sometimes I jokingly say, "Use your words, Kat." Knowing full well our 13 month old little girl does not speak any words yet.

My big concern is always that there is something wrong. Luckily Kelly has the logic and training to know that this was not a medical type situation.