A week of firsts, seconds, thirds and fourths

The Radcliffe adventures continues on. This was a week filled of new experiences, new additions, and newly discovered talents.

Firsts: It was Emme's first of many trips to our pool. We went swimming at Coney Island pool Friday night. For those not familiar with Coney, the water really does not get warm enough to swim until August. However, Leah was anxious to go, so off we went. I was brave enough to get my toes wet. Leah went in up to her chest. Emme decided that bobbing her head underwater was the best form of entertainment. The water was so cold, it could be considered a form of child abuse. However my attempts to remove Emme from the water only made her more determined to get back in. I definitely have 2 water babies. I can't wait for the beach.

Seconds: Leah lost her second tooth. This time she lost the one of her top teeth, so now she really has a hole in her mouth. The tooth fairy will get to know our house well, as she had one more loose tooth to go.

Thirds: Leah is growing up. She had spent three evenings this week away from home. She has developed some friendships with other children in the neighborhood, and is going over to eat dinner at their house, watch movies and taking walks to the park. She is growing up so fast and becoming so much more independent. Luckily, I have Emme at home to keep me company.

Fourths: As of Tuesday, my parents now have 4 grandchildren (all girls). We welcomed Mya Kathryn Button into the family. This is the first child for my sister Katie and her husband Chad. I can't wait to hold her in September, if Emme will let me as she is very possessive of her "mamamammama".

Life continues to be busy and I am enjoying my girls immensely. Emme is into climbing up onto anything and clapping over her achievements. We spent part of Sat. learning how to climb up the ladder of a slide and slide down on her bottom. She would much rather stand at the top and screech at the top of her lungs to get everyone's attention. Leah is such a great big sister, helping her every step of the way.

Our Kaz friends

Memorial Day weekend found us up in Cleveland for the EAC adoption picnic. EAC was the agency that I used for Leah's adoption. Every Memorial Day, they host a picnic at the zoo and invite all past, present and future EAC adoptive families to reunite. During our stay in Kazakhstan, there were four other families adopting at the same time. Three of them were single moms like me. The 3 single moms and myself have gotten together each Memorial Day at the picnic to catch up on the past year and have out Kaz kids play. It is a powerful weekend. They estimated that there were 900 families at the picnic this year. To see all these families with children adopted from all over the world is an amazing experience.

At the picnic, the Kaz coordinator is in attendance and usually brings along a guest. This year she brought the director of Almaty Baby House #3. This was the baby house that Leah and Jade were adopted from. (see next post) She could not believe that Leah was Nurzhamal (Leah's birth name). She said she looked nothing like she thought she would. Jade on the other hand looks exactly the same. She remembered both girls well as they were essentially crib mates.

Leah had fun at the zoo with her Kaz friends, but what Leah really likes is hotel rooms. I opted to get a junior suite for a little more room for Emme's bed. The room also came with a fridge and microwave so we could eat in the room. Leah and Emme swam like fishes after the zoo and as well the next morning before we checked out. Emme loves the water. She loves to splash herself and others as she squeals in delight. The beach will be so much fun this year.

The next post has more pictures from the weekend. Enjoy.

Our Kaz Friends pictures

Leah, Jade and Kara on a Camal
Jade, Leah and Kara riding through the zoo
Emme hanging out watching the fun
Kara, Leah, Alexandra and Jade together again
The moms and kids reunited. Has it really been 4 years since we first met in Kaz? They grow so fast.

Busy weekend

It has been a busy few weeks. Leah has been playing soccer and had her last game of the season the weekend of the 17th. She has improved so much in the past 5 weeks and is showing some potential as a good soccer player. She also lost her first tooth, so the tooth fairy "paid" her one of many visits to come (as she has 2 more teeth that are loose).

We finally have a play set, something that I have wanted for the past year. It has already paid for itself, as Leah has been spending many hours playing with her friend Maria swinging and climbing. Emme has enjoyed swinging the day away as mom does yard work.

And speaking of Emme, she is finally a walker. Now granted it still is something of a Frankenstein walk. But she is choosing to walk instead of crawl. Good for Emme.

Pictures from January to May

Leah and Emme at the airport
Leah and Emme at Aunt Katie's house

Just playing around

I thought I would share some pictures of Leah and Emme taken over the past few months.

OUR STORY

The Radcliffe family adventures began in January of 2004 with a phone call announcing "a baby waits for you in Kazakhstan". So off I went, with my mother in tow, for our adventures to bring Leah Renee home. The adoption was smooth and on March 23, 2004, I walked out of Baby House#3 in Almaty Kazakhstan as a family of 2. Leah brought so much meaning and joy to my life that I knew I wanted at least 1 more child in our lives. So in 2007 I started the paperwork process again and another phone call came in August. This adoption would not be as smooth as the first, but 0n January 24, 2008, Emme Indira arrived home after her year long stay at the Baby House in Ecik Kazakhstan.

Being a family of 3 has its moments, but overall I have been very blessed and can not wait to share the news of our lives as the adventures continues.