Interesting Spin

Well, it's been a while since I have had time to post. Life has gotten very interesting since we came back from Russia. We are still trying to transition into being a family of four and with that comes every emotion known to mankind. Luke is having a hard time with just about everything, and we are trying to help him through it, but he went from being the only child to having a little sister that walks, talks, and gets into his things. We know that it isn't easy for him, so we are taking turns and doing something special with him. He will come around, but for now we are taking each day at a time.

People have told me that having one child is easier than two or more because you always know who to blame if something happens. Well now with two, I have seen this change right before my eyes. I hear a scream from the other room and run in to find out what happened. One is telling me in Russian and the other in English, so this puts a whole other spin on having two children. Sometimes you just have to laugh at that one!

Tanya is really doing well and starting to eat lots of different food she has never had before. It's amazing to watch the world through her eyes. Each experience is new to her and she is old enough to express it. We will go into a restaurant and she will look around at everything. We took her to Red Robin the other night and the mascot was out greeting the children. I didn't see it at first but Tanya did and went running to the bird. She was good and gave it a big hug, but the second time around she found the tail and thought it would be a nice thing to grab. Luke saw it around the same time I did and we said, "she's going for the bird!" Luke was able to make the save!

Another event we decided to do with Tanya is take her to our swimming pool. It didn't take us long to figure out she thought it was a big bathtub and everyone was invited. She got in and starting washing her hair and body and looking at kids like what are you doing in my bathtub? Even though the water was freezing, she wanted to stay in until she was a nice shade of blue!

It's also amazing how much English she already knows and understands. I can talk to her completely in English to do something and she will do what I said. I think she will have it down by the end of summer.

She is a very curious child that needs to know, see, touch everything. We are trying to let her know what is ok to touch and what isn't. It's hard when you don't speak the same language, but we are trying. She is totally fascinated by the kitchen, but doesn't know hot surfaces, but she is learning. Thankfully she hasn't gotten burnt and I hope she will not.

We are starting to call her more and more Hannah, but if I really need to get her attention, I will call her Tanya until she understands that her name is Hannah. I have some friends getting ready to travel and bring home their longtime waiting daughter, so please keep this family in your prayers.