Gotcha Day # 2!

 

So, August 14th marked Nadya's Second Gotcha Day!  Second?  Wow!  Doug took the day off work because I had new teacher training and he and the boys ran over to a Russian Candy Store and bought Nadya plenty of Russian Candy!  (At this point, she had completely spaced of Gotcha Day and we didn't mention anything because we thought a surprise would be fun!)  So, after they returned - with the candy in their possession, Carter came running in with his sack full of Candy and yelled in his  LOUD Carter Voice-  

"GOTCHA!!!!"  

and handed over the bag of candy!

Here she is with her Loot!

Then he took all FOUR, yes four kids to lunch at a Russian Restaurant for Borscht.  (unfortunately, I was not there to capture the moment in photos!)

Nadya was thrilled to have Borscht.
(Borscht is a Russian soup with Cabbage and beets that she had quite often in the orphanage.)

That night we baked brownies, Sang Happy Gotcha Day (to the tune of Happy Birthday) and opened presents.  She always gets a Gotcha Day Dress- as she got the day we went to court and she also got new jammies, new flip flops, and a  new gymnastics leotard.  We still can't believe it has been
2 years.  Time flies!  

Two Years Ago- Holuy, Russia August 2007

For those of you who are new and want to read about our adoption-

www.bringingnadyahome.blogspot.com

Sitting in Amazement

I literally find myself sitting there staring at Nadya and wondering..... what if Doug hadn't met and fell in love with her?? What would her life be like?? What would our life be like??? This question is so difficult, because we just couldn't even imagine our life with out her. We just celebrated her first Gotcha day last month and I can not believe it has already been a year.... She has learned so much in this short amount of time. At the orphanage we were told she didn't smile much and was not very sociable. Can I just tell you she is the complete opposite now?? She ALWAYS has a smile on her face and she talks so much in school that her teacher has to be careful who she sits her by. (I am smiling, because this is the same little girl that I was afraid would possibly hide in the corner and never come out!) I am thrilled at these changes, because it means she is HAPPY! (She is also a good student, just still learning a few rules about when she can and can not talk, but I am told so is the rest of her class because they are a chatty bunch). She has changed so much in this past year and we have learned so much about her. I just wanted to list a few......

She loves pizza, ice cream, spaghetti, lasagna, and onions. Yes, onions!
She is pretty athletic, loves soccer (scored two goals in her last game)!
She loves gymnastic and is becoming a good gymnast.
She has lots of friends.
She is a great big sister.
She is becoming a great reader and writer.
She is persistent.
She is artistic.
She likes to keep her room clean.
She can be stubborn, but then again, so can her mom.
She loves junk food.
She loves the monkey bars.
She loves Dr Pepper.
She loves Hannah Montana.
She loves music.
She likes to read. She often reads more than is required by her teacher for homework.
She is very helpful.
She is a chatterbox, just like her brother.

Most importantly, She is LOVED by so many!