Took It Easy

4/21/2009

There are signs all over the place that look like something a toddler wrote! The yellow building is one of the most gorgeous government buildings ever! Nina loves playing in the dirt outside of the apartment, or anywhere for that matter. And, the children with the eggs... well, that's the Happy Easter from the president. These signs are everywhere!

Today, we took easy. We got up and slowly got ready for the day. We made our daily morning run to the local bakery for coffee and a blueberry muffin. We walked through the city and discovered it is NOT stroller friendly. We bought more minutes for the cell phone and some fruit. Finally, we made our way into the natural haven of the botanical gardens. It was lovely. Down in the deepest part of the gardens, you can not hear the noise of the city. You only hear wind in the trees and the birds singing happily. It was such an oasis in the midst of chaotic city life. We had a light lunch there and trekked down the street to the city center.

There is a very large maze of shops beneath the city. We ventured down into the "mall" and ate another light lunch in the "food court." Nina discovered that she likes gelato, the Italian ice cream! Apparently, she has expensive taste! She loved the water fountains and fish and the glass elevator. We left the underground and went to another little coffee shop, Chocolate. Our waiter was deemed, "Daddy" by Nina! He looked like Jordan did when he was in high school! It was so weird. Nina flirted with him during our stay. We finally concluded our day back at our apartment with some time playing in the dirt. Those who claim we do not get enough dirt in our diet have not met Nina. She loves to eat dirt, but I think the interest is fading!

I decided we needed a hot dinner out on the town. We went to the local Ukrainian restaurant, where Nina loves the food. She had meat balls (beef and onions with a light tomato sauce) and buckwheat (also now one of my favorites) and hard rolls (the tougher, the tastier in her book) and compote (a juice/water mix) and borsch and cabbage salad. American food will be a shock to her! I wanted to record this menu and one day show her what she "used to" eat! We stopped at a little treat place and bought 3 chocolates and a cookie. Nina actually calls them "cookies" now. They are no longer "pechenyas!" She counted our stairs today in English! We walked back to the apartment and found that there was no hot water. Nina was READY for bathtime. So, she was mad when I didn't put her in the water. I couldn't get hot water so I boiled it and added hot water to the cold bath water. Although she shivered some, she loved her bath! She was a jewel this evening... so happy and contented. Again, I dried her hair with the blow dryer and she liked it! She went to bed with little difficulty other than the typical toddler requests for potty, a drink, something to eat, potty, a drink, something to eat, etc...

I found out that Nina's paperwork was not ready to be sent on the train tonight so it will be sent on Wednesday night. Natalia (our attorney) told me we should be able to go to the US Embassy on Thursday and have the medical check-up and release done on Friday so that we can fly out on Saturday! We are booking our return flights for Saturday, April 25th and trying to determine whether to fly straight through the 20-hour trip or to stop and sleep in New York???

Nina and I still have a few more days of this "bondathon" as a friend deemed it. We will take in every moment. I miss the kids back home, and I am longing to be with them again. I even missed the dogs today. (Nina watched this huge white dog walk past us today and didn't say a word! I think she doesn't like their bark. This one was walking peacefully down the street with it owner.)

This has been a good bonding time for Nina and I. I am glad we have had it! Hot water is flowing again, and I'm off to take advantage of it while we have it...

Some fun pictures of Nina wasting no FUN!

A Change of Scenery

See below... this was Nina's amazing feat for the day.

She crossed the entire bridge and decided she needed to do it again.

With other kids going back and forth behind her, she made her way back across the moving bridge all by herself!

4/20/2009

Well, I finally had enough of the old apartment and its lack of an elevator, non-funtioning stove/oven and lack of other amenities. Nina and I moved across the street from the old apartment and it's awesome. It's like moving from a dirty, smokey motel to the Four Seasons! And, it's only $5 more per night. I think we'll manage. Nina and I are still on budget. We're cutting out daily coffees! Nina is so funny. We now leave the apartment and the first thing she will ask is "mommy, coffee?" How quickly they catch on! Of course, she was right. We went to our favorite little local bakery for coffee and Nina's newly found favorite... blueberry muffins. Karly has a kindred spirit since those are one of Karly's favorites as well.

She was so good while we hassled with the move. We didn't complete the task and get out until 1 o'clock. For her, it was torcher. She loves being outside amongst all the activity and noise and people. We spent the day at the park. I purchased some sand toys (buckets, shovels, etc.) She was thrilled and spent two hours simply playing in the sand. I finally pulled her out of the sand and encouraged her to move. She was hesitant at first because there were so many kids running around. Then, she asked to try everything. And, of course, I helped her try everything she asked to do. Her last achievement was skillfully making her way across this bridge that hangs from chains so that each slat of the bridge wiggles. She was timid at first and there were lots of kids passing back and forth on the bridge around her. She would grasp tightly to the handle and ask for help. Then, off she would go. Once she successfully made it across the first time, she went back across! There was one little boy who tried to tell her to move and then proceeded to pull her hands off the railing! I stepped up to say something to him, and his mom jumped in and scolded him. He moved on. However, Nina decided next to go down the slide. She did this, but he came down right after her and pushed her down. I think he was being intentionally mean to Nina. She started crying, and I brushed off her hands and pants and directed her to a new activity. She quickly recovered... she's amazing! I know that's not the last of the mean people she will encounter, and she shouldn't dwell on them.

We came back to the apartment, stopping first at our favorite bakery for bread only! Dinner, bath and dry hair! We love hair dryers. I wondered if Nina had her hair dried with a blow dryer at the orphanage? She sure did like it--just like Mia and Karly used to love getting their hair dried when they were younger. Nina had a very hard time going to bed tonight, and it may have been the new apartment. I stayed with her, but she just cried until she fell asleep--still whimpering. That breaks my heart, but I knew she was tired. I read a book and sang to her, but she kept crying. I know the move to the apartment was a good thing. Her knee was hurting her again today. And, after the park, I think even she appreciated the elevator. She doesn't really like to be carried, and the stairs were sometimes too much for her at the end of the day. It was a good move. We'll just take it one day at a time! Good night!

Easter continued...

The stairs are the ones from St. Andrews Cathedral that she successfully climbed the other day. She is an angel even when she sleeps.

4/19/2009 continued...

Well, the afternoon included naptime and lunch and laundry. We have to start the laundry early in the day or it will not be dry by the next morning. After nap, we stopped for coffee and ice cream. However, Nina turned down the ice cream and fruit when it arrived at our table. I think she was really craving the walk outside... I was craving the coffee. My parents called while we were having coffee. It's always a treat to hear from them! Nina spoke to my mom. It was so cute. While I visited with my parents, she was quite well behaved.

Nina attempted the stairs at St. Andrews Cathedral again. She was distracted by all of the visitors going up and down the stairs. It was a busy day at the Cathedral! She concluded her climb with a tumble down a step at the bottom. Her sweet little hand slipped out of mine, and she fell. She has quite a bruise next to her right eye. I think this in one of many to come once we arrive home. Next, we went up to the street market and picked out some hand painted eggs. The artist was the same one Jordan and I met on our first visit, elderly and wearing a beret. He is such a kind man. Then, we stopped and Nina got to play in the dirt, a favorite pasttime. I visited with Jordan and the kids. And, all of them visited with Nina. She started talking with each one of them as if they totally understood her. She recognizes them as part of her life already. Even when I put her on the telephone, she said, "Mia, Karly, Wiley?" When they all turn into mean teenagers, someone will have to remind me of these precious times!

We left the market and went to the park behind St. Andrews Cathedral. She loved it. She even let me pet a small horse without freaking out. I had to pull her away from the park because it was getting late. I love how she desires to be outside and active! We left and passed a few dogs along the way. She handled it just fine. She even barked at one of them. And, she asked me to turn the stroller around so that she could see one (keeping her distance of course.) What a change from two days ago! Aunt Liz called us and we visited while strolling the main street, Maydan, which was closed for the holiday. We ventured back to the apartment, stopping first to buy a few pastries. The day ended with dinner and bedtime. No tears tonight!!!!!!

A few things from the day: she had two pieces of turkey on her plate and she said, "one, two!" She also said, "bye bye pechenya." (Cookie) She dropped one of her cookies and told it bye. I laugh at her ability to use English words mixed with Ukrainian words. She says "apple" and "banana" and "orange." She has mastered "thank you." At bedtime, Nina was asking to go potty. She had just been to the potty soI said no. And, she said, "yes peska." Again, she uses English and Ukrainian words. We both started giggling after that. Our conversations are wild, but as Jordan said, "you are communicating!" Although I miss Jordan and kids everday, this has been an important time for mother and daughter. Good night!

Easter! Bockpeck?

Having a banana on the walk home!

When we were sitting in the park sharing our Easter bread, Nina was cold. So, I bundled her up in a wrap that I had purchased in the street market. I just brought it along in case she got cold... she did, and she was glad to have it!

This is Nina after the service at the Catholic Polish church.

A little babushka offered to take our picture at St. Michael's Cathedral following the Easter ceremony where Nina was sprinkled and blessed along with the Easter baskets!

4/19/2009

We got up early this morning and went to church. Nina put on her new pants and hair clip. She wanted to wear the new blouse, but was too cold. And, I discovered just how cold when we stepped out of the door of the apartment house. BRRRR... It rained last night and I guess that cooled things a bit. We left and started seeing all of the babushka's walking with their baskets up to the churches. We followed the crowd to St. Michael's Cathedral. We entered the main chapel. People were lighting candles and praying. We went outside to stand in front of the smaller chapel. People were gathering with their baskets full of Easter bread, boiled eggs (some decorated, some not) and some had cheese and champagne. Each was covered with these ornately decorated cloths. (We must find one on the street today!) We gathered with everyone, but we didn't have a basket (I didn't think I could get it home with us.) But, we had Easter bread. So, I stuck Nina out there amongst all of the baskets (wearing her sunglasses, of course.) Everyone watched and was very accomodating. She and her bread and the other baskets were blessed (sprinkled with water) by the passing priest. A small group of young "priests-in-training" were walking amongst the baskets singing in harmony. It was a lovely ceremony. Afterward, a babushka walked up and offered to take our photograph. I was so grateful. She handed Nina a boiled egg. It was a sweet moment.

We left the cathdral and it was only 8:45am. So, we went to the Catholic Polish church. They had a service in English. It was the "second Sunday of Easter?" We left and sat in the park to share our egg-gift and Easter bread. A little coffee stand was open so I bought some coffee. Nina kept her eyes on the dogs running through the park. Nina polished off a banana on our walk back to the apartment.

By 10:30am, we had enjoyed two Easter services and some Easter bread. We are now back at the apartment and Nina is getting bored. It is very cold outside, and we have little do in the apartment. None of the stores are open today... or at least not yet. More to come...

A few more pictures from Saturday

Nina is so expressive as you can see in these pictures. At the kitchen tablette, she is counting for me. Of course, in some of the other pictures, you can see we still had the sunglasses. All of these were taken in the little parkette outside of our apartment. She loves to have her picture made. I did have to teach her how to put her sunglasses on top of her head. For some reason, this was funny!

More pictures from Saturday

The park was a big hit... with lots to do. In one picture, she is sitting on the bed next to a table. She has claimed that as her table where she keeps all of her newly acquired possessions. When we arrive with something new for her, she takes it from me and runs to "her table" with it. That's where "her" things stay, except for her sunglasses which made it off the table for our evening outing.