...only 8 more days in our waiting period. Each day is so full that it flies by and I can’t believe it is gone.

The caregivers at the baby home were not kidding when they said that our little one has a pretty strong will. He figures out what he wants and goes for it…he has figured out some of our so-called buttons (quick little guy, huh?) and he will go toward something (he is not supposed to have)…and look back at us like, ‘hey guys, I’m about to get into something (evil grin)…why don’t you come stop me?” He thinks it’s a great game to play. It’s tiring – for me, at least – but I didn’t sign up for this motherhood thing to sit around all day & drink tea! And anyway, it’s pretty fun to hang out with a child who has so much personality.

We’ve also hit a few communication barriers – he wants something, we can’t understand exactly what he wants, he throws a tantrum. Pretty typical for a child this age, but it’s difficult for us. Because the typical situation is that a child who has been with his parents since the minute he was born understands that he is loved. He gets limits (as his parents set them), love, and guidance from the very beginning. When he throws a tantrum, it’s usually okay for the parents to just let him throw his tantrum. They will often go to another part of the room and let him kick and scream. We, however, have not been with Little I since the day he was born. When he throws a tantrum, we have to hold him, even if he doesn’t want to be held (and don’t get me wrong, we WANT to hold him, but the way I see it, holding is more-or-less required in this situation). Fortunately, his tantrums have not lasted long, and really, at the present time – they are few & far between. And anyway, he does this funny thing where he scowls & hits his hands together when he is angry. We take him seriously when he’s upset – but sometimes it’s hard not to laugh because he’s so doggone cute. And for the most part, he is a pretty happy, verrry active child.

Anyway, I guess all of this goes with being an instant parent to a toddler. It is exhausting, let me tell you! But I really am finding that I’m competent! This surprises me, but every minute of these past two days – every good & not-so-good moment – has been so worth our long wait.

In other news, Little I has discovered that he L-O-V-E-S the outdoors. It’s a beautiful, sunny, fairly cool day here…the kind of day that makes me want to set up a summer home in Russia. We ventured outside once – and this child did NOT want to come back inside. So we took a short break and then went BACK outside. He didn’t really like walking on the grass, at first, but then discovered that it was fun. And I get a kick out of watching him run (though I stay in a perpetual “wincing” state as he runs, because his little body gets going faster than his feet can run). He looks like he’s going to topple over at any second, but so far, so good. He also loves plants. He’ll walk up to one and just rip a leaf off of it…we’re working on how to gently touch a plant (and yeah, we’re trying to only let him touch plants that we know are okay for him to touch).

We also have to watch him to keep him from putting things in his mouth. Rocks, clover, bottle caps, you name it…if he finds it, he’s going to try to put it in his mouth.

Have I mentioned that being a parent to a toddler (especially one that doesn’t quite understand us yet) is tiring work?

We went to the baby store & grocery store today. Nathan & I were almost out of sandwich stuff…and we also had to pick up a few things for the little one. We HAD to get a ball, because he has been without a ball, and if you saw the first trip video, you know he loves to play ‘throw/catch the ball’!! And the other thing we had to buy were shoes! On Trip One, I totally forgot to measure the little guy’s feet…and so I had no idea what size shoe he wears. I brought a pair of baby Crocs (which fit great, by the way!) but those are the only pair I brought with us. So at the baby store, I found a cute pair of tennis shoes. One interesting observation I have made…at least here, baby “stuff” is not any less expensive than it is at home! In fact, it seems like it is a bit more expensive…BUT, I did go to a specialty store. At home, I’d just run to one of those “catch-all-buy-everything-you-need-in-one-place department stores” and what I got today would’ve been MUCH cheaper. Oh well! No big deal…the kid needed some shoes, so we got him some!

I guess that’s about all for today. I should say one more thing, before I close, and that is that Nathan is a most excellent father. I’m sure that those of you who know Nathan are not surprised in the least…but I really just have to tell you that he is doing great. He’s such a special man…and his love for children really comes through when he is with his son. I’ve known, since the day we started dating, that I was so fortunate in ‘catching’ a good one. I just hope that Iliya will realize that…maybe not now, but later…he is so fortunate in ‘catching’ such a good dad. A new dad, who acts like becoming an instant parent to a toddler is something that people do every day.