Update from Kirsten

Hey Everyone,Well, our friend Kirsten just returned home from her visit to the baby-home. She took lots of pictures and video of Evan for us. The caretakers allowed her to take Evan into the a private playroom along with her daughter and she was kind enough to do so. Evan is really growing...he is not the baby that we were with last April, he is now such a little boy. He weights 22 pounds and is 29 inches tall. He is saying some Russian words and is on target developmental. The caretakers told Kirsten that "Since Evan's Momma and Poppa have been here his hair and spirits have gotten lighter" We think they may have meant brighter...ha ha Either way she said that it was a good thing. Kirsten said that Evan is very funny, he's kind of all or nothing. When he's playing, he's very animated, smiley, and running all over the place, the class clown. He's into everything, climbing, doing "boy" things. She said that he loves to throw and play with balls. We sent a picture of us with Kirsten to Evan that was taken Christmas. We had Kirsten ask the caretakers if they could tape it to the headboard of his bed so that he could always see us...they did...you can see a it on snapfish. In October, we sent a Tiger outfit to Evan through another family. We were surprised to see Evan wearing the outfit in some of the pictures that Kirsten took. We don't know if it was a coincident of if they saved it for him to wear...either way it was pretty exciting. Kirsten said that Evan is doing great. The children are very much well fed and taken care of. I set up a link on snapfish for you to view the pictures. If you haven't used snapfish before, it will ask you to set up an account...all you have to do is enter your name a make a password...it's free. In the pictures you will also see Kirsten, her mom, and Annicka. The link will follow this email.We are hoping to hear news of travel in the next couple of weeks for April, so keep praying.Brandi

Update from Russia

A very dear friend of ours named Kirsten traveled to Russia with her mom to visit her little girl. Her little girl and Evan are in the same group together and even sit right next to each other at the table for meal times. Just imagine, together in Siberia and together in Georgia. How cool is that?

Each day when Kirsten spent time with her little girl she was nice enough to spend time with Evan as well. She took lots of pictures and video of Evan for us.

Evan is really growing...He is not the baby that we were with last April, he is now such a little boy. He weights 22 pounds and is 29 inches tall. He is saying some Russian words and is on target developmentally. The caretakers told Kirsten that "Since Evan's Momma and Poppa have been here his hair and spirits have gotten lighter" We think they may have meant brighter...ha ha, either way she said that it was a good thing. Kirsten said that Evan is very funny, he's kind of all or nothing. When he's playing, he's very animated, smiley, and running all over the place, the class clown. He's into everything, climbing, doing "boy" things. She said that he loves to throw and play with balls.

We sent a picture of us to Evan that was taken Christmas. We had Kirsten ask the caretakers if they could tape it to the headboard of his bed so that he could always see us...they did!!!
In October, we sent a Tiger outfit to Evan through another family. We were surprised to see Evan wearing the outfit in some of the pictures that Kirsten took. We don't know if it was a coincident or if they saved it for him to wear...either way it was pretty exciting! Kirsten said that Evan is doing great. The children are very much well fed and taken care of.

We are hoping to hear news of travel in the next couple of weeks for April, so keep praying.

update from Siberia

Hey Everyone!We just wanted to update you on Evan. We have a friend who is currently in Siberia, visiting her daughter who lives with Evan. She said that Evan is doing great and we thought that we would share what she is saying about him. We still don¡¦t know when we will travel, but we are hoping to hear any day now. This family lives in Dunwoody, so our children will be together in Siberia and together in Georgia! How cool is that?!She said that he is so funny, the class clown in fact! We have ¡§met¡¨ several wonderful people on the internet who are adopting from the Angarsk Baby Home and they have each taken pictures and/or video of Evan, it has been great getting the monthly pictures or video from someone traveling on their first trip. Apparently this has caused Evan to become very comfortable with the cameras. Our friend, Kirsten who is there now said that when she first got there it was right after meal time so they were all in the potty room sitting on their potties. The potties look like little tiny bowls. She said that she took out her video camera and starting filming her little girl, Anicka. Evan was sitting across the room on his potty and without getting up he scooted himself on his potty across the room and stopped when he got next to Anicka, like okay, here I am go ahead and film me! She said that it was hilarious! The first couple of days the caretakers allowed her to take Anicka into a private playroom to play with her. On Monday, they allowed her to take Evan in the room also. She said that the three of them had a ball playing together and that she chased them both around and around the big New Year¡¦s Tree that was up in the middle of the room, as she chased them, they both laughed and laughed! All of the children have assigned seats for meal time. Anicka and Evan sit right next to each other at the same table. Kirsten said that Tuesday Evan ate all of his food rather quickly and just sat there for a minute. He then looked at Anicka and noticed that she still had food in her bowl and stole a couple of spoonfuls of her food! She said Anicka just looked at him real mean. I guess when he gets home, we will have to teach him that it is not polite to take food off of other people¡¦s plates. ƒºKirsten said that she counted Evan¡¦s teeth and that he has 14 teeth, 4 molars!!! After the first week there the director of the baby home allowed Kirsten to take Anicka out of the baby home and keep her in the apartment with her. So we will have to wait to hear more about Evan when she takes Anicka back. In a way we are kind of glad because we don¡¦t want Evan to miss Kirsten when she leaves. Kirsten said that she is going to talk to the pediatrician when she takes Anicka back and get updated measurements of Evan for us. In December he was 21 pounds and almost 28 inches tall. We¡¦ll keep you posted.
Thanks for letting us share,
Brandi & Clay

Christmas Surprise

Christmas day was a bit difficult for us. It really made us miss Evan. For so many months now, we just knew that on Christmas day we would have a little one running around.

On Christmas day we received a phone call from a lady that we met over the internet, telling us to check our email. She adopted a little boy from Irkutsk in September.

She had one of her contacts in Irkutsk take pictures of Evan for us. It was the greatest Christmas present we received. The email contained a very touching message that read;

Dear Momma and Poppa,
I know that we can't be together this Christmas but I wanted you to know I love you very, very, very, much. Next year we will celebrate together, but for now, just know that I am healthy, happy, and excited that soon you'll come back for me and we'll be a forever family.

I attached some pictures so you can see how big I've gotten! I had a little help from some of our friends.

Love and Kisses,
Denis

This certainly lifted our spirits!!!

An update from Russia

Our social worker forwarded us an email from Alex, our facilitator in Russia, with an updated picture of Evan Denis, not the best picture but we were pleased to receive it. He is standing in front of a very "Charlie Brown" looking Christmas tree. But hey, it is his first Chirstmas picture and we are very proud to have it. Updated measurements were also included, Evan is really growing. He is now 21 pounds and is almost 29 inches tall. Alex said that the doctors at the baby home said that Denis is the smartest and the cutest child. Yeap, we are pretty proud parents! He also told our SW that he remembered that we were "a very sensitive couple...maybe a video would help the wait," so he is sending one to the US through another family, we can't wait to get it.

update

Hello everyone,I hope all is well with everyone. I just wanted to let everyone know that we received a video of Evan yesterday! It is awesome! The same family that took the photos of Evan for us, videoed him. We are so thankful for this family and all that they have done for us. I pray that God will truly bless them.In the video, we got to see Evan Denis have lots of fun. In the beginning Kirsten gives him the toy that we sent him and shows him pictures of us from our first trip and from the birthday party that we had for him. She tells him about his birthday party and shows him pictures of us and tells him that we sent him balloons. He is very still and quiet, acting like he is not so sure about the strangers that are around him. Then when his caretaker is called in, she plays with him. Once she starts playing with him, he laughs and laughs! She gives him a massage and starts singing nursery rhymes to him. A couple of times, he acts like he is teasing her and again laughs. She tickles him and he loves it. We also got to see him walk around, which he is doing very well. We wrote him a little note and Kirsten surprised us and had it translated for us, at the end of the video the caretaker reads it to Evan and waves his hand good bye. After the video is over, Kirsten recorded the sweetest song. The song is set to still shots from the video. It is wonderful! I have got to find out the name of the song, I guess it might be "You cannot lose my love" It starts out as "you will lose your baby teeth...you will lose a lot of things...but you cannot lose my love." It will quickly bring tears to your eyes! It is so beautiful!This video helps us really realize just how much time has passed and reminds us how far we have gone and that the journey is well underway. Thank you, Lord! Time has been flying by. Can you believe that it has already been 4 months ago yesterday, since we left for Russia? We continue to pray each day that we will get a court date soon but ultimately want and pray for God's will in the situation and know that his timing is the right time.God has blessed us so much! We are so thankful for Kirsten and Vince and for this video. Please say a special pray for these wonderful people and for their beautiful daughter, Anicka. Kirsten, I love you and appreciate you so much more than you will ever know!Love, Brandi

July Update

Hello everyone,
I hope all is well with everyone. I just wanted to let everyone know that we received a video of Evan yesterday! It is awesome! The same family that took the photos of Evan for us, videoed him. We are so thankful for this family and all that they have done for us. I pray that God will truly bless them.

This is the first time that we have heard anything about Evan since we returned home in April. In the video, we got to see Evan Denis having lots of fun. In the beginning Kirsten gives him the toy that we sent him and shows him pictures of us from our first trip and from the birthday party that we had for him. She tells him about his birthday party and shows him pictures of us and tells him that we sent him balloons. He is very still and quiet, acting like he is not so sure about the strangers that are around him. Then when his caretaker is called in, she plays with him. Once she starts playing with him, he laughs and laughs! She gives him a massage and starts singing nursery rhymes to him. A couple of times, he acts like he is teasing her and again laughs. She tickles him and he loves it. We also got to see him walk around, which he is doing very well. We wrote him a little note and Kirsten surprised us and had it translated for us, at the end of the video the caretaker reads it to Evan and waves his hand good bye. After the video is over, Kirsten recorded the sweetest song. The song is set to still shots from the video. It is wonderful! I have got to find out the name of the song, I guess it might be "You cannot lose my love" It starts out as "you will lose your baby teeth...you will lose a lot of things...but you cannot lose my love." It will quickly bring tears to your eyes! It is so beautiful!This video helps us really realize just how much time has passed and reminds us how far we have gone and that the journey is well underway. Thank you, Lord! Time has been flying by. Can you believe that it has already been 4 months ago yesterday, since we left for Russia? We continue to pray each day that we will get a court date soon but ultimately want and pray for God's will in the situation and know that his timing is the right time.God has blessed us so much! We are so thankful for Kirsten and Vince and for this video. Please say a special pray for these wonderful people and for their beautiful daughter, Anicka. Kirsten, I love you and appreciate you so much more than you will ever know!Love, Brandi