update on the storm

the storm was very windy and rainy and although half of CT is without power, we were spared. It was just boring for Polina since she usually plays outside, so we all were getting antsy!

Hurricane

So it's 5:48 in CT right now and we are just waiting on this storm. We stocked up on bread,water and batteries. Yesterday when I went to the store almost all the water was gone. I hope its not going to be as bad as they say. We tied the grill to our deck and placed all the chairs and table into the shed.We also placed a tarp under our front door. last time when it rained hard we got some water so hopefully this will help a little. I will let you all know tomorrow what is going on.hopefully it wont be anything big. Wish us luck!!!!!!!!

August update

Well, its been a while as we have been busy with the family and MAggie's unexpected surgery. Turns out its pretty common to have gallstones after pregnancy, and sure enough Maggie has severe pains and needed to have her gallbladder out. Luckily, her mom (grandma) was able to live with us for three weeks until Maggie could fully recover and pickup the baby again.

Polina has been doing very well and continues to grow and thrive. She is putting together more and more words and likes to babble on, pretending like she is talking. We need to start potty training her as she still doesnt really like the potty at all, and we dont want to force it.

We have been in touch with Illich, and in the coming weeks, will be looking forward to having him travel from Moscow to Vladivostok to find Polina's birth mom. We want to try and make contact and get additional information and maybe even start a dialogue. We know there are mixed feelings from adoptive families, but we at least want to have as much info as possible and then if Polina chooses to learn about the info, at least we have something.

Baby Mia is doing well. She is growing like crazy and is slowly sleeping better at night. She is quite the Princess, and Polina loves being an older sister. Some additional pictures are posted below....

family video....

We had a wonderful photographer take some great pictures of Polina, Mia and Maggie and myself (Randy) and wanted to share. Click to Enjoy....

Baby Mia is born!

Well, its been a productive last month. Baby Mia was born May 25h, 8:46am at 6lb 6oz and 19 inches long. Her big older sister Polina has taken to her very well and i think likes being an older sister. it is also Polina's birthday coming up shortly on June 1st. We have had a lot of family and friends come to visit and Maggie's Aunt from Poland is here for 6 weeks staying with us to help as well. This last year has been instant family and we cant be happier. Baby Mia is beautiful and Polina has been wonderful as well! Mom and baby are doing well. Maggie will hopefully go in a few weeks to get the minor heart surgery as well to help with the heart palpitations, but for now is taking it easy. Some pictures of the family....

The Wills family update;-))))

-Polina is saying more words now. Now she asks for things instead of nodding and pointing. We make her say words before we give her the things she wants.
-She loves all the nursery rhyme songs and sings all the time in her little way. Her favorite is the wheels on the bus and twinkle,twinkle little star.
-She knows all her shapes and is learning colors.
-she loves to eat and she eats anything. She loves fruits and vegetables the most.She rubs her belly and says good when I give her food.
-She loves taking pictures and poses with her arms on her hips. She loves when the camera is on her. Every time my younger sister comes over she takes a lot of photos of Polina with her cell phone and she just says 'cheese" and poses.
-I have 3 and a half weeks left till my c-section. I am looking forward to feeling lighter on my feet and for my heart not to work so hard.
-I would have the perfect pregnancy if my heart wasn't an issue. I have no swelling,no back pain,no constipation,no fatigue but when I have the flutters it knocks me out.
-My aunt is coming from Poland on May 17th and staying with us for 6 weeks. She will be helping us as we adjust as a family and of course because of the c-section. We are very lucky to have some help.
-Polina is getting two more teeth on the bottom so in total she'll have 12 teeth. we are waiting on 4 teeth to fully come in maybe she'll get them before her 2nd birthday in June.
- Polina will have a strawberry shortcake birthday party. Her birthday is on June 1st but due to my c-section we are doing the birthday party on June 18th. We are inviting 33 adults and 18 kids. people think I'm crazy but there is no way Polina is gonna miss a birthday party because of the c-section plus it would be her first real birthday party so we are very excited for her. ( I promise we will post pictures)
-Illich is doing the birth mother search for us. We can't wait till oct/nov till we find something out
We have been really bad at keeping up on our blog. I was thinking of changing the blog name and making it into like a family blog. After Mia Rose is born we will be a complete family of 4 so it would be updates on both of the girls. I am trying to think of a name but I haven't thought of anything so far.. Any ideas bloggers????????

Searching Polinas birth family.

I have been in contact with Illich to find Polina's birth family. I know it has been almost 5 months since we had her home but I always knew in my heart that that was the right thing to do. I don't see the point of waiting till she's 16 or older. Lots of things can change,people forget,people die,they move and it will be much harder to find them. Illich is planning a trip to Vladivostok area in October/November . He wants to have at least 3 families or 4 before he travels there.He now lives closer to Moscow so he actually has to take a plane to get there. He already did some research for me. We are so lucky to have a lot of information that it's only a matter of time before we have more information on the birth mom and the family. I just want to do this for Polina. I want to have pictures and letters and to know where she got her talents from and her beautiful red hair. I know that it may not work out in a positive way but at least I am giving it a try and we will never have to wonder "what if". Now that I'm pregnant and I feel the baby kick I know in my heart that this young girl must be thinking about Polina. How can you not. I know what its like not to have money. I am from Poland my self. I was born in a small village . We had no bathrooms but an outhouse. It was a two room 100 year old house that my parents bought. In American standards it would be a shack but to me it was a house. I have never known anything else until now because I live here. I just feel like that could have been me if I didn't have the opportunity to come here. maybe that's why I am less judging of her and her family and maybe that's why this is so important to let her know that Polina is okay and that she made the best decision for herself and for Polina.

Now about Polina. She is a real fire cracker. She is full of life and spunk. She adds more and more words to her vocabulary. She is quite funny when she does the cookie monster impression. she loves to sing the Itsy Bitsy spider in her own little way. she loves to eat and dance. We just love her to pieces. We can't imagine our life with out her we just love her so ,so much. She knows where baby Mia is and points to my belly and says baby or at least sounds like a baby. Sometimes she even points to her own belly. She has learned shapes. Her favorite shape is star.She points it out and says star in the cutest little voice. she is adjusting more and more and says hi to everyone she meets. she is much better with the cats. Before she wanted to pull on their tail and ears now she says nice as she pets them. sometimes when she is feisty she still tries to pull on their legs but she has gotten much better. she is amazing and we are so lucky to have her for a daughter.