Hi everyone...sorry that I have not posted in awhile. It seems like I cannot even find time to check my email, let alone read other's blogs or post to ours. Having a one-year old is like running an endless race...uphill :)

Roman is still a joy and a happy child. The only problems we are having is at nap and bedtime. He HATES his crib and screams and screams and screams if we put him in it. He will eventually calm down and fall asleep after we come in several times and soothe him...but, not before he "scares the poop" out of himself. 2 days last week he pooped in the first 5 minutes after being in his crib...and, not because he had to poop...because he was so anxious and scared, that he pooped. Poor baby...after 2 days of that, we just couldnt let him suffer any longer. We tried one last time and he did it a 3rd night and so I just took him into the guest room and slept with him in there...

We talked to the pediatrician on Monday at his one-year appt and he said that he was crying in fear and not in anger...so, it was okay that we let him sleep with us. Poor little baby has to be scared that he is going to be put back into the orphanage. He is back to normal now and snuggling at bedtime...our bedtime ritual is a bath at 7:30 and then winding down and playing with a few toys until 8:e0. Then, he has a sippy cup of milk (which he drinks in a minute flat) and we read "Goodnight Moon" and then we turn off the light. Sometimes he falls asleep within minutes and other times it takes an hour. Tonight he was wound up and it took a little longer...plus he spit up on me. I have not changed yet, so I keep smelling milk...yucky, I know, but in order to change I would have to go back into my bedroom and I don't want any chances of waking him up :)

We have a pretty good schedule going...here is a typical day in the world of Roman...

Around 7:00-7:30: Roman wakes up with a smile on his face :) then we eat breakfast. Usually oatmeal and some sort of mushed up fruit such as applesauce, bananas or pears. He won't eat the real fruit (probably doesnt like the texture), but he loves the Gerbers Baby Fruits.

Then, we play and do laundry and sometimes go for a walk.

Around 10:00, we have a snack...usually cheerios or some more fruit or maybe some sweet potatoes.

Around 10:30, we start winding down and he usually goes down for a nap around 11:00...sleeps for about an hour and a half and then we have lunch. Lunch is sometimes scrambled eggs or maybe soup. He LOVES soup.

Then, we either go out in the yard on a blanket and play or go across the street and swing on the swingset in our neighbors' yard. Andrew helped put it together, so we have visitation rights :) We bought him a baby swing that we can trade out for the bigger kids' swings when we go over. Roman loves being outside...just loves it!!

Sometimes, in the afternoons, if Roman is in a good mood...we venture out to the grocery store or to Target. He loves riding in the car and is such a good baby at stores...he likes to watch people. Then, Daddy usually comes home around 4:00 and we have some more play time and then an early dinner. We have been going for walks together as a family most evenings if it is nice. We have met a lot of neighbors that way that we didnt know before.

Sometimes, we have a friend or relative stop by for a short visit in the evenings or at some point during the day...Grandma Joann likes to come over during the day so she can get in some "Roman time". Cousin Haylee & Aunt Erica sometimes stop by on their way home from work/school since they drive by our house every day...if they see us, they will usually stop.

We do all the feeding, bathing, bedtime rituals, etc with Roman...and he is mostly with us all day and all night, but we do not tell people they can't come over to visit if they would like to and we are all up for a visit. He already knows that we are his MOmmy & Daddy...he is bonding and attaching with us. We don't feel that we are hurting any of that by having visitors in small doses. Roman even made an appearance at a shower last weekend and had the time of his life...he was having a ball :)

Roman has his evaluation with the International Adoption Doctor/Specialist next Tuesday. I am sure he will tell us that we should have him in lockdown, but we are doing what feels right.

Also, he got excellent healthy marks at the pediatricians this week...he is gaining weight and color. He is growing and flourishing with us...the doctor said he can see a difference in him already even after just 3 weeks with us as his parents. He had 3 shots to catch up on his immunizations and tolerated those very well. He is not anemic as the Russian doctor in Moscow said...

So, anyways...this post was a lot of rambling :) I just wanted to fill everyone in on what is going on in our lives...

I have new pics, but I havent put them on my computer yet...check the blog or the online photo album in the next few days.

To all of my blogger friends, hope everyone is doing well...I am sorry that I have been so out of touch. And, to all of my friends and family...we love you!!!

p.s. Lauri, email me. I am much better at checking that :) vgnail@cox.net