Mommy and Me and Jo Make Three

You are 6 days old and although Daddy has been home with us for the first 5 days, it is time for him to return to work. Not to worry, Auntie Jo comes to play with us for the first few days we have to be without Daddy!

First Visitors!

Everyone is so excited to meet you! Here are your very first visitors...

So much love and it's all for you!

Homecoming

Today is the day you get to come home, and Riley is eagerly awaiting your arrival! Once we get settled, Daddy reads Mommy this poem he wrote for you, and then Mommy and Daddy share wonderful tears of joy!

Scarlyusha, ya tebya ochen' lyublyu,
Ya vsyo v zhizne dlya tebya hochu!

Ya sdelayu vsyo, chto ya smogu,
Y budu chasto govorit' "I love you!"

Ti prosto krasavitsa,
Dlya nas ti dochenka,
Dlya Riley sestra.
Ya hochu, chto-bi zhizn' tvoya
Vsegda bila sladka!

We promise to give you the world and then some,
Za vsyu tu radost', chto prinesla ti nam!
I can't wait to hold you,
Uzhe tak lyublyu,
I now have two angels,
Mommy and you!

You've made us so happy, you don't even know
We'll witness this angel grow, grow, grow, and grow!
When I picture you talking, saying "Daddy", I glow!
I can't wait to meet you and just say "Hello!"

My baby girl, I give you my heart!
We will never be apart!
I can't wait for this journey to start,
You are our perfect work of art!

Happy Birth Day!

It is 11 days after your due date, and even though the doctor kept pushing for us to induce labor, we wanted to give you a chance to choose your birth date...and here it is! Labor began on its own, Mommy's water broke on its own just as the doctor was about to break it, and after 28 hours of labor you came out all-naturally! It was a birth story full of miracles!

You arrived at 9:47 pm on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 weighing 7 pounds 12.3 ounces and measuring 21 1/2 inches tall! And when Mommy finally got to meet you, she could only exclaim "You are so delicious!"

Here is our first family portrait!

 

Your Journey in Utero

I have loved carrying you - feeling you wriggling inside me, your hiccups, even your feet in my ribs have all been joyous to experience! You are 41 weeks and 4 days and we will be meeting very soon! 

Prenatal Yoga with Robin

Every Monday and Wednesday, Mommy spends an hour and a half holding yoga poses and her heart's center (you!) with the wonderful yoga instructor and childbirth teacher, Robin! Mommy loves having this time to think only about you!

On Sundays, Robin teaches Mommy and Daddy how to best welcome you into this world! (Scott and Parker are on either side of you!)

Last Ultrasound Before we Meet!

Today is our final ultrasound and we get to see you breathing and smiling and even sticking out your tongue!

Now Daddy Knows Too

Mommy and Daddy go to the movies and watch a very intense and very loud movie. You are either excited at the sounds you hear or you are angry that we are disturbing your slumber because you kick up a storm in Mommy's belly like never before! Daddy gets to feel you kicking for the very first time!

Dancing to Daddy's Voice

It is bedtime, so Daddy reads to Mommy from the "Our Pregnancy: For the Father-to-Be" book he received for his birthday. As he reads aloud, Mommy feels tingles in her belly that continue while Daddy reads! Mommy can finally feel you moving around and evidently you love the sound of your Daddy's voice!

It's a...

Today is our second ultrasound, you are 12 weeks and 5 days old in Mommy's belly. Today we get to find out whether you will be Mommy's little shopping partner or Daddy's competition on the soccer field. Grandpa Kostya's cousin Yana, who is graciously doing our ultrasounds for us, knows we are anxiously awaiting the news so she tells us, in great detail, about everything but your gender! Finally, Yana asks, "Alright, are you ready to know the gender? Are you sure? Are you ready? It's.......a BABY! Alright, alright, it's a GIRL!!!!" Right at this moment, Daddy pulls out something pink and fuzzy out of his pocket and hands it to Mommy. Looking down, Mommy can't help but laugh! It's a fuzzy, pink circle with a cartoon of a stork carrying a baby, and the announcement "It's a Girl!"