New Word for the Day....MAMA!!! YIPPIE!!

Pictures of our sleepyhead. Click on the link below:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=12792973209




Today was the first day since we’ve been in Ukraine that we got the full Ukrainian Taxi driving experience. This morning when Sasha picked us up at the hotel there was so much traffic that no one was moving at all. So Sasha took matters in his own hands and decided to drive on the sidewalk. Robert and I were both surprised and thought it was even hysterical when Sasha blew his horn at the pedestrians walking that were in his way. He has certainly picked up the speed in his driving as well. This is not too good driving at a fast pace since there are holes in the roads that are at least a foot deep or that there are not many covers on the man holes in the road around here. There is also a lot of dust everywhere around here and smoke from people burning their trash and the emissions exhaust is potent.





This morning we also got some wash done. We are certainly missing our washing machine, dryer and stove. Been doing wash by hand in the tub or sink and wringing them out and hanging them to dry. Thank goodness it has been warm enough for our clothes to dry rather quickly. We are certainly learning to appreciate our modern conveniences back home. I miss cooking for sure. Been eating a lot of salami, cheese, bread and butter around here. Seems like if you don’t have a stove and you don’t feel like eating out then break out the bread, salami and cheese. You should see the supermarkets here. Some of them have rows and rows of salami of all sorts, shapes and sizes. I couldn’t understand why salami was so popular here and when I asked Dima (Alla’s son) he said it isn’t popular it is purchased a lot here because it is a cheap protein for the Ukrainians to eat. Now I understand why Boris and Vitali at work always eat salami, bread & cheese. We have acquired a taste for it.





Andrew today seemed tired and a bit cranky believe it or not. He was playing with Daddy a lot today. Wrestling with him and teasing him. Andrew loves to tease Robert by knocking down the stack of cups that Robert builds to a tall tower. Andrew sees the tower and crawls over to it and knocks it down and then laughs hysterically. He seems to crack himself up with the littlest thing. If I or Robert make a face at something he does Andrew will start giggling uncontrollably.





Andrew was fighting going down for a nap all morning. At one point Andrew refused to sit up or stand up on the blanket. He would just roll around on it and laugh. That was when we knew he was getting tired. Then he would get up and walk over to the blue goodie bag and lay on it and zone out like he does before he nods off to sleep. I then picked him up and walked around with him to relax him as I was singing. He finally gave in and slept for about 45 minutes.





This afternoon, Robert was teaching Andrew how to say Mama. Since he hasn’t said Mama yet, Robert was slowly sounding out the word…MMMMMMAAA…MMMMMMAAA. He would repeat it over and over again. Finally about 5 minutes later he said it. It was funny watching him slowly repeat what Robert was saying. It looked like Andrew was exerting so much energy just to say Mama. He would imitate Robert by slowly saying the word….MMMMMMMMMMAA…MMMMMMMMMAAA but with look on his face like he was going to the bathroom or something. I was tickled that he actually said it.





This afternoon the Spanish Adopted Mother that got her 30 days waived came in all excited to pick up her daughter Claudia to take her home. We saw her walk into the orphanage grounds all excited and she told us that she got Claudia’s birth certificate and the passport done in just a couple of days and that she is picking her up to take her home today. I was so happy for her that I hugged her and jumped up and down filled with excitement for her. Claudia is such a cutie. Please stand in prayer and agreement with us that Claudia is completely healthy and made whole from all sickness and diseases in Jesus Name.