Ginsberg's Russian Adoption

A year ago today.....

2009-08-26T18:16:00.001-07:00

We went to Red Square and lost Neil's shoe!

I fell asleep more exhausted then I have ever been!!

Went to the US Embassy and got Neil's passport and VISA.

We were a new family and loving every min of it!!

Just 5 min ago.....

2009-08-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would blog every day this week and put a picture of what we did one year ago on that day. In doing this I wanted to lead up to his Gotcha Day on Saturday.

Well, a year ago we were traveling from Moscow to Novokuznetsk to see Neil one last time before we went to court the next day.

BUT...what just happened 5 min ago is way to funny to pass up.

I put Neil into bed for his Quiet Time and I just went to check on him and this is what I found. Now, keep in mind, every single one of those books was in his blue elephant book shelf when I put him into bed and now, they are all missing..oh no wait...they are in the crib with him! After a little "talking to" aka discipline I have come up with a solution.....

Can everyone say it with me...Toddler Bed!

Today one year ago....

2009-08-18T04:47:00.000-07:00

Remember the miracle? The physical? The way that God made "eyes blinded" and His grace and mercy was upon Coby and I? Remember all the prayer for today?

I remember! This was the exact time that we were walking into that clinic and having that physical done on a rainy day in Moscow!

What a day! What a moment! To actually see God's hand do such an amazing thing!!

I just read through all the e-mails that I got on that day and how encouraging they were to read again!

"Thank you Lord for that day a year ago that you showed your face to me so clearly!"

Today one year ago.....

2009-08-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Moscow.

$30 for 2 Starbucks!!! Oh the memories!!!

Today one year ago...

2009-08-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

We got on a plane and left for Russia to pick up and bring home our son!

How we felt about becoming parents of a 17mo old!!

Today...we woke up our son and brought him in bed with us. We told him that one year ago Mommy and Daddy went to Russia to bring him home to our family and that we loved him very very much!

Neil was laying in bed and then sat up, turned around and looked at Coby and said, "Thank you Daddy."

Thank you God!

Blanket..

2009-08-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

This made me smile today!!

This picture is of Neil's 3 blankets. "Yellow", "Green" and "Blue" (that's what he calls them)

These blankets are about $4 and they are yucky and have holes in them. But the greatest thing about these are that they smell like Neil and for a mother...it's the sweetest smell in the world!

Anyway....since we have brought him home these are the blankets he loves. Not the fluffy, soft, hand made or expensive ones...but these.

Until today!!

He was upset and crying due to just being disciplined by mommy...yup he's not perfect! He walks in the office and had this blanket:

This is the first thing that I made Neil.

I have made him many things since then...but I made this and brought it to Russia with us hoping he would love it. It sits upstairs on one of his chairs and he really has not shown any interest in it until today. He has not let it go. He has been walking around all day holding it and sucking his fingers and rubbing it on his face and loving it!! It made me so excited.

I know...it's silly, but it made me smile to see him enjoy something so much that I made especially for him with lots of love!

Thought Aunt Dana, Uncle Michael, Oma and Opa might like this picture. He still sleeps with and loves his turtle!!!

Kate....he loves his pillow!!

A face lift!!

2009-08-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

I felt the need to give our blog a little face lift! Hope you all like it! I also gave my photography blog one too...check it out!!! www.brandylynnphotography.blogspot.com

California Vacation

2009-06-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

We are still here in Cali....and so I thought I might blog a little about what we are doing.

We arrived last Wednesday and thought we would be staying until yesterday, but Safta and Neil are having so much fun and the weather has been amazing....so we are still here. We head home tomorrow night.

Well, my mom left for China this week for a 2 week mission trip. She is working at a church heading up a VBS. I asked her to just grab us a child while she is there so we don't have to go through everything we did with Neil. Just kidding! Not really...OK we are! I miss her so much and wish I could be with her...maybe next time!

Coby celebrated his first fathers day in Grass Valley golfing, boating, BBQing and having a relaxing day! We drove up there to visit our friends who have a home there and had so much fun! Neil even went swimming in the lake and loved to jump off the dock. This child has no fear of the water!

I celebrated my birthday on Tuesday with my mother in law. We had a relaxing day of shopping and then Thai food for dinner. It was relaxing and a lot of fun!

We have been hanging by the pool, shopping, heading into San Francisco, the zoo, a train park, the A's baseball game, hooking up with old friends and eating non stop. It's been great.

But it has been amazing to watch Neil and his Safta. (That's Hebrew for Grandma.) They are having so much fun and she just lights up with him. It's been a nice break for Coby and I.

Well, that's about it for now. Hope your summer is starting off great and you find rest, relaxation and time with the Lord throughout the coming weeks!

Andrey turns 3...

2009-06-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to put a little post up about our Andrey. Today he turns 3. We have still not received any info about him, but I continue to ask as much as I can.

Just wanting to say Happy Birthday Andrey..we all love you!

I don't even know what to say.....

2009-06-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

This morning as I was up getting ready for my first day at VBS, I hear Neil's door open up, Pebbles (our boxer dog) walk in his room and then his door slam!

I sit for a min and think...OK...last week he somehow got in the crib without us noticing and today he got out??? I heard no noise, nothing!

So I get up walk down the hallway and go to open the door and Neil has his hand on the inside door handle and he is pushing the door closed and I am trying to open the door.

I call his name and he pulls open the door and there is my sweet "too smart for his age" son and my dog standing there.

So I think...do I get upset, do I laugh, do I ask him to show me his circus routine that he can do to get out of his crib without hurting himself...what do I say??

So the dog walks out and I ask him how he got out of his crib and he turns and points to a mound of stuffed animals and blankets that are piled high right next to his crib. He somehow got the stuffed animals that are in his crib and his 3 blankets to stack on top of each other and I can only assume climbed out and probably fell on them.....hence the lack of tears in his eyes or the very loud thump we would have heard.

So after I get a hold of my thoughts that start to race ahead 15 years to the fact that he will know how to escape the house and sneak out or be my dare devil child...I lay him down to change his diaper and tell him that if he wants out of the crib he needs to yell for Mama or Dada before getting out. So then he yells "DADDY" as loud as he can for the next min or so.

Neil....your already out of the crib...hush up!

So...job for today, lower the crib mattress and hide video camera in room so we can get his acrobatics on tape, send it into America's Funniest Video's and win lots of money so we can afford all those Dr. visits due to his lack of fear!

A Pool, A Diving Board, A Lid, A Bus and A Monkey

2009-05-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

Neil's FIRST time in a pool. We knew that he would love it because he sticks his head under the water and lays down in his bath. He was sooooooo excited and ran right out to the pool and wanted to get in. I had to take this picture quickly because he was running so fast!

Then he got in with Dada and he was a little more reserved. His smile turned into a look of...ok..this is a little colder then the tub and a bit bigger.....but he still thought he could handle it!

Then he realized Mama wasn't in there with him and cried for me...so of course I went in and he stopped the tears and was having a great time!

We would tell him to "kick" his legs and he had no idea what we were saying. He was as stiff as a board! But still enjoying it! But then Mr. Jonny decided to jump off the diving board and Neil saw that and wasted no time. He wanted out of the pool and ran...as we all yelled "WALK!!"....to the diving board and.....

Climbed up on it and walked to the end and was DETERMINED to jump!

After a few seconds he realized how high he was and laid down to get a little closer to the water

Took a good look over the edge...

Dada gave him a kiss for encouragement....

He put his toes to the edge and started bouncing...he sooo wanted to jump!

He was getting sooo excited and Dada was trying to get him to do it. He just kept jumping and laughing and wanting in so bad...but we all know that looking from the bottom up it doesn't look that bad. But once we are on top...it's a lot further down!

So Mr Jonny got out and helped him down to Dada!!!

And then Mr. Michael helped him and we did this all day! He was in the pool for almost 3 hours!!

What do you get when you add a 2 year old + a plastic lid + a lint slot in a dryer = 2 days of trying to get the stupid lid out of the dryer fan with a hanger and pliers. Yup..our 2 year old thought it would be fun (fun for him) to put a lid in the dryer lint slot and see where it would go. I was taking the clothes out and noticed a lid on the floor. I put the clothes in the other room, came back and noticed my 2 year old looking in the dryer lint slot and no lid on the floor. I asked Neil where the lid went and he pushed open the slot and pointed with his oh so cute finger into it. So I took him out of the room and asked him again where the lid went. I guess I was thinking if I took him out of the room, maybe he would point somewhere else, or say he didn't know. But he took my hand, walked me right back into the laundry room, pushed open the dryer vent and pointed. He looked up at me like, I already told you this, but I guess I have to repeat myself. So I turned the dryer on and within 10 min, I heard the evidence! A loud noise and a funny smell.

So Coby and I spent 2 days (4 hours each day) digging this lid out and we got it. Did I also mention that the cat litter box is in that room and it was a very small room and the floor was very yucky..to put it nicely. But, we got it out and the dryer is all good!

Thought this might amaze you.....can you see the BUS in the picture? I'll help you out a little...it's yellow and it's way way up there. Well, Neil is amazed with yellow school buses. We go outside every day (OK maybe every other day) at 3:15 and watch the school bus drive down our street. He LOVES them!! He can spot them out anywhere. Well, as I was driving Neil started to yell "BUS" and wouldn't stop. So because he has amazing eyes, I grabbed my camera and just snapped this picture and thought when I brought it home, I would see if he really saw the bus. I kid you not, he can find the "needle (bus) in the haystack." So as I was looking at this picture..there is was..the bus. Well, we just saved some money on a visit to the eye Dr. to see if his eyes are OK...I think they're GREAT! (click on the picture to make it big, and you'll see the bus)

OK....now the Monkey. This might look like an innocent picture of a cute little boy in his crib. But oh...no! This baby cage that is leaning on his book shelf was in front of his door and Neil was in our room with us just 2 min. prior. We DID NOT move the cage and we DID NOT put Neil in his bed. So does anyone want to suggest how my 2 year old (monkey) did this?? Let me also add, Coby and I had no idea he had even left our room. Neil had no scratches on him, no tears in his eyes and got in his bed in less then 2 min. Oh yes Grandma (my mother thinks this) he does have "circus blood" in him! He somehow moved the cage, got in his bed and finished with a smile! He is a performer!

Joy

2009-05-07T05:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I know I haven't written much since Neil has been home. I think sometimes I can express joy and excitement through pictures a little better!

But I thought I might just share with you something great that has been going on with Neil and I. As you all know....attachment sometimes can be an issue with adopted children. Most children enter their forever family and are not sure how to express their emotion of love and joy in reference to attachment. Usually they kind of just go with the flow and are not sure of their mama and Dada's hugs and kisses. They like them..but are not sure what they are and the fact that love is attached to them, can mean very little.

Coby and I have been BLESSED and a I mean blessed that Neil came to our family with inner joy and love. I know it's because God put it in him! It was always my prayer from the very first moment we thought to adopt, my prayer was that God would place JOY in Neil's heart and soul. If you have meet him, you will know that is what flows out of him.

Just last week at BSF, Neil's teacher told me after class that Neil giggles all the time. Whenever they do an activity, he giggles through it. She asked if he is always like this and I told her, "from day ONE!" He is very active, but JOY seams to just bounce out of him. I am grateful to God for installing that in him from a very young age.

Well, as far as attachment, Neil has been fine. He loved Coby from day one and showed it and as for me...I have always been content with his affections that he returns to me.

But last Tuesday (a week ago before all the rain), something happened that I didn't even realize was something I needed. I believe God knows my inner thoughts and my heart without even at times asking or praying for it. Sometime He just gives it. And He did!

I was cutting the lawn in the back yard and Neil was pushing his car alongside the mower pretending to be cutting the grass too. Well, I ended up going all the way to the end of the row, and he got stuck at the start of it. I turned around and saw him standing there crying his eyes out...of course I couldn't hear him due to the lawnmower....but I could see it all over his face. I turned the mower off and went to him and realized he was fine, but his car was stuck in a hole and he couldn't push it and was upset about it. So as EVERY 2 year old does, he expressed it in tears.

I reach down pick him up and he immediately laid his head on my shoulder, put his arms around my neck and wrapped his legs around my waist. He held on so tight and continued to cry and speak in rubbish through his tears telling me what happened. I just said, "I'm sorry" and "I know" and "that was frustrating, right?" and he just kept saying, "ya."

About a min went by and I went to put him down because his tears stopped and I asked him if he was all better? And he said, "NO" and tightened his grip.

OK.....that's never happened. He is usually quick to recover and quick to run away and go back to playing, but this time, he said no.

So I stood in the back yard up against the fence that backs up to the farm and pond behind us and held him for 20 min!

Usually there are cows around and I could point to them and that would distract him, but the cows were not out today. No neighbors were out, just Neil and I, the sunshine, cool breeze and God.

We were silent for the first 5 min or so, and then a song came to mind...Holy Holy Holy. So I started to hum the song and Neil joined in. Every time I took a breath, he started in on his part. He never raised his head, he never loosened his grip around me and I didn't move from my spot for 20 min. It was a God given moment that I have always wanted, but didn't know I was missing! My son wanted me to hold him, love him, sing to him and just let him know that he was the most important thing to me at that moment, nothing else mattered. (not even my aching back!!)

So since then, Neil and I have had a few more of these moments...not as long....I don't think my back could hold up....but moments of holding each other.

Isn't is amazing that God gives us our inner desires even when we think that what we have is enough. God says, "I have BETTER for you." I thought the love Neil has been giving us has been enough and great, but that 20 min holding him and Neil holding me back showed me that I should never think that God can not give me better. He only wants the BEST for us and he gave me that with a hug from my son!

Some Family Pictures from the Zoo

2009-04-27T09:42:00.001-07:00

Family Pictures

2009-04-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

Since pictures are what I love most!!!! We have more! We had pictures taken a few weeks ago for Neil's second birthday. Also, since Coby and I celebrated 10 years of marriage...we had a few taken of just the two of us. We went back to Uchida Photography and Tom who took our coming home pictures, took these as well.
Enjoy!
http://www.koriu.com/index2.php
go to proofing and the password is "neil hollis"

Elmo

2009-04-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

I thought I would do a separate blog just of the "before" Elmo and "after" Elmo. Neil LOVED LOVED LOVED Elmo!!!

Neil's first sight at Elmo!!

Neil ran to Elmo!

kiss kiss!!

then the other kids joined in!

Elmo dancing!

Neil dancing with Elmo!

Some of the kids!

Elmo and Barb

Elmo and Safta Datya

Elmo and Kevin

Bubble time!!!

My wonderful friends..Barb and her daughter Sarah and Hopie!

and Jenny another wonderful friend!!

Neil loves kisses from the girls!

My sweet friend Meredith who I met on my trip to Moldova and has been with me every step of the way! You are a God sent!

By the time we opened presents, Neil was sucking his fingers and ready for a nap!

Great Uncle Moe sent him a cool 4 wheeler!!!

and Kevin and Hopie and Sam and Clay gave him a great table!!!

a bag of wonderful goodies from Uncle Wes, Silvia, Wesley, Emi, Becca and Hunter!!!

Probably the most special gift of the day came from Neil's 4 cousins from San Diego. They each made him a hand made card and taped a $1 in each one from their own money so Neil could go get an ice cream! That was sooooo sweet of them! Thank you Wesley, Emilia, Rebecca and Hunter!

Neil's 2nd Birthday Party!!!

2009-04-03T09:21:00.001-07:00

(to see the pictures full size click on the picture)

Neil's truck cake

Mama, Neil and Dada.....first birthday as a Ginsberg!!

Elmo woke Neil up the morning of his birthday and Neil LOVED it!!

Neil and his BEST friend Elmo!

Party Prepping!!

My mom (Mamaw) made awesome truck table clothes!!

Jonny and Jenny (she is having a baby!!!) Pat, Mamaw and Pete

Jimmy, Katie and Logan....good friends of ours!

Fun on the patio!! Kevin and Hopie with Sam and Clay and Logan on the slide!

Welcoming everyone!

Neil checking out the cake with his friend Michael!

$20 says Neil CAN blow the candle out...

Big breath.....

and he BLEW OUT THE CANDLE ON THE FIRST TRY!!!

Such a big boy!!

Yeah!!! Michael Neil and Christie

Carrie and Michael and Brian...and Silas is in there somewhere....

Some of our guests!

Yvette and her daughter Jasmine

Karen and her twin boys Jack and Oliver

Safta Datya came all the way from California!!

Neil and his buds!

Neil and our Butler Henry...

Neil's first day at BSF (Bible Study Fellowship)

2009-04-01T10:27:00.001-07:00

Now that Neil is 2...he gets to go with me to BSF!! I have been waiting for this for a very VERY long time. Considering I have been apart of BSF for 6 1/2 years and my mother has been apart of it for over 25 years....this is very exciting!

When he got there he was very excited! We greeted his teacher at the door and when she went to hug him he put out his hand so she would take it and then he pulled her in the classroom ready to play! Neil is all about taking our hands and taking us to what he wants and then showing us what he wants to play..it is very cute!

I saw him run up to a little girl and start playing with her and then they went to a table and sat down and they both started to play..it was way cute!

For those of you who aren't to sure of what BSF is....check it out! http://www.bsfinternational.org/ it is a wonderful study of the Bible and it is non-denominational and it is wonderful! We are studding the life of Moses this year and we are almost done. It has been an amazing year being on the journey with the Israelites and Moses and Aaron and God! My love for the study of the old testament deepened this year!

The children's program starts at 2 and Neil will learn what I am learning...but at a 2 year old level. He was so excited when I picked him up and obedient and ready to meet everyone and then go home and have some quiet time. (that's what we call nap time...I think it has a more positive ring to it!)

So here is Neil about 5 min ago.....he is out cold! After 2 hours of BSF....he is ready to sleep!

(oh.....birthday pictures are coming soon.......you know I have to work on them before posting them, I have to get them just right!)

A Year Ago

2009-03-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

It dawned on me today as I looked out the window and saw TONS of SNOW coming down and the air is FREEZING that this day reminded me of something.......

So I quickly ran upstairs and looked at our blog from a year ago and there it was.....the day we met our son Neil. Of course Nashville would be freezing yesterday and today snow off and on all day. Do you think God was allowing me to remember something?? Maybe??

Actually, it was last year, yesterday that Coby and I were introduced to our "pretty" son. Remember that? The Dr. telling us that the orphanage helpers called Neil the pretty boy because....well....he was. Pretty that is. We played with him and held him and watched him try to walk and hold our hand for help just to get up.

Now, today he holds our hand and drags us all over the house. Seems that he can't go anywhere without Mama or Dada's hand holding his.

Time does pass by quickly and this past year has been no exception. Just in the past year, we went to Russia twice and brought home our son and now we are getting ready to celebrate his first birthday with us as he turns two!! Just one day after Coby and I celebrate (and I mean CELEBRATE!!!) our 10 years of marriage. Wow..now that time has passed by FAST!

We are doing great and we are loving Neil more and more every day and starting to think.....maybe again?? Is it in us to do this all over again? Who knows, only God and HE and He alone would have to open that door and push us through if we were given the green light.

We have an exciting week ahead with both Grandma's visiting for Neil's 2nd birthday! We can't wait and we know it will be very exciting and fun. Coby is still coaching baseball at school and it keeps him very busy and us as well. We have made all but one of the games and it's been fun. Neil loves it! I am staying busy with my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and Neil, and the dogs and the cat and the home...you moms out there understand!

So basically we are well and just enjoying our parenthood and awaiting the next adventure that the Lord calls us to.

Our little Slugger

2009-03-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Coby is one of the Assistant Coaches for the boys baseball team at the high school he is teaching at. And LOVING it!!! Before the season started, they went out and got the field ready for the season and of course Neil went and had a great time. We can't figure out..lefty or righty?? Obviously Dada says, lefty!

Neil's surgery play by play...

2009-02-24T07:13:00.000-08:00

Arriving at Vandi with turtle in hand and not a clue of what is about to happen..

checked in and waiting to go

Dada and Neil play time...no, Coby did not break the chair...strong chair!

Children's Hospital at Vandi is great!!!

...still waiting!

and waiting...

we waited for a long time!!

Checked into our room and Neil watched TV for a total of 5 seconds. For those of you that know..Neil has no interest in TV at all.

Wrist band on..check! Fingers in mouth...check! Turtle....check! Blanket..oh ya, check!

Dada filling out paperwork and Neil still waiting

Mama putting socks on and Neil taking them off..that went on for a while!

Dada and Neil being silly as always!

Nurse Betsy let Neil listen to his heart and he liked it!! Hum...Dr. Ginsberg?? His Great Grandfather was Dr. Robert Ginsberg..he would have been proud!

Mama loving on the baby!

Dada, Neil, turtle and blanket rocking

Again...Neil taking a look at the TV right before they took him back.

Mommy and Daddy getting something to eat while waiting.

Finding silly things to do while we wait.

Well, we are back home now and this is the Elmo...or as Neil calls it "Melmo" balloon that he woke up from surgery looking at and it made him smile...until he felt the IV in his foot, blood pressure monitor around his leg, realized he had no clothes on and lots of "tape" around his private area....yes, the tears came quick and loud and long! Mommy and Daddy were good through it all, but Neil has never held me so tight in all his life! Good thing he will not remember, but Mom and Dad sure will!

Well, Neil woke up this morning still a little fussy...but within a few min and some pain medicine...he is back to running around like his usual self. Thanks for all your prayers for peace, and strength! God held us up through this and we are very thankful!

Neil is going in for the "snip snip"

2009-02-21T07:35:00.000-08:00

Well, you can all be in prayer and thought Monday morning around 9:30 when little Neil will have his surgery that is long over due. We will be at Vandi and they have told us that it should be very quick. Neil will have to be put under, but not for too long.

Well, besides that we are all doing great! Coby has been in Cali since Thursday and will be home tonight! I can't wait! He was there with the principle of his school, a few teachers and admin staff. They along with about 300 other school staff were there for a conference in Long Beach. Coby sent me a picture of the sun set over the ocean and totally rubbed it in. I on the other hand was breaking up craziness between Neil, Trot and Pebbles. Coby soooo owes me!

Well, we got our 6 month Post Placement paperwork off and I am glad that is done! One down, 3 to go!

Well, for now, that's about it. I wish I had more time to write, but I am still finding most of my time chasing and playing with Neil and having a blast!

Coby and I are reading through a book with 3 other couples who each have one child and they are all about the same age. the name of the book is "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Ted Tripp. If you are a parent of a child ANY age, I highly recommend reading this book and if possible with a support group of parents! There are even questions at the end of each chapter.

Until then...

My sweet friend Jennifer

2009-02-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

This is my dear friend who at the age of 34 passed away last night.

Please be in prayer for her husband Pete and her twin sister Jessica and her parents these next few days. Jennifer had been battling breast cancer these past few years. Then these last few months it moved to her liver and last night, her battle ended.

Jennifer and her twin sister Jessica have been friends of mine since Kindergarten. We have been through more then most friendships go through....but I am grateful for that, because it made it stronger. And in the end, it was sweet!

Today, I wear a tee shirt that Jennifer gave me a while ago that says,
"I Wear Pink for Jennifer Uwarow, Proverbs 3:5-6"

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

I love you my friend, I will miss you, but I will find joy in knowing you are with your Maker and Redeemer and Heavenly Father. I can't wait to join you there one day! Praise God that He showed you grace these past few days and now He holds you in His arms...what a sweet thought!

3 Best Friends....Jessica, Jennifer and myself dressed in their mom's nightgowns as little girls.

Interested in reading her story, here is a link to her blog she wrote while battling cancer:
http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewJournal.do?method=executeInit

Looking for a new home for Trot

2009-02-03T13:22:00.000-08:00

We are looking for a new home for Trot. He has been with us for a few years now and we LOVE him! If you or someone you know is interested in more info about Trot, shoot Coby or I am e-mail and we can give you the details.

Here is our "Ode-to-Trot Nixon Bryant Ginsberg"

Trot in the snow on our deck.

Trot, Neil and Pebbles. The "Three Amigo's"

Trot with Pebbles doing the "cookie counting"

Trot loves to sit on the couch with his back legs up and his front paws on the floor.

Trot, Miss Hope and Neil

I'm King of the Hill!!!

Our sweet Trot!!

Pebbles and Trot...

Obama

2009-02-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

This was Neil's expression when I told him that we were going to be in our PJ's all day in front of the TV watching Obama's swearing in.....I don't think he was too thrilled.

The only smile I got was when former President Bush (the first) walked in! Hmmm....Republican? That's what mommy's hoping for!!

Didn't seem too interested....but it still was a great historical day!

OK....for those of you who have followed our blog for some time now.....notice anything in this picture that has not moved in over 13 MONTHS!!!! (if you need a hint go back to blog dated: 12/7/07!!!!) Someone told me that he was going to install crown molding in my powder room....let's just say the crown molding is NOT up yet.

(This is Coby.....all I have to say is whatever! Brandy asked me to leave it in the box because she liked the way it looked next to the TV. :-) )

Sanctity of Life Service

2009-01-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday..Coby, I and Neil were apart of a very special ceremony at our church. It was the Sanctity of Life Service. It is once a year that our church recognizes the Right to Life. They ask all the families who have adopted or if they themselves have been adopted to come up on the stage at church.

We were very honored to walk in first of at least 30 families. We held a candle representing Neil's life. We are VERY VERY grateful to God for our son and ALL his blessings!

We are also very grateful to a young lady in a very small town called Novokuznetsk, Russia that decided to give birth to Neil. In her eyes he might have been a mistake. But in our eyes, he is a miracle!

Thank you to those people out there that fight for the right of every living soul. It is because of a choice of life, we have our beautiful healthy handsome blessing...we have our Neil.

Mothers by adoption....

Daddy and Neil waiting to walk in

Almost ready

Neil LOVED the music and at one point started swaying back and forth to it

At the end of the song, the church stood and clapped for us. Neil thought he would join in with the clapping and gave them all his cute smile!

It is with this life that I am most grateful and humbled to have and hold. Thank you God, for my wonderful husband and my sweet sweet son!

Christmas in California & First Hair Cut!!

2009-01-01T07:14:00.000-08:00

Thought I might start by saying that I bought Coby season one for Christmas and we watched it on the plane ride to Cali and laughed so hard that Christmas morning I was given this as my Christmas gift from Coby...... hummm do you think there was a hidden agenda somewhere??

Our First Christmas...in California at my parents house

Neil and Daddy

On the plane to Cali!! Neil did great! We left so early we left his PJ's on him

Neil and Mommy

Christmas in Nashville the Saturday night before Christmas

Neil's first hair cut. I had my hair stylist cut his hair for the first time because KC cut my hair when I was 13 for the first time. YUP!! My mom let me grow my hair out past my bottom and then gave me a bob when I turned 13!! KC and Sherri (her co-worker) has cut my hair ever since! Thanks KC...Neil looks great!!

The before look....

He sat in Coby's lap the entire time and LOVED it!! I think at one point he almost fell asleep it felt sooooo good!

Yes...he has his finger in his nose..whatever works!

All gone. We kept it a little long...but the mullet look got cut off

Neil, Daddy, KC and Mommy!! Thanks again KC!

Playing with his toy that Uncle Wes and Aunt Silvia gave him. It was a Nerf rocket launcher and he loved it!!!

Out to lunch with Mamaw and Grandpa...real California Mexican food.

Neil left milk, cookies and a note for Santa. Of course on the BEST plate ever!! Did anyone see the Rose Bowl game yesterday??

Grandma helping Neil pull his cars from underneath the furniture.

Christmas morning!!

Neil helped Grandpa open his weed whacker

Oh ya...that was fun getting home

Daddy got mommy reindeer antlers....very funny

Looking good Christmas day

Great Grandpa Hollis.. Neil gave him a pocket watch with a fire truck on it and engraved with his name. GG Hollis is a retired Fireman from LA.

Grandpa and Mamaw and Neil!! Thanks for letting us come for my first Christmas!!

This is what Coby thinks is funny...

2008-12-18T09:27:00.000-08:00

Coby thought it would be funny to put the mullet on Pebbles and Neil. Neil thought it was great...Pebbles, not so much.

A year ago...

2008-12-11T20:13:00.001-08:00

Coby and I were thinking this past weekend where we were a year ago and what was going on in our lives. A year ago, Saturday was the day we got the call about our first little boy, Andrei and that he was sick with AIDS. Coby and I couldn't believe that it has already been a year.

The last update we heard about him was in August. He is still living in the Baby Home that he was in...the same one as Neil. He was actually in the hospital because he was ill the days that we were there to pick up Neil.

Coby and I think about Andrei off and on and his picture is still front and center on our frig at home. When I look at it, I smile. Knowing how sweet and happy he was and that because of him...we have our Neil. Not to take one ounce of credit from the Lord...but due to the circumstances of his illness, we were given Neil.

I pulled out our Christmas decorations this week and found a family picture with Andrei in it and we put it up just to remember him.

Isn't is beautiful to think that a year ago sitting in our agencies office and hearing this awful news, God was holding Coby and I whispering to us so softly..."just wait, I have something else in store for you, trust me."

That was a hard day..but a great day! I will always remember what my good friend Pat told me that day a year ago. She told me, "When we are in our lowest moments, it could be God's finest moment."

And it was! He opened to door to our Neil!

When is Santa coming.......??

2008-12-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

All this waiting is killing me!!!

Thanksgiving and Christmas Tree Shopping

2008-12-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

Pebbles and Neil...he thinks he has to feed the dogs

Yes.....Neil has tasted the dog food a few times

Neil feeding Trot

Everyone eating from the same bowl

Picking out the Christmas tree

Putting the lights on

Helping Daddy

Neil tree and Mommy

Neil tree and Daddy

Welcome Natalia Bella!!!

2008-12-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I just got a call from my older brother to tell me that I am an aunt...again! They did not tell anyone the sex of the baby nor did they know before the birth.

Well, around 2:58pm California time, little Natalia Bella Hebner was welcomed into the world! She was 9lbs, 7oz...lots of dark hair and my sister in law Lucy and baby are doing well!!!

The exciting thing about this is tomorrow is my brother and my grandmothers birthday!

Congratulations Dean, Lucy, Ben and Olivia for the new addition to the family! God continues his blessings on your family!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIA BELLA!!!

Fires in California

2008-11-15T10:59:00.001-08:00

Some pictures my mom took of the Sylmar fires...

My parents back yard..you can see a little green on the bottom right. The fire stoped at the brick wall.

My mother drove this road while it was on fire!

You can see the fire line going from the back yard back up the hill.

All the ash inside the house.

More of the back yard.

The burn hole from the deck attached to the house. This picture is standing on the deck in front of the french door, looking down to the first floor.

******UPDATE!!
My dad and brother returned to my parents house about 30 min ago and said that the house is still there!!! Praise God! There are some trees in the front yard that were burnt and one in the back yard. My parents have a wooden deck off the back of the house and the furniture on it looks like it has burn damage, but the deck is fine..therefore the house is fine. They are still without power and the smoke is very thick! Oh..Barney the cat is fine. Thank you for your prayers and once again God has shown grace on my family!******

It seams like I have posted something like this once before, but this time the fires are hitting a little too close to home.

My parents have evacuated and are at my brothers house in Granada Hills. The Sylmar fires are right in my parents back yard. If you have been watching the updates at all, you are hearing about a mobile home park that has lost 60+ homes and still burning. Well, there are over 600 homes there and they are reporting that they all might be gone.

My parents live right "next door" to this. They live to the west. My mother evacuated this morning around 4:30am her time. I was awoken this morning to her call to let me know. She parked at the bottom of the hill and waited to hear any more updates.

Then the fire started to come in the direction that she was at, so she decided to return home quickly to grab a few more items and her cat. She was able to grab the items, but not the cat. This is actually my cat Barney. We adopted him right before Coby and I moved to Nashville. We thought it was not smart to bring him across country, so we left him with my parents. He truly is my mom's cat now, but when I go home to visit...Barney and I can't get enough of each other. Barney also got his name in line with Bambam and Pebbles...our next animal was going to be Fred....but Trot was already named.

So on her way out the door, she said she couldn't even see the drive way and leaving the neighborhood, the side of the road caught fire. She had to drive 'through' it but was OK.

At this point, it seams that there could be a possible 2 homes that have burned on their street and we don't really know anything else. My High School- Sylmar High is a rescue center and they are giving the updates about the homes.

Please pray for protection of their home and their neighbors. That God will change the direction of the wind and that my parents will make wise decisions with what to do no matter the outcome. I have evacuated from that home once when I was in high school and it was very scary. The fire came to the back yard fence and the the wind changed direction and our home was sparred. Pray for that again!

I will keep you all updated...brandy

Neil's First Halloween!!!

2008-11-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

I went as a new mommy....do I look tired enough? Coby went as a Thrasher Hockey player...mullet and all! Sweet Neil went as a Lion Cub!

So here is the night from dressing him all the way to trick-or-treating..

Trot really wanted to come!!

What in the world are you putting on that baby??

We taught Neil to Roarrr like a lion!

First layer on..

More roarrrring..

Wow mom...what's this??

I'll help you mommy...here I'll put my arm through..

Where do you think you are putting that???

on my head??

OK.... it's not that bad.

Daddy...your mullet is scaring me...

This feels good mommy...I'll sit very still

He was trying to look at what I was doing cross-eyed

Oh yeah...I am the cutest Lion Cub EVER!

Hey...no pictures till I am out of make-up!!

Mommy...you did a good job!

Who's there daddy??

I want to see...

Can I go with them??

Daddy said I have to wait just a little longer to go out.

My friend Savannah and I went out to about 50 houses!

I had soooooo much fun!!

Having lots of fun!

Neil had a blast!!! I was thinking of practicing with Neil and showing him how to walk up to the door, knock and say trick-or-treat and thank you and all of that stuff that a 'perfect' little Lion Cub would do...but we just didn't have time.

So we winged it and Neil had a BLAST!!! Our neighbor across the street Savannah and Miss Becky went with us and it ended up being a wonderful evening!!! We started around 6:30 and came home around 8pm.

Savannah and Neil went up to every door, they both knocked (Neil knows how to knock on the door) and after putting his bucket up there and getting candy, Neil would roarrr like a lion real loud and then say 'bye-bye' and walk away. I think he got the hang of it!

Sorry for all the start to finish pictures, I promised the Grandmas and Grandpa that I would send a lot! Hope you all had fun and your tummies are not hurting too much this morning!!!

Happy 19th months Neil!!!

2008-10-21T11:46:00.001-07:00

Mommy, Daddy and I went to Smiley Hollow this Sunday night with our church. It was our first 'Family' outing and we had a blast!!!!

Mommy, Daddy and I went on a hay ride pulled by a tractor! Yup...daddy's allergies went CRAZY!!

Daddy and I looking at all the great things on the hay ride!

Hum....what is that big blue cotton looking thing???

Daddy...are your allergies going to be OK on the hay ride??

Nope!! I smile enough...I am not smiling for this picture!!

Cool!! What is this??

Mommy said that I can eat it...OK...I'll give it a try!!

Here goes nothing!!!

Muuuummmmm!! This is AMAZING!!!

Can I eat ALL of it...I wonder what will happen if I do? Maybe it will give me more energy!!

Mommy....take me off of this smelly thing!! I only ride my doggies!!

Thanks mom...I feel better now!

Nope...still not smiling!

Mommy and Daddy and I went on our first picnic and I think there was a gnat in my food!!

Check out my shades!

This is some of Mommy's BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) group from last year..they all loved on me and we had BBQ for lunch! Thanks Miss Brielle, Ashley, Nesha, Jennifer and Catherine!!! You were a blast to hang out with!

This is my dog Pebbles and I love to climb on her and read her dog tags. She loves me even though she is not smiling in this picture!

I have just figured out that if I lay on my belly and read my book, it is soooo much more fun!!

Coming Home Pictures!!

2008-10-17T21:11:00.001-07:00

Remember that first family picture that we posted??? At the airport??? The one of the 2 grandma's and Coby I and the 'Ever So Sweet' baby Neil Hollis???

Well....... we have more!!!

If you want to see all the pictures from the airport taken by an AMAZING Photographer Tom...then check it out!! And if you see any you like...go ahead and make a purchase!

Coby and I decided to have a photographer there at the airport for a few reasons. Being in the photography 'stuff' myself...I really felt that capturing this moment RIGHT was very important to me. Also, Coby and I wanted to remember this GREAT GREAT moment forever and we wanted to be able to share it with EVERYONE who had prayed for us and walked this VERY LONG road with us!! To say it best...ALL OF YOU!

Enjoy them and you might want tissue near by...I did!

Click this: http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/ThumbAccess.aspx?e=4217715
If you are asked for a password: neil hollis (make sure there is a space between the names)

Pictures Pictures and more Pictures!!!

2008-10-07T10:38:00.001-07:00

Our Family!!! (as Neil sees them)
Mamaw, Cousin Emi, Grandpa, Cousin Becca, Aunt Lucy (baby to be??), Cousin Olivia, Uncle Dean, Aunt Silvia, Cousin Wesley, Mommy, Daddy, 'Me', Uncle Michael, Aunt Dana, Cousin Ben, Uncle Wes, Cousin Hunter, Softa

Neil LOVED his cousin's pool in San Diego!!! He didn't want to get out!!

Neil surprised his 90 year old Great Grandpa Hollis and Great Grandma Thelma. We just showed up at their door! They couldn't believe it!! And yes, there were tears! (notice my short-short hair!!!!!)

Neil wearing GG Hollis' Cowboy hat!

Seriously mom....no more pictures!!!

Neil's cousin Hunter is 9mo. old and weighs 25 pounds!!! Neil is just under 23!!! Neil taught Hunter how to crawl and it was sooooo cute! We have named them Quarterback Neil and Center Hunter!

Mamaw giving Neil cookies!

These are my two brothers and their families! Now with Neil there are 7 grand children and one on the way!!!

Emi (4 1/2), Ben (4 1/2), Wesley (6 1/2)
Olivia (2), Hunter (9 mo.), Becca (2 1/2), Neil (18 mo.)

We took the lemon away from Neil... my mom told me that I used to cry in all my pictures!

My brother Wes' 4 kids and Neil.

Hunter...9mo. Neil.......18mo. double the age, half the size!

Olivia and Emi playing in a big box of Grandma's pinto beans!!!

Neil and Daddy....I love this picture!

Neil loving on Oma and Opa's new puppies!!!

Uncle Michale, Aunt Dana, Oma, Opa, Daddy, Mommy and Me! This is Coby's family!

Neil's cousin Ben walked in and Neil walked up to him and held him and looked at him and would not let him go. It was very very cute! Uncle Dean is sooooooooo strong!!

Neil meeting Grandpa for the first time. Neil LOVED him! He always wanted to play with him and sit with him and talk with him........just look at the pictures, they tell you everything!

Great Uncle Moe from Colorado sent Neil a 5 foot giraffe for his nursery! Neil loved to look at him and pet him and is not scared of him one bit! Thanks Great Uncle Moe!!!

Love these!!!

Back from California!!!!

2008-10-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

Yup...we went to California!

We wanted to post all the details of the trip...but we were surprising a few people, so we couldn't even post that we were going.

Our reason for going was because of the death of Coby's step-dad. (see blog below) and we ended up being able to stay a little longer and introduce Neil to all of my family!!!

Neil Met: Grandpa, Uncle Wes and Aunt Silvia, Cousin Wesley, Emi, Becca and Hunter, Uncle Dean, Aunt Lucy, Cousin Ben and Olivia, Great- Grandpa Hollis, Great- Grandma, Great Aunt Nicki, Great Uncle Jimmy, Great Aunt Lana, Second Cousin Sarah, Aunt Dana, Uncle Michael, Oma and Opa, Cherri(who cut my hair so short!!!) ALL the BSF leaders at my mom's day class!!!

So it was a crazy week! We left last Thursday and just got home last night!

Neil had his first hamburger and of course it was an IN-IN-OUT BURGER!!! The best in the world....Neil said so and he would know! His first swimming in a pool...loved it kept sticking his head under the water! Jumping on the biggest trampling....loved it! He taught his 9 month old cousin Hunter how to crawl. He fell in love with his Grandpa...always wanted Grandpa! Ran around my parents house like a mad man with his 7 other cousins and loved every min!!! Visited San Diego, Long Beach and The Valley.

Basically...he did great and had a great time!!! I will post pictures of the week as soon as I can!! It was a great trip and one to NEVER forget!

Dr. visit #2

2008-09-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday we had Dr. visit number two and it went good. They had to take blood from Neil, so of course Coby went with me. Coby had the privilege of holding him down while they did it. Neil didn't mind the prick...but hated to be held down. And he had one shot! But as far as we know...A-OK! Neil also experienced his first blue sucker! He loved it! He didn't know what it was until we put it in his mouth and he got a taste of it...and then that was it! He put it in, pull it out, put it in, pull it out...until it was gone! He loved it! Blue lips, teeth, mouth and fingers! After he was done, he put his fingers in to suck them, so of course they turned blue too.

OK...here is the great thing! I won $20!

When I went to our last Dr. appointment, they gave me a 'hat' and a little plastic cup and said that they needed a urine sample. OK....that sounds like fun!

So of course...I put it off! Until yesterday when I realized it was now or never!

So I took everything off him but his socks, put the 'hat' on the toilet seat. Applied one of our toilet seat tops for kids and put him on it. Well...we sat there and he unrolled the toilet paper.... talked to me....and just hung out. Those of you who have not seen our powder room, I decided to paint it Tiffany blue. So here is Neil...naked, with green striped socks sitting in the Tiffany bathroom trying to pee...YES! I took pictures and they are adorable!

So Coby was showering and I decided that I would let Coby wash him before the Dr. apt. and maybe the water running would help. Coby bet me there was NO WAY that Neil would pee sitting on the toilet.

Well.....guess who won $20? ME!! Right after the shower, I brought Neil back to toilet, sat him on it and seconds later we both look down and we were both amazed! Our 18mo old peed on the toilet! There were hi fives going around, happy dances and it was a great moment!

Anyway...besides that all is well! We are trying to not get sick, get rest and just love love love of Neil as much as we can!

Family

2008-09-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here right now thinking about family. I am thinking about my parents, Coby mom, my brothers and sister in laws, nieces and nephews...and all my extended family and how much they all mean to me! They hold special places in my heart that if you place all of them together it creates joy in my spirit!

Coby's step father passed away. He died a few weeks ago and we have just been told this week. He passed away on September 2nd in Long Beach, California.

I know I have not talked much about Coby's family in my blog, so to give you a quick run down and be respectful at the same time, here goes. Coby's father, Neil, passed away when Coby was very young...3 years old. Coby's mother re-married a man named Jerry when Coby was about 5 and they were married till Coby went to college.

Coby and his step fathers relationship was not all that great, so I don't want to go into details, but I do want to express to you all that Coby's mom and Coby are very sad about his death.

I had the opportunity of meeting him a few times and he was very nice. I wish I could say more, but I only had a few times of meeting with him. Please keep Coby's mom in your prayers this coming week as she has a lot on her plate and this is very emotional for her. Please pray for Coby as well as he helps and encourages his mom during this time. They both need energy and clarity in their decisions!

Another family off to Russia!!!

2008-09-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

I get so excited when I hear court dates!!!

Another family that is adopting 2 little sisters from the same orphanage Neil came from got a court date!!! October 9th! The amazing thing is she has been waiting since December 2007! They went over almost 3 months before us and they finally got a court date!

Please keep Jeff and Jenny and her sweet girls in your prayers these next 20 days as they get ready for CRAZINESS!!!! (there blog is right there on the left side...Jeff and Jenny...just click on to read)

As for us...we are still going strong. Quick update with Neil...he has picked up one of my faces! And let me tell you it is not the smiling face that I give him 99% of the time, it is the stern look I give him when I want him to obey. He gave it back to me the other day when he was done eating and I thought he wasn't. OH BOY! Coby and I looked at each other and Coby said, "that's the look you give me!" Gee...great!!

So now I have to think about the faces I look at him with, because he is giving them right back to me and at the right time. The things kids pick up!

Oh....notice the change with the blog??? How could you not. :-) I logged on the other day and BAM! This is what showed up! My friend Holly (the secret blogger that went on and posted pictures....very sneaky!!) did this for us! It is beautiful! Hope you all enjoy it and hey...if anyone is interested in a make over scroll down to the VERY bottom of our blog and you can click on her blog! Check it out! Thanks again Holly...that was a pleasant surprise!

Happy Thursday everyone! Congrats Jenny, Jeff, Sugar and Spice!!!!!

3 week update...2 weeks home!

2008-09-11T23:34:00.001-07:00

Here are some updates for those of you who are interested...

I always thought that I would get home and not blog as much, but I am getting so many phone calls and e-mails and house guests...that I think I need to update you all!!! AND..I have LOST MY VOICE! Coby had to come home from work on Tuesday and I was in bed half of the day with a sore throat and a VERY bad tummy ache! My voice is still not back..and it is 1:30am and I am wide awake...so here goes!

His Dr. appointment on Monday went great! Dr said that as far as he can tell (without labs being done yet) Neil is doing great. Lots of energy! No visible signs of problems on his body! He is eating great! (pretty much whatever is put in front of him) He has gained a pound and a half since he has been home! (even with the diarrhea...yeah, that's a lot of fun!)

I have to say real quick...every adopting mom has told me about the 'messy diapers' (I hate using the "D" word) when they get home and they are BIG and STINKY and last sometimes up to just about a month. Well.....so far, they are all true! They are just getting smaller and fewer..but they are still gross! Coby and I are at the point that we rock-paper-scissors over who has the next dirty dipper!

OK...back to the update

My Sunday school class at church has been AMAZING and our ADOPT class at church has been fabulous with bringing us dinners and even breakfast!! We are still getting dinners up until Saturday night! Let me tell you who else has gained weight since they have been home???!!! But WAY MORE then a pound and a half!

We have gone out to dinner with a handful of friends...Red Robbin (as you saw the pictures), Dos Margaretta's (don't worry...it's just a Mexican restaurant), The Puffy Muffin (just today! Thanks ladies!! I miss you all!!!) and a few others and Neil loves it!!

We have visited some old jobs and seen some friends and Neil even went to Sunday school on Sunday for the first time! I even stayed for BOTH services and checked on him once! They said he did great and loves all over them! I'm not surprised....he knows how to get you all! I started my BSF class yesterday and Neil is with a babysitter during that time (THANK YOU BARB!!! You are God sent) and she said he was great! I teach pre-school on Tuesday's at church and Neil comes with me....he loves it!!

We have been to the mall, Wall-Mart, Babies-R-Us, Post Office and many other errands and Neil continues to amaze me at how well he does! And he loves the car! And the stroller!

We have started a night time routine and I honestly think I love it more then Neil...but I think he thinks it is pretty cool too! He gets a HOT bottle of milk (word to the wise...mothers adopting....if the baby doesn't drink milk, zap it in the micro....they will gobble it up if it is hot....not warm...hot! Obviously not BURNING hot...but hot...thought I had to clarify that a little more) OK...I'll continue on now...

He lays in my arms as we rock in our Cracker Barrel rocker in the nursery. (Yes!! All you Californians who are at this point saying, "you got a rocker, not a glider??!!" YUP! I am SOUTHERN now! And hey, a rocker will go great with the furniture latter on better then a big white and blue 'glider thing!') OK...I am going on...

And he drinks all the milk and sits up and lays his head on me and wraps his arms around me and hugs we and we rock for about 15min. and then HE IS OUT!!! YES! This is a big change from the screaming and kicking he did on the plane ride home when I would try to do the same thing to get him to go to sleep. I guess he likes mommy's arms and likes to know that hugs are good and they can even calm you down to the point of going to dreamland!!

So...that's our update! We are going to try and lay low this weekend and enjoy our baby and dinners and of course USC Football on Saturday!!!! FIGHT ON!!! I'll post more pictures soon and I will also let you all know when the professional ones from the airport are done and let you all check those out as well! Love to you all!! Thanks for your concern and always asking how we are doing!!! Because of God's hand and MERCY and GRACE...we are ALL doing well!

OK!!! HERE ARE THE PICTURES!!!

2008-09-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Look what was in our yard when we got home!!!

FIGHT ON USC!!!!

Dave, Kim and the gang in Moscow!!!!

Kim and Neil!!!

Neil and Mommy in the nursery

Neil and David in Moscow

waiting in line to pay to use the potty

18mo clothing doesn't fit yet!

Coby and Neil at Dave and Kim's in Moscow

Mommy and Neil

About 6 hours after we picked him up

The first night with Neil after his bath

First morning in Moscow...'where am I?'

Day before court

Day we picked Neil up
Being a new mom takes a lot of time......need I say more. Here are the last pictures that we will post from Russia along with some ones that we have taken since he has been home!!! Enjoy!!! Thanks Holly for the RR pictures, Neil had a blast!!!

Photos

2008-09-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

Auntie Holly here... People, I log in each day to see photos of Neil, and there's never anything new. I can't be the only one disappointed that there aren't more pictures. Thankfully, I still have the log-in!

Here's Neil enjoying his first Red Robin bottomless fries.

and a little Risky Business shades pose:

I'll do it all....

Moments of Grace

2008-09-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

It's already September 3rd...where has the time gone? We have been home about a week and my has time flown by!

Happy 36th Birthday Uncle Wes!!!!! (just in case I forget tomorrow) Baby Neil can not wait to see you at Thanksgiving!!!

Happy 9th Wedding Anniversary Uncle Dean and Aunt Lucy!!!! (just in case I forget 2 days from now) Can't wait to see you all at Christmas with the newest addition to the growing family!!!

Can I just share with you all my thoughts and my emotion right now??...I am amazed! I had been told many many times over that as soon as Neil was placed in my arms, I would forget the past 2 1/2 years of waiting...well there was truth in that statement. The pain was IMMEDIATELY gone! Mothers in waiting.....Jenny M.....it is true. You very quickly go into mommy mode and there is not even a moment to be thinking about anything else but...move this and move that so Neil doesn't fall into the corner of the table!!!

But, I also don't want to forget the trials of these past years because it is through those trials I have grown and changed. I have realized that through my hard times and the great unknowns the only true known in life is the giver of life...my Savior! ALL glory is given to Him and Him alone for our son.

My prayers that I prayed for Neil every moment I thought about him was that God would put a spirit of joy in Him. That is something that is only from the Lord. God has answered that prayer and then some. Neil can't go a min without a smile and giggle on his face. At his home coming at the airport, he kissed, hugged and laughed at anyone who looked at him. It was such a sweet moment. He knew....he knew that all of you had prayed him home! It was his way of saying 'thank you for thinking and praying for me.' To see all of you at the airport and hug each and everyone of you...I thank you too! To share in that moment with you and the Lord was amazing.

Thank you to those who circled up and prayed with us at the airport. Could we have left there without giving the ultimate thanks the the Lord? No way! Glory was the be given to Him! As we prayed I held my son's foot and opened my eyes to look at him during the prayer. He was starring right at me with this look. Again, he knew. We were thanking God for him! He had just been running around, laughing, kissing, smiling and just having the best moment of his life, but when we bowed our heads to give thanks, he calmed down and took that moment with us.

God, my prayer is that the joy YOU put in him will lead to a life service of joy in serving YOU!

Thank you all for your involvement in this. Your gifts, meals, hugs, tears, coffee breaks, phone calls, letters and mostly your endless prayers. I believe it is because of our prayers together that we can rejoice together! AMEN! It is so much sweeter to be united in prayer because then we can see the fruit of our labor together! After all, we are the body of Christ...when we all work together the body brings joy to the Lord!

I want to leave you all with this statement given by a great friend of mine. She too is going through her own trials of life but has the Lord on her side. She continues to amaze me through her strength and endurance in her walk and physical pain. Thank you Jenn and Jess for your words to the Lord that are so lovely!

'My real question needs to change from (the one that continually looms over me), will I die from this?....to Lord, how shall I live? My sister passed along an amazing encouragement to me in one of her emails last week. She wrote in the subject line: ENOUGH FOR TODAY and then quoted Spurgeon:"I have known a brother wanting to vanquish death long before he died. But, brother, you do not want dying grace till dying moments. What would be the good of dying grace while you are yet alive? A boat will only be needful when you reach a river.
Ask for living grace, and glorify Christ thereby, and then you shall have dying grace when dying time comes. Your enemy is going to be destroyed, but not today. there is a great host of enemies to be fought today, and you may be content to to let this one alone for awhile. This enemy will be destroyed, but of the times and the seasons we are in ignorance; our wisdom is to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ as the duty of everyday requires. Take your trials as they come, brother! As the enemies march up slay them, rank upon rank, but if you fail in the name of God to smite the front ranks, and say, "No, I am only careful to prepare for the assault of the rear rank," then you are playing the fool. Leave the final shock of arms till the last adversary advances, and meanwhile hold you your place in the conflict. God will in due time help you to overcome your last enemy, but meanwhile see to it that you overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. If you live well you will die well. That same covenant in which the Lord Jesus gave you life contains also the grant of death, for "All things are yours, whether things present or things to come, or life or death, all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." Please pray for living grace for me, Peter, my family, and for yourself. Thank you for your continued and persevering prayers. I am thankful to God for His once again displayed deliverance.

May the darkness never overshadow the reach of my Father's hand.'

First Day Home

2008-08-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

Here is the first family photo, taken at the airport by the awesome photographer Tom

Greetings to all out in Baby Neil Land (We've discovered it's his world already). First things first...a shout out to Auntie Holly for her wonderful post and pictures for everyone to enjoy. My favorite has to be the one of Neil and Mac walking hand-in-hand.

Well we made it home after about 24 hours of being up. We got to the airport in Moscow about 3 hours early. We were picked up at 8:30am for a 12:55pm flight because I'm sure our driver was figuring on there being traffic. Of course, Murphy's Law kicked in because there was absolutely none!

So a bunch of walking around and a huge diaper blowout later (yes we had to change his clothes before he even left Moscow), we were on the plane. Thankfully, the plane was only half full (or half empty depending on your view on life) so we had a whole extra row to ourselves.

Baby Neil was a bit fussy for about the first 30 minutes and then he was a breeze the rest of the 10 and half hours. He played and slept.

We then met Jason, Holly and Mac in Atlanta and you know that part of the story if you've read the blog below.

Then we boarded the flight to Nashville and again, we had an extra seat between us, and he was so tired that we laid him down and he was out.

We got to Nashville, did some primping and then it was time for his debut in Music City. The crowd of 30-40 were there waiting with signs, balloons and teddy bears.

He was a big ham too! He was so happy. He hugged and laughed with everyone. It was like a baby mosh pit, passing him around.

His first car ride home was typical...as soon as we started driving, he was out again. I'm told I used to fall asleep in cars when I was his age too.

We got home and put him right to bed. His first night of sleep in his new room lasted until about 6 in the morning....not bad.

His first introduction to Pebbles and Trot (Our big boxer dogs) didn't go so well. He looked at them like they were aliens and then proceeded to cry. But as the day went on, he warmed up to them a little more. By the end of the night, he was patting Trot on the head. He's still not sure about Pebbles. Bam Bam (our cat) was not a concern to him.

Anyways, Brandy and I took a majority of the day catching up on sleep while the Grandmas hung out with Baby Neil.

All in all, it was a good day.

Thank you to everyone who showed up last night to greet us. Y'all are awesome! And thank you again to everyone for your support and prayers through this whole process. We can't thank you enough.

Off to bed now. We'll post more tomorrow.

Love,
Brandy, Coby and Baby Neil

Guest Bloggers - ATLANTA

2008-08-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

Guest bloggers Holly, Jason and Mackenna reporting to you from Atlanta

They’re here! He’s here! And he’s kuh-yoot, people! You will simply die of a cuteness overload in person.

We’ve been granted permission to blog here and hopefully share some photos. As the Ginsbergs’ journey home brought them through Atlanta, we were blessed to greet our friends and welcome little Neil.

Many of you are probably at the NashVegas airport right now to greet them as they should be landing and collecting luggage right about now. But for the West Coast feed, we can offer this update: His sweet little feet have touched down in America. He’s a wee wittle peanut, soooo blonde and so adorable. He has the sweetest smile and an infectious giggle. I dare say he is a flirt!

He arrived in a mellow mood, like it-ain't-no-thang, just ridin' in mah green stroller. Whatchulookin' at? And he just smiles back at the attention. Seriously, this is our first hello from the sweetie, fresh outta US Customs:

We shared dinner together upstairs at the airport and found an empty, carpeted corridor to play and visit in this less-traveled part of the airport. Mackenna played a game of chase with Neil that made him squeal with delight. He was full of energy and probably happy to stretch his legs and be off the plane. Best bait to catch Baby Neil: bread and Gerber Puffs.

Restaurant lighting was terrible, so I tried to rescue these in b/w:

For the record, he didn't arrive looking unkempt. WE played him to nuthin' but a cute, cute mess!

After I took a ton of photos and hugged them all goodbye, 4-year-old Mackenna declared, “Baby Neil is sooooo cute, I just want to take him home.” I feel the same way. Nashville, look out!

Who looks happier? "I'm here. Let's get this party started!"

Brandy and Coby: Congratulations! We love you! Thank you for sharing this time with us. It's been a long time coming for y'all, and we are so excited for all three of you!

Posted by Holly, y'all!

IT'S OFFICIAL, WE'RE COMING HOME!

2008-08-26T04:42:00.000-07:00

Well the final step of the process is done. And it went very easy except for the hurricane like rain that met us as we walked out of our apartment today. And just a small piece of advice, Crocs are a huge mistake in a torrential downpour. Our friend Kim says it was tears of joy from Heaven but we were both looking for the off switch or a huge tissue.

We went to the American Embassy and got Neil's Visa. It was very quick because there was only one other family that was there getting a Visa for their child. But we had to leave everything electronic at the front door and this included the two toys we brought for Neil. So needless to say we a cranky 17 month old on our hands who was pitching quite the fit most of the time. Brandy thinks he was just bored and teething.

In all it took about 45 minutes. If you look at the picture above, Neil is just making sure they've spelled his name right and that it doesn't say Andrey.

So we'll pack up tonight and get picked up at 8:30 tomorrow morning for our trip back home. (Thank God!) If we said we were ready to come home, that would be a huge understatement. Grandma's get ready to wake up early and get Neil out of bed Thursday morning because Brandy and I will be sleeping in.

Our flight from Moscow to Atlanta is flight 47 which takes off at 12:55pm Moscow time and arrive in Atlanta at 4:30pm (3:30pm Nashville time). Our flight back to Nashville is Delta Flight 1529 leaving Atlanta at 8:20pm (7:20pm Nashville time) and arriving at 8:31pm back home. We hope to see you all there.

Quick Update from the Last Day

After Neil's doctor appointment, we walked to the Red Square. It was about an hour walk because I thought I knew the fastest way and didn't want to listen to Brandy's advice (my bad). When we got there we must've had that look of confusion on how to get in there on our face because a woman who was from Chicago stopped us and said, "do you need help?"

She was a grad student studying Art History and knew her way around the area. She walked us down an underground walkway and right into the Red Square. If it wasn't for her, we were considering a huge game of chicken around 18 lanes of traffic, a la the Frogger video game.

So she was a little angel sent from above. :-)

We walked back and then shortly thereafter, Dave and Kim picked us up again and took us to another dinner party at a friend of their's house (also American). It was for a birthday and we got a second straight night of home cooking. And it was awesome except for the part where Neil had another blow-out and dripped all over the marble floor on the way to the bathroom. By the way, this happened as we were all eating dinner and Brandy noticed a puddle forming under him. Gross!

But it was truly another great evening. We can't thank Dave and Kim enough for everything they've done for us the last three days. Kim even went with us to the embassy today just to make sure everything went smoothly. We will most definitely miss them.

Ok. This is the last post from Russia. We'll see you all tomorrow night at the airport.

Paka,

Mommy, Daddy and Neil

Here are a few more pictures from the last two days.

Brandy and Neil in front of Lenin's Tomb

Nice hats

Neil is working on his flexibility as he prepares for the 2020 Olympics

Neil in front of St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square

The Ginsbergs in Red Square

A Great Day And A Half

2008-08-25T01:03:00.001-07:00

Greetings from Moscow....

Just wanted to send a quick note to update you on our last day and a half. We met an American couple named Kim and Dave yesterday, who live here, and who took us on our first Metro ride (which is the Subway). We went to a swap meet where we did some souvenir shopping and had some lunch. It was a great experience.

They then dropped us back at our apartment for some rest time before meeting us again to take the Metro back to their apartment.

It was a beautiful place, right around the corner from the Russian circus. They made us a home cooked meal of enchiladas, chips and salsa, salad, fruit, ice cream. Did I mention how good it was?

We also took our laundry over to their house and they did our laundry for us because our washer and dryer are broken. They have been so amazing to us.

What a great night!

This morning we woke up early and took Baby Neil to his doctor examination. Dr. Boris (I'm not kidding) poked and prodded, and twisted him in all positions.

At the end Boris said, "the only problem this little guy has is going to be how to keep the girls off of him." We bothed laughed.

Boris also told us Neil must've been the favorite of orphanage because he's so developed. He told us he was only 4 pounds when he was born and now at 20 pounds he's doing great. That made us smile too.

Tomorrow we have an appointment at 2pm at the Embassy for his Visa and then we'll be done. Wednesday will be time to come home.

So now we're off for a walk to the Kremlin to take some pictures. Tonight we're going to be picked up again by Dave and Kim for another home cooked meal at somebody else's house.

Until then, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Love,
Mommy, Daddy and Baby Neil (Who can't wait to meet y'all Wednesday at the airport)

Neil with Kim and Dave

Riding in the Stroller

Neil running around naked in Kim and Dave's apartment because the air conditioner is out and it was kind of hot.

Us on the Metro

And finally a Mullet (apparently they're very popular here)

My Turn....

2008-08-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

OK, Neil is taking his mid morning nap and Coby is taking his! So, I get to jump on and blog a little.

We are in Moscow right now and in about and hour we are meeting up with an American couple who live here in Moscow and we are going to go 'hit the town.' We are going shopping and to lunch and we will see from there. I met this couple through a friend of a friend. They live here and help American families who are adopting 'get around.' It is so sweet of them and what a blessing!!

Well, Neil slept over 10 hours last night and being in this family....that is a good thing! Coby and I love our sleep. I am thinking Neil is a perfect fit in that category! He is eating pretty good. We thought he would eat whatever....well....not true. We know what he doesn't like and the stuff that he does...we just keep feading him that. it's safe for now!

Well, our washer doesn't work in the apartment so I am apologizing NOW for the smell that you all will be smelling when we get off the plane. YES..that smell will be us! We packed clothes with the thought of wahing them and re-wearing them. Well, we are re-wearing them minus the washing.

Our cable is out, so we are back to watching Russian TV. Although not a whole lot of time for TV watching at this point.

We had our first real booboo this morning. Picture a sippy cup, a 'drunken' 17mo old Russian, not walking very good and falling forward onto the sippy cup. Yup...even a little blood. Coby told him he was fine and to rub some dirt on it, but considering where we are...THAT IS GROSS! I will say there is nothing sweeter then a baby loving on his mommy after a booboo!!

Well, I am fascinated with all the high-heel shoes that the woman wear here so I am snapping pictures of all the shoes the Russians are wearing. Coby is amused with the mullet thing going on out here. EVERYONE has one! So yes...there will be a blog when I get home called, "High Heels and Mullets."

Well, Coby is keeping you all updated on our events, so I thought I would just pop in and say hello. Jenny M. I have pictures and updated measurements for you when I get home! :-)

The weather has been wonderful! The Russian people love their babies, so Coby and I have had no problem getting to the 'front of the line.' All we do is show them the baby and we are in!

Our health is doing good. Patience is good...not great...but good. Smells are not bothering us as much this trip....I think there is a little Russian stink in our blood now, oh great!

And the best thing is Coby and I are settling in as parents easier then we thought. So for that I am going to give all GLORY and THANKS to God for creating this beutiful child for us.

Kevin and Hope....I still think Clay, Neil and then Sam. Coby thinks Neil, Clay and Sam....I say we just let them duke it out! (I miss you guys! Hope...there is NO way we could of done twins! My hat is off to you and Kevin...oh my gosh it had to be CRAZY with your boys here.)

Mom, thanks for watching the house and Sarah and Barb for entertaining her...hey, work on getting her to stay out here!

OK...gota run! Thanks for your prayers and thoughts and notes, we love reading them!

Neil's mommy!

One Down, Two to Go

2008-08-23T05:06:00.000-07:00

Up, Up And Away

Well for the most part Neil's first plane ride went pretty smoothly. We woke up around 4:30 in the morning and were picked up at 5:30 for a 7:40 flight. We boarded the plane and for some reason we sat on the runway for about an hour.

This didn't make baby Neil the happiest baby. He sat still and played for awhile but then got really restless and "pitched a bit of a fit."

Finally we took off and he was great. He didn't scream at all, he was just intrigued by what was going on.

We were up in the air about an hour when the dreaded, "what is that smell?" question came up. Unfortunately, it wasn't the Russians but a stinky diaper.

Well since I was sitting on the aisle, I drew the short straw and had to go change him. He hated the airplane bathroom by the way.

30 minutes later, the smell was back and Brandy won the bet this time. She got to change him.

Not 2 minutes after she returned, again the smell came. The poor guy was finally getting settled in with the new food and I think it was all coming out at once.

I picked him up to change him again and this time, I felt something wet on his pants and realized we had a blow out.

So not only did I get to change his diaper but his clothes as well. The rest of the flight was unenventful. He took a little nap and played with his toys.

We landed in Moscow, got our luggage and met our translator who took us to a Starbucks to fill out some paperwork needed for the embassy.

We checked into our apartment and all crashed for a two hour nap. We're now on our way for a walk to the store to get some food before settling in for the night.

Tomorrow we are meeting an American couple who is going to take us to a Swap Meet and to have some lunch.

Monday, Neil has an appointment with a Doctor at the embassy to be checked out as part of the process. Tuesday we go to get his Visa and Wednesday back on the plane for the trip home.

Below are some pictures of the trip so far. Hope you enjoy.

Mommy and Neil on his first plane ride.

Us leaving the orphanage yesterday.

Silly time with Daddy and Neil

Another picture leaving the orphanage

Happy Mommy and baby

Already has his own phone.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HIS FIRST WORDS... :-)

GOTCHA!!!!!

2008-08-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

And ladies and gentleman for the first time, Neil Hollis Ginsberg and his mommy and daddy, Brandy and Coby. (Has a nice ring to it doesn't it?)

Well folks, it's official...Neil Hollis is out of the orphanage and slowly working on his Southern Drawl as he makes his way back to Nashville.

We picked him up about 10 this morning and put him in his new outfit including his USC jacket compliments of Aunt Dana and Uncle Michael, and his Oma and Opa. (I'm sure his Aunt Lucy is real proud as well)

I got about an hour with him before I had to get back in the car to go to Kemerovo to pick up his passport.

Seven hours later, I was back at the hotel and Brandy caught me up on her first day as his mommy. (Alone)

He's the happiest baby you'll ever see. Laughing, cooing, screaming and playing. And his one word he keeps repeating over and over and over again, "Dada." Brandy is pissed. :-)

We will be picked up to go to Moscow at 5:30 tomorrow morning, so it's off to bed. We'll post more when we get there.

Until then, Baby Neil says good night to y'all and he'll see you real soon.

Us walking out of the orphanage.

P.S. A quick riddle for ya...why did the sheep cross the road?......Give up? I don't know but two of them almost got drilled by our car on the way to Kemerovo. Crazy Sheep!

Who's Your Daddy (And Mommy)?

2008-08-21T04:59:00.000-07:00

If you’re name is Neil Hollis Ginsberg, then we are!

Our day started out with a 7am pickup from our driver and we hit the road for the 2 ½ hour ride to Kemerovo.

The drive was surprisingly beautiful. It had lots of rolling green hills, beautiful trees and the occasional woman taking her cow for its morning stroll. And don’t forget the horse and buggy taking up the roadway as well. (This is not a joke)

We arrived into the city at about 9:30 and stopped to pick-up Anna, who introduced herself as our translator for court and then continued to scare the crap out of me in a matter of 45 seconds.
She told me I would be doing most of the talking and then threw me a laundry list of things I needed to memorize. (His real name, his medical diagnosis, why we chose Russia, to name a few)
We pulled up to the courthouse and went downstairs to a waiting area while Anna and the director of CHI, Natalia (surprise) went and checked us in.

Anna told us we had to wait on the prosecutor who was running late.

Finally she showed up about 15 minutes later and we were escorted down a smoke-filled staircase to the courtroom.

Once inside, we sat in the first row of pew and waited on the judge to come in. Anna sat next to us. In front of us were the prosecutor, a social worker and the court clerk.

Finally the judge walked in and we all rose. Then Brandy sat down and it was me on stage.
I stated my name, birthdate, employer, info about our house and then the fun questions came.

Why Russia? Why did we choose to adopt? Is our family supportive of the decision?
I don’t remember what answers I gave but Brandy told me later I did great and that she was proud of me. I’m not sure if I was boring the judge because she yawned out loud about 4 times. Anna later told us the judge had a rough night and didn’t get much sleep. It wasn’t me.

That lasted about 25 minutes. Then the judge asked Brandy to stand up and asked if she had anything to add. She added a couple of things, we then requested the 10 day waiting period be waived, and then it was decision time.

We were told to leave the courtroom while the judge made her decision. 45 seconds later were back in the courtroom and awaited her decision.

At 10:42 am local time, the judge pronounced Brandy and Coby parents of Neil Hollis Ginsberg.

And………wait for it………wait for it…..she waived the 10 day waiting period. Yippee.

After court we went to apply for his birth certificate and citizenship paper, then went to buy plane tickets back to Moscow, had lunch (in which somehow we got stuck paying for the whole group) and applied for his passport.

In case you didn’t get it already, we are officially a Mommy and a Daddy!!!

We arrived back in Novo at 5:30pm and had some dinner before retiring to our hotel room.

Tomorrow we will leave at 9:30am and go to the orphanage to pick up Baby Neil. Then at Noon, I will have to go back to Kemerovo to get his passport and papers for the embassy. (Lucky me)

Then we will pack up tomorrow night and leave back for Moscow Saturday morning for a 7:40am flight. That will be fun.

Again, thank y’all for the prayers through all this. Obviously they were answered. We will post pictures tomorrow after Gotcha Day!

Until then, we’re going to try and get some sleep considering we only slept about an hour last night.

Love,
Neil’s Mommy and Daddy

You Remember Those Hertz Commercials?

2008-08-20T02:21:00.001-07:00

What would a trip to Novokuznetsk be like for the Ginsbergs if there wasn't some sort of adventure right?

The day started out great for us in Moscow. We walked around Arbat a little bit, had McDonald's (again) and waited until 7pm for our ride to come and take us to the airport.

We packed up our bags and went outside at 7pm to meet our translator and driver and as soon as we got outside, it started pouring. Our flight was leaving at 10:05pm. The drive was expected to take about an hour.

"Expected" was the key word.

Now for those of you who have been following from the beginning, you know that we've described Moscow like Los Angeles on steroids. Millions of people in millions of cars all going apparently to the same place.

Long story short, we start looking at the clock and it's 8:45 and we still haven't gotten out of the city limits and still have quite a commute to the airport. We (more like I) are getting extremely nervous.

We keep quizzing our translator, "are you sure we're going to be ok?" Her response, "sure, sure, no problem."

So it's now 9:21 and we finally get to the airport. Crap!!!!

The airport has those automatic arms where you have to take a ticket before you can enter with your car. Our driver, thinking he's pulled a fast one, goes to a line with virtually no cars.

There's a reason for this...it's out of order. And of course 14 cars follow us because they think we're so smart and they may get in quicker as well. So backing up was not an option and we're running out of time.

So open go the doors and two white Americans and a Russian translator jump out of the car in the middle of a jillion cars and grab our stuff.

For all we know, the driver is still stuck, trying to back up.

We book it (80's term, follow along) with luggage and stroller in hand for the ticket line. We're dodging traffic and people. I'm trying to keep up with them considering I was the lucky one who had the 70 pound suitcase.

We get inside and look at the monitor, trying to find which desk is our check-in. Brandy and I are of course no help considering everything is in Russian.

Mia, our translator, finally finds the right desk and bam we're running again looking for desk number 176.

We finally maneuver around a million people. I'm pretty sure I ran over at least 4 people and made it to the desk.

Throwing down our passports, the lady behind the counter says in Russian, "you guys are lucky. We are closing check-in after you."

30 seconds later and we weren't on the plane. But we weren't off the hook yet. We check our bags (no fee for overage) and it's onto our gate.

This is where the Hertz commercials come in. Those of you that have seen me run know I'm not the swiftest of foot. Not today y'all.

Brandy and I felt like OJ running through the airport. We were bobbing and weaving. Hurdling and spin moving people.

We got to our gate at 9:52 and got on the tram to go to the plane. We made it! But would our luggage? It's not like there are 14 flights a day where they could throw our luggage on the next flight.

So we get seated and finally catch our breath. We're supposed to take off at 10:05 and the pilot comes on and announces something over the loud speaker. We had no idea what it was because of course it was in Russian.

It was obvious, we were being delayed because the engines go off. Great! All that running for nothing.

Two hours of sitting on the plane later, the engines come on and we're on our way. Apparently it was due to the weather.

The flight was uneventful, 4 hours of listening to music and playing soduko (for me).

We landed in Novo at 8am and met our translator who's name surprisingly wasn't Natalia. I was so shocked I didn't really pay attention to what her name really was. She just told us we would be meeting Natasha (Natalia, for those of you who remember our first trip).

She did tell us though we would be going to the hotel to check-in and immediately going to the orphanage to see our little man. You want to see two faces light up immediately?

We checked in and had about 6 minutes to change out of our grubbies and into orphanage clothes for the 30 minute drive to the Baby Home.

In the car with us was a couple from Germany who went to court today and said it was about 20 minutes. And good news, they waived the 10-day waiting period. One more prayer for that please.

We got to the Baby Home and met with the director who updated us on a few things about Baby Neil. They did say he a some kind of cyst removed a couple months ago but from what we understand, it was pretty common for little boys to have this.

So it's off to a play room and one of the caretakers brings down our little man. He has seriously grown about a foot since we saw him last. Tall and skinny. In fact, I asked Brandy under my breath, "is that him?" I didn't recognize him. He is more beautiful and cuter than ever.

We got to play with him for about an hour. He smiled and laughed, hugged and played. He took right too us again. He was such a happy baby.

He's walking but not very sturdily yet. A bit wobbly but he'll get there.

After the hour, we kissed him and told him this was the last time we would be giving him back so we could leave. The next time we see him, we're taking him home. And we can't wait!

So it's off to get something to eat and then to bed. We're being picked up at 7am for the 3 1/2 hour drive to court. Court is at 11am and if all goes well, we'll be parents and returning back to the region.

Then we will go back to the orphanage Friday morning around 8 to pick him up before I have to go back to court to pick up his passport while Brandy gets to spend the day with him.

Thanks for all your continued prayers. They were definitely heard and answered. We'll check back in tomorrow after court.

Love y'all.

Coby and Brandy (our second to last night as just the two of us)

8 Doctors and $1500 Later...

2008-08-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

It's over!!! Goodnight everyone.

Just kidding.

The day started for us waking up at what we thought was 8am. We looked at the clock and to our surprise, it was 12:30pm. Oh crap! That gave us two hours to get showered, go get something to eat and be back in time to go get our physical.

So after showering, we took a 15 minute walk to McDonald's and had lunch. (Healthy huh?) Our driver picked us up at 2:30 for the 30 minute drive to the American hospital in which we quizzed her the whole way about what to expect.

We arrived and were pleasantly surprised by the facilities. Very clean and very American.

We filled out some paperwork and one of the assistants comes over to us and asks us for the bloodwork we brought along. She's looking at it and everything is going fine until she says, "What about Hepatitis C?" As we scramble through our paperwork, we realize we weren't informed we had to be tested for this, so guess what? Yup, they had to draw blood.

Mine hurt a little when she stuck the needle in, but Brandy's hurt more because when the nurse was removing the needle from her arm, she nicked something on the inside of her arm causing her to wince forward and scream out. Not cool.

From there it was the ole "Pee into the cup" trick so they could drug test us. Good thing we didn't have those poppyseed muffins for breakfast. And then it was onto the doctors. Here is a brief explanation of the 3 1/2 hours we went through.

We met with an Oncologist, Narcologist, Pulmanologist, Neurologist, General Practioner, Infectionist, Dermatologist and finally a Psychiatrist.

Phew!

Because they drew blood to test for the Hep-C, we won't have all our paperwork back until tomorrow at noon but everything went fine and we're past that hurdle. We got back to our apartment around 7:00 and walked over the Arbat to have some Sbarro's. (Yup they have that here too.)

Tomorrow we have basically all day to walk around and chill out. We're thinking we'll probably walk over to Red Square and do the touristy thing.

Our driver is picking us up at 7 pm to take us to the CHI office to store some of our stuff we don't need for Kemerovo and then take us to the airport. Our flight leaves at 10:05pm and then we'll be in the region Wednesday morning.

Funny Story from the Day

We're walking out of our apartment this morning and there's a worker doing something with the wiring above our apartment.

If you can imagine this, the guy slid to the side so I could lock the door. But his arm remained up in the air, holding whatever he was working on. His armpit was at nose level and if you remember the whole, Russians don't wear deodorant thing? Let's just say I couldn't lock the door fast enough while my eyes were completely watering over.

Here some pictures from our stay so far

Starbucks on the first day

The worst job in the world. This woman sits in a a freaking outhouse all day and charges 15 rubles for anyone who wanted to take a leak. Also, apparently mullets or should we say rullets are in here. Notice the guy in yellow sporting his.

Here is the neigbor's door "decorated" in newspaper. Hols, is there some kind of green thing going on with this? Should we all be wrapping our doors (front and garage) like this?

Brandy on Arbat street.

Coby on Arbat Steet.

Coby in front of the Bizzle

Physical Done!!!!

It's Not the Ritz Carlton, but...

2008-08-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Moscow. Just wanted to let everyone know we made it to here with no problems.

The flight from Atlanta to Moscow was a bit bumpy at times and horribly uncomfortable at others. But all in all, it went by pretty quickly. The plane was the coolest one we've been on in all our trips. We had our own movie control system in every seat so you could watch whatever you wanted.

By the way, for those of you who haven't seen "What Happens in Vegas", Brandy and I give it two thumbs up. Also, I give Leatherheads, 3 1/2 stars.

Although Brandy spent a majority of the time staring out the window at the beautiful full moon that accompanied us along the way.

We got to our apartment around 12:30 but since check-in wasn't until two, we had to find something to do for an hour and half.

So what did we do? Of course we went to Starbucks. But here's the funny part, we are staying at an apartment about 20 minutes from the Red Square and there isn't a front lobby so here we are, walking down a busy shopping district, toting our suitcases and bags and a lime green stroller with no baby in it. The looks we were getting were pretty comical.

So after falling asleep in Starbucks (Brandy said I was snoring), it was 2:00 and time to check-in. The apartment is pretty decent. Has a living room, bedroom, kitchen and best of all, free internet and phone. Although the two guys living next door have questionable decorating tastes. Their entire front door is covered in newspapers. (Pictures to follow)

We took a two hour power nap and then met a couple of American couples for dinner. One of the couples is with CHI and just picked up their child who is about 3 weeks younger than Neil. We are getting excited.

So it's off to bed. Tomorrow, we will be picked up at 2:30 to go for our physical. One other nice surprise we got from our translator...it's going to cost us $1500 for it. Lucky us.

Off to bed now. We really need your prayers that tomorrow will go well and there will be no problems.

We'll report back after we're done (because we have free internet).

Good night and good luck,
Coby and Brandy

<<<<< What's That Green Thing Say?!!!!

2008-08-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? We sure can't! After 2 1/2 years of ups and downs, prayers and disappointments, we are now just eight days away from standing in front of judge and having her grant us "parenthood." Wow!

Brandy and I are doing last minute things to get ready before we leave on Saturday. I had to get about 15 documents notarized...tomorrow we have to pick up some paperwork from our agency...we have to go to the bank and get "new money" to take with us....and oh yes, pack!

Brandy actually has everything ready for Baby Neil to go but as for us, if things don't change, we'll be walking around the streets of Russia, naked holding Pampers and eating pureed peas. Awesome!

We have yet to pack for ourselves but we're not too concerned. It shouldn't take long.

So the plan is this...we'll be picked up on Saturday morning and taken to the airport for an 11:40 flight to Atlanta.

An hour and half layover and we take off at 3:30 for Moscow. We arrive in Moscow at 10:30am on Sunday which we think is 1:30 in the morning Nashville. (Confused?)

Sunday we are meeting some Americans who are taking us to dinner in Moscow, which will be nice.

Monday we go to the Embassy to have our physicals. This is where the most prayer is needed that everything will go fine with Brandy.

Tuesday night we get on the plane for Kemerovo and arrive there Wednesday morning, which is Tuesday night Nashville time.

Court is Thursday and if all goes well and the 10 day waiting period is waved, which we're told it is being waved, we'll pick up Baby Neil and he'll be ours forever. The drive from Kemerovo to the orphanage is 3 and a half hours one way so it should be an interesting car ride with Natalia and the crew.

Saturday it's back to Moscow where we'll spend the weekend before going to the Embassy in Moscow on Monday and Tuesday to get his Visa.

Wednesday morning, it's back to the airport for the trek back home.

We arrive back in Atlanta at 4:30 on Wednesday and have about a 4 hour layover. Hopefully Uncle Jason and Aunt Holly and Mackenna will meet us there and help us pass the time.

Finally, we're back on the plane and arrive back home at 8:30 pm on Delta Flight 1529. We'd love to see all of you at the airport to give the little man the biggest greeting home he could ever imagine.

Thanks for all your support and prayers through all this. We are truly blessed to have everyone in our lives. We love you all and can't wait to see y'all on the other side.

We'll keep you posted.

Coby and Brandy

Cookie Counting Continues....

2008-08-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

Bambam's turn.....oh yes, he loves the cookies too!!! Picking out which one he wants...

Eat up another day!!

"Can I eat all them now??"
(He is a Scottish Fold, so yes, his ears are supposed to be folded down, he was not abused as a kitten....oh wait Coby's BFF, Jason, did have one episode with him as a kitten that could of been the outcome of why we think B Cat is more dog then cat...don't ask)

I can't even start to explain how our office floor looks.....papers all over the floor. Yup, we are still getting paperwork and documents together for court. I seriously think I am going to come home and go through a shock of no more paperwork. Oh, what a blessing that will be!!!

Coby is at school today getting his class room together for school to start on Monday. I am running around to get documents from 2 Dr's offices. The pediatricians office and to our Dr. to get our x-rays.

I know you are all asking if we are excited..we are in heart, but we are in 'got to get everything done' mode that I think the TRUE excitement will come the moment we pick up Neil and we hold him in our arms, kiss his precious little head, hug him, look into his eyes and study his face. I know the smile I will have that very moment will be a smile that will not be removed from my face for a very long time. I can't wait to look up into Coby's face and see him smile at Neil and watch him kiss his face and touch it all so sweetly as Coby can.

I can not wait for the moment we walk out the old wooden front door of the orphanage holding Neil. As we walk down the 3 steps, go around the building, get into our awaiting car and drive away from the place that Neil has been living in his whole life. The home that Neil has been waiting for us in...his whole life. To sit down in the car with Coby next to me, probably telling me to stop crying. I love my husband for knowing me and knowing my heart.

I can't wait to drive away and to take one look back at the home that continues to hold our little Andrey and held our little Neil. To know that God will always hold Andrey every day he has here on earth and the fact that I find comfort and peace in that. Children are a gift from God.

I can't wait to put him to bed the first night. After he has closed his eyes and fallen asleep, I want to lay next to him. To love on him, rub his back, kiss him, look at him, take in his little sounds, his smells and then to watch Coby do the same. To do to him what only a mommy and daddy can do.. love him unconditionally. I can't wait to lay next to him, close my eyes and offer up to the Lord my tears of joy and my thanks and gratitude for MY child.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Those are the images that keep me up at night looking up at the ceiling and just thanking God and thanking God and thanking God!!! These are the things I am excited for, and I can't wait!!

These are the 2 things Coby did on Saturday..........

Our cruise pictures....

2008-08-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

My favorite picture....Cozumel Mexico

First day leaving Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Our ship at Grand Cayman

Leaving Grand Cayman

Check out how green and clear the water is.....

...and yet soooo blue!! Arriving into Cozumel, Mexico

Our dun buggy excursion...yes, I'm the one in the mirror.

Coby driving and the couple sitting in the back, Bill and Kathy...I think were nice when they said they felt safe!

Coby had no idea his speed..he is going about 60mph here....but that's not what the speedometer says...

We went to a crocodile encounter in Mexico...I don't know about you but I didn't feel too safe about a deck 3 feet off the water and over 400 crocks below me. Oh ya, they said if they are swimming, they can jump up to 10feet!! Yeah, I don't think I felt safe!

Cozumel beach...

These 3 pictures are of the same sun set....our last night at sea!! It was a beautiful trip!

3 weeks from today.....

2008-08-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

...is our GOTCHA DAY!! As my Great Grandmother would say, "If the Lord is willing and the creek don't rise."

OK...here we go!

I will post pictures as soon as I can of our wonderful cruise to the Caribbean! We visited the Grand Cayman's and Cozumel, Mexico. It was wonderful! Just what the Dr. ordered!!! I will say this. Coby and I growing up in Southern California never really thought much of the sun and what it does to our bodies. I always had a tan and Coby is dark skinned. Well, we were reminded on this cruise that our bodies have become Nashvillanized!! Coby and I are BURNT!!! My front and Coby's back! The nice couple that we ate dinner with every night even brought us the biggest bottle of aloe to dinner on our 4th night!! They felt bad for us! And they are from Kansas City?? Explain that! We are in the 'I have to find a tree and rub on it every second of the day' stage of the sun burn. I'm officially getting old because I think sun-tans are so overrated!!!

Well, a few updates on the adoption....our social worker is officially on maternity leave and our Russian Coordinator in St. Louis is resigning on this Friday. OK...that's OK..that's what I keep telling myself. Really, we will be fine, God will take us the rest of the way, I have NO DOUBT about that!

We booked our flights last night, still working on booking our hotels, filling VISA paperwork out today, Dr. visit on Monday, Coby starts his new teaching job on Wednesday and we are still working on some of our paperwork. Our agency fee is due at the end of the week (to describe how much is owed....the amount of a 'small car') Keep us in prayer this week we have a lot going on!! Nerves are wrestles, anxiety is peeking it's head, tempers are good...for now, and overwhelmness is trying to play a roll in this!!!I told Coby yesterday, if we can get through this month....we will be doing pretty good! Personally, I am going to hold tight to God's Righteous Right Hand that I love to hold so tightly and walk the path ahead of me!!

We will post our flight info a little closer to the travel date and let you all know the plan. But I just wanted to let you all know that we have a return date! It will be Wednesday, August 27th at 8:31pm and we would love ANYONE and EVERYONE to be at the airport!! I mean it! You have all been a part of our journey and we would love to see you and if we have never met, we would love to meet you at the end of this part of our journey! Come one come all and share in our special moment of hugs and loves!

Have a great Friday! I'm off to tackle paperwork!!!

UPDATE on dates of trip

2008-07-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

Well, as my friend Kate always says, 'everyday is something different with us!!" Our travel dates have changed! We will now be leaving on Saturday the 16th, but our arrival home will be the same. We just found out today that we have to have a 'in country physical' in Moscow before we fly to Kemerovo and go to court.

Happy Happy Joy Joy!! (I'm being sarcastic!)

So now, we have to do another physical (our 4th one) get chest x-rays, and blood work so we can bring it to our physical (our 5th one) in Moscow. At this point, that is all we know. Coby and I really ask for you all to put MONDAY, AUGUST 18th on your calender and pray for us while we are having our physical. Please pray for no problems to occur and a 'clean bill of health!'

We are hoping to book our flights tonight and as soon as we know info..we will let you all know!

Who has travel dates? We have travel dates!!!!!

2008-07-23T17:51:00.001-07:00

We got the call today that we have travel dates!!!!!! We will leave on Monday, August 18th and if the 10 days are waived, we will return Wednesday, August 27th!!!! So Lord willing we will not have to stay the 10 days after court and we will be home before Labor Day weekend!!! I hope you all will be able to be at the airport to welcome Baby Neil home and so he can see how much he is loved!!! As soon as we have times and such, we will let you all know!

YES!!!!!! Thank you Lord!!!

1 MORE MONTH!!

2008-07-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

We will be standing in court 1 month from today!! August 21st!!!! Coby and I are keeping sooo busy that I think we were not even thinking about this until today! Neil also turns 16 months today!! Wow!!

Cookie Counting has gone to the Dogs....

2008-07-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

We figured the dogs are about to get their worlds turned upside down so we thought we'd let Pebbles and Trot participate in the "Cookie Countdown" Pebbles is sniffing the cookies, while Trot stands by....

Now you see the cookie.....

Now you don't!!!

Hmmmm...what do we do while we are waiting?

2008-07-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

Well, Coby and I had a vacation planed for the second week in September, but because of our court date being the end of August...we have decided to change the date.

With a lot of help from our friends Jonny and Jenny and a travel agent, we were able to change the date, a little of the location, and the amount of time we will be gone so we can go in 9 DAYS!!!!

We are going on a Caribbean Cruise!! We leave a week from Saturday and will be gone for 6 days!!! AND to top it off, Coby WON this cruise earlier in the year, so it is FREE!!!! We will fly to Florida and leave from there and have two port stops and then return home on the 31st! How awesome is that??!!

We are sooooooooooo excited about this, we have never been on a cruise and we can't think of anything better to kill time with then to 'cruise' through the days....yes, pun intended!

P.S...I am sooo sorry that I made it seam like I cut my hair. I have not cut it yet, honestly because my hair dresser is in California and I don't plan on going there for a while, so I have no one here in Nashville who I know can cut my hair. I know you are thinking, "what have you done for the past 4 1/2 years while in TN?" Well....I just get my hair cut when I go home and visit my family. So.....if anyone has a hair dresser who does cute short hair cuts and highlights....send me the info! I would love to cut my hair before Russia!!

Creative Cookie Counting to Court...

2008-07-11T08:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Holly..thank you so much..gave me this cute idea that she does with her 4 year old daughter, Kenna. When they are going somewhere exciting, they lay out Teddy Grahams for all the days until they leave for their special trip! Kenna gets to eat a 'Teddy' every day until the day arrives! Coby and I will be fighting over who eats the animal crackers each day....I might just have to make 2 cookie counters!

Well...here are 41 animal crackers (they were cheaper and there were more that came in a bag..yummy!) I won't bore you with 41 pictures of this...but possibly a picture a week!

We don't have any more updates yet, but we are still so excited!

MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDARS!!!!

2008-07-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a couple of weeks since I've started growing my goatee. In case you haven't been following along, Brandy and I decided that she wasn't going to cut her hair and I wasn't going to shave until we had some news.....

Guess What?!!!.........

After getting an email this morning from our agency saying they hadn't heard anything from our region, we received a call from our rep about 4pm tonight with the news we have all been waiting for....WE HAVE A COURT DATE!!!!!!

It's August 21st. We don't have any travel details yet. They think we'll know everything in the next two weeks.

So until then, we'll just count down on the calendar (44 days, but who's counting) until that day we stand before the judge and then go to the orphanage to pick up Baby Neil and bring him home forever.

Thank you to everyone for all your prayers and support. We are truly blessed to have all y'all (Southern term) in our lives.

We'll keep you posted when we learn more.

Love,

Brandy and Coby

4th of July Weekend!!

2008-07-07T07:16:00.001-07:00

Coby and I together planted this garden! We spent two days digging up the grass that was there and then planting all these beautiful trees and plants. We thought we would wait until fall to plant some flowers. It was VERY VERY exhausting and a little frustrating at times but we LOVE it and we are pleased with the way it came out!

The garden was planted right outside Baby Neil's nursery. So every morning when we get him up...we will be able to look outside and see our garden!

When will this end?

2008-07-02T20:42:00.001-07:00

I don't know...but the Lord knows.

Why do we continue to suffer? "Trust me!"

Why is it taking so long? "My time is not yours"

Wouldn't it be so much better for Neil to be here with us? "I am protecting him, and always will"

Why can't our questions be answered? "Glory will be given to Me only!"

We are tired, we are wanting to quit. "My strength alone is what will get you through."

I want this pain to end. "I will be with you and will never leave you....I am here with you during your pain."

These are my questions to the Lord followed by what He whisperers into my hart. Coby and I started our adoption journey over 2 1/2 years ago and we still don't know when we will bring home our baby. So many unanswered questions....

But if our questions were answered would that bring us peace? Momentary peace....yes! Eternal peace.....no. John 14:27 says that God's peace is not as the world gives peace, but as He gives it to us and we are not to fear knowing His peace is SO much more. It is eternal!

I sit here tonight and think on this. My relationship with Christ and my salvation in Him is my only peace. It is the only peace that settles me, holds me together and will bring joy back to my soul.

Waiting forces you to live in the moment. Does it not? If you have been promised what you are waiting for then LIVE until that promise is fulfilled!

If only my desire to have Neil home was the same for the return of Christ for His church! Would I share the love of Christ more often? Would I love more...as Jesus loved? Would I speak my hart of passion for Christ in ALL that I say and do, not counting the cost? I do know one thing for sure, and that is my salvation in Christ and knowing He will return one day for His chosen. My prayer is that my desire to have Neil home, will not over take the passion in waiting for the Lord!

My prayer is that all of you reading this will know the Lord as your personal Savior and when He returns you too will be apart of His eternal home! Our ETERNAL PEACE!!

My Mother's Flowers

2008-06-27T13:00:00.000-07:00

My door bell rang yesterday afternoon and when I went to the door (after climbing the jungle gym of dogs) there was a man standing there behind the largest bouquet of yellow roses and daisies!!! The man asked if I was Mrs. Ginsberg and told me that these were for me. It took two hands to even hold the vase. I thanked him and went inside (fighting the dogs and B cat to even get back in the door.

They were from my loving Mother.....

Why is it when you need love, a mother knows just how to give it. God is our Loving Father and His love is endless.....and one way He shows His love for us, His children, is through the love of a mother for her child.

These yellow roses have filled the house with a beautiful aroma and I had a great time last night taking pictures of them. (if you want to see more of the pictures, you can check out my blog.... http://www.brandylynnphotography.blogspot.com/) The dogs stare at them, and Bambam wants to eat the Babies Breath Flowers....I just see LOVE! I see a mother who knew she could not be here to hug me and hold me and tell me she understands my pain. So she showed me how she understands through the beauty of these flowers, God's beautiful creation.

Thank you my beautiful ma...it is with the wisdom you share with me about our Heavenly Father that encourages me to continue walking daily in this journey. You are God's handy work!

Summer is here!!!

2008-06-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

So, last week I realized that I must live each day....not live my day waiting for tomorrow. God has not promised us tomorrow, but He has promised to be with me each and every day. "This is the day that the Lord has made."

Today is my birthday, and I could not of asked for a more beautiful day! The weather is a comfortable 75 degrees, the sky the perfect shade of blue (just like Neil's amazing eyes), the clouds white and puffy and a little pulled across the sky. The trees are full and green and the light breeze is allowing them to sway back and forth with the softest swish sound coming from them. The grass is tall and bright green and I want to roll in it! Summer is here!

My dogs are laying down at my feet and resting and enjoying this moment with me....but I can see it in their eyes that they are about to start fighting over the ball that is in the middle of them. My two boxer's are out of control....they keep me laughing!

Coby's facial hair is growing and filling in! I will post a picture this week. I didn't think it would grow so fast! My hair is continuing to get in my face and I am longing for the day KC will cut my hair. KC is my hair stylist and cut my hair for the first time when I was 13 and has been cutting my hair and my mom's way before!! AND she is in California....so I have to wait till I go back to visit family to get a hair cut!

Well, enjoy your day whatever you are doing and wherever you are! This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!!!

Letting it grow....

2008-06-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

OK....you know how athletes grow out their facial hair when they are in the FINALS or the World Series or the Stanly Cup Playoffs!!?? Well...Coby has decided to grow out his facial hair until we get the call for the court date. Personally, I like it, but we feel we are in the FINAL days before we get out court date and we are getting 'down and dirty.'

Some of you know that I decided that I was going to grow my hair out and not cut it until Neil comes home. Well, I have had short hair that I LOVED for many many years, and this long hair is driving me crazy. I have been growing it for over 2 years and I started with a very short 'boy' cut. We know that growing our hair is silly and it doesn't help little Neil get here any sooner. But Hey!! We don't have the opportunity to watch my belly grow for 9 months...so you can all watch my hair and Coby's facial hair grow.

Well, quick update on our last week. My last update was on Coby's birthday. We had a great day and we were coming home from his softball game that night, and we got a call that his Grandmother's brother died. So we decided to drive to his funeral the next day in Chicago. So we left late on Thursday (around 6pm) and arrived in Chicago at 4am!! (Yuck!) The weather was bad, a few road blocks and missing our off ramp added a few hours to our drive. 9am Friday morning was the funeral and then we spent the day with Coby's family who we love and always have a great time with. Even though it was a sad day that brought us together, we still had a wonderful time seeing everyone and answering all the questions about the adoption.

We drove back Saturday mid morning and listened to the US Open on our drive back, but made it in time to see Tiger's amazing last 3 holes!! Father's day, Coby had clients all day, but we enjoyed our evening with our friends at their house swimming, watching the US Open and eating pizza!! It was a nice day!

Well, we decided to call our agency this morning and ask what the update was because we have not heard anything in 3 weeks. They informed us that Russia has asked for ANOTHER document from us. I know you all just took a deep breath and said 'NO!!' That's how Coby and I felt. I guess they are asking this form from us and another family. So Coby and I are working on getting it together and will hope to send it off tomorrow. Russia informed us that once this document is received they can continue with getting a court date.

OK....let's all take a deep breath and think of the good that is in this! It is not news that Neil is sick, it is not a form that will cost us anything more then a few dollars and a drive to a few places to get it completed, it is only one form, not 12!!! And most importantly, God's plan of Neil coming home to us has not changed. He is still orchestrating this and protecting Neil and strengthening us in our trials. (I think I can see the muscles growing on my arms!!) My mother sent me an e-mail the other day and told me this that I want to share with you all...

Brandy, As Elisabeth Elliot says, "Many of our prayers are directed toward the quick & easy solution. LONG SUFFERING (I don't like that word) is sometimes the only means by which the greater glory of God will be served, and this is for the moment, invisible. WE MUST PERSIST IN FAITH. GOD has a splendid purpose. Believe in order to see it." II Cor. 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen ARE ETERNAL. Yes, my prayer is Lord give us this today.

Thank you mom for your encouragement and may God's words through you encourage all of you reading this!

Happy 35th Birthday Coby!!!!

2008-06-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

I thought I might show you all some pictures of Coby this past year.....enjoy! Happy Birthday Ginsberg! You are now and forever my love and my friend! It is my pleasure to love you! My hope and prayer for you this coming year is that God will show you and lead you into His peace and hope! Yours Always..

The eternal golfer!

Family picture at the orphanage in March....little Neil's ear!

Coby and Andrey in October

Coby and Pebbles....they have a 'special' relationship!

Boys weekend!

CD Christmas Party...Coby wishes!! Jenny can you make it happen??

Coby and I in Colorado.....I am NOT that heavy!

Nashville airport waiting to go to Russia and finding out we are delayed...again!

Now waiting in Moscow airport...

Coby in Novo in 0 degree's

Coby is in Russia.....what more can I say about a real estate agent??

Coby letting me practice my picture taking on him.

Waiting for our flight in a hotel in Moscow. Coby can sleep anywhere!

At our couples baby shower.

Don't ask....

sister and brother! Dana and Coby

Coby and I at a Dana and Michael's wedding in Santa Monica

Coby's first picture with Andrey

Daddy..

Coby playing with Neil in the orphanage

Coby and I at his mom's 60th Birthday.

Coby and I in San Fransisco

Coby and I in San Fransisco with a San Diego jersey?

YES! That is Coby's size 14 foot on Pebbles!

What is that on Coby's face??

Coby and his nephew Wesley in San Diego

Coby his mom and I at her 60th Birthday last June!

Coby dancing (if you want to call it that) the Electric Slide!

Coby and his wonderful friends from the Bay Area...Jackie and Wendy

Happy Birthday Buddy!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Andrey...

2008-06-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

Remember this face......remember the smile......remember the hope that came with the possibility of bring him home.....He turned 2 today!

We have not received an update on Andrey since we were in Russia this past March. We were told that he is back living at the orphanage. When we were there visiting Neil, Andrey was in the hospital because he was sick. We really don't know any more then that.

But I look at these pictures and I smile and remember our time with him. He was so tender, sweet, smiley, lovable and such a blessing to be with. Maybe today, being his birthday, you can ask God to continue protecting him and that it might be a special day for him. That just maybe today he might be held a little more, kissed a few extra times and hugged one more time before being put to bed tonight. He is a blessing and a little gift from God, that Coby and I.....and all of you....will never forget.

We love you Andrey...Happy Birthday!

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-26T08:58:00.001-07:00

Coby and I with our friends Jenny and Jonny went camping this past weekend. We had beautiful weather and we had a lot of fun hiking, camping, playing games and checking out the white water rafters! OK....I have to admit....being from California, I did have a good giggle when I saw my first Piggly Wiggly.

The Father's Hand

2008-05-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

I was looking through a few of our Second First Trip pictures tonight and I came across these of Neil's hands and Coby's. I thought of how beautiful they were and how they made me stop and think of God's hands holding ours. Our Heavenly Father with His righteous right hand holding our hand and helping us in our struggles.

Notice in the pictures that most of them show Coby trying to guide Neil's little hand to take his. Sometimes it was a struggle to get Neil to hold on, and sometimes (like the 4th picture) it was a perfect hold. Neil found one of Coby's finger that his little hand could wrap around, and took it, squeezed it and held tight.

Isaiah 42:10

"Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed,

for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you.....

....I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

I171H HAS ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't think of anything else to do or say. It is here! After 3 1/2 months of waiting for our renewal approval from the Memphis office.....it came in the mail today! Praise God. Thank you for your prayers and God is good!

Our agency said that this is good and it should be just around the corner that we get a court date.

Here we come Baby Neil! Hold on, Mommy and Daddy are almost there.....
and you are almost here!!!!

Our Week in California

2008-05-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

My brother and his family....Wes II, Becca, Silvia, Emi, Wes and Baby Hunter
Emi and Auntie Brandy

Silvia and her 4 wonderful children! Happy Mother's Day Silvia!!!
Auntie Brandy with Emi and Becca!
I bet Wes will hate this picture when he is older!!
My brother with the newest addition to the family....Hunter Elliot

Thanks to my other brother Dean, who is the Controller at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, Coby and I were hooked up and this is the view from our hotel room!!! Nice!!!
Coby and I all dressed up! I was a brides maid and Coby was a groomsman. Neil was to be the ring bearer....but we didn't get him back in time...oh well.Coby and the bride Dana. Dana and Coby have grown up together and their relationship is like brother and sister. Notice Coby is sitting on Dana's lap and she smacked him after the picture!
Dana and I have known each other for 10 years now, and she is an amazing friend and sister-in-law to me!! The wedding was beautiful and fun and went off beautifully!!!

Necessary

2008-04-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Coby and I are still awaiting word from Russia. It has been pretty quiet here on the home front and I look at that as a good thing. I look at it as God is allowing us to rest and reserve our energy and be ready for when the call comes. The call that will change our home front forever!

I have been really encouraged these past few weeks and I thought I might just blog why?

I am still in my BSF study of Matthew and we are closing in on the end and it is getting pretty exciting! We just finished chapter 24 & 25 about Christ's return and looking and waiting for it. Not to fear it, but look to it as a day of true redemption for the church! Now we are getting into Jesus' last days and how He is instructing His disciples before He is crucified. It all just amazes me and encourages me also. God knew the plans of His son Jesus just as He knows the plans of my life, His daughter...adopted daughter! To me, that brings joy and yet calmness through a smile!

I am also encouraged by my friends! My sister's in Christ! To be with me on this challenge and not giving up on the Lord when we see His delay...is very inspiring. We as sinful people want to say that this is crazy and this delay is unnecessary...but it is necessary for my growth in the Lord. I can sit and say thank you Lord for your perfect delay in giving us our child because it has been through this delay that He has equipped me with more of His grace, encouragement, strength, love, endurance, selflessness, patience and longing for Him. If Coby and I were handed our child at any other time, but the unknown time ahead of us, then that would have taken away all the necessary truths that we have seen.

Necessary....there is a word that you don't use a lot in adoption. Unnecessary is always heard followed by 'why', 'what', 'how come' and a popular one..'that makes no sense.' Well, to look at part of a picture and ask those questions is normal....but to sit back and unveil the entire picture to see ALL of it at it's entire glory and beauty and wonder...most people are drawn to silence. What more can be said when you step back and look at what the Lord of Host's has made?

Isaiah 55:11 says, "So shall My word be that goes from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please! And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." What God is doing here and what He continues to do in our adoption will not be returned void. He called us to this ministry and it will prosper because it is His doing.

This is my encouragement in my life and I hold onto this when things are uncertain around me because I have the certainty of Christ in me and that is all I need until his delay is no longer!

Happily Waiting Still...

2008-04-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well, we have been home for 3 1/2 weeks and we have not heard anything yet. But that's OK! We were contacted about 3 days after we got home from Russia and were asked for some paperwork. We are getting those together and getting them ready to send over to Russia.

There is one form that we are waiting on that we have not received yet. It is probably the MOST important form that is needed in the adoption process. The form that we had expired on March 22 and we have still yet to receive the new updated one. But again....that's OK. God knows the exact date that the form will come to our home and the exact day that we will get our court date and ever better...the exact date that we will get our baby Neil!! We are making a few calls and sending a few e-mails to get an idea of when the form will be coming to us and at this time, everyone is telling us possibly another 2 weeks.

Well, Coby and I are heading to California in about 2 weeks for about a week. We are going for a family wedding and can not wait. I can tell you honestly that has kept us busy and looking forward to something exciting!!

Coby has been crazy busy with work and real estate and I have been working on my photography, working at the pre-school at my church and staying busy. We also have joined an ADOPT class at my church (First Baptist Hendersonville) and we really have been enjoying it and it has been helping us TREMENDOUSLY!!! We meet once a month with other families who are in the process or have adopted children into their family. There are families with young babies, and ones who adopted babies who are now teenagers. It is great and encouraging! I really recommend anyone who lives in this area, to come join our class, it is the first Sunday night on the month. Coby and I were asked to talk last week at the meeting. We talked about some of our current issues and what we have learned and that we can look back and say that God alone is to be given the glory for pulling us through these past years.

Well, keep us in your thoughts and we ask for your prayers to continue.

Happy 1st Birthday Neil!!!!

2008-03-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

Yup!! Today is Neil Hollis' 1st birthday!!! He turned 1!!! Coby and I thought about him all day long and got so excited thinking that this time next year we will get to be with him on his birthday!!

I have to say that today has been the most beautiful day of the year so far! Coby cut the grass for the first time this year, I did a little gardening and went over and talked with one of our new neighbors. Coby and I went out and hit golf balls....it was just a great day all around!

Yesterday Coby and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary!! I am so grateful that our little man is coming to us this time in our marriage....we are so ready now!

Well, I hope you all had a blessed Good Friday and had the opportunity to think and meditate on what this day is all about. The suffering of our Lord and what He did and gave up for us...HIS LIFE!! Thank you God for the suffering you suffered, so I would not have to!!

Forgot the Scorpion's Billboard...

2008-03-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Anyone want to go???

Pictures of our 'Second' First Trip...

2008-03-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

Coby and I at the airport in Nashville waiting to leave.
View from our hotel room the day we arrived.The bottle lady outside the hotel. We still don't know what she is doing.....
Man it is cold....2 degrees.
Coby leaving the baby home...notice the coats the ladies are wearing...
A picture outside our hotel at 3am... This is the entrance to the fortress in our region....once was a prison.
Inside the fortress....
The beautiful temple in our region!

Tornadoes in Atlanta & Lost Luggage??

2008-03-17T03:37:00.000-07:00

Well...we are home! And we are already wanting to go back!

We made it from our region to Moscow no problem. Although we did have a 2 hour drive from the airport to our hotel in Moscow and again the smells added headaches and chest pains and hallucinations!!!! At one point, we were driving through an underground tunnel for almost 15 min! I had to lay down in the back seat and close my eyes and think of my 'happy thoughts.' I had a Charmin wipe held to my nose the entire way to the hotel and by the time we got there, I had dried the cloth out.

Coby and I were hoping to go to Red Square and tour around, but we felt so 'sick' once we got the hotel, that we ended up staying in. We also found out that we were not as close to the RS as we thought. (A $50 cab ride, or jumping on the metro and going for about 30min) So we thought we will have more time our next time in Moscow when we return and the weather will be better and we will do it then!

Moscow was cold and a little rainy..but not bad. We asked where we could eat and they said there was a KFC right across the street. GREAT!!! Coby LOVES KFC, so we were happy. We had to go under the street in a walking tunnel to get there. OK.....we thought the 2 hour drive was bad, the tunnel smelled like a nasty truck stop bathroom and everyone smokes under there, and there is no ventilation.....I know you all can picture this! YUCK! Coby and I couldn't get through the tunnel maze fast enough. Just to find out that the KFC basically was....well.....lets just say it was NOT Americanized! Coby and I ended up ordering our food and sat down and looked at each others food and switched. We ended walking out still hungry.

On the way back we stopped off at the little market next door and bought the essentials......chocolate and Aqua (water). On our way in the market there was a car parked on the side walk with a sign in the window that we think said FOR SALE....that is the only thing that made sense. And Coby looks and the amount of rubbles it was being sold for and Coby laughs and says, "This car is for sale for $85!"

OK....here is the funny part....we just spent $100 in the airport because our luggage was 'illegally' over the weight limit......don't get Coby and I started on that. And we see a car for sale in the streets of Moscow for less money...I mean less rubbles??? Crazy!! I told Coby I thought we should buy it for $85, and then take the sign out of the window and sell it for $100 and make our luggage money back! The thought actually entertained our thoughts while we were in the market....but we decided to pass. How funny would that be.....we go to Russia and come home with a baby and a CAR! I can't imagine what they would charge us for being overweight for the car!

Well....we left in the morning for the airport and get there and the fog is so thick you could cut it....so of course, we are delayed. We arrived at the airport around 9:30am for a 11:30 flight...and we don't leave until about 4pm. NOT FUN! But...Coby made a friend with a group of college kids from I think South Carolina and one of the guys was the starting center for the football team and so they talked sports for a while. Amazing what boys can talk about when they don't know each other....sports....it is the 'universal man language.'

Then we sat next to a man who we notices spoke perfect English and perfect Russian. He worked for the military and lived in Russia with his wife and 2 kids, but goes back to the states to work every few months. He translated all the announcements that were being said and told us 2 guys sitting next to us were drunk and they were looking for their luggage and basically gave us more insight into the Russian people....he said that Russian's could give the Irish a run for their money when drinking their Vodka...

Once we arrived over Atlanta...they were still having bad weather and we could see it from the plane, it was amazing! So they were in a holding pattern for about 20 extra min before we landed. 11 hours and almost 45min later.....we arrive in Atlanta. We were told we missed our connecting plane to Nashville and they put us on the later flight. We go through customs and RUN to our gate and they said that our first flight was actually delayed and had not left yet and we were still on that flight. So we RAN to the opposite end of the airport because they told us the plane was leaving in 10min.....great! We get there and they were not even boarding yet. We finally get in and arrive in Nashville and of course.....our luggage doesn't make it.

So, we are driving home with our friends Michael and Sarah....Thank you a million times over!!!!! and we realize that no one has a house key. Sound familiar? We had the same thing happen the last time we came home from Russia and we found our hide a key...thank goodness! But this time, we knew the key was not there, so we drove to M&S's house and got the key and got home at 12:30am Sunday morning!!!

So, we woke up Sunday around 12:30pm and Coby went off to work and I did laundry and then we both woke up this morning around 3am wide awake. So I made a big breakfast for Coby and I around 4am and he just left at 5am for work and I decided to blog!

It's good to be home, the trip was wonderful and beautiful and educational and just great all around. We have already said 10 times that we are ready to go back and we want to be there now! I am very encouraged and thankful again for all these things that went on and I love to see God's hands move us in His direction in His time and in His way....and He did that this past week.

The one thing that we did not even have was fear! It never showed its face to either one of us the entire trip. Even the jitters on the plane were so quick, that we didn't think anything of it once they passed. God says not to fear and that His grace is always upon us. Before leaving, my fear was fear itself. Now I can say that when you tell God you are fearful and realize that is what it is, He will take it and replace it with so much joy and sometimes just a calm peaceful feeling that is nothing more then the lack of fear itself in you. What a restful thought to meditate on!

My prayer for you all is many peaceful, fearless, restful moments filled by God alone!

Winter Wonderland

2008-03-13T00:23:00.000-07:00

OK…my turn.

Coby and I are sitting here in our room waiting for Natasha to call us and tell us the plan for the rest of the day…so I thought I might just say a little something.
It snowed all night and it has not stopped yet today. The entire town is under a beautiful white sheet of fresh untouched snow. Sitting here on the 6th floor and looking down at, I just wish you all could see it. Woman are walking around in their thick long fur coats and gloves with fur hats that add another foot to their height. Scarves around their necks and if their coats have hoods, they are pulled up. The ladies coats, whether fur or not, have fur around the rim of the hood and the sleeves cuffed. They look like dolls walking around with a ring of fur around their faces and wrists. It is quite beautiful to see.
The men are mostly in black and they too have the tall hats with the sides that fold down to cover their ears. They too have the gloves and the scarves and usually a cigarette out of the side of their mouth that they can puff and blow without using their hands. Crazy! Coby keeps telling me that he is going to pick up smoking. It is all that we smell around here. We were talking to Natasha yesterday on our drive back from the orphanage and she told us that cancer is the leading cause of death here due to the pollution of the coal mines……..I couldn’t find it in me to correct her and tell her it was probably due to all the smoking…..it’s probably a combination of the two.
The children are out about as well. They are in ski jackets and snow bibs and they too have the fur around their heads and scarves around their necks. Some kids have gloves, and some not...that I don’t get. They are so cute. You could push one over and they would bounce right back up due to all the padding they have on.
One thing that is missing, and I have yet to see anyone wearing them, are snow boots. No one is wearing them and I mean no one!!! I am the only one! The ladies wear boots with 2 inch heals and the men wear dress shoes with pointy toes. The soles of the shoes look no thinker then a pancake. It is crazy!!! Some ladies have wedges on their boots, but that is it. And they walk this way! We have yet to see anyone fall, but that could be because they walk SO FAST!! Mom, I think they could really give you a run for your money! They are so quick! My thoughts are because it is so cold…they have to!
And the weather changes so fast! One min. it is snowing and windy and you can feel your face lose feeling and the next the sun is out and the snow is beginning to melt. We walked to the market 2 days ago and going there it was cold, but the sun was out and I was wearing sun glasses. By the time we walked out of the market, it was a blizzard!! You had to cover your face completely, walk looking at the ground and Coby and I held onto each other so we wouldn’t blow away. Crazy!
But we really have loved every min. I have to thank God and praise Him and Him alone for this trip. It has been a complete turn around! Coby has smiled so much, we are both have so much more fun, we are enjoying the company of our translator and agency and we both feel sad today knowing we are saying goodbye to our Neil for a little while. I can honestly say, I can’t wait to come back and I know Coby feels the same way.
Our adventure…yup, I can call it that…has been kind of like the store of the Vineyard Workers in Matthew 20. (I am studying Matthew so I find so many similarities from there) The story talks about a landowner that hires workers throughout the day to work in his vineyard. He agrees to pay them all the same amount of money, but they all started working at different times of the day. At the end of the day, the landowner calls the workers he hired last, first, and the first hired, he calls them last. Then he pays all the workers the same amount of money. Whether they worked all day or just a few hours, he pays them what he agreed to pay them when he hired them.
I picture Coby and me as the workers who were hired first. We were the first ones to begin our adoption journey and we have watched all our other adoption families come after us and finish and given their child. Here we are…..we were the first, but now we are the last. But we are all paid the same……we will all receive our children at the end of the day. For that I am happy! It might not seem fair that we went through so much and our time was longer, but we were told that we would be given a child…..and at the end of the day, God will give us the child that He has so perfectly promised us.
Well, we are off to the orphanage in about 30 min. I will kiss the baby 100 x’s over from all of you!!!

The Scorpions!!! What?!!!

2008-03-12T04:36:00.000-07:00

Scratch that…this dude is going to be a tight end. Standby for an explanation.
Well we just got back from spending our second day with our little man and let’s put it this way, we were trying to figure out if he would fit in Brandy’s backpack so we could sneak him out and bring him home now. Unfortunately everyone walked in right when we had both legs and one arm in so we had to put him back.
Backing up….we woke up this morning around 6am (our bodies are so messed up), threw some clothes on and went to the restaurant in the hotel for breakfast.
We knew Natalia would be calling around 9am to let us know when we would be going to the notary public to officially petition to adopt him.
Long story short, Natalia told us it would be 1pm before she came to get us so we decided to go for a walk (in 9 degree temperatures) to the store about 10 minutes away to pick up a few things.
When we got back we found out the entire area around our hotel was in a blackout and which meant the elevator didn’t work. So we had to trek up 6 flights of stairs to our floor.

Funny Story of the Day

I’m not sure if you had to be here to witness it but we got to our room and one of the housekeepers was inside. She had just finished cleaning and had a new comforter in her hand along with some brand new sheets.
She notices us and starts spewing off about a 30 second statement in Russian. Here’s the funny part…Brandy was nodding along as if she understood and when Natalia (I’m sure that was her name) finished talking, Brandy responded, “Oh, ok. Got it. That sounds fine.” I’m not sure if this translates to funny as you’re reading, somebody let me know. It was very funny to witness in person.
Anyways, Natalia picked us up and we went to the Notary Public. It’s official, we have “petitioned to adopt” little Neil. As we signed the documents, Natasha was fighting back tears because of what we’ve been through. We are both very, very excited this day has finally come.

I Think She Was Trying To Proposition Us

While waiting to go into the Notary’s office, a woman from Canada was sitting in the lobby with us, talking to us.
She made small talk with Brandy and me. I guess we made quite an impression because when we were done and leaving the office she told Natasha we were her new friends and gave us her phone number.
She said tonight, give her a call and she’ll walk us around the town…whatever that means.
Natasha thought she was weird and wanted to “walk” around our hotel room.
So we get picked up at 2:30 by our driver and go to the baby home with yet another German couple who was going to pick up their 3 year old daughter after completing court.
On the way there, I noticed a billboard that said, “Scorpions World Tour 2008.” I’m sure I just misread it but on the way back home from the orphanage, there it was again.
Yes the Scorpions are going to be playing in Novokuznetsk in April if anybody isn’t doing anything and wants to relive the 80’s hairband genre. Apparently it’s just getting around to this part of the world.
I can’t wait for them to discover M.C. Hammer, but they’re easily 5 or 6 years out from that.
Now to the moment you’ve all been waiting for. They took us to a room upstairs in the orphanage that was designed in a Montessori School motif. It was really cool with different zones to help with different learning stations.
A minute later, in walked the Doctor (Natalia) with our little Neil. Today’s outfit was a onesy (?Sp) with a vest over a buttoned down collared shirt.
He immediately smiled at us and we were hooked again. We got to play with him for about two hours, which was great and tiring all at the same time.
We laid him on his back, played some games with his legs. The cutest thing was we took his sock off and I’m pretty sure that’s the first time he has seen his bare feet. (See the picture)
He kept wiggling and scrunching his toes and at one point just held his foot for about two minutes straight. It was ridiculously cute.
Now to the tight end part…they had this inflated globe hanging from the ceiling so I picked him up and we went to play with it. He took full swings at it and would just wallop the globe. Then as it was flying back at him, he would catch it with both hands. He’s 11 months old!!!!! I think the Chargers are already scouting him and I’m pretty sure I saw Pete Carroll come up from outside the window to catch a glance. If you don’t believe it and think we’re making it up, we have video to prove it.
Well our time was up and they asked if we wanted to see his room and the area he plays with the other babies.
Of course we said yes and we walk upstairs, turn the corner, and there must’ve been 15 babies just staring at us like little puppies asking us to take them home. It was very sweet but very sad at the same time.
They set our little man down in the middle of them (he is by far the cutest of them all, but we’re not biased) and he immediately started crawling towards a truck on the floor that was his size and started playing with it.
We also got to the see the crib room where he slept. This was a great day!
So tomorrow we go back for our final visit at 2:30. Neither one of us are sure how we are going to be able to leave him. We’re trying not to think about it. We will update you all after our visit.

Das Vidania,
Brandy and Coby

P.S. We have a slight update about Andrey #1. It turns out he is still in the orphanage but in a separate room with other children who are sick as well. Today they actually took him to the hospital because he was sick. So say a little prayer for Andrey. It sounds like he needs it.

He's Very Pretty!!!!

2008-03-11T04:25:00.000-07:00

Hello from Day Two of Operation Neil, Part Two. Man are our bodies screwed up.
We went to bed around 11pm local time, which is 11am Nashville time and about 3:30 in the morning, woke back up.
And naturally we did what anybody would do in our situation, you guessed it, we popped in Fever Pitch.
We eventually went back to sleep for a couple of hours, but by 8:30, we were up and ready to go.
We went to breakfast, went for a walk (although it wasn’t a long one because it’s frickin cold outside), grabbed some lunch, and got ready to go.
Natasha picked us up at 2:00pm and we were on our way to the baby home to meet our little boy for the first time.

Quick Quiz

For 50 points, can anyone name a funny moment the last time we went to the baby home for the first time?
That’s right, the dreaded shoe covers. And I’m happy to report they still don’t fit my feet.
I stretched them to sort of cover my feet and as we walked to the directors office, the lady that greeted us at the door was following us, staring at my feet, and saying something like, “you know what they say about the size of a man’s feet…torn shoe covers.” (In Russian of course)

Quick Quiz #2

For 75 points, can anyone name the name of the doctor who is caring for our boy. I’ll give you a minute to think about it……….that’s right Natalia!! Anyone two for two on the quizzes?
So we sit in Ludmila, the orphanage director’s office. Natalia, the doctor and Natalia/Natasha, our translator are ping ponging back and forth the medical reports. Natalia would say things in Russian, Natasha would translate in English.
Do you remember the scene in Saved By The Bell (did you know I went to high school with Tiffani Amber-Thiessen) where the history teacher who spoke at the speed of light was reviewing for a test and all the students were burning up their papers because they were writing so fast?
Well that is exactly how you can visualize Brandy trying to keep up. It was quite comical.
After 15 minutes or so, they were done giving us the rundown of his medical history and the last thing on the list was, “he’s very pretty.” (Brandy underlined that on her notes)
They asked us if we had any questions…we said no…they then said are you ready to see him.
We replied yes, and five seconds later, the door opened, and in walked a man about 55 years old with sideburns and about the height of my mother. (5’4” in case you were wondering)
This was the carpenter who had perfect timing. All of us cracked up in hysterics when he walked in. Poor guy was just returning some keys and had no idea why we were laughing at him.
Anyways, about a minute later, in walked the caretaker with our little man. I think “pretty” was a perfect way to describe him. Blonde hair, blueish-grey eyes, two dimples and a smile that lit up the room.
And this kid is a chunk. He’s either going to be a defenseman for the Preds or a linebacker at USC.
We were hooked right away. We couldn’t wait to get him to the playroom and hang with him.
He took to both of us immediately although he bonded with Brandy a lot more than me, which is fine.
He laughed, he cried (he’s teething), and he just hung out with us, playing with toys. His favorite by far was a tambourine that he shook from hand to hand. Maybe we have a musician on our hands.
We got to play with him for nearly two hours before they came in and took him for his dinner.
We must say, the immediate feeling we had of how perfect he was for us, was overwhelming.
So now we’re back at the hotel. We are going to have dinner with the German couple we met yesterday. They went to court today and are officially parents. So we’re excited to hear all about it.
Natasha will pick us up in the morning and take us to the notary public where we will do the official “petition to adopt.” The process will be rolling and the only thing left will be to wait for a court date.
We will then go to the baby home again at 2pm and will get another couple hours with our man. We can’t wait.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers for this day. We both know they have been answered.

Until Tomorrow,
Brandy and Coby

P.S. This is Brandy…..It was amazing to see this little boy, he really is pretty!! I also wanted to say that my Saturday morning ASK’s given by Pat at the speed of light REALLY helped when writing everything down that the Dr. was giving!! Keep praying the way you all are, they are being felt and answered and today was proof of that!!