Exactly one year ago today, Jody and I were granted the honor and privilege of becoming Rhyne and Jake's parents. It's amazing how fast one year can actually go by, yet it seems that the kids have been with us their entire life. I can't say I don't remember my life before kids, but it doesn't seem that my life actually started until I did have kids.

Last year this sweet and dear Russian lady walked into our room at the cottage singing Happy Birthday in broken English and caring 3 white carnations for me. It was snowing (which we were told meant good luck in Russia), we were still trying to study our home study frantically for court, and my stomach was in knots because I was terrified that my court experience would be the same as it was just 2 days prior (see December 2005's under Archives - we had a surprise pre-trial!). Instead it was a quick court session with a wonderful Happy Birthday greeting from the judge to close with. Then with a short 30 minute recess, we heard the wonderful news that we were granted custody and that the 10 day waiting period was waived! Then everything turned relaxed in the court room and the Prosecutor asked if she could see our pictures. She oohed and ahhed over them.

We were told to eat a hearty breakfast that morning because we would be missing lunch due to all the running around we had to do (getting birth certificates, adoption certificates, gifts, and a stop to email family and friends). Since we were not too fond of the Russian food, we opted to just eat the instant grits that we brought from home. The sweet lady that cared for us at the cottage could not understand what grits were, so we let her try them. Her facial expression was priceless! I'm sure I had the same expression everytime I sat down to eat Russian food.

At 4:00 PM on the 15th we went to the baby home to spring our little ones. They were already bundled up in their many layers and snow suits and ready to leave. You can only imagine how hot and irritable they were seeing that it was in excess of 80 degrees inside the baby home. We took group photos, gathered up our bundles and ran for the door.

Little did we know the next 72 hours would be some of the darkest days that had ever experienced - babies with upset tummys and colds, screaming hot babies on an airplane fueled by the sugar rush from a Dum Dum sucker (what were we thinking?), loads of luggage on one arm and a 25 lb child on the other arm (in 3 layers of clothes & snowsuit and crying), and let us not forget - LOOSING THEIR PASSPORTS (biggie!)

Anyway, a year has eased the bad experiences we had and now I only have fond memories of Russia and long to return one day when the kids are much older (and we can finiancially afford it!).

Tonight we are celebrating with dinner out at Chuck E Cheese! I wanted to get the kids a special gift on the first anniversary, so I ordered them Cabbage Patch babies and had them named with the kids' Russian names and their birthdate as 12/15/06 - they're twins! I'm sure we'll have fun tonight, and I'll try to post pictures later.

One year ago today, we were sitting on a Russian plane while it was being de-iced and listening to Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" being piped through the speakers. Our next stop we would finally be in Tyumen again to be reunited with our babies after an agonizing 7 month wait.

We knew in our minds that it was Christmas time, but in our hearts we knew we were about to become parents of two wonderful children that would make our wildest dreams come true! I've been thinking of the past few days of those magical days in Russia last year and all the great and scary memories that we made together. One day I hope that we can travel back there for a visit, but until then we are just happy to be a family!

I'm sure I'll be posting more in the coming days. Friday is our 1 year anniversary and my birthday. When I was asked where I wanted to go eat for my birthday, the natural answer was Chuck E Cheese! Pizza, games, and a great time with the kids - what could be better than that?