One year ago, we were finishing up the formalities of our adoption of Erik! I left Ukraine early, and Mark stayed on (bless his heart!!) to complete everything and bring our new little bugger home.

Last year...

• Erik did not make eye contact with anyone for more than a second or so
• He did not know his name, either "Seriozha" or "Erik"
• He did not know any words, in either language
• He could not walk, nor did he have any desire to try
• He would not touch toys - he only wanted to look at them
• Play? What is THAT?
• He could not hear
• He could not eat anything that was not thinly pureed
• He could only drink out of a bottle
• He reportedly slept 14 hours/day

Today, one year later...

• He makes great eye contact with people he knows
• He knows his name, "Erik", and responds to it
• He knows several phrases and words, and is quite obedient!
• He walks, though it is still a rather "drunk" walk, but he much prefers walking to scooting
• He now initiates play with toys and can entertain himself for hours with toys that he enjoys
• He loves classical music and his favorite toys play classical pieces, not to mention how much he loves to sit with his Daddy at the piano!
• He had tubes in his ears and, while his hearing isn't perfect, it is functional
• He can eat chunks of food now, and is starting to CHEW! (Appetite is huge.)
• He can drink out of a sippy cup or a straw
• He knows several signs
• He sleeps a normal night - and not at all during the days
• He knows who his family is and prefers us to others, though he is comfortable with just about anybody
• He is a loved and established member of a FAMILY! Thank you, Erik, for joining us and being ours!!

The one thing that we need to work on with diligence is his size. He has not gained ONE POUND in a YEAR and is still 25 pounds at 6 years old. He has had diarrhea for about 3 months now but fecal and blood tests have all come back negative. So we are continuing to work on it. We have big plans for him for this coming year as he is really coming out of his shell and becoming much more alert and aware of stuff, and we know he will progress quickly from now on! We just love this little guy - can you tell??


Happy Adoption Day, Erik!! We love you!!!

Can the boy be 6??? Yes, he can!! Last year on this date, we were in Kramatorsk, celebrating Erik's 5th birthday in the orphanage. Today, he is a very loved and cherished member of a FAMILY!! And WE are the ones who are blessed!

Ah, I remember it like it was yesterday...

We brought this brown stuffed bear (he was darling!) from the States, but it got "consumed" somehow in the orphanage. That's okay - he has a million more here. ;o} We also bought him a new outfit that the ladies dutifully put him in every time we came to visit (but returned him to his orphanage clothes as soon as we were gone!). We didn't give him much because we didn't know if it would remain his or not, plus, his big present was getting a new mom and dad. :o)

This year was a bit different, with cake and presents and party favors! Erik's doing so well, and soon I will post an update on his progression. But for now, here are some pictures from his big day! (And BTW, he did go to school today, but I don't think they did anything for him - I talked to his teacher and mentioned his birthday but she didn't seem to hear it - oh, well. It's not like he's going to know or anything...)