Back from the daily run

Vanie doesn't run but he has to have the right outfit...

19 Months old and 6 Months Home

I can’t believe it’s been half a year since we brought Vanie home. It feels like he’s always been with us. It feels like he’s been living the life he lives with us as the only one he knows.
Sometimes I wonder if he would every remember anything from the home in Vladivostok?

Vanie and we all are doing great. Here are a few new or funny things he’s done over the month (all bad):
• His grandma has a hard time catching him when he runs off while in the park, which apparently is a daily experience lately, but that’s because he has an enormous amount of energy… the kid just doesn’t stop.
• One of his favorite things lately is to somehow get himself in one of our bathrooms and to throw things in the toilet or the tub (whatever he can find). Just a few days ago, his grandma caught him half in the toilet, climbing in to take a bath. Yes, you read it correctly, the toilet, not the tub.
• The words “Vanie, stop or you will be sent to the corner” is heard quite often at home now. The corner is our version of “time out”. So what does Vanie do now? When he hears me say that, he stops doing what he is doing, looks at me, gives me a big smile, comes over and starts hugging me and giving me kisses….no more to say…
• Another new thing is to hold Zorro’s leash during the walk. It’s very cute but I have not been able to take any pictures yet
• Vanie finally knows to call himself by his name, except it sounds more like “Nanie” – he can’t pronounce many of the letters yet. – but at least he knows to say it when he sees himself in pictures
• His new favorite video to dance to the World Cup anthem by K’naan
• Still loves to dance – will try to post a few unsuccessful clips I was able to record.
Who knows what else I am missing… right now we are just getting ready for a relaxing 4th of July long weekend… will post updates soon.

In the park after getting scared from a pony ride (before getting to the ride):



Posing for a few pictures - that's the face he makes when he sees me holding the camera:

1st Father's Day Picture

Enjoying the Doctor’s office … NOT SO MUCH

This is actually from a the beginning of the month. Vanie had his 18th month checkup. Everything was great until we had to go in. he cried hysterically even when they were taking his measurements… what am I saying.. he was crying hysterically even when the nurse would look at him. It’s probably because he gets shots every single time we are there.
He starts saying “bye” and blowing kisses as soon as he sees his doctor - his way of saying “go away”.
The good thing is that Vanie is growing like crazy:
-Height: 82.5 cm or 32.5 inches – 56% - this is almost 5 cm (2 inches) in 3 months
-Weight: 10.6 kg. or 23.6 lbs. – 19% - less than 2 lbs in 3 months – not great but he runs a lot so it’s hard for him to gain weight even when he eats well
these are from a month ago and he has already grown another centimeter since then.

We are back at the doctor’s office in 2-3 months for blood tests to check if he been cleared of the hep C antibodies.

Vanie hates going to the doctor’s so much that now he cries even when I try to measure him at home. Here are a few shots from a month ago:

While waiting to be seen


Waiting for the doctore to come in:

Enjoying the Beach

Lately we have been enjoying a lot of things and as “true” Californians who live less than 10 miles away from the beach we have been trying to go to the beach as much as we can.
Here are a few pictures from Monarch Beach.
The water was freezing (and yet still warmer than most places here) but we couldn’t get Vanie out of the water.

Enjoying the Pool

I would have expected to have our 1st pool experience with Vanie much sooner than June but for some reason it was never warm enough for us. Vanie absolutely loves being in the water. Here are a few pictures.