July 7, 2008 - Back from Russia (1st Trip)

We got back from St Petersburg ("Peter" as the Russians refer to it) yesterday late afternoon. We awoke at 2:45am Peter time, Sunday, and arrived home at 2:30pm Dallas time - basically had a 23 hour day after all was said & done. We were barely able to make it with just the 2 of us...can't imagine the trip with a 2 year old as well! We met Nicky at the orphanage (Baby Home #1) on the afternoon of the 3rd and spent a few hours more with him on the 4th...it was so amazing I can hardly put it into words. He is super cute & seems to be very well taken care of! He is already potty trained (yeah!), and has a very healthy diet. We'll most likely be going back to pick him up in September, and that will give us more time to prepare. He speaks Russian - not too many words/phrases, but enough for it to be frustrating for all of us! :( Still so worth it! Anyway - here are some pictures of us at the orphanage the first day. He had just woken up and after a snack we were able to take him outside to play some. They have a pretty nice playground and have little bikes, etc for them to ride. As you can see, Nicky sticks his tongue out when he's enjoying something (just like his Pop!).

This is the look we got when we 1st told Nicky we were leaving...

Paka Paka (bye bye) little guy...we'll see you soon!

July 4, 2008 - First trip to Russia

we're here & sad to say only one more day left in this beautiful city! :( we met Nikita Miles Johnson on July 3 and totally fell in love! :) he is the most adorable, cutest, and from what we've been told "most clever & no other like him" boy EVER! we officially "accepted" him (russian standard - which means we got an official stamp - they oh so love stamps/seals on everything!) today. we took our shirts off 3 times this morning for the 8 panel doctor physical & we are proud to say we are in good health - no HIV/Hep or the like. and - apparently, we are NOT crazy! :) so - we got to see him today & go to see a bit more of his personality as he interacted with the other kids in his "shest groupa" (group # 6). we definitely have our hands full...no english & he's like "seriously...why don't you understand what i'm saying to you?!" but - we already love him soo much and will do everything we can to make him ours. so - tonight we're celebrating with a few friends - my dad's former colleague Paul & his wife Courtney, which live in St Pete - somehow we lucked out in that department! - russian beer, true vodka & enjoying the fact that the sun barely sets (it basically just set @ 12:30am & will be lighter again around 2:30am - CRAZY!!!) and will visit Peterhof tomorrow, take a canal ride (St Pete is made up a bunch of islands w/ canals) thru the city and see the main bridges raise at 1:30am (the trade routes, etc) - best time to see them is now "White Nights" - when it stays light all night & is warmer. bad part is - we will not sleep tomorrow night - we will leave for the airport at 3:45am! good thing the flight home is 10+ hours!!! SO - long story short - here is a sneak peak at "Nicky J"...more to come!