Hey there everyone!

Well the holidays are not yet over here at the Spykers home. We still have Bill's and Nora's birthdays coming up. Nora will be 2 and Bill is well ...entering into middle age. Ha :) Nora is doing great. She is saying tons of words and a few sentences. She says the words milk and puppy a few hundred times a day. Christmas was perfect. Bill and I both agree it was the best Christmas we ever had. Nora came around the corner spotted the toys under the tree and said TOYS!!! And off she went!
We are shortly coming up to knowing Nora a year now. I didn't think I could love her more than the moment I first laid eyes on her. But I fall more and more in love everyday. Just last night she walked up to me while I was laying on the couch and she kissed my nose and said night night mama. AHHH what happiness. So all and all things are great. She does act up a bit. She is going into the terrible 2's. (But like others babies from Nora's same baby house, Hi Leah)Nora sleeps 12 hours a night and a 2 hour nap during the day. She is so kick a..! So how can I complain huh?

Well take care everyone! we will write again soon.

Happy Halloween!! and then some

first time at Mc Donalds

an update on Nora

Nora is doing great. She is getting so big. Life is so complete becasue she is here. She is saying mama and dada mik, puppy, duck. And some others things we haven't yet figured out. Maybe it's Russian... who knows. She gives us kisses and hugs all of the time.

Just a few current pictures

The End and The Beginning

We really couldn't be happier people than we are right now. The journey of adoption has been an incredible experience. Last Monday we waited anxiously with our parents at O'Hare airport for Nora to arrive. We saw her coming down the escalator and we thought our hearts would explode! I will remember the moment that Oleg placed our baby girl into Dana's arms the rest of my life. I will also remember she and I falling asleep on the couch late that night. Now we can enjoy life together as a family. She has only been here physically almost a week but in our hearts and souls a long time..... Nora is getting adjusted - she fights sleep but loves food! We look forward to the many joys and adventures of parenthood. We look back and reflect on all our memories and friends made along the way. As I reflect upon my experience of becoming an adoptive parent I now know what my parents felt for me when I was adopted many years ago. Life has come full circle for the Spyker Family, we thank God for his blessings in our lives.

She is on her way!

Well Nora has left the baby house. Amy our dear friend and traveling companion for the first trip was with her when she left. She advise she smiled the whole ride to the airport. I am so happy Amy is with her. The next day Amy and her daughter Karina was picked up to go the the US Embassy to have the medical exams. And there in the car was Nora again . She was with her nurse who is watching her until Oleg takes her to America. Amy said the exams went smoothly. So pretty soon Nora will be with us. And then we will be able to breath again. It's been so long. I can't wait to see her. Please continue to pray for her safe return home. And for us to keep it together until then.