We are still living!

Hi Everyone -

I think I need to make a new link to a new blog, one that focuses on us as a fam.... and with that we are growing daily... literally. We are due with #3 on Christmas Day. (although my ob just told us that we can be induced - it seems that she doesn't want to work then either~!)

Here are some photos.. some I just took today!

New photos of the Family!

Hi Everyone!
I had a few minutes before dinner, so I thought I would get some pics out to everyone...




Nick trying to tackle a chicken leg... actually he ate 2 of them!

Sissy and Brother grinning for the camera!

Sissy trying to give Nick a kiss, but being a boy did not want anything to do with that stuff!!

We are doing well, still adjusting to life with a 2 1/2 year old - boy to boot~ we are constantly on the run!

We have a multitude of Dr's appointments next week for Nick... Hopefully no more shots tho -

Talk to you all soon -

Becky

Home as a family of four!

Elllllo... as nick loves to say to his cell phone!

Big sis and little bro!

watching a dvd at the hotel in Moscow

As I promised I would include more photos! so here we go.. they are the best part anyway!!

We are home!!

Thank you to everyone who has welcomed us home!

We had such a long flight on Delta coming home - I thought we would never land. Nick was a great traveler again, but still only 45 min of sleeping on a 11 hour flight - This flight was late so our next connection, we thought was unreachable, we just wanted to be home so terrible! We were the first ones off the plane and ran literally ran through passport control, baggage, waited for our bags (we didn't have time to wait for the stroller so we ditched it since it was free anyway)and rechecked them domestically - we had to then run to another international checkpoint - with we had to have an interview, since we are American and bringing a Russian baby with us. The wonderful agent took our papers and let us run to make our connecting flight - on a train, then to the opposite end of the terminal - we made our flight! I slept while Jon entertained Nick with stickers -

We were met by wonderful family! Natalie was thrilled to see us and Nick finally. We had our yard decorated by our neighbors with balloons and welcome home signs.

Yesterday was a little rough getting adjusted, mainly just due to the time difference. Nat, Nick and I all took a long nap and today is really great.


- side note - Delta called us yesterday and said that they would deliver our stroller to our house and by 9pm it was here on our doorstep! - hilarious! A free stroller that we didn't even care about made it home with us too!
Thank you to everyone who followed us on this most amazing journey. Once I find my camera cord - I will post more pictures!!

Happy Last Full Day from Russia!

Hi Everyone!

Things are going very well here. Our trip is starting to wind down and we are very excited to get home. Jon just reminded me that we take off in 24 hours and 30 minutes ....yes, we're down to the minute count now!

Here's a quick update on what we've been up to....

Most of Thursday was spent finalizing Nick's paperwork and conduct the interview at the US Embassy here. Everything went great. The US agent was very helpful and gave us some tips to help speed up the process when we land in Atlanta. Unfortunately, we didn't fully check out all of the details on Nick's USA visa and immigration packet....until we got back to the hotel....and needless to say, the Embassy typed his wrong passport number on all of the documentation. So....most of my Friday was spent clearing that up and was at the Embassy for the majority of the late morning and early - mid afternoon. The good news is that everything was fixed and we're good to go for our trip tomorrow. Nick and Jon hung out at the hotel and "bonded". We did get some shopping done later....although the prices were astronomical and I understand now why the foreigners have so many shopping bags !! :)

Yesterday was "tourist" day. We toured Red Square and the Kremlin. Very amazing. We witnessed a procession similar to the "Changing of the Guard" and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also saw Lenin's tomb as well as the burial sight of all of the Russian leaders. We toured St. Basil's Cathedral which was absolutely beautiful (picture above). It was very surreal for both Jon and I to be there..... I only wish that there was some English translation (there probably is but we couldn't find anything) but was still very impressive being there. Lots of good stories for you. Unfortunately, we also witnessed a mini attack in Red Square. Some protestors set off some stink and smoke bombs and were yelling some phrases that apparently didn't impress the Russian police and soldiers. The guys were immediately pounced upon and led away. The police cleared the area for some time and order was restored. Very odd to see it all....and makes me very happy that we're coming home soon. We also toured Christ the Saviour Cathedral. All of the architecture and churches are incredibly beautiful. Got a little more shopping in too.... and ate at Sbarro. Jon said the Mountain Dew was tasty! So, all in all, it's been a very good trip. We've logged many walking miles and the tred on Nick's stroller is virtually non-existent. The weather has been awesome as well.... low 60s. He still has to wear his snow suits or the natives would get restless! What little down time we've had has been watching a lot of movies (thanks to Karen, Julie, Shawn and Jason)!



The streets are rather quiet today....Sunday is definitely a day of reflection in Russia. Although we're told that things will pick up later...which is good as we need to complete some last minute shopping.

Nick is doing great. He's adjusting well, eating very well, still sleeping great (YEA!) and making both of us laugh. We are incredibly blessed and look forward to getting him home (do you sense a common theme here?!? :) )

We hope everyone is doing well and can't wait to see you all very soon.


Love,
Beck, Jon and Nick

Greetings from Moscow!

Hi everyone! Greetings from Moscow. Where McDonalds is on every corner.....



We made here yesterday afternoon. The flight was long and fairly uneventful. We had great flying weather and little stinker Nick only took a 1/2 hour nap for the 9 hour flight. He was really great on the plane though. (Better than Jon, altho he had 3 happy pills and that was good for all of us!) 2 meals on the plane helped Nick since he LOVES to eat!! Here's a photo from the flight......

We came through the airport with all our baggage -- Nick and I made it through all the check points. Guess who was stopped by the Russian Police? He questioned Jon about his passport, why he was in Russia, why he had a Russian passport (for Nick), etc. And he spoke very broken English so Jon "struggled" with that as well. Since Nick and I were ahead of him and already through the doors, we had no idea what was going on. Apparently Jon's temper was starting to show (real smart, I reminded him) but our interpreter Mia arrived -- very timely! She walked over to the doors, walked in and answered all of the policeman's questions. Good thing too.

It was a 45 min drive to our hotel which is located just 10 minutes from the Kremlin and Red Square. We are hoping to tour all of it on Friday. There is also alot of shopping nearby (YEA!) so we'll hit that over the weekend. We did walk through downtown Moscow today. Very beautiful, and alot more to do and see here than in Vlad. The architecture here is amazing. We were out for about 4 hours wandering the streets and taking in the scenary...oh, and the Hard Rock Cafe. Good to have some American fries! Although everything is really expensive here.....from the hotel rooms, food, cost to call the US ($10/min) and use the internet ($50/hour). But we do have CNN :) and plenty of movies to make it through Monday.

We have our last official appointment with the US Embassy tomorrow afternoon. Apparently it's an interview that we have to do... not sure what that will entail....but ask for your continued thoughts and prayers. On the good side....all our paperwork has been accepted by the Embassy so we're hoping this is painless.....

Thanks again for all of the responses and well wishes. We look forward to logging on and hearing from all of you as well. As Jon says, t minus 5 days til we're home.

Love,

Beck, Jon and Nick

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday to all of you!

Today was our last day in Vlad. We all got up late again (Loving it!) - around 9am! Slow morning we stayed in our pj's and ate lunch. Nick took a 2 hour nap and Jon watched a movie while I read a great magazine -(thanks krissy!!)

We had to go pick up Nick's Russian Passport to bust him out of here, then off to the doctor for a quick medical visit for - you guessed it , more paperwork for the US Embassy when we hit Moscow. It was in a little tenement building and her office was so small that we had to turn sideways to pass each other. All in all it was very easy and she was kind.

Our flight leaves for Moscow tomorrow around 1pm. We will post more in a few days and I am sure have many photos for everyone!

Thanks for following us on our journey!

Jon, Becky and Nick