October was a fun month for us. Grandma and Grandpa came for a visit a couple of weeks ago. They came to celebrate both Will's baptism and Halloween with both kids. We took them to play bingo at Alina's school, we visited the zoo (just a couple of days before Atlanta's new panda cub was born), and finished the visit with Trick-or Treating with the kids. Alina dressed up as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and of course Will had to be the Cowardly Lion! Very cute!

Alina continues to do a fabulous job in school. Her teacher tells me that she is reading 2 grades ahead of the class and she also gets to participate in an advanced math class once a week. The girl is SMART. We are so proud of her.

Will has gotten some teeth! He has two on the bottom and we believe he is working on his two top teeth right now. He has grown right out of his infant carseat and now uses a big boy carseat. He is showing signs that he might be interested in crawling soon. He already rolls all over the house. I'm definately going to have to be on my toes watching him soon. We have safety gates ready to go to keep him away from stairs and things. Ready, set, goooooooo!!!!!

Well, it's been 2 months since my last post. Man, I feel like I blink and 2 months go by!

Will turned 6 months old on Monday. He is growing like crazy! He just had his 6 month checkup and all is well. He is 19 lbs and 27 1/4 inches long!!! That's between the 77th and 79th percentile! He's on solid food already and we are waiting for teeth to come in sometime in the next couple of months. We are working on sitting up on our own and we have lots of tummy time to encourage him to explore crawling soon. He changes every day and it is fun to watch. Although it is happening so fast!

Alina is doing well in school. She got good marks on her first progress report. She continues with her swimming lessons and just recently graduated to the next level. She's begun Girl Scouts and is having a blast. Roasting marshmellows for smores, of course, is her favorite activity!

Will's adoption will be finalized in about a week and a half!!!! We're so excited! Also our 11th wedding anniversary is coming up. Guess we'll just have to have one gigantic party! Life is good and we feel very blessed. :)

We are all doing well. The kids are healthy and happy. ...And growing!

Will turned 4 months old a couple of weeks ago and he weighed 6 lbs, 1 oz at his checkup. He is rolling on to his tummy and pushing up with his arms. Before you know it he will be crawling. He's started cereal (which he only tolerates because it fills his belly). He's laughing and giggling, especially at his sister. He sleeps all the way through the night and is just God's ultimate blessing.

Alina has started Kindergarten! My baby is in school! I just can't believe it. Seems like just yesterday that I was rocking her in my arms like a baby. She loves school. I believe her exact words were, "Mama, Kindergarten is awesome!" The best part to her, of course, is riding the bus. Since my last post she has lost another tooth and the two new ones are both coming in nicely. She loves swimming and has recently decided to join the Girl Scouts as a 'Daisy'.

Ok, I've been slacking a little again. But just wanted to brag on my little girl a little bit. She lost her first tooth! Of course this was about a week ago. ...told you I've been slacking. And she is already getting a new tooth in. She is getting to be a big girl. She will start Kindergarten in August but I think she is pretty advanced for Kindergarten. She is reading a little bit, spelling, doing math (adding, subtracting, and even concepts of multiplication). She, of course, is excited to ride the school bus.

Will had is 2 month checkup today. He has gained 3 lbs in the past month and is fabulously healthy.

We are going on vacation next week for about 2 weeks to see family. I'm so excited to see everyone. Dan's family has not met Will yet so it should be fun! And I'm ready to get out of town for a little while to have a change of scenery. :)

Just a quick post. I'm getting ready to take the kids to the IAC picnic. Should be fun. Its a beautiful day and it will be nice for Alina to make some new friends and play at the park. Can't wait to show Will off! I'll try to take some pictures and post them later. I really wish S. was coming, but I know that isn't likely. But if you're reading this, S., please come! We really want to meet you!

Too bad Dan's working and can't go with us. But he has some time off coming to him next week so we'll find something fun to do as a family. :)

Today Will turns 6 weeks old! Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I would really like to send a message out to Will's birthmother. I hope some day she finds this blog and reads it...

We've been thinking about you a lot. I really wish I could share this Mother's day with you. You are just as much his mother as I am. I'm so grateful for your loving choice to place him with us. I could never express in words how much. We love him to pieces. He is growing like a weed! At his last Dr. visit he was 9 lbs 11.5 ounces and that was almost 2 weeks ago. I bet he is over 11 lbs by now. He is strong. He is starting to get better at holding his head up a bit. He can hold his weight standing for a few seconds. We are just starting tummy time. He sleeps very well at night. And he is recognizing our voices and faces. I wish you could see him. Anyway, he is happy and healthy and the light of our lives. Please feel free to contact us anytime. We continue to invite you into his life and ours. We hope some day you will take us up on that. The agency will always have our contact information. I talk to him about you... how much you love him and always will. He doesn't understand yet, but he will someday. We hope you are doing well and pray for your happiness and peace every day. Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!!

Love Always,
Dan, Kirsten, Alina and Will

Ok, so it has been almost a month since my last post. You can't really blame me as life has picked up its pace a bit with our new son! But I'm just the happiest mother on the planet! Little Will is the most precious baby I've ever seen. He is so good. When he is awake, he is really starting to notice his suroundings. He knows all of our voices and will turn his head towards us when he hears us. He loves to lay in my arms and listen to me talking to him. He just stares at my face and soaks up everything. I really think that he is on the verge of a purposeful smile. I can't wait!

Grandma and Grandpa made their first visit to see him this past week. They are in love! It is so awesome watching them with my kids. Seeing their eyes light up while they hold him or play with Alina just fills my heart! I wish they lived closer. I think we are planning a trip up to visit them this summer. Will is growing so fast, I hardly think they will recognize him when they see him next!

Alina has been a little under the weather, however. She has a little stomach virus. I'm going to keep her quarentined for a while so she doesn't give anyone else the bug. Out comes the Lysol to clean everything! Poor thing.

I'm sad to end on a low note. Grandma (my grandma) finally past away last week. She held on for a long time fighting until the very end. She was always a very determined woman. But she finally went peacefully in her sleep. Praise God she is now with Him and no longer suffering. We love you Grandma!

We have exciting news! We're adopting!!!! We got the call from our agency on Sunday, March 28th that there was a baby boy born the day before and his birthmother picked us to be his parents! It has been a crazy week and a half. But AWESOME! The revocation period that we had to wait for ended yesterday so we are moving forward. The adoption should be finalized in about 60 days.

We named our son William Reese. He was 6 lbs, 12 oz at birth and is now up to 7 lbs, 9.5 oz. He is totally healthy and the most adorable boy anyone has ever seen. Hee Hee. I may be a little biased. Anyway, we're tired but over-the-moon in love with our little guy. Alina loves being a big sister. She gives him kisses all of the time and has been my best helper handing me diapers, bottles, binkies, etc. They are so cute together.

Anyway, I'm tired and think I'll head to bed before I have to get up for the next feeding. I even love getting up in the middle of the night! :) Can life get any better??? We are so blessed!

I bought a sewing machine the other day because I was tired of buying pants that were way to long and then having to take them in to get hemmed. (the regular chores of a semi-short person) So I decided to do it myself. I've hemmed a pair of black jeans I've had in my closet for a while now and they actually turned out looking like they should! Pretty impressed with myself for the first time I'd attempted it. I got so excited that I took a pair of Alina's ripped jeans (that she can't wear to school anymore) and made shorts out of them for the summer. Yay! I think that's a pretty good game plan. I think I'll keep going. :)

I guess I've gotten the crafting bug lately because I've gotten out my knitting this week too. I've joined a group at church that makes prayer shawls for anyone who may be going through a rough time. Plus its another excuse for a bunch of women to get together and just have a fun time laughing and joking around.

The weather is beautiful today. Maybe I can talk Dan into getting the grill going for dinner. BBQ chicken on the grill sounds tasty.

Alina has her school pictures this week. I got her a cute dress from Gymboree with matching barettes. She also has her Easter party. She's so excited.

Grandma is still holding on. Guess its just not her time yet. Hospice is good to her, though.

I've started reading a new book today that a friend of mine loaned me. 'Healing Stones' by Nancy Rue & Stephen Arterburn. Just 9 chapters in, but it seems to be pretty good. One of those books that you just don't want to put down. I have a few other friends that would like to read it too, so guess I'll just indulge myself for a day or two and get through it fast so I can pass it on. :)

It is pretty nice outside. Alina is out playing. We opened the sandbox for the first time this year. She likes to hide rocks and sticks and such then hunt for them. May have something to do with her love of dinosaurs! Now she has her scooter out and is riding up and down the sidewalk.

Tomorrow I'm going shopping for a new outfit for Alina to wear for her class pictures. I'm excited to have new ones taken. The last pictures they took were done in black and white. Although it was a good picture of her, I much prefer full color. Don't know why. Just personal preference, I guess.

Pretty uneventful and quiet week so far. Kind of nice, actually. I'm thinking about taking a jewelry making class in April. I've always wanted to try it. ...So I think I will!

Just got back from Chicago yesterday from seeing my Grandma. I'm glad we got to see her again. Hospice comes in today to begin caring for her. I only pray that they can keep her comfortable.

It was fun watching Alina and her cousin playing together. They had a blast together. Alina is kind of a 'tomboy' and her cousin is a girly girl, but they had no problem getting along and finding things to do. They even had a sleepover. They whispered and giggled until they fell asleep. So cute!

We all went downtown today to watch the St. Patrick's day parade today. Alina played games, won prizes, then we watched the parade and went to lunch at Johnny Rocket's. Alina initially didn't want to go. She wanted to stay home and play ball outside. But we talked her into going and after the day was over she turned to me and said, "You and Papa had a much better idea for what to do today!"

Ok, so not the greatest week. My Grandma is doing worse. We are planning a trip up to Chicago to see her one last time. We will leave in 2 days. Hopefully we make it there in time. It will be nice to see my parents and I know they miss Alina like crazy (they'd miss her if she were gone a week!), but I wish our visit were for different circumstances.

Alina started her swimming lessons and LOVE them. Her teacher is very good and I think she will do very well.

The weather has been bizarre. We had snow the past two days but by the weekend it is supposed to get back up to the mid 60's.

Dan got his annual review this week from work and it was very complimentary. I'm so proud of him for his sucesses at work. And he is the best father and husband to boot. Who could ask for more?!

Well, we sent Alina's last post placement report out to Russia yesterday. The "process" is finally finished. It has been a long 3 year journey but it has been the best thing we have ever experienced. Sometimes I find myself driving down the road and feel like I just need to pinch myself to make sure I'm actually this blessed to be the mom of such a beautiful, smart, funny, loving little girl! Do other moms feel this way? I hope so! God is good!

It is a beautiful day today! Sunny, 60's, and not a cloud in the sky. We just came in from playing outside. Colored on the driveway with sidewalk chalk, played ball, and Alina practiced riding her bike. I'm trying to teach her to keep her balance by keeping her training wheels quiet. She gets the idea but it will take some more work.

We signed Alina up for swimming lessons today. They start March 3rd. She is so excited. She is such a water baby. We thought it would be right up her alley. Of course to celebrate, we went out to find a new swim suit. She picked out a really cute one. It is blue, purple, and white...kind of looks like colorful tiger stripes. I didn't care for it much on the hanger, but she insisted. She tried it on and it is TOO cute! She was right. She loves being right! :)

Grandma is not doing well. (My Grandma, not Alina's) She is 96 and I think it is just a matter of time before she passes. I will miss her very much, but I will be glad when she doesn't have to suffer so much. We will have to plan a trip home soon. Poor Dad is just exhausted making sure he gets everything done for her that she needs done.

Tomorrow is dress up day at Alina's school. All of the children are supposed to dress up as what they want to be when they grow up. Alina decided that she wants to be a police officer. We got a really cute costume together. She is going to be adorable complete with badge, sunglasses, hat, handcuffs, walkie talkie and name tag that says, "Officer Knode". Too cute.

Lent has begun! I look forward to Easter. I'm making an extra effort to get in more bible study and prayer time. Today was very nice. Just goes to show me how good life can be when I set my priorities in the right place. It also shows me, shamefully, how little effort I was putting in before. :)

Watching the Winter Olympics tonight. It amazes me what people can do. I've gotten sucked into speed skating this year. Especially the short track races. Womens' downhill was pretty cool too!

NASCAR!!!! My guy Jr. took second on Sunday!!!! Its about time. Last season was so horrible. It was good to see him trying to get back to what I know he can do! Go Jr!!! :)

Well, our computer died. Dan is working really hard to restore it, but since we felt we couldn't be without a computer in case someone tried to contact us with a potential adoption situation, we went out and bought a new laptop yesterday. It is nice to be able to work on a computer that isn't falling apart every other day!

Valentine's day was very nice. I woke up to a beautiful vase of purple roses and a hand made card from Alina. I got Dan some chocolate and Alina got a stash of gifts from us and both sets of grandparents. We went to church and then out to lunch. :)

Everyone is home today! Yay! It's Dan's normal day off but Alina is out of school for President's day. We are just hanging out. Alina is playing Wii right now. As soon as Dan is ready (he slept in this morning) we are off to find something fun to do.

The snow we got on Friday is all but gone. We were supposed to get more snow this morning but it doesn't look like it is going to happen. Alina is a little disappointed. We don't get much snow around here and she had a ball playing in it. Snowmen, snow angels, snow ball fights with her friend next door. Too fun!

Alina's Valentines and Valentine box for school are done. They turned out really cute. She was so excited for school this morning she got up extra early. She has a party today and tomorrow. Today is the day that they celebrate 100 days of school. Tomorrow is her Valentines day party.

Dan started his new position at work this week (not the promotion he applied for - we haven't heard whether he'll get a second interview yet or not). He is now the Supervisor of a brand new department that was just created. They are still working out the kinks but he likes it. He says he has a staff that is "the cream of the crop".

I'm working on getting rid of my cold and keeping my germs to myself. I don't feel too horrible but it will be nice to be done with these ungy-bungies.

Almost had a disaster this morning with a computer virus. I got sent an email via Facebook from one of my Facebook friends that had a worm virus. Luckily, I was able to avoid any damage. I've been running my virus scan all morning and it seems that all is well.

Its cold, rainy, and yucky outside today. Perfect day for a fire in the fireplace and curling up with a good book. Maybe I'll get the craft box out and sit down with Alina to make some Valentines. Hope the weather improves a little. Looking forward to getting out with the family for some fun this weekend.

Superbowl weekend! Whoo Hoo! I love football. Normally I'd be supporting the Colts, but I've been so impressed by the Saints this year that I think I'll put for them. It should be a fun game. I still need to go out and get the stuff for my traditional Superbowl Chili. Hmmm. What other goodies should I put out?

Alina's preschool class got invited to begin the Kennesaw City Council meeting tonight by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and got their pictures taken with the Mayor. Very cool. She did an awesome job. Maybe she'll end up in the city newspaper.

Our post placement visit went very well today. We are glad to be done (except for notarizing and apostilling and mailing out the reports). Alina entertained rather well. The social worker was having quite a bit of fun with her. Not an ounce of shy in our daughter at all! :)

I discovered today that at 37 years old, I can still play Twister! It may not have been pretty, but we had fun. It was a good day! :)

Not much exciting new here. Hanging out today. Cleaning the house, working out on the treadmill. I may take Alina out this afternoon to spend the gift cards she got for her birthday. Pretty uneventful Saturday.

Alina's last post placement visit is scheduled for Monday. It has been a long road (but WELL WORTH IT!) and we are glad to be approaching the last of 4 annual post placements visits required by Russia. Kind of feels like we're graduating or something! :) Whoo Hoo!

Well, Alina's party was pretty fun. All of her friends seemed to have fun. So much so that almost everyone cried when it was time to go home. I guess that is a sign of a successful 5 year old birthday party! :)

Monday brought a little bit of excitement. We got a phone call from our adoption agency asking if we would like our letter presented to a woman who had just given birth in NC. Unfortunately for us, we didn't live close enough to her to provide the kind of open adoption that she was looking for. We were disappointed, but it was very understandable that she would want someone closer so that she could have some visitation. So we go on patiently waiting for our son or daughter to find us. :)

Dan found out yesterday that he has an interview scheduled next week for the position he's applied for. (Would be a promotion, still at CNN) We're crossing our fingers that all goes well. It will be a while before we hear anything for sure and there will probably be another round of interviews before a decision is made.

Watching Snow White with Alina right now. But it is so beautiful outside that when it is over I will take her outside to get some more practice on her bicycle. Maybe we'll go to the park.

January 23rd

Getting ready for Alina's birthday party tomorrow. She is so excited. We have our Little Mermaid cake ordered and now have a mission to go out looking for ocean themed party favors! Her party is at a 'jumpy house' place. Right up her alley! The kids can just run absolutely wild and wear themselves out. Her birthday was last week, but I don't think she realizes it was just one day. :) She keeps receiving presents in the mail on a daily basis. And her party is yet to come. I think she is getting the impression that the whole month of January is devoted to her. HEE HEE. Too cute.