anniversary blog

We celebrated our third anniversary today! We actually went out Sunday the 9th for a few hours while Lucas hung out with grandma and grandps.
I decided to take Everette on a little adventure, and since we only had 4 hours to spare we took a marshrutka (mini taxi bus type vehicle)to go to the center of the city (we dont really call it downtown, dont ask me why, I dont know).

First stop was place by the beach and near my high school



we took these mini cabs from the top of the cliff down to the beach. The thing is they dont stop to load people in - you just sort of have to jump on and off of it (!), and since I have zero coordination I naturally tripped getting on one, plus I didnt know how to open the door.


each of these things fit two people only, so we took pictures of each other - it was a shaky ride, but the view to die for!

this is what we saw

my camera doesnt zoom in anymore, but there are private yachts and boats floating in the sea and parked at the shore

we walked near this beach, it was such a nice evening, cool and breezy but warm at the same time

We went back up on a little wagon and took another marshrutka to another part of Odessa: Deribasovskaya Street - its considered the heart of Odessa, very touristy and ritzy. i didnt take many pictures there as it was getting dark
We walked several blocks looking for a pizza place and found Casa Italia, cute italian restaurant where you can eat outside on a porch or inside by the pizza grill and bar.

We ordered "fried" mushrooms or as they call these particular mushrooms by their real name - champignons. So, instead of, as we expected, breaded greasy mushrooms, we received these cute and tasty kebabs with ham pieces and grilled on the outside grill mushrooms.

Cost: 25 grivnas or $3US Dollars

they were ummm good!

Casa Italia had many choices of pizza (many of them seafood kind since we leave by the sea, seafood is very popular). We went with good ol' Hawaiian Pizza plus mushrooms :) On the menu it said, "Any pizza can be made Pizza Hut style" hahaha - we just got the style they specialize in, and it was pretty good.

By the way, no free refills on drinks - you get a bottle of Coke or Sprite, big or small, whatever you order and thats all you get. If you want more, you pay for it. No free ice water either :)

We started heading out towards the stop where marshrutkas stop. On the way we stopped at one of the biggest malls we have (not on this picture) and at Baskin Robbins. Everette got a scoop of ice-cream, and when they say scoop they mean scoop. In America they load you up with ice-cream and two of us can eat 1 scoop of ice-cream - its not quite like that here :)

At the mall we stopped at the cafe and I got cup of coffee and cake-like dessert. The dessert was very good but had a very racist name..if you are really curious, call me and I'll tell you. My dessert and a cup of coffee was 9 grivnas or a little over $1 US dollar. Scoop of ice-cream at Baskin Robbins was 20 grivnas or $2.50 US dollars. Anything thats American is pricier.

We had an awesome evening and couldnt wait to see our little guy. In fact, we talked about him all night, next time we are taking him with us :)

I bought this chocolate cake to suprise Everette but also to celebrate our wedding anniversary with my family.

I love you Everette and am so blessed to have you as my husband!!! You still melt my heart, heart throb you. Cheers to many years ahead! :)

Lucas is 5 months old!

How times fly...Today Lucas turned 5 months!!! What a blessing he is to us! He changes seems like daily.

- he rolls everywhere, we are worried he will roll of the bed
- he giggles loud and funny
- grabs toys and pulls them in his mouth
- his favorite toys are cow Zoozoo and bumble bee (no name yet); he loves his rings and book that makes a lot of noise
-Lucas started eating baby cereal (Rice and mixed fruit kind, thank you Grandma Locklear!) and loves it - he literally grabbed the spoon from Everette's hand and started putting it in his mouth, chomping on the cereal
- he even ate squash and pumpkin - very adventerous fellow
- he loves playing with aunt Vikki and grandma Lidiya
- he takes walks with grandpa Victor and smiles the whole time
- he sleeps through the night!
- Lucas is a snuggler! and a hugger :) my sweet lil' man
- his latest trick is pulling on his feet and bringing his toes to his mouth - so adorable
- he loves taking baths! the other day he splashed us both head to toes


We are so in love with our guy and are looking forward to new milestones and adventures with him. Today was a double celebration for us as we celebrated our third anniversary. I love you Everette and looking forward to many years ahead.

Look who I found snuggled up in blankets this morning :)

Look at me, I am 5 months old!!

Remember my cheeks? they are still here



Come on, Mom, time for bath!

4 months update!

Lucas turned four months last Saturday, and I really wished I updated sooner. But here it goes. Our cutie pie grows and grows. Its unbelievable how much he has grown since the day we first saw him.
Last time at the doctor’s he weighed 7 kilograms and 250 grams, that’s an estimate  (since babies here are weighed in their clothes and a diaper!) The doctors just take a few grams off for clothes and diaper. He is healthy and looking well. Here is what our boy can do:
-Roll! From back to side and all the way to tummy and from tummy to the side and back.
-He continues to smile at us, and now even more than before. So sweet!
-He has been eating apples made by grandma – she grinds fresh apple, and we give him couple baby spoons, finishing up with freshly squeezed apple juice. He smacks and wants some more.
-Lucas tried baby-food pumpkin. We are done experimenting for now
-He recognizes our voices and faces, he smiles when we enter the room.
-He giggles and laugh out loud – so adorable.
-He grabs toys and pulls them in his mouth – he even smiles at his favorite toys (a bug/bee that smiles and giggles back to him and a ducky that giggles – present from grandma Locklear)
-He sort of figured out the routine, by 10:30pm – the boy is SLEEPY! Everyone watch out. But if I Everette and I mess with the “schedule” he gets playful and keeps us up till 1 am(well, 4 am for Everette)!
-Our sweet boy loves to cuddle at night.
-He plays “cars” in the morning and late at night, i.e. he makes loud ‘boy’ noises and puts his fists together
-He loves walks and any kind of movement. Falls asleep in his stroller every time we go on a walk, which is everyday.
-Lucas always smiles to grandpa! So cute! There is something about grandpa’s that calm babies down.
-He tries to pull his feet to his face
Thats it for now. God bless you and keep us in your prayers.

I am strong!!!

4 generations: My grandma, my dad, myself, and Lucas. My grandma is 86 - she is the only greatgrandma Lucas has

Its 2 am and I am still up...

I love the beach!!!

The outside of Lucas's doctor's office! :)

our kitchen - view 1

view 2

this is the view outside of our balcony - a bar! We live on the 8th floor

the view to the right of our balcony!

random

I know its been awhile. And there is so much to write about, but I am way to behind to catch up. So, I'll just start from today, and will try to keep it short not to bore anyone.
This morning, June 30, 2009, we went to the doctor's office to get Lucas' blood tested. In Ukraine immunizations are not done until the doctor has child's blood and urine samples. Last week we met two doctors from two different offices to speak about shots for Lucas. They both came to our home and both said its ok to get shots in Ukraine, just have to check the vaccines before they are injected. OK!
We brought Lucas in and were speechless once we entered the children's clinic (thats what its called here). Kids crying and wailing and running everywhere, people waiting in the hallways, etc. We did not have an appointment - the doctor said just come in between 9 and 11:30 am :) I thought once we get there we just get in line and wait our turn. Well, instead my mom just opened doctor's door and said "Are you available? We are here" while Daddy peeks throught the crack of the door. We came in and brought in our own notebook where the nurse wrote down our contact information and Lucas' measurements. They do not have a well organized system, so they just keep ALL of the children's notebooks stacked in this one TINY office. And Lucas' ended up there as well.
-there were gang writings on the clinic building
- there is no AC anywhere in the building
- nurse weighed him in his clothes and full diaper on the blanket that we brought
- she did not wash her hands - no sink in the doctors office
-she was nice and friendly!!
-they sent us to the lab to get blood work done NEXT DOOR (literally!) but "Make sure you go the pharmacy and buy gloves for the lab technician to do the blood work"
- Momma bought gloves for 2.50 grivnas (cheap but still)cause the clinic does not supply their doctors/lab techs with gloves
- at the lab Lucas did well, looking around like he was on a foreign planet (seems like it sometimes)
-the lab tech asked for 3 grivnas for the blood work for herself! We gave ten grivnas bill, and she didnt want to give us change back!!! I stood there until I got it back.
All in all it went well. Cant wait to do a urine test on an infant! We got this gadget that attaches to his peepee and after he pees we suppose to run this gadget with his pee in it to the clinic...Tune in for another adventurous trip to the clinic.


P.S. Go and hug your doctor! and call your insurance company and thank them for charging you so much to feel so comfortable at your doctor's office/hospital, etc.
-

2 months old!

Lucas is 2 months old today. He is quite a cutie! He changes every day - he coos and smiles so much more now. He recognizes us and still LOVES to be held and cuddled, we dont mind though since these days will be gone before we know it and he'll want to run and be all independent.

Lucas had his 2 months doctor's appointment today. He weighs 12lbs 14 oz and measures 25 inches long (according to Dr. Hanson thats considered pretty long for his age). Poor baby had shots and oh my...he cried like never before. The nurse said to just entertain him and try to hold his hands; Lucas was all smiles and happy...and then it happened...poke once...poke twice...poke for the third time. I so wanted to give her my legs to poke instead of his...He cried so hard and so loud, it was truly hearbreaking. I felt so bad...like I totally fooled him by encouraging him to smile and all, and then he had all this pain. After some time and some food, he calmed down and fell asleep for awhile. Scientists should come up with vaccines in the form of candy...hmmm, there is a thought!

1 month old!!!

We can't belive our baby is already a month old!!! We feel like it was only yesterday we brought him home...time flies. Life has definitely changed for the best. It's tiring at times, but so rewarding and special.

We watched video from the hospital and first few days at home - Lucas has changed so much since then already! We love you, sweet boy, and thank God for letting us take care of you and love you.

About me this month:
- I weigh 10 lbs, 1 oz and measure 21.5 inches (as of 4.10.2009). Doctor loves my cheeks and says I am a healthy boy.
- I LOVE to be held, cuddled, talked to, rocked, snuggled, kissed and anything that involves being with mom and dad
- I am starting to coo
- I can hold my head for a minute, sometimes more
- I chew on my fingers to help me sleep
- I dont like tummy time, but Daddy says we should count me hanging out on his tummy as my tummy time :)
- I eat pretty regularly and get upset when not fed on time
- I sleep during the day and play late at night and early morning
- I like to look around and can follow a toy
- I am discovering my fingers
- I enjoy rocking in my cool swing
- I can only go to sleep when daddy pats my back and puts me on his stomach or when mom holds me tight, rocks me and hums a lullaby
- I can ONLY sleep with mom and dad (sleeping in the crib is overrated)
- I have been out several times already: I enjoy the car ride but not the car seat, I like being in the stroller but it does not help whem I am hungry, so mom has to get me out of it, hold me and feed me and then I am all better. Daddy wants to throw away the car seat and just carry me around :) ha! I agree, but Mom says 'over her dead body.'

Enough for now - tune in for more updates next month.

Here are some recent pictures for all to enjoy!

Daddy gave me my first bottle of breast milk! I loved it and chomped it down in seconds :)

Aunt Anita came to visit me! She spoiled me with lots of holding, smiling and talking (as well as cute outfits) - I miss her terribly and so does my mom. Come back soon!

Kimberly came all the way from Michigan to hang out with Anita, mom and visit the school with her cousins. You are so fun to be around - come visit us more often.

We went to Galena with Anita and Kimberly. It was fun! (though I am not a fan of my carseat - I scream when I have to get strapped in, so I need my binky to calm down).

hanging out at home with Mom and taking silly pictures like this one :)

I am liking my swing! (finally)



This is what we do when daddy gets home from work


I love my Dad!