Ring Around the Rosey Video - 11-09-09

Matt Meets Tate the Tortoise 11-08-09

(His name used to be Tate-or-Tot because he was the size of one believe it or not)

Rocco Breakthrough!!!!
One dog down, some 75 million to go...

Mommy came home to the most shocking site yesterday evening - Matt was running around the house chasing after and shouting for ROCCO. Now for those of you who have yet to meet Matt, you cannot fully appreciate the magnitude of that one sentence! Matt is TERRIFIED of ALL animals - this includes those of the very smallest of sizes to those of the very biggest of sizes. For example, on September 27th, we had to leave the park in Savannah after Matt spotted a squirrel. He immediately ran to me, jumped into my arms and gestured for me to stand up and hold him to protect him from the small and harmless little creature. Just yesterday morning in fact, Matt pulled back when I came in the house holding Rocco and Matt pointed at him and said ROCCO OUTSIDE! So you can imagine my surprise upon opening the front door that evening to see Matt and Rocco on the same floor of the house together, not to mention TOUCHING!

Rusty gets credit for this breakthrough - as he went on to explain how he had been having 'sessions' with Matt, Ellison, Himself and Rocco everyday since Matt's arrival. Daddy is soooo proud of his little boy, as is mommy of course, and I'm sure that Ellison is too.

Now as for Rocco - I think he liked it better when Matt ran from him! ha ha ha

Enjoy the pics and video - I know I did!!!!!!!!!

Jeep Ride 09-05-09

Less than a month home and Matt was behind the wheel - well not literally - Ellison was actually driving - Matt was in charge of the gas! I thought it was so cute that Ellison and Matthew worked together to operate the vehicle. Matt, with his long legs, pushed the gas, while Elli, with her short arms, steered RATHER POORLY I might add. It was a little scary for mom, but the kids had a blast. Looks like we'll be adding one of these to Matt's Christmas Wish List!

THE BOYS ARE HOME!!! PICS FROM THEIR ARRIVAL 08-15-09!

I apologize to everyone for taking THIS LONG to post an update. Rusty and Murat (now Matt, Jr.) arrived home in Atlanta, GA on August the 15th, 2009 at 4:00pm. Life has been a chaotic whirlwind ever since but things are beginning to really calm down and we are ALL doing great. Ellison and Matt have bonded since the moment they saw each other at the airport and they are becoming the best of friends. Thank you to everyone who has followed us on our journey to bringing Murat home and becoming a family of four. We are so thankful to everyone for everything you ALL did to help us reach this dream. Matt has only been home one month, but it already feels like he has always been here. We could not be happier - we are now complete!!!!! The pictures below are from August 15th as the boys touched down in the good old USA...

The face of a girl who misses her daddy - it has been SEVENTY days!!!

Ellison waiting patiently for her daddy and brother

to come up the escalators...

Reunited - Ellison finds her daddy!

And Matt finds a Nana and Grandpa with open arms!

Hey Nana, Love You!

Okay Nana, your time is up - gotta go meet my sis!

Hey Sis, where have you been all my life?

Hey Matt...so good to see you!!! Let me at those cheeks!

Going in for the hug...

The Hug!

The Kiss - AKA Mom's Favorite Picture!!!

First Family Picture (at the Atlanta Airport) - thank you Amelia for reminding me to do this!!! We have not taken another since...he he - it is on the dreaded 'TO DO' list!

What the boys saw as we pulled into the driveway...you have to look past the overgrown trees!

Thank you to Ellison, Nana, Grandpa, Aunt Angie & Little Jason

for coloring the banner that mommy created!!!

Thank you, Miriam, for putting up the sign to announce our little man's arrival!

Hey, who invited this guy???

Ahh what the heck, I'll pose with you, but it's gonna cost ya!

Are these all for me?!? Where do I start???

A Very Handsome Venom...

SPIDERTHUGS-TWO is always better than ONE!!!

Hey, spiderthugs have to eat too!!!

...and sleep (okay so maybe I helped their hands into position...)

Precious...Priceless...our family is COMPLETE.

The Matt's (Sr. & Jr.) Arrived Safely in Almaty

Hi Everyone - just a quick note to say that the boys are now in Almaty, having just flown over from Uralsk at 9:40am today (their time). I got a call from Rusty this morning (in Almaty they are now 10 hours ahead of our time) and he said that Matt did surpringly well on the flight over. Of course, he exclaimed 'Kaka' just as the plane took off, meaning he had to go potty. Rusty couldn't get him to the pot for a good 20-30 minutes and our sweet boy held it the entire time. Rusty said he's never seen so much pee pee in his life. Matt Jr. didn't cry at all and slept a bit and only got a little tense when an announcement was made just before they landed, as the intercom jolted him awake and the plane was very bumpy. Poor little guy!! But they are good, and they will arrive home ON U.S. SOIL on Saturday, August the 15th at 4:00pm! Ellison and I cannot wait! Here are a few pics from back in July as papa is not as good at uploading as was mama!!!

In the car, leaving the babyhouse...he didn't say a word...

Drinking from a 'big boy cup'...

Playing at the sink, AKA 'Heaven!'

Zonked Out - long day - so cute!!

Still sleeping with mama watching over - Yes, I swear he was asleep here - his little eyes don't close all the way all of the time when he is asleep! I was so anxious to see Matt sleep and when I finally got to (pictured here) I just couldn't take my eyes off his precious little face!

Matt is 'officially' our son!!!!!

One MATTHEW RUSSELL POST, JR.

AKA MATT

AKA MATTHEW

AKA MURAT

AKA 'Mr. Man'

...IS NOW A POST!!!!

I just wanted to post to share the wonderful news that as of approximately 18 hours ago (Kaz time) or at approximately 3:01 pm on Saturday July 25th, we completed the 15 day 'waiting period' and Matt officially became our son - meaning that there is nothing or nobody (ie: his birth mom) that can stand in the way of it now. We are so excited - he is such a perfect fit and such a beautiful boy!

He and Rusty will begin his exit paperwork. They will then head off to Almaty on August the 10th to complete all the other stuff and they will be done on the 14th. If all goes as planned we should ALL be reunited on Saturday August the 15th.

Last night, Ellison and I had 'movie night' (something Rusty and I usually do together). The movie had a few small 'scary' parts and she would look at me just after (and even turn my head to look at her) and say, 'You Okay?' and then she'd move on to Duke (the cat) asking him the same, 'You okay Duke'. She is so darn sweet and caring and motherly that I cannot see her NOT doing great with Matt. There was a part of the movie in which a little girl was hurt and crying and Ellison looked so concerned while saying, 'I wanna help her. Let's go help her. And then she can come to my house'. She also made several (fake) phone calls during the movie, to Aunt Angie, Uncle Jason, Daddy and Matt telling Matt 'Paka Paka Matt, I love you'. Oh and then just after her chats she looked at me very sincerely and said, 'I promise to be nice to Matt. I'll share my toys'.

Well she is up and I have to go...or as she puts it: 'come on baby, you gotta go to sleep!' I'm not really sure why I have to go back to bed (I just got up) but I am sure that I am about to find out!

Love to all - Temple!!!!

Sunday, July 12th, 2009: Mama's Last Dance with Matt

Mama & Matt Breakdance - Here is an example of Matt telling me what to do through body language. Isn't he precious and a great little dancer...ha ha. Oh and don't look at my behind please!! Papa gladly recorded this little bit.

Here is Matt 'playing dead'. This is one of the cutest things that I taught him while in Kaz. Now you may not be able to tell what is going on here, but mama knows - mama always knows! Ha ha, one day I sat Matt on my lap facing me and played like I was dead - mouth agape and eyes wide open and blank - then I would reach out and tickle him and he'd laugh and laugh like a girl. So here, Matt does the 'blank stare' and then comes back to tickle me. It is so cute - he is so precious and I miss him (and his papa) sooooooo much. This video was also taken on July 12th. I left the country on July 13th and Rusty and Matt should return home on August 15th! Keep your fingers crossed (and toes too)!!!

July 11, 2009 - Mama's Little Berry Picker

Matt picking cherries from the tree that sits behind the swings on the playground...

These pictures are from one of my last visits to the babyhouse (remember I left not soon after to return to the states and my Ellison). Matt is the tallest in his group and he was so determined to pick every cherry in site. All the while the caregivers were yelling at him to 'stop', well at least that is what Papa thinks, but mama thougth it was altoghter too cute to put an end to. He'd pick a cherry, stick it in his mouth, get what he wanted out of it (just that first delicious taste), pull it back out and feed it to me or his friends. Mama quickly talked Matt into feeding Adalzhan (pictured here) and Nastya instead! Ha ha - it was adorable...Here is a short video clip too!

SHE SAID YES!!!!

...BUT NO TO IMMEDIATE EXECUTION

SORRY FOR NOT POSTING FOR SO LONG. WE WENT TO COURT, GOT OUR PETITION GRANTED, BUT IT WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT FOR 15 DAYS. RUSTY WILL STAY HERE WITH MURAT AND I WILL GO BACK TO THE STATES - I LAND ON TUES AT 710PM!!! RUSTY WILL SEND ME UPDATES AND PICS AND I WILL POST FROM HOME BUT WE WONT BE ONLINE FOR A FEW DAYS MOST LIKELY AS THE INTERNET IS DOWN AT OUR NEW APT (WE MOVED THUS THE LOSS IN COMMUNICATION).

WE ARE ALL GOOD! MURAT IS OUR SON, JUST NOT YET!

I AM AT THE INTERNET CAFE TYPING ONE HANDED WITH A KITTEN IN MY LAP. I JUST FOUND HIM IN THE STREET AND HE IS TOO CUTE TO LEAVE BEHIND!!!!!! I AM GOING TO TAKE HIM BACK TO THE APT!!!!

WILL POST AGAIN AS SOON AS WE CAN-LOVE TO ALL!!!!!

TEMPLE, RUSTY AND MATT POST (OR MR MAN AS I NOW CALL HIM)

Court Decision is...

...to Be Announced at 2:30pm....

PRAY IT'S A YEAH!

We went to court this morning at 10am (remember, we are 9 hours ahead of you, well most of you) and the judge said that we are to come back at 230pm for her decision. The decision we are after is of course a YES in addition to IMMEDIATE EXECUTION meaning that we will get to go and pick Murat up from the babyhouse and take him back to the apartment until his paperwork is done (about 12 more days in country for Rusty).

We are very hopeful that the judge will decide in our favor. Last week, our friends went to court and got the same delayed decision type deal - they came back at 2pm to hear the wonderful news that they were the proud parents of their precious little boy (also a special needs toddler).

If you are awake, please keep your fingers crossed and send us some good luck and prayers!

Love to all,
Temple & Rusty = )

July 9, 2009 - Last Visit Before Final Court

(Day 30)

Our little doorman, saying paka paka AND then shutting us out or in!

Papa zerberting Murat.....he loves it!

Paka paka, okay you can come in...

Washing hands after the 'big dump'...please note we were at the sink for about 10-15 minutes. He and Ellison will get along great, when they are not fighting over the bathroom!

They each have their own comb? What? If you notice MURATs the one in the upper left hand corner under the name MYPAT. The second pic is of the tub that the caregivers shower the kids off in and I believe that is a changing table, but I've never seen them use it!

My boy checking out the ka-ka he made (a little gross but sweet all the same). I couldn't believe they each had their own potty? Pretty impressive actually!!!! (Matt told us he had to Kah-kit when we were outside. He made it all the way back to his room and to the potty before depositing his goods. What a good boy! Ellison you better be listening!!!!)