Ruslana (Update below)

This is Ruslana. She is an orphan from Ukraine that my sister-in-law, her husband and children hope to adopt. They have worked tirelessly raising funds to bring this little girl home. And they love her.

They have been put through the ringer with paperwork, details and requirements and were finally granted approval last week. This week they have found out that they will be moving Ruslana to a mental institution and the adoption may, or may not, go through. It is impossible for them to be there in this time frame as they are being asked for fingerprints for the millionth time!

Please keep Ruslana and her family here that loves her in your thoughts.

From my sister-in law.....
News- we are pressing forward. The reality is that Ruslana will be transferred this week. Not in 2 weeks like we thought- THIS week. The institution has her paperwork and the bus is coming for her. Our prayer now is that the bus will break down!!:) Our dossier paperwork should have been finished already. We were lacking a couple of documents a couple of weeks ago, all which came in record time (remember our USCIS approval?!). I went to have one final background clearance approved only to find that it wasn't detailed enough for Ruslana's country. This caused us to have to head back to our local sheriff's department (AGAIN!) to have prints retaken. Actually, they didn't even have to reprint us. They just printed out our old prints- duh, prints don't change- and sent us on our way. These certain background checks typically take 14 days to process. Of course, I sent Ruslana's story along with the prints, and we're praying we get results this week.

Max and Stella

From September, 2009

Our friends Mike And Jennifer Sewell are in town for the weekend and stopped in on Sunday for a quick play date. Max and Stella met for the first time and had a ball, though I'm not really sure each knew the other was in the room. Regardless, here they are looking pretty darn cute together.

Stella loves capers, makes pasta

It was a big food Sunday at the Jordans. We started with what is becoming a ritual — morning bagels at Star Bagel in Sylvan Park. Daddy always gets a bagel with lox and Mommy steals his capers. Only this time, Lil' Miss S stole them. Daddy started liking capers at age 37. Stella at 14 months.

From September, 2009

Then we had a fun night with our new pasta maker making ricotta and sausage ravioli with our homemade spinach pasta dough. Yum.

From September, 2009

My Buddies and Me

This is a glimpse into our afternoons. To the left is Sam and next to Stella is Claire. We all live within sight's distance of one another and meet up daily for walks and play dates.

This photo is pretty typical. Stella and Claire getting dirty and occasionally consuming rocks while Sam sits back keeping very tidy wondering why in the world they are playing in the dirt. So funny.

It has been amazing to watch these girls grow and learn together and from one another. Sam is 4 weeks younger than Stella and Claire is 3 months younger, but no worries there, she can hold her own.

Click here to see more of today's highlights.

Introducing Charles Samuel

Please meet Stella's new cousin, Charlie. Chip's sister and brother-in-law are adopting this precious baby. He was born on August 17, weighing 7lbs 11oz and is 19 inches long. He will be joining his three older sisters and he will be so loved.

We are thinking of them all as they make their journey home.

Oh, and do you think he is a red head? Our oldest niece is a red head and that would just be too cute!

Well, I guess I can walk now.

Stella's been messing around with a few steps here and a few steps there, but only when encouraged and usually for about 1.5 minutes, tops. But today the light bulb came on...

Music:Department of Eagles, "No One Does It Like You"

Stella and the Meerkats

A big day for the Jordans.

In the morning we played with our first box of crayons. In the afternoon, we went to the zoo for the first time. We yelled at the meerkats (above) and had fun meeting all sorts of other animals, too. Then we rode a carousel for the first time.

Then we were frightened of the carousel for the first time.

And then our friend Samantha had her first birthday party. Lots of people and lots of fun.

Needless to say, Miss S is sleeping hard at the moment.

Happy Birthday Little Miss S! (and America)

Great Grandpa Lynwood Jordan Sr. and Stella

We had a great weekend celebrating Stella's first birthday with family in Georgia and South Carolina. Stella was a champ and hung in here all day Saturday with minimal nap time. We spent Sunday morning visiting friends Ryan and Carrie and Baby Layla (4 weeks old) before a wild time with family in the evening grilling burgers and hot dogs. It's crazy that we all have kids now, and even crazier when they all get together to run, play, scream, cry, misbehave, and generally stay as loud as possible for as long as possible. It's so much fun.

Oh, almost forgot. Stella's been showing signs that she's ready to walk the past few weeks, and yesterday she officially "walked" several times. Born on the Fourth; first teeth on Christmas; walking on her first birthday — what flair!

Hope all had a great holiday.

Happy Father's Day to Me

My day started with presents in bed. The first was one of my favorite Stella photos in a frame. The second was my new "Team Jordan, est 2006" jersey t-shirt! You see here that Stella (and her mom) got one, too.

(Special thanks to my co-worker, Ellie, for helping Markana complete the vision.)

My day ended with Stella's first birthday party! Technically we're two weeks early, but M's folks were in town, Byron came for Father's Day and a few locals pals helped us celebrate before we went out of town for the 4th. Despite the 90+ temps, all had a good time watching Stella stuff her face with her first cake. (see all pictures at our Picasa page.)

Happy Father's Day to all Dads!

Handy Stella

Mommy had to go to Vandy today for a blood transfusion, so Daddy stayed home to watch Little Miss S. We ran out of fun things to do around the house, and since it was super hot and humid outside, we opted for the cool, wide aisles of our local Target.

This picture documents my first display of affection via inexpensive, mass-marketed stuff. (By the look on her face, it's working.) That's Handy Manny on the ball (for those of you who don't regularly watch DirecTV channels 190-205), one of the few toddler tv characters that doesn't make me crazy. To the left, a soccer ball. (Yes, I know. Why two?) Out of view to the right is a box of Tonka cars. She's already making "vrrrooom, vrrrooom" noises when we play with the cars, though you'd be hard-pressed to know the difference between the engine noise and her cow impression.

All were a big hit. We played on the living room floor a good part of the afternoon, and she had a hard time deciding which of the new toys she likes the most.

That is until she discovered the empty USPS box by the front door. Open, close. Open, close. Open, close. Open, close.

I hope Target enjoys my $20.