Since our angel has been with us!

Today has been a day spent lounging around the apartment just spending time all together as a family.  It has been very cold here the past few days and it is way to cold to take this kiddos out because we didn't pack a lot of wintery clothes for them. So we just stayed home, watched kid movies, played, and spent time together. I got a call from Marina this morning and she said that it looks like our passport will be ready to pick up Tuesday so we will pack tomorrow, pick up our passport Tuesday and head straight from their to Kiev. Once in Kiev we will get settled in another apartment where we will stay our last 2 days here in Ukraine and then on Wednesday morning we will go to the US Embassy. Thursday we will finish up stuff and be able to head home on Friday. So that is the plan! So finally the pictures and videos you all have been waiting for.  Our precious girl has been with us in our apartment for the past 4 1/2 days.  Sorry I've not been able to keep up with pics and postings. 
Here's lots of pics of our special moments with our new blessing! First morning (Thursday) waking up! So sweet!  Myla hugging & snuggling with her baby sister.... so excited she is here! Every morning when Myla walks into our room and sees Mina on the pallet she gets so excited and says Mina really loud and runs over to lay with her on her pallet.  She absolutely adores her little sister & it just melts my heart!

Mina playing with a yellow balloon on a stick

We had a special blanket made just for Mina to show her all the love & support it took to bring her home.  There are many quilt squares with loving words, scriptures, and prayers for our little girl.  We are so grateful to all those who helped make this blanket possible for her.  To my mom for working so hard sowing the front of the quilt together to make the squares for people to sign, for all those who offered loving words and messages to fill her squares, and to my wonderful cousin Alex who stayed up late late late and worked so hard for us to get the quilt put together with a beautiful ruffle trim so that we could have it in time to take it to Mina.  We are so thankful for all those who blessed this little girl in giving her something she can cherish for life and look back and see the Love that brought her home!

She absolutely loved the big pink bow and card my cousin tied around her blanket for her!





Friday morning waking up!! Here is where Mina has come in our room and layed down beside her sister on her pallet.

 Myla playing a game while sister watches.
 Intently watching

Myla thinking Mina is thirsty. She always makes sure she never goes without a drink :)
 So this video was much longer but I cut it down.  Notice how well Mina is sitting up.  She sat there for about 5 minutes without anything proping her up.  She is doing great and will sit up for several minutes at a time. So proud of her!

Friday afternoon Jim took Myla out for a daddy daughter play date! :)  She needed to get out for a bit after all the time spent in the apartment. She had such a blast with her dad.  This was them at NY Pizza!

 Driving a car!

Playing in one of the many play zone areas!

Jumping on the trampoline

What a fun fun day with daddy she had!!

Here's Mina trying a Gerber biscuit for her first time and she LOVED it!! This kept her well entertained for close to 20 minutes and she just about ate the whole thing.

Think this pic is so funny!

Video of Mina enjoying her biscuit!

This is how Mina will fall asleep (either that or laying on her belly.) But then she moves and moves and ends up all over the place despite the many pillows. I have even had to move her back on her pallet in the middle of the night when she has ended up on the hard floor.  She always kicks her blanket off no matter how many times I put it back on her during the night.

And this is one of the many positions she will wander to in the middle of the night while she sleeps.  Notice her head is the opposite direction and up against the wood door. 
This morning laying on daddy!

Just a random pic.  This is the hallway to our apartment & that was a bat on the wall above the door hanging from the cord