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All aboard! Where are we going? To the North Pole of course. We’ve been waiting patiently for Dagny to be old enough, by our standards, to take a ride on the Polar Express. We are so glad we waited, it was absolutely magical. She was adsorbed in the whole experience, which in turn Craig and I were too just by watching her. We can’t wait to take the ride again next year.
Reading along in the book to the Polar Express story.
Dagny with the Hobo.
Seeing Santa!
Dagny’s time with the big man.
The hug.
First gift of the season!
Barbara Dearest Dagny, It’s been a long time since I have written you an open letter. But, I feel the time has come again to share with you what wonderful things you have experienced this past year. First, of all, Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl! I am still having a hard time grasping that you are four years old. I just can’t believe how much time has passed since the moment I held you in my arms for the first time. And, how much you have changed just in this past year. You’re third year started off pretty rough. Your dad and I thought we escaped the terrible-twos, but very soon we realized you were just saving it up for the Terrific-Threes. Okay, so terrific is not the adjective to use to describe your behavior. You went from a good kid, to a kid that scared your dad and I. We were honestly not prepared with how you were acting, it was so foreign to us. We really were pampered up until then. After reading up on it, talking with people going through it recently, and having a conversation with your doctor, our minds were put at ease. You were growing up and learning about boundaries. It was still hard experiencing your tantrums, but I was very grateful for one thing; you did it all at home! You were always good outside of our house. Thank goodness for small favors. I am happy to report tantrums are at an all time low, in fact you are very good about stopping it from ever getting bad. You still whine at times and want your way, but we are able to sit and talk about it. Most times we are able to come to terms. Have I told you how much you amaze me? I am still at awe at how much you have changed. So, I covered the rough stuff, now let me tell you about all the great stuff. This year you started in dance, gymnastics, and moved on to Pre-K. You had your first dance recital. You were adorably shy. You were so stinking cute in your ballerina dress. You were nervous and kept putting your hands to your eyes. I guess you figured if you couldn’t see anyone, they couldn’t see you. But, you know what you did it, you didn’t run off the stage you did your best. What more can a parent ask for? I was so proud of you that day. Gymnastics is possibly your favorite extra-curriculum activity. Simply put; you love to go! We noticed from the first parent observation to the most recent how much more confident you are in yourself. You are much more focused on your routines. You have improved tremendously. You stared Pre-K this fall. What a difference. You are shinning in your class. You are really honing in on your writing skills. You have been writing your name for quite some time without any help. One day you asked me how to spell, “Mommy” after I told you once, you wrote it all by yourself. You sometimes come home from school with it written on a paper. I saved them all. You are also know other basic words all from memory. One day you were sitting on daddy’s lap and you guys were looking at a new deck of sight words I got you. Daddy was reading them to you and you stopped him. You said, “Stop Daddy, I know that word, that’s her.” Your dad and I just looked at each other. That’s the first time you read a word all by yourself. You are just as good with your numbers. You are able to subtract and add with not much help. Your brain is just so well wired. You are able to pick things up very easily. I am jealous. I wish my brain worked like that. Your newest thing is to sit at the dining room table and do “homework”. I have no idea were this has come from. I have never referred to your activities (puzzles, mazes, dot-to-dot, letter & numbers) as homework, but you seem to like to. And, your serious about it too. You sit there for a long time doing your activities. Sometimes it’s just coloring and drawing, which by the way you are really improving. You are more concerned with staying in between the lines when your coloring. I can make out your drawings now. Your people all have wonderful big smiles on their faces, with eyes, nose, ears, and hair. And, in 99% of your pictures there is always a big yellow sun shining from the top. I take that as you’re a happy little girl. Dad and I toyed with holding you back an additional year from Kindergarten because you will be one of the youngest. But, after talking with your teacher and doctor they both felt it would be a shame to hold you back. You are very bright. You are already ahead of your class. They are concerned you would be bored. So, daddy and I decided we would move forward and send you to Kindergarten this coming year! Other milestones that you hit earlier this past year is sleeping in a big girl bed and becoming potty trained. You never had one accident from the moment we stopped using pull-ups. You went from a tricycle to a bicycle this year. You’re still using training wheels, but you are so much more confident on it. You are a little speed demon. You’re very sociable. You have lots of friends that love you. This was the first year that we threw you a birthday party outside of our house. We invited your friends from school and dance, and you had a great showing. You had such a great time and so did dad and I watching you. We decided to sign you up full-time at Doodle Bugs. The days that you were not going were not your best. You are a happy child if you’re around other kids playing, learning, and keeping busy. That defines you. You like to be challenged and always doing something. You are not the type of person that likes to sit around and do nothing. It’s been an amazing year to witness your transformations into the little girl you are today. You are so much fun to be around. I love snuggling with you and listening to your heartbeat. One of my favorite moments with you is our bedtime story time. I usually stay a little longer and we just lay in bed and just talk. I love it when in the morning you jump into bed with us. I love it that your goofy. I love how you laugh at things. I love how compassionate you are. I love how you see the world. I love how you are able to communicate like an adult. I love you now and always. Mommy
Today is my little girl’s 4th birthday. Not quite sure how that happened, I mean she was just one yesterday. In the morning, when Dagny came downstairs, she saw her presents waiting for her.
Here is my silly 4-year old.
She had a very busy day. Craig and I picked her up early from “school” and we took her out to dinner. Afterward she had gymnastic where parents were invited to sit in and observe.
The long day ended by us surprising Dagny with a birthday cake. Here is her reaction.
Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea! Barbara Three years ago, our lives changed forever. We met our little angel and it’s been the most amazing experience. Here is my little cutie back in 2008.
And, today!
Dear Dagny, We love you so much! Love, Mommy Nine years ago I was in a Palace, The Royal Palace of Gödöllő, about to get married to the love of my life and I was a nervous wreck. Then I saw Craig at the end of aisle and all nerves were gone. A peace came over me and it was our moment in time. Nine years later, I am just as happy to be married to my best friend. C
 2002 I love you, Craig Johnson! 4-ever 2-gether! Barbara In the past three months it seems Dagny has grown so much. I realize I have been hypocritical when it comes to Dagny and hitting milestones. I am always so excited when she hits a new milestone and then at the same time I get sad that she is growing up so fast. At this point she has lost everything baby about her and is officially a little girl. Bummer, but awesome. I give up. I remember when Dagny sat on my lap for more then 30 seconds, and holding our hands as we walk. These are huge milestones when your child comes from an orphanage. Sensory issues and trust were the milestones that I was most excited about. Even though she was so young (11 months old ) when we met these were very real issues. She didn’t like her hands touched and she didn’t like to sit in our laps. None of these are issues any longer.  holding on
 snuggling There are times when I let my mind wonder to the time before and I feel guilty that she had to be without us for 11 months of her life, as if somehow it’s our fault. I don’t know if other adoptive parents feel the same way, but I do. I know it’s ridiculous. Even back then Dagny seemed all together. I remember thinking that we needed to gain her trust, but she isn’t fighting us. It’s as if she was really getting that we loved her and would never let her down or at least try our very best not to. We were mommy and daddy and she would no longer be without those figures in her life. It’s so hard to explain, but I know we are one of the lucky ones. For this we are extremely grateful for. So much has changed recently with her, it’s hard to even keep track. That is the only reason I am keeping this blog going. For my Dagny! We went out on President’s Day weekend and bought Dagny a mattress (isn’t that when you’re suppose to go?) for her BIG girl bed. Seriously, when did mattresses get so expensive? I mean really. Here is her new bed, new duvet, and everything else that comes with becoming a big girl.  The new bed She really transitioned wonderfully. Sometime I catch her in bed “reading” (which by the way I don’t think she is that far away from) her new favorite book, Skippyjon Jones. The best part is we can now lay on the bed with her and read a bedtime story or two and having her fall asleep before we finish. Those are the best nights. It’s not always the case, sometimes she fights going to bed, especially if she has a nap during the day.  D in bed  Reading Skippyjon Jones For about a few months now Dagny has been randomly asking me how to spell things. So far I can manage the words she’s asking, but I am grateful for my iPhone when the words get more challenging. Seriously though, she knows how to spell her name, dog, cat, hat, and a few more. She’s not even 3 1/2. She loves to watch WordWorlds on PBS. Actually, she found this show all by herself on my iPhone using the Netflix app. We don’t have her DVD in the car, only when we go on longer trips. But, sometimes when we are out and about, she asks for my iPhone and I admit I give it to her. On her own, in the back seat while I am driving, she navigates to a game that we downloaded for her or to Netflix and she picks out something to watch. I am sure she isn’t the only 3 year old that does this, but I am still super proud of her. Now, that she is older and really can enjoy them, we have gone on a couple of play dates and have more already scheduled. She has made friends with one of the girls in her dance class and we were all invited to their house a couple of weekends ago. It was so much fun seeing Dagny out of her element and handling it so well. They played dress up and made jewelery to name a couple of things. The bonus is that we really like the little girls parents too and had just as much fun talking with them. Then last week Dagny and I met up with her best friend from her class at preschool at Jump Club. We had taken Dagny there once a few months ago and she didn’t like it all. I think she got intimated by all the bigger kids and not to mention the place was packed. This time the place was empty and the girls had the place all to themselves. Having her friend there helped her come out of her shell and for two hours they did not stop moving. By the end she looked like she just stepped out of a shower, she was all wet. That night she went to bed at 7:00 pm, by far the earliest she has ever gone down.
 bounce, bounce, and more bounce ‘Tis the season for doctor visits. She had her annual eye doctor visit a couple of weeks ago. Her pediatric ophthalmologist moved to a different practice and this was our first visit with him since he moved. We just love him, where he goes we go. After her eyes were dilated we were called back in by her doctor. This was the highlight of the visit. He said “Dagny, Dagny, Dagny. When I look at the list of patients for the day and I see your name I know who you are.” Craig and I just looked at each other. He said he loves her name and loves how unique it is. I told him that is one of the reason we picked the name. I don’t want her to go to class and have the same name as five other girls. I want her to standout. He said he understood, when his daughter was in preschool she was Sara M, because there were five other girls named Sara. The fact that he sees tons of kids every year and he remembers our little girl proves my point. WOOT. Here she is rocking her awesome paper glasses she got afterward.
 cool kid Next on our list was Dagny’s six month check-up with her dentist. Because her teeth are so close together, when her permanent ones come in most likely there wont be enough room for them. I see braces in the future and that’s OK. Otherwise all is great with her. We have a great regiment going on everyday with brushing and flossing.
 getting ready This week we signed up Dagny for gymnastics. It’s something I never thought I would do. It just doesn’t appeal to me. But, Dagny has been asking to go because her best friend goes. We decided to sign her up for the Spring session and let her experience it with her friend. This summer we are planning on signing her up for soccer. I can’t wait for that. She loves the idea of playing it. So, the activities have started. But, it’s all good. Dagny brought this painting home that she did at preschool and I just absolutely love it. I love it so much I went out the next day and got a frame and framed it.
 My little artist Other then all of these activities its been all about hanging out with each other and having fun. Here is the Johnson Duo playing in your local attic.
 The Johnson Duo Dagny found the boxes that I put a lot of her “first” items away in. She found her first Christmas dress and she decided to put it on. When I turned around this is what I found. I was quite surprised that it still fit, with the size being 12 months.  look at me Then she found her first Halloween costume. Who am I to stand in the way of some good old dress up fun?
 My little ladybug Shoveling the driveway is a family act. We all chip in.
 shoveling But, we also know how to have a good old snowball fight.
 family fun It’s been an amazing few months, busy but fun! Barbara I am so happy some people decided to delurk and share their stories with me. It really makes me feel great to know that our blog has inspired others through their adoption process. I have decided to keep this blog going for now. When we first started this blog, it was back in 2002 when Craig and I were getting married. (Has it really been nine years?!) It was meant for our families. Both our families are not from the area. Craig’s parents are from Ohio, my brother and his family from Long Island, and at the time my parents were living in Hungary. Then late 2007 for about a year we (I) took a hiatus from the blog. That’s when we were going through the adoption process. I decided against keeping an online journal, instead I kept a paper journal for the daughter that I hadn’t met yet. I envied other people that were going through the process and could share everything. I really wished at the time I could do that, but that’s just not me. That’s when I realized that I am in fact a very private person. It wasn’t a secret, we told our families and friends when we decided to move forward with the adoption. But, when you put things online I feel you lose some control, and believe me when I say during an International adoption you hold on to whatever you can, because so much is out of your hands. When we knew we were getting close to going to Russia, it was time once again to get online and keep our families up to date from far away. And, now I keep it going for Dagny. I like to capture as many milestones as I can for her. I am cautions as to what I share. I just hope I don’t embarrass her too much, perhaps when she is a tween I will make the website less about her. But, probably not. Keep the comments coming. Barbara
Well, hello to all who are still reading our blog. And I do hope there are some of you out there. A lot has changed since our last post and I’ll be sure to get into it a little. First, I’m sure all of you would like to know why our site has been offline for so long. Well, to put it simply, our previous hosting provider “SUCKED”! So we did a little more research this time round and found a new home for the Johnsonhousehold web site. So far I can say that I’m happy with it as well as Barbara. Second, our new look! With the move of the web site, it also get us the opportunity to find a new site management tool. This new tool has much more to offer than the last one and we’re really excited about. We’re really looking forward to taking advange of the new features and hope that the experience that our viewers have will be a much richer and enjoyable one. Eight years later you still make me laugh out loud and bring joy to our lives.  Happy Anniversary! I love you. Barbara |
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