Category Archives: Family

by Barbara

Happy 17th Birthday, Erika!

Dearest Erika,

Happy Birthday!

You are the first person that I have witnessed time passing by with every birthday you celebrated. I was old enough to really appreciate you being born, but young enough to get into the mix with you. I was in High School when you were born and here you are graduating this year and going off to college.

These past 17 years have been so amazing because I have had the privilege of knowing you. You are such an amazing young woman, with an amazing heart and soul. I have enjoyed so much of our time together, and I look forward to getting to know the young woman you will become in the coming years.

You are and always will be my girl.

pretty girl

We love you.

Barbara, Craig, Dagny, Agi Mama, Maxie, and Lily

by Barbara

Our Day

Dearest Dagny,

One year ago today, your Dad and I stood in a Russian courtroom and heard the most beautiful words we have ever heard; that we were your parents and you were our daughter.

That day only rivaled our first meeting when it came to our emotions. I remember waking up that morning and thinking that this day forever will change our roles in the world. Nerves weren’t an issue for me at that point, that came later in the day. I was as calm as a nail, which is out of character for me. I am usually the nervous type. But, I knew that you were our daughter and the Judge would see it that way too. As we waited to be called into the courtroom, one of our team members, Vlad, wrote up a request in Russian to the Orphanage Deputy Director requesting permission to have custody of you for the 10-day waiting period. I remember your Dad and I signing it and thinking, “WOW, she might be in our arms today forever.” That was very emotional. While we were in the courtroom and we were waiting for the Judge to come to a decision, I was sitting next to your Father holding his hand and looking forward. If I would of looked at him, I think I would of lost it. The Judge came back and we stood up, and she made her ruling that we were your parents. There was a big lump in my throat and tears rolling down my checks. It was the happiest moment in my life, Dagny.

After court we drove back to the Orphanage to see you and to drop off the Deputy Director. At this point we still didn’t know if were taking you back to the apartment with us. When we got there you were taking a nap and all we knew was they were getting you up. The next thing we knew they were asking for the clothes we brought along just in case. As they were dressing you, your Dad and I were watching. You were so tiny and all ours. That is when the nervousness kicked in for me. I was a Mom and I was now responsible for another human being. It can be a little overwhelming. Up until then our mind was about the adoption process and how to bring you home. When we got through court and all worries were done the reality that we were now parents set in. When I looked at you, all I kept thinking was how lucky I was to have such a beautiful daughter and you were put on this earth for us to be your parents.

After they bundled you all up, we walked out of the orphanage with you in our arms. You were closing that chapter of your life and we were doing the same. We were now beginning the most beautiful thing, a family, our family.

This first year went by in a blink of an eye and I realize the years are going to continue go by that way. Everyday I try and take a moment and just look at you and soak it all in. You have grown so much in one year it’s unbelievable.

Just know how much me love you and how much happiness you have brought into our lives.

We love you very much.

December 1 2008

Riding away

With Mommy

December 1 2009

Today with your buddies

one more

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

by Barbara

Thanksgiving 2009

What a difference a year makes?

Last year Craig and I made a stop at Binghamtom for a quick Thanksgiving linner at my brother’s before heading to Long Island to spend the night. The day after we had a flight out to Russia for court and to spend three weeks in Moscow with our baby girl. This year the entire family was together again celebrating not only Thanksgiving, but also Dagny. This was Dagny’s first Thanksgiving with the family and it was wonderful seeing her with her family. She just loves them all so much and they all love her!

So, instead of a long wordy post I thought I would give a visual breakdown of our turkey weekend.

Here are the ladies in the kitchen getting the fiesta ready.

the ladies

Here, Dagny is running back and forth between Erika and Tim. Simple things like this makes Dagny a happy toddler.

Erika and Dagny playing

Uncle Tim and Dagny playing

Here are my favorite three kids in the world getting ready to eat.

My three favorite kids

After dinner, we had Dagny open some of her birthday presents from her family. Here is Dagny’s very first bike (Radio Flyer) from Uncle Emeric and Aunt Edit. Dagny loves it!

Dagny’s new wheels

Here is Dagny playing with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson’s gift. She loves anything to do with animals and the alphabet, no joke. Needless, to say she loves her present.

Loving the Zoo

Because, Dagny’s new bike is tad bit big, Uncle Emeric and Aunt Edit got her a 4-wheeler that she can ride right now. She is one lucky girl to have such loving Uncle and Aunt. Currently, Dagny is riding it around the house with her Bear as her passenger.

Yet, another from Uncle Emeric and Aunt Edit

Here is Emerson and I watching Dagny play with her new toys. I love this boy so much!

Me and my boy

This might be my most favorite photo of the weekend. Here is everyone reacting to Dagny’s excitement playing with her Uncle Emeric’s chips. I just love everyone’s reaction.

Favorite photo of the weekend

Here, Dagny is helping out Uncle Emeric by being his good luck charm. “Yay! we won!”

Uncle Emeric’s good luck charm

Here is Emerson saying good-bye to Dagny. Ok, how sweet is this? It makes my heart overflow with joy seeing this.

Makes me melt

And here is Dagny playing with her Daddy and Uncle Tim.

Dagny playing Magic with her Dad and Uncle.

We have so much to be thankful for, especially our beautiful daughter!

Barbara

by Barbara

Dagny’s 2nd Birthday Party

Saturday was a big day at the Johnson’s. Little Miss D turned two years old and we had a small party to celebrate the occasion. The original plan was to celebrate Dagny’s birthday when our families come up for Thanksgiving. But, that all changed when we went to Micky’s and Gianna’s Birthday party. I was talking with Jamie (the mom of the two cuties) and she told me I had to throw one. So, I quickly texted, emailed, and designed an invitation to send out. Unfortunately, because of the very short notice we had many people that couldn’t make it. Fortunately thou there were many that could.

the invite

I made a teddy bear cake for Dagny, because this child LOVES her stuffed animals, in particular her bears. I am a little proud of myself, I think it came out pretty good.

getting ready to blow out her candles

I am so angry at myself because we didn’t take many photos. Lucky, other people took some.

Jacob and Dagny

Here are some photos of Dagny playing with her gifts.

cool lady

I don’t think I have ever run across such an amazing four year old boy. Jacob was the most well behaved, warm hearted, helpful little boy. He was so cute and so nice to Dagny. I was so blown away with how well they played together. Dagny was very sad and practically cried when Jacob went home. Even the following morning she asked for Jacob.

Here is Jacob helping Dagny open her gifts.

what a sweetheart

Here they are playing.

playing so nicely together

Jacob showing Dagny the ropes

Michael and Gannia came a little later to the party, but it was so great to see them. I swear they grew so much these past two weeks.

sweet little Michael

Check out my little anti-social bug in the back. That’s not fair of me, she was actually very much in the in mix.

pretty little G

Earlier in the week, Craig and I surprised Dagny at school with a Sesame Street themed birthday cake cupcake.

The cake is actually made up of individual cupcakes. I think that is the coolest thing I have seen since the iPhone. Seriously, how cool is that?!

Elmo cake

All the kids cared about were these two little guys.

Big Bird and Elmo

Look how they are eyeing it.

classmates

Here is my child going downtown on her piece.

yummy

yum

Part three of the celebration is going to be when our families come up for Thanksgiving. It’s so nice to be able to celebrate Dagny’s Birthday with so many different people. She is such a special little girl and she deserves all this love and attention.

Barbara

by Barbara

Happy 2nd Birthday, Dagny!

Dearest Dagny,

A year ago today, I was the saddest person in the world. It was killing me inside that I could not be with you on your first birthday. Even thou I wasn’t able to hold you in my arms, please do know that I was thinking of you every single minute. Your daddy and I got a piece of cake with a candle and we blew it out for you. I just want you to know that you were not forgotten one bit. We were with you that day in our hearts, don’t ever forget that!

Today, you are two years old. It is so weird for me to think of you in years. This past year you went through so many developmental stages and all categorized by months. So, from now on little boo, I will no longer be breaking down your age in months.

You are such a bright little cookie. You recognize your letters and you’re able to not only point to them when I ask you, but tell me what they are. You love to sing the ABC song, you still have gaps between the the letters, but you’re working on it.

Along with your letters, you also know your numbers. You have been recognizing them for a couple of months now, but now you can count in order from 1 to 10. I almost fell off my chair when I heard you doing it the first time. No joke, you stood in front of me and you started counting out loud and using your hand.

You also know your shapes. You have a puzzle that is made up of different ones. I sit with you sometimes and you love to pick a shape and tell what it is and put it in its place. The shapes are circle, rectangle, triangle, diamond, oval, octagon, and pentagon.

You are talking, talking, talking. You are not just doing the one word thing, but putting small sentence together. It’s an amazing thing to witness. What makes it even more neat is that you are understanding and responding in two languages. When I ask you in Hungarian, how old you are you respond in Hungarian, two. When I ask you the same question in English, you respond in English. That is so cool little boo. You also love to tell us “I’ll be right back” and run off to get a toy and then when you come back you say “I’m back”. You also love handing me things and saying “Here you go” with a big grin on your face.

This year you have learned so much from cognitive skills, motor skills, and social skills. I am so happy that you let us in your heart, because our hearts are overfilled with our love for you.

You are an amazing little girl. I am so proud to call you my daughter.

Seriously, when did you get so big?!

so big

Happy Birthday, Sweet Pee.
We love you so very much!

Mommy