As we waited for her bus, she cheesed it up for the camera ...
Do you see this picture? Do you see how huge her backpack is on her cute little self? Haha ... seriously, it is comical really. But they tell us that we must send a regular size backpack so her folder will fit. Sigh ... the thing almost knocks her over.As the bus approached the house, we all cheered and Nika got excited. The only problem with that was I don't think she knew we were cheering for her. I had to shut off the video camera to grab her hand and take her to the bus. As soon as I did that, she dropped her butt to the ground and yelled, "No!" Haha ... stinker. They let me take her onto the bus since it was her first time and she was okay as long as it was me putting her into her harness. As soon as the aide tried to help, Nika swatted at her and yelled, "No!" The poor kid ... she must be so confused as to what the heck is going on. And yeah, of course I cried as the bus pulled away ... you can hear that lovely sentiment on the video. Ha.
Nika was all smiles when she got home from school. I think it really wore her out though ... she is tired! One thing I love about Nika's teacher is that she gives me a daily feedback chart. I don't get that from Payton's teacher and I don't like it. Anyway, the chart said that Nika was very happy and that she participated in everything the class did. I was really worried she would revert to a corner to suck on those dang fingers, but by the sounds of it, she did great!
This is a total random side note, but it is times like this that make me realize how amazing our adoption of Nika has been. It is amazing to see the progress she has made over the past 10 months. It is amazing to think about what she would be doing right now if she were still in her baby home in Russia. Such a huge difference across the board.
Craziness.
She's doing so awesome! I can't get over the change in her from the first video you posted! Wow!
ReplyDeleteAw, Mommy!! That made me cry a little! That'll be us in a year and I can't even wrap my brain around it yet. ~Courtney
ReplyDeleteI was tearing up hearing you cry at the end of the video! I'm so glad she did so well and was so happy! It is truly amazing how well she is doing!
ReplyDeleteThat definitely pulled at the heart strings. Geesh!
ReplyDeleteShe looked sooo pretty.
I love her dress and her hair was precious!
You are so right about the orphanage. I think that sometimes too with Caroline.
We are all so blessed. It is a God thing.
How hard for you, Bethany!
ReplyDeleteYou haven't really mentioned a lot of about the "after the adoption". If you have time, I'd love to hear about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Nika is definately doing awesome! She had one great mommy and daddy (and big brother and sister!)
She's too adorable, and I don't blame you for having a tad of trepidation for her. That's your job! I can't do the bus thing, that would be the hard part for me. Thank goodness we're like 5 minutes from school! Braska goes 60 days from today... how is that possible??
ReplyDeleteSo happy for Nika doing so well on her first day! Video made me cry too.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is soooooooo adorable!!! And yes, that backpack is HUGE!
ReplyDeletenow i'm crying, too. :) so adorable. i don't blame her for being scared. i'd be scared of the huge bus at that age/size alone. i don't know if i would have been able to put henry on a bus, you have so much strength...even through the tears. i don't want my baby to go to school :(
ReplyDeletei'm glad that she came home with a smile though! makes things a lot better for nika and mommy.
Her backpack was cracking me up. So cute!!! I'm sorry it was so tough on you, though. I wanted to just reach out and give you a hug:(
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Oh, that is so sweet! Made me cry. What a proud Momma you are!
ReplyDeletecrying again at yet another one of your kids getting on a bus. i am a sap. but I seriously lost it when I saw mason and payton running after the bus and waving bye because it just shows you how much Nika has become part of the family and how much she is loved.
ReplyDeleteShe is so stinking cute! Glad she had a good day!
ReplyDeleteYou had me in tears with your blog post, the video was just too much. So good she had a great day.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been wondering a lot about how she is going, also her English she seems to have picked it up in no time at all. Aden wont start school till 5yrs. I started last week taking him to a Home day care mum, where I will stay all this year. He really loved playing along side the other children.
Would love to hear more about how your all doing post adoption. And are you going back? Hehehe
Ahhhh backpacks! Angela was sooo tiny! She's always attended schools that had banned roller backpacks, but I had it put into her IEP! HA! So, Angela always had a roller backpack until she was big enough to SAFELY handle carrying the pack with all the stuff she needed. (having it drag on her heels as she goes up/down bus stairs isn't safe, nor is it necessary.) When I brought up the safety issue, they never had a problem with putting it in the IEP.
ReplyDeleteThat said, what a beautiful child she is. And I so love her cheesy grin. What a signature move she has. LOL
Oh my gosh, that backpack...Yikes!
ReplyDeleteShe is just a doll. She fits perfectly into your family. One lucky little girl, that's for sure.
glad that she finally go to school!! oh and the piggy tails.. adorable!!!!!
ReplyDeletegotta love bubba!
You don't know me, but I have been following Nika's journey since you brought her home...and I cried right along with you.
ReplyDeleteTami
Adopting Russell(Tanner) from RR
Tears here too! What a sweetie:) and Mason and Payton running down the sidewalk after her bus was the cutest thing. Happy to hear she did well yesterday. Way to go Momma!
ReplyDeleteahh Beth I'm so crying. I know exactly how you feel. Tristyn is in second grade and I had to put him on the bus yesterday because he didn't want to leave his mommy. Then when he got off the bus, he went next door to his aunt and uncles house before he came home and I had to call them to send him home. So I guess he got over it! Ethan is 10 and goes to 6th grade camp next year for 4 days and spends the night one of those nights and I cry thinking about it!
ReplyDeleteLove ya,
Tal
That backpack is hilarious on her and I started crying with you when the camera turned back on! Hopefully the rest of the week goes better now that she knows where she is going.
ReplyDeleteI was crying with you! I started worrying about Elijah a month out from when he started school......and he did fine.:)Now whenever I ask him if he wants to ride the bus, he nods his head yes and gets a great big smile! I loved how Mason helped Nika and then ran down the sidewalk along with the bus. How precious he is!!
ReplyDelete(((Hugs)))
Amy
Awe- she is is cute. The back pack is so cute- but a tad bit big!! Loved how Mason and then Payton ran down the street.
ReplyDeleteI was so not prepared to start balling after watching that adorable video. Everything about it...darling little girl, sweetest big brother, sis running after the bus, and totally touching human mama tearing up after she left. So real and so beautiful. You are an amazing mom.
ReplyDeleteToo cute! So awesome that you guys are able to give her this opportunity Bethany! Your family is amazing!
ReplyDeleteAwwww Bethany that was so sweet. I cried right along with you as the bus drove off. How do they get so big so fast? She is so cute and looked adorable! Mason was so cute helping her turn around then he and Payton running after the bus......sweeeeeeeetness! :)
ReplyDelete-Lori Free-
I cried watching the video and seeing Payton and Mason run after her.....Girlfriend, you have put 3 children on the bus in he last 2 weeks and you are doing great, just as they are :).. hugs!
ReplyDeleteLove you sweetie!
ReplyDeleteI started crying as soon as the video began. . . curse my hormones, I am such a crybaby right now.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, can your children get any sweeter?! Little Miss Nika is too cute for words, and bubs the big brother, then the two racing after their baby sis. Man I will cry again just thinking about how sweet they are. You are one tough mama! I dread doing this next year with my oldest. . .
Is it expensive to rent for very long (lenses that is)?
Brooke ... it really isn't that expensive, given the alternative. I rented the 85mm 1.2 for $50 some bucks plus shipping through rentglass.com :)
ReplyDeleteWeepy here. Good job Nika and Mom.
ReplyDelete---Jen
Thanks for making me cry!
ReplyDeleteYou're kids are PRECIOUS!!
Ahhh so sweet:)
ReplyDeleteAwww...that was so sweet! I loved Mason's winter coat! ;) DJ said you sound like Kate Gosslin in the video...LOL!
ReplyDeleteNika is going to love school! It sounds like she is doing really well.
ReplyDeleteVery cute video :)...
She has done so well in the past 10 months. I remember I started to follow your blog the week you all got home and I have enjoyed it ever since. You had me bawling my eyes out by the end of the clip. So sweet and what a beautiful girl she is
ReplyDeleteApril
narrettofamily.blogspot.com
Wow Bethy, that brought tears to my eyes!
ReplyDelete-Meegs
Aww, she's the cutest thing ever! It looks like that huge backpack is going to make her fall over!! LOL I love her excitement as the bus is coming up! Did Mason call her "Chicky Nika"????
ReplyDelete