Kyrgyzstan Heritage Weekend in Washington DC!

So early this spring I saw another mother who adopted from Kyrgyzstan mention something about a Kyrgyzstan Heritage Weekend in DC.  I immediately asked more questions, and then I got all the information about it.  I was so excited that an organization would take on such a thing to give these adopted children from Kyrgyzstan the chance to help understand their culture.  This has always been so important to me, that Andrew learn about the country he was born in.  My intent when we adopted our son was never to Americanize him to the point that he didn't know anything about where he was from.  Andrew has many items all over his room that is from Kyrgyzstan, and I make an effort every year when we celebrate his adoption day to carry on some Kyrgyz traditions and cook traditional Kyrgyz food.  I also try to talk about Kyrgyzstan often so that it is never a weird topic for us to discuss.

So this event was amazing for the fact that I learned things that I can tell Andrew about when he gets older.  Andrew seemed to understand a little about what was going on, but understanding another countries cultures for a 4 year old isn't something that is going to happen in one day.  I'm hoping that we will get another opportunity in the future to share such an amazing experience.  Below is some of the events from the 2 day weekend.

Andrew watching how they make rugs in Kyrgyzstan!  He was so interested!

Megan learns how to make a traditional craft using potatoes as weights!  Very cool!!!!  She loved this and made us by one for her to hang in her room.  Money well spent I say!!!

The kids learn how to play a traditional Kyrgyz game using rocks!

They had a little shop set up for the parents to purchase items from Kyrgyzstan.  This was amazing to all of us because these our items that our very hard to get a hold of.  Also the items you see above were items that children made themselves from one of the children's homes, and the money was going to go back to them!!!!  Also very cool!!!!  We were sure to make a few purchases, and I wish we would of brought more money!

Andrew making a craft!

Megan getting braids in her hair.  I didn't know this but the way that females where their hair symbolizes whether they are married or single.  Also the young girls shave their hair till they get older and then they will braid their hair.  

Megan showing the other kids what she learned!

All the adopted children from Kyrgyzstan!  

All the kids that were from Andrew's orphanage.  These kids are close in age, so there is a good chance that Andrew shared a crib with some of them.

I volunteered to take pictures of all the kids, and to do pictures of the families, so my friend was kind enough to capture a picture for us of our family!

It was amazing to watch Kyrgyz women cook traditional food!  We were allowed to go in the kitchen and help them cook it if we wanted, but that didn't keep Andrew's interest to long!  I wish I could of learned more, but the food was yummy!

They even brought in some of individuals to share traditional Kyrgyz music, instruments, and clothing! It was amazing!!!!

Then they had a little Kyrgyz fashion show!

Then they taught any of the kids that wanted how to do some traditional Kyrgyz dances!  Andrew and Megan had so much fun with that!

I loved how these Kyrgyz women took a moment to talk to Andrew and to us.  The women touching Andrew's flag told us that she looked just like her brother.  This confused us quite a bit because we have never been able to figure our little guy out.  If you look above all the kids have the dark hair, unless their is Russian in them, and then they have the lighter hair.  It's very apparent that Andrew has asian features in his face, but we could never explain his hair.  So I asked this women, "how did Andrew look like her brother", and I said "does your brother have light hair".  She then said "yes"!  Then I asked her "does your brother have Russian in him, and she said "no".  So now I was more confused then ever.  Finally she explained it to me like this "a long time ago the mongolian's were the majority in Kyrgyzstan, and then the Asian look started mixing in, to the point that the asian look is dominant most of the time now".  She then said "every now and then you will see a child with the mongolian features, but it only pops up here and there now".  I was amazed!!!!  Finally I had some answers for my son one day, when he ask me about his hair!  We have no history of Andrew's parents so we have to go on information like this to piece it together for him.  I have always been confused on what box to check for my son on forms when they ask "what nationality"?   

So the following day we got to spend the day at a park with all the kids!  It was great because when we adopted Andrew, I got matching t-shirts for him and his soon to be buddy Matthew.  The shirts were way to big for the boys to wear till now, but since Matthew and his family were also at this event, it became a great time to wear their shirts together!  

The kids participate in a tradition that they do, where all the kids line up and run to a baby that first learns to walk.  The baby has its legs tied together with a string and the first child to arrive to the baby has to cut the string and then the baby begins to walk.  Megan was determined to run faster then any of the girls, and so she should since she was the oldest child there.  They also did this for the boys, but Andrew came no where close to winning.

Megan's prize for winning the race!  This doll is very different from anything that we would have but Megan displays it proudly in her room!

I was trying to get a picture of Andrew with this girl for 2 days, and then her mother finally told her she had to stand by him for a picture.  Look how happy Andrew is to be by her, but she doesn't look to happy.  She was looking at her mom waiting for the moment to be over with!  It cracked me up!

Andrew with his Kyrgyz buddies!  

So we were sure to take park of our time in DC to walk around and see the sites.  I have to admit, I was around 2 months pregnant on this trip, and I was verrrrrry sick.  This pregnancy has not been easy on me, and even now at 19 weeks I'm still feeling sick.  However, this particular evening was not easy for me with all the walking, and I can't wait to go back to DC sometime to see more then what we were able to cram in one evening.  

We were able to spend a lot of our time this weekend with our friends the Lehrs!  We have been so fortunate to have them in our lives.  We have our sons from Kyrgyzstan in common, and now my friend Kim, and I our both pregnant at the same time.  I'm thrilled that we get to go through something again together.  God was amazing when he put our families together as friends, and I so glad that we can share experiences, like this weekend, with them.

The Stahnke's Big Surprise!!!!!!

So me and Cain got the surprise of our life a few months ago when we found out I was pregnant.  Any one who has followed this blog, knows that we started it on our journey to adopt our son.  The detail of the story is, we were told over 5 years ago that my husband and I, after trying for years to get pregnant, could not have any more children.  Then the Dr. went further to tell us that we would not even be good candidates for fertility, and any one who knows Dr.'s know that they usually don't pass up an opportunity to do procedures.  Anyways, we were very devastated, but we knew immediately that God had a different path for us.  Within months we set out to adopt, and God led us to our son Andrew!  Since our son came into my life, I have been very content and fulfilled.  Andrew was the missing piece to our family, and now that we have him, I felt like we could move our focus to other areas in our lives.  

This winter I even decided to de-clutter the house, and I sold every baby item I owned.  I always thought if the Dr.'s were wrong and we were going to get pregnant it would of happened after Andrew came home.  So when Cain and I figured out that I was pregnant, I really didn't even know how to react.  My first reaction was laughing, and then some crying, and then worrying, and then tears of joy.  I didn't know how I felt, because this is what we wanted so many years ago, but it was literally the last thing I ever thought of happening now in our lives.  Now that I have had time to let the shock settle, I'm getting more and more excited everyday.  

I will say, my children are all so excited, and Megan and Andrew can't seem to kiss and hug my belly enough.  I think this baby is going to be verrrrrry spoiled. 

Since finding out I was pregnant, I have managed to hit up a lot of garage sales, and I can't believe everything I already got.  I have also had people giving me baby items, and maternity clothes which has helped out a ton.  It's hard to want to buy everything brand new when your on your 4th baby.

I have also seen God's timing in this whole thing.  This babies due date is Dec. 30th which first of all is Cain's birthday, but it is also the time of the year that my husband's work is dead, so he should be able to be home a lot to help.  The crazy thing is, God knew that, that time of year was good when we got Andrew as well, because we left to get him Dec. 31st.  I have also seen God's great timing in the fact that  I have just finished dealing with every health problem that Andrew has had since he has come home.  If this would of happened a few years ago, I do believe I would of been very overwhelmed.  Also my photography business is in a good place, where I can focus on the photo shoots, but the business part is set up with not a whole lot of required time to go with it.  

I have trusted God my entire life for every journey He has taken me on, and with no exception to this one.  I'm so excited to meet my newest child in December, and I thank God for entrusting me again to raise another child.  

3 months pregnant

Wow!  My belly is already showing!

Spring Days & Easter

So spring has been busy, and it has been raining more then I would like to talk about, but at least I'm getting out with Andrew when I can.  Easter was fun with the kids, and below are some of the latest pictures of our family!

So Andrew's most favorite thing to do is play with his little rescue vehicles, and everyday he tells me that I can play with him.  So I do play with him, but honestly after about 10 minutes, I'm just bored out of my mind.  So on this particular day, I figured I would interact with him by snapping pictures instead of playing along with him.  He didn't seemed to mind as long as I was near by!  My little guy loves his quality time with mom!

So this was the 3rd year our church had an Easter Egg Launch, and this year we wanted to be sure to get the word out by bringing the church service right to the event.  So we had church outside, with the band and everything, and I loved it!  We had a very warm day in-spite of all the rain and cold we have had, and we had a wonderful turn out!  We have been seeing new faces at church every week since the event!  

Of course I got signed up to take pictures at the event, but I didn't mind.  It is always my way to give back to God for the talent and abilities He has given me!  

I did make Cain grab a few shots of me with the kids!  He is getting better every day at following my instructions when I hand him the camera.  I'm actually getting to show up in some photos some times!

So my grandmother wasn't feeling to well for her own birthday party so it got cancelled, and instead we came by on our own and I made her a giant chocolate chip cookie!  I'm always thankful for the time I get to spend with this amazing women!  She is still great at listening, and she has amazing wisdom!

So my little niece is getting so big!  She hardly looks the same!  I guess I have to see her often as I'm sure she will change some more!

We had a fun time all of us painting eggs at Grandmas!  It's amazing how fast you can paint eggs with everyone getting involved.  Before she knew it Megan looked up and all the eggs were gone, and she only got to do two of them.  I guess she took her time doing the ones she did!

The kids had a blast with the punching balloons from Grandma!  That was one loud room!

Here we are with the kids on easter morning!  Notice we are one child short!  She doesn't live at home anymore, so it makes it real hard to get her in these shots!  

And her is our newest addition to the Stahnke Family.  My new little niece that was just born last week!  There are just babies everywhere!  Baby!  Baby! Baby!

Andrew just loves his little cousin, but I don't think he knows his own strength!  He looks like he is strangling her in this picture!