The birth certificate . . .

now shows me as mother. As of today she is legally mine . . . all mine. I spent the first part of the day running around Vladivostok chasing paperwork. First was to pick up the court documents officially making me mom to Jordan Christine Prigmore. Then we went to the vital records department to get the new birth certificate with my name on it as mother. Then we went to the passport bureau to get the Russian passport ordered, and then we went back to another vital records department to do something else official and then we were done until tomorrow. That was my first day away from the hotel since Saturday and I have to say it felt good. Nonny watched the girls and I was free. I did not know how much fun it could be to chase documents. Poor Nonny she will hit Dallas Texas and we may never see her again.

Today was a splendid day. The sun was shining and the weather was warm and it was a perfect day for a long walk. When I got back to the hotel the girls were ready. Our neighbors that got to get their kids yesterday came by to meet us and we were off to the playground. After a little bit of sliding and swinging we were off on our walk. We followed our regular path and all along the way we found lady bugs. By the time we got to the beach we were all covered in lady bugs. It freaked Jordan out at first to give a lady bug a ride on her face, but we quickly taught her to kiss them and that turned everything around for her. As we set on the beach the lady bugs looked like they were flying in from the ocean. It was soooo cool. The girls threw rocks and rescued a few lady bugs out of the ocean, and fed the sea gulls and then it was off to the store for ice cream. It was a fine day for our walk.

Jordan is doing well on her speaking English. Every day she sounds a little clearer in her alphabet and today she told me to stop when she wanted out of the swing. I was so excited I almost did a cheer for her. She told GranBob that she loved him and he could understand her today. So we are definitely making progress. I was expecting a little quicker take on it but I have to admit she is getting there. I think it will help when she is around nothing but English speaking people.

After my first trip I was expecting a spitfire like her sister (actually I thought she had her sister beat). I am happy to report she does not have the spitfire atitude. I love that atitude but I have always felt that one is more than plenty. She is confident, full of life, vim and vigor but a little more of a comedian.

A little over a week to go. Please keep praying for us. We can't wait to get home.

Love,

Julie