RUSSIA - International Infant Adoption

Nickolai came to us in 2000 after an adoption process that lasted eight months from application to homecoming. That process was fun, stressful, busy, apprehension filled, and very exciting for us and our then three-year-old biological daughter.

When we got him, Nickolai was 17 months old and weighed 16 pounds. In every way (emotionally, physically, etc.), he appeared to be about nine months old. As the first months went by, however, he rapidly "caught up" in many respects. Now, six years later, he is a happy, healthy, well-adjusted, ENERGETIC seven-year-old in first grade. He is a complete delight and it is impossible to imagine our family without him.

Nickolai has lots of friends and is involved in many activities. He excels at certain things, but school is sometimes still a struggle. He perseveres with a great attitude at things that are a challenge and it's wonderful to watch him succeed after that process.

Not to brag; but the most endearing aspect of Nickolai's personality is his complete unabashed love for us. He has on several occasions told us he's glad we adopted him and he's glad we are his family - it sure makes the typical difficult times with a young child seem more palatable!

He sometimes has questions about Russia and his birth parents, and we try to answer as honestly and lovingly as we can, knowing that this may at some point become a difficult subject for him.

Our experiences with the adoption process, LSS, and being adoptive parents have been/are wonderful. We look forward to many more years with our biological daughter and our adopted son and to all the joys and heartbreaks being a parent has to offer.