Photos 082004

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

More photos from our trip to Turkey, August 9-12. . . .

A snack break. 

Turkish people are very friendly! 

Hailing a taxi? 

Looking down from the balcony outside our room. 

Jaan and his friend, Osman, the bartender. 

Modeling a beautiful hat. 

I think he liked the hat! 

On the way home, worn out from such a fun trip. 

My favourite photo from Turkey

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

We had to wait out a rainstorm in the Blue Mosque, and while we were sitting there, Jaan fell asleep.

Photos 081304

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.) 

 Here are the first few photos from our trip to Turkey, August 9-12.

Jaan's first plane trip, asleep and... 

...awake. 

A new Turkish friend, who shares Jaan's name. 

Jaan in the Blue Mosque. Praying?

Walking on the waterfront. 

Breakfast!  (Yes, at the bar.  It was the only place we could fix breakfast at the hostel.  Plus, the bartender absolutely loved Jaan.) 

Looking out the window in a museum. 

Resting in the same window. 

Our cute baby!

(This is a test at moving old updates over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

Again, sitting on his potty.

Trying out his new jumper.

Really enjoying his jumper. =)

With his new friend, Iliya. (Iliya's mom, Nastya, just started coming to our church!)

The babies at church on Easter Sunday: Mark, 11 months (with Mom, Ulyana); Iliya, 4 months; Jaan, 7 months (with Nastya, Iliya's Mom).

FOOD! and other things

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

Most of these photos have to do with food. The rest are just from our life here and our wonderful visit with the Sullivans.

Banana,...

Pear,...

Apple (no, he didn't take that big bite out of it on his own),...

Pickle,...

And a close up with the pickle. Jaan loves food! (But milk is still best.)

This is how Jaan gets his baths when the hot water is turned off.

Pile up with the Korneichuks.

Jaan on his PINK potty. =)

Asleep in Papa's coat.

First time at church since moving here.
(Sarah Sullivan and Katya Korneichuk are also in the photo.)

With the Sullivans, the Korneichuks, Yulia and Ira.

With the Sullivans, our friends who live in Moscow.

Random pictures

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

Just a few random pictures....

Jaan and Jaan, our friend in Vladimir.

Jaan in his high chair.

This was the first time Jaan sat and played for a while. Now he sits so well that it's not really a big deal anymore.

Jaan's mobile is one of his favorite toys.

Jaan loves to go to the orphanage for Bible lessons!

Kovrov photos (He's six months old today!)

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

A few photos in our new home.

We just got back from a COLD walk!

Our third anniversary and Jaan's "five-month day."

Looking at books with Aunt Tanya, Katya, and Alyona.

Being silly with Papa.

Catching up

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

I'm sorry it's been so long.

Since the last update, we have moved to Kovrov. Jaan had a hard time the first few days here, but now he's adjusted to his new home and very happy here. He loves all the attention he gets when people come over to help us unpack. They hold him, so that we can work, and he's very pleased with that arrangement.

Jaan is getting very big. He turned five months old on our third anniversary, and celebrated with his friends, Katya and Alyona. He smiles constantly, and recently started laughing. Laughs are still rare, but so sweet! He sucks his thumbs (both at once!) and has everyone thoroughly convinced that he should be teething soon. With all the drool and chewing, surely there's something coming?

He had his first adventure with food, not exactly how we would have liked it to be, but fun for him. We went to our first Bible study here. Jaan started fussing, so the ladies gave him the spoon from the sugar bowl to play with. He discovered that it had sugar crusted onto it, and started sucking on it like mad. When they took it away, he started crying, so they dipped it in black currant jam and gave it back! I didn't say anything, because I figured that tiny little bit wouldn't hurt him. I just wish I had had the camera. His face was completely covered in jam. Not much made it into his mouth, but he was so proud. Hopefully there won't be any more adventures like that for a while!

I hope to get some photos up soon, but no promises. We have figured out our internet connection and unpacked the scanner, but that's it.

Winter camp, Motherwise retreat, etc

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

We spent New Years at a winter youth camp. Also, Jaan and I attended a retreat for English-speaking mothers. Here are a few photos from those events.


On the train out to camp with Tanya and Tanya.


Going for a walk at camp.


Jaan has finally discovered toys, and his favorite toy these days is a piece of Christmas cellophane.


At the retreat with Gabriella (the daughter of our hostess), Caleb Beaird, and a kitten.


The "baby prayer group" at the retreat: Susan with Caleb, Micah with Ethan, Becky with ?, Viola (Jaan's new friend from Zimbabwe) with Jaan, and Ira with Sean.


The boys at the Motherwise retreat. Their birthdays are September 19, August 11 (Caleb Beaird), September 10 (that's Jaan, of course), and August 16. So close in age!

Some holiday pictures

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

These are a few of the pictures from our holiday season.


Jaan's first "Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus" cake. (No, Jaan didn't get to eat it.)


Trying out his new stroller.


At the Christmas program, with Katya, a little girl who has recently started coming to church. Pray for her; she has a very hard family situation.


Jaan has discovered his fingers and started sucking on them like this. The only problem is that he pushes them in too far and gags himself. Oh, well! I'm sure he'll figure it out soon. =)

Poor, pitiful baby!

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

Jaan has his first cold. =(

Oh, first, I have to clarify: Jaan has slept through the night ONCE. That time in Kovrov was not the start of a new habit; he was just exhausted. It was his first time, as I said, but it was also his last time so far. =) I really wouldn't have expected (or even wanted) him to be sleeping through the night so soon, so being back on our schedule of waking up several times during the night is fine with me.

After our trip Jaan and I both came down with colds. I kind of expected it, because our friends' two-year-daughter started sniffling and sneezing soon after we got out to Kovrov to visit them. Jaan has been so pitiful! It's really hard to watch him coughing and feeling miserable. We've been praying constantly, though, and he seems to be slowly getting back to normal.

I'll have photos of our Kovrov trip up soon.

Two months already?

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

Where did those two months go?

Actually, we've treasured and enjoyed every moment so far. We're so thankful for our little Jaan!

We weighed him yesterday for the first time since his birth, and he's not so little anymore. =) Our friend Tanya had two scales, so we put Jaan in a grocery bag and hung him up to weigh him and try to figure out which scale was more accurate. He just stared wide eyed over the top of his bag, while the whole process was caught on video. 4.8 kilograms! That's about ten and a half pounds. He has gained almost a kilogram a month.

We just got back from our first big trip with Jaan. He did really well with two overnight train rides, a weekend with friends in Kovrov, and being held by lots of new people. He actually slept through the night for the first time on Saturday. I think he'll miss all the busyness now that we're home.

Almost eight weeks!

(I moved this over from our willphyl.com site. Our blog actually started in June 2005.)

Jaan is getting close to eight weeks old.

He's growing and changing and leaving the newborn stage behind. He had a wonderful time getting to know his grandmother, and now he's looking forward to meeting his other grandparents and Aunt Abby at the end of this month. On Wednesday we took him to the American embasy to register and apply for his passport, so he's officially American now. Jaan is holding his head up and smiling much more these days. I think I finally caught one of those great smiles in a photo; we'll see when we get our film developed. Jaan is such a joy! We thank God for him constantly.


November 13: We got it! The toothless grin, that is. The picture turned out great. Here:

Photo taken November 2, 2003.