Introducing....

Nicholas Andrew Tamerlan Pylant and Nadia Elizabeth Leila Pylant. Nicholas was born June 21, 2006 and weighs 30 pounds. Nadia was born November 25, 2008 and weighs 20.5 pounds. We met them as planned the morning of Monday, February 8. They looked so cute when their caregivers walked them into the big family room where we were waiting. They were pretty dazed and confused and didn't really show any emotion for a couple of hours. But by the afternoon visit, Nicholas was calling us Mama and Papa and they were both smiling and laughing. It's been almost a week now since that first visit and we've already seen them change so much. Nicholas runs into our arms when we come to his room for our visits. He is still very shy and cautious with new people and new surroundings, but warms up quickly with attention, smiles and hugs. He is affectionate, curious, focused, sensitive and determined. He has had a rough start in life, so we're really eager to get him home, fill him with vitamins, and let him play in the sunshine! Nadia is laidback, content, fearless, and cuddly. She started walking at 11 months, which is pretty remarkable in an orphanage. She explores freely, puts everything in her mouth, and comes to Mama every few minutes for cuddles before heading out again.

Nathan has been doing GREAT as well. He's been an excellent little traveler ... he seems to be enjoying the adventure of being in Kazakhstan and having siblings. When we arrived at the orphanage on Monday, the director, doctors, and a few other orphanage staff immediately recognized us from 5 years ago. They were all in awe of Nathan and teary-eyed about how big and handsome he is. We haven't had a chance to go to his old room, but hope to do that next week. There is another family here who brought their daughter, Olivia, also adopted from this same orphanage. Olivia is 5 1 / 2 too and she and Nathan have had a great time playing together during our dailyvisits. Nicholas and Nadia are really only focused on parental attention right now, so we've been so thankful for Olivia! Nathan is already a great big brother ... sweet, kind, and attentive.

We are so grateful to finally have internet!!! It was not looking good and we were getting worried that we'd have to walk to the internet cafe to keep in touch with you all. Normally, not a big deal, but the temperature has stayed around-35C (which I think is about-20F), so even a 10 minute walk is painfully cold. But the sweetest Russian man, Igor, came last night with a modem and it worked!! God bless Igor!!! So now we'll try to catch up on our posts and sharing pictures with you. We visit the orphanage twice a day, 10 am-noon and 4-6 pm, every day except Sunday. On our day off today, we're having lunch at a German restaurant with a few other families ... 1 Spanish, 1 French, and another American family .... all in Kazakhstan.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!