Words

So many words, English coming on so quickly. And so many fabulous original phrases and observations, untainted by conventional manners of speech. I need to start writing these down, lest I forget.

"I'm getting tall!" Daniil says proudly, daily. "I'm making a man."

"I'm a cement mixer," Danya says in the bathtub, stretched out flat, rolling round and round in circles.

"Starfish!" Danya exclaims, pointing to the tiny crystals of white frost on my red car as he sees me off to work. It's 6:45AM and he's still in his pj's, standing in the driveway, waving, winter coat thrown on top.

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"Skip, skip, skip to my lou... skip to my lou, my garlic."

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Lying in bed in the dark, lights out before sleep, we play a "saying" game. "Mama say 'guitar,'" Danya directs me. I dutifully repeat after him. "Mama say 'saxophone'"... "Mama say 'ceiling'"... "Mama say 'Ya tebya lou-blue'"... "Ya tebya lou-blue," I say. (I love you, in Russian).

l

"Silly boy, Mama!"

"All By Myself!"

Twenty swimming lessons later, Daniil let go of the instructor's hand and paddled off on his own. Everything in its own time. Here he is swimming "all by myself" under noodle bridges held by the other toddler boys in his class at the local YMCA. I wasn't there in Russia to witness Danya's first baby steps. Hopefully the orphanage staff erupted with cheers. I did get to witness Danya's first doggie-paddle, solo, this past Saturday. A proud moment for him and me both.

Holding Baby Lilah

Suzuki

Violin! Danya eagerly practices at home, but will take not one suggestion from Mama. "No, no, no!" he insists. "Not like that!" It's his way or the highway... just like me with my mom, even now at age 48.

Blue Tresses

Dramatic. Beautiful. My boy with the blue tresses, a turtleneck Danya left clinging as he pulled it off over his head before bedtime. Note how he swings his "hair" so adeptly, so alluringly, my Russian diva.