Neeeee-Yet!

Today, Maksim's strong personality came through. He was feeling more comfortable with us. He really loves the toys and snacks that we bring.

We brought his blanket and a floor puzzle but he wasn't too interested in either yet. When we finished the puzzle we said, "Machina" and he gave us a "da-aa". (like we had done a good job recognizing the machina on the puzzle.) It was pretty funny.

He learned a couple of English phrases, today: Shake it and so much. Shake it he learned from the little machina that we brought to him. When you shake it you can put it on the ground and it goes fast. Today, we left the car at home, but we brought some matchbox cars. I picked one up and started shaking it and he yelled out "Shake it!". We were both surprised and he was proud. So much comes from a saying on his toy cell phone. You press a certain button and it says "I love you so much". Maksim has been pressing the button over and over and saying "Loublue" (love). Today, though, he started saying "so much". He learned these all by himself. I mean - we didn't try to repeat or teach them to him. It is so adorable. So now we all say "so much" when we say I love you. I think he will have I love you so much! down soon. It is funny because the words we have been trying to teach him have not come, yet. I know they will.

Maksim thinks Papa's moustache is sharp. He doesn't want to kiss Papa. He says Nee-yet! He just plays with his moustache and beard. Maksim does not want to share his toys with Momma and Daddy. He would turn his back on us so that we couldn't share his matchbox cars. When we would try to get our own car to play with he would say Nee-yet! When Momma tried to get him to take a horsey ride on her ankle, he said Neeeeeee-yet! But when Momma was persistent he loved it. We showed him a new book and he didn't like it at all. Neeeeee-yet! Neeeeee-yet! Neeeeee-yet!

We think that he is beginning to feel more comfortable with us and so is testing our authority! When we are firm with him, he immediately does what we ask (should I say sign?). It is definately difficult with the language barrier. He loves when the caregivers come into the visiting room. He talks to them non-stop. I know that he wishes we spoke Russian. He loves to talk and communicate.

At the end of the visiting sessions, he was getting tired and laying down. So Momma picked him up. He wouldn't quite relax in her arms even though he needed to rest. So Momma and Daddy sang him a song. He relaxed as Momma rocked him and smiled peacefully as we sang our duet. It didn't get him to close his eyes but it was a wonderful family moment.