A reminder of how far we have come

Our first night in Almaty, Kazakhstan just 3 days before we met Roman...

and 80 days later. Joshua at home in the family room with his mama.

My family

Megan, Mariah & Aunt Sally show Joshua what to look forward to when walking.

Mariah recruiting Joshua to Archbishop Spalding High School.

Aunt Sally (тетя) filling Joshua's belly.

Joshua & Friends

Joshua & his new buddy Owen of Westminster, MD by way of Kazakhstan

Joshua & Owen enjoy cuddling with Owen's Mom, Jodi

Linda & Joshua hangin' out after a rainy cookout

The Boyz: Mark, Braden, Evan, Joshua & Dave

We love Joshua

More Russian lessons

Babushka teaching "Trot, Trot to Boston"

Joshua learns counting with Oma

Life with Joshua

Enjoying some 'me' time outside

Experiencing turf grass

Experiencing cousin Matt's nose

Teething with Aunt Eileen

We're not in Kansas anymore!

Joshua listens to wishes in Russian from his dedushka (дед)

Amy, Joshua & Babushka (бабушка) contemplating anything.

Hi, my name is Joshua Roman David Lundberg

It is difficult to imagine life without Joshua now. Our trip to Uralsk and Almaty sometimes feels like life on another planet. The preparation and anticipation of traveling to Kazakhstan are still a warm memory. When we talk about how our lives have changed and how lucky we are with Joshua our thoughts are quickly transported to our daily routine during our visits with Joshua at the babyhouse.
Every day at work I think of Joshua and can’t wait to get home to see him but yet we are both still so surprised to see him reach for us from his crib when he wakes in the morning or from a nap in the afternoon.

Today is Sunday, June 24, 2007 and we have been home 45 days now. It has been many weeks since our daily installment of events and I am taking advantage of the opportunity to make a long overdue post to the blog.

Joshua's personality is blossoming and he is adjusting better than Papa to this new life. I say better than Papa because when I see Amy playing with, feeding and changing Joshua’s diaper my heart and soul swell with pride that my wife and son take such delight and enjoyment with the most simplistic events. I, on the other hand, while working very hard to be the best poopy diaper changer in Owings Mills, still struggle to make this event a quick and easy affair.

Even with all of my clumsiness around the changing table, this year on Father’s Day, Amy and Joshua made me feel like a father. It wasn’t just the gifts or cards they gave me but that I was actually being recognized as a father today. I did the normal things I do on a Sunday (tinkering about the house and installing safety gates) but on this day instead of only thinking of my father and how his lesson's shaped me and how his father's influence and direction shaped him growing up I think of how life is now with my son and how he looks to me, his father, for love, guidance and direction. As simple a day as it was, with my parents visiting and spending time with their new grandson, it will always be the most memorable of Father’s Days for me because it was my first (yet another of many firsts).