Thanks to EAC, our adoption journey has been a truly wonderful, amazing experience! When our daughter was nearing 2, we considered having another child. We'd both grown up with siblings and felt that our family was not yet complete. However, there were many complications during my pregnancy and I couldn't imagine enduring that again. Adoption was the answer. We didn't feel compelled to create another child; we wanted to parent another child.

We specifically chose Russia because of my heritage, and also because we hoped for a boy at least a year younger than Eva. I contacted numerous agencies, but after many phone conversations with the very patient and understanding Susan Palmiter, who never seemed to tire of my endless questions, I knew that EAC was the agency for us. We signed in October and brought our son home in June, nine months later!

We love to travel and were excited to see Moscow. We toured the Kremlin and Red Square and went to see the ballet "Giselle" at the Bolshoi. Then we were off to meet our son. The orphanage was very old and run-down, but the people seemed caring and everything was clean and tidy. Of course, we were excited and nervous! What would we think and feel when we met him? Would there be an instant connection, love-at-first-sight? Would he cry? Would he like us?

Soon, a little 10 month-old boy was brought in. He was adorable, with chubby cheeks, brown eyes and beautiful long lashes. What an odd and remarkable feeling to meet this little stranger - he was our son, we loved him, but yet we didn't know each other at all. It wasn't love-at-first-sight, but we were smitten. He was reserved, curious and very, very quiet. He didn't make a sound during the entire visit. We were surprised to find that he could crawl well and didn't seem to have many of the physical orphanage delays we were expecting. After playing for a few hours and feeding him his lunch, we left and returned for another visit the next day. Then it was back to Moscow and back to the States.

EAC's Russian staff clearly knew everyone well, were efficient and professional and obviously knew exactly what they were doing every step of the way! We were always taken care of and there were no surprises in any way. Even the travel arrangements were easy. We booked our own flights, but they arranged all the hotels and handled absolutely everything in Russia. Yelena and Sergei were the best – they were our translator, driver, facilitators, tour guides, miracle workers and friends.

Just 4 weeks later, we were off on trip 2 and had more time to explore the region. We went on a river cruise, visited a museum, did some shopping and enjoyed local restaurants. Then to court... the hearing was very formal but was over in less than an hour and wasn't so scary after all. Two days later we were picking up our son and driving back to Moscow!

On the plane home, he was nervous and scared and took comfort in the ladies behind us who spoke to him in Russian while he flirted back and forth. Most of the people on the plane were Russian and were very nice to us and loved cooing and clucking over him. Still, he spent a good deal of the flight crying or screaming, poor thing.

A few weeks later, we were celebrating his first birthday and settling in. We all had a rough adjustment the first few months; lots of crying, not much sleeping, some scary tantrums, some hard work, and a great deal of patience! Wow, we've been home nearly 2 years now and couldn't be more in love with him, nor he with us. We can't imagine our family without him.

We are so very fortunate. We now have our dream of a boy and a girl; two siblings who love each other most of the time and torment each other at other times – just as it should be! They are happy, healthy and thriving. Eva is now 4 and loves being a big sister. She also loves books, pre-school, climbing trees, princesses and fairies. Andrew will be 3 in July and is strong, athletic and all boy! He loves cars, trucks, dirt, puddles, and pancakes. Our days are busier, our house is messier, and our hearts are full. Thank you, EAC!

Mary, Steve, Eva and Andrew

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