Your turn: Send us pictures

Elena would like to get to know you

Yeah, I led with a cute picture, just so you'd pay attention.  But I did it for a reason.

We're sending letters and pictures to Elena.  This is in part to let her know what to expect, as much as a two-year-old can.  But it's also in part to establish, formally and legally, that she'll be welcomed with open arms when she comes home.  The Russian courts want to know that.  Seriously.

But it would be even better if the Russian courts knew that a lot of people would welcome Elena with open arms when she comes home.  Also seriously.  That's where you come in.

If you have a moment, email us (or mail us if you want) a picture of you and/or your family and we'll print it out and send it to Elena.  Doesn't matter who you are--grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, second-cousins-twice-removed, friends, or honorary relatives--if you're reading this blog, and you're ready to welcome Elena when she comes home, you're invited.

Pictures can be formal or informal, whatever's convenient.  Two minor restrictions on the photos: please no pets (sorry dog-and-cat-lovers) and please no alcohol (sorry party-lovers).  Both invite questions about shots of one kind or another, and the fewer questions the better.

Our email's in our profile. 

Thanks.

Your turn: help us out with gift ideas

Our adoption consultant recommends that we bring along a few gifts for Elena when we meet her the first time.

The ideal gift would foster interaction between her and us, but remain fun without us (we're there for only a day).  It should be rugged and easy to clean, since it'll be living in a baby house.  And we probably ought to buy two of them, since the first one will likely wind up staying in Kotlas (the theory being that the kids remaining will benefit more from the toys, which point I can't really argue).

And of course, any such toy ought to be super-cool, because that's just how we are.

Thoughts?