Hello and welcome to my blog numero dos - post-soviet Georgia. This, of course, refers to the new life I and my family are melding out in Atlanta, Georgia. Post-soviet refers to the past three years we spent in Ukraine.

Life in suburban metro Atlanta is much like living in a new foreign land. The people are kind, though strange at times, and the culture is often mysterious. I'm trying to find food I like. It is good to speak the language fluently and also to be living back in the South. Thank the good Lord for sweet tea in each and every restaurant! Now if we can just find a tolerable Mexican restaurant, we'll be in business.

I am staying home with Christopher's and my son, Scout. Currently 5 mos. old and alternating between sublimely growing, learning baby and teething, squirming ball o' pain, there are mundane peaks and valleys each day. I am afraid to even write about being a mother b/c it is such a mindfield of cliches, expectations, stereotypes, judgement, more expectations...

In good moments, which far outnumber bad ones, I'm aglow with life and purpose in a way previously unknown. In bad moments, I feel inadequate, lost, frightened. No one talks much about the bad moments, but all parents have them and I take comfort in that.

I'll begin this blog with an anecdote from when we first arrived back in the US and were staying in Southern California with Christopher's wonderful parents. (I totally won the in-law lottery, but that's another story for another day) I was walking around their suburban neighborhood in Orange County and saw a car with a vanity license plate that read, "GOLFNGO."

Coming from the background that I do, I thought, "How interesting - a NGO (non-governmental organization) that works with golf. I wonder what they do? Perhaps offer golf for disadvantaged or disabled kids? Maybe it's some sort of make a wish thing?"

Literally several minutes later, I realized what you, gentle reader no doubt realized right away. "golf n' go."

At that epiphany, it hit me that I was in a strange, strange new land. It's been mainly fun re-learning the US and except for some minor annoyances, it's been wonderful. The comforts of home, including all the creature comforts America is famous for, and especially being able to communicate with and see family so easily has fed my heart and soul.

That said, I do miss people in Ukraine and aspects of it. The other day, I found kopeks in the washing machine from washing jeans that I'd not unpacked since Ukraine. I got mightily verklempt.

In the grocery store, I recently found bottled borscht, which seems awfully, awfully strange. I photographed it and emailed it to friends in Ukraine. While taking the picture, I had a moment where I wondered if someone would come stop me, like happened inumerous times in Ukraine.

As usual, I'm rambling. Perhaps I'm giddy from getting Scout to sleep early after a semi-rough day. I keep reminding myself, this baby is in pain! Teething sounds awful and I think most adults would be really super cranky. The most endearing thing is when Scout is fussy and whiny, but when he catches my eye, he tries to smile. Completely and totally heartbreaking.

Being an active participant in this child's development and growth is just such an honor and priviledge. I am so grateful that we have a healthy, beautiful, happy, simply above average baby. :-)

I shall sign out now to enjoy a bit of R&R with Christopher. Ok, we're going to watch Lost, a delicious guilty pleasure. I tell you, I never appreciated free time like I do now. But after a small amount of time, I start to miss Scout. I suppose being content is always the challenge.

Golf n' go, baby, golf n' go.