View from our apartment this morning! BBBrrrrrrr!It's 10:30pm and I'm exhausted...from playing! I know, I know --- all you parents out there are thinking "You don't know what you are in for!" I agree.
Unlike the "warm" weather from yesterday, today started out with a blanket of snow. BBBbbbrrrrr. Snow in Ekat means pretty snow on trees and lawns but dirty slush everywhere else. We got a call from our Translator, Lydia, around 3pm (our pick-up time to go to the orphanage) and she informed us that our Russian Coordinator, Olga, would be coming to meet with us prior to leaving. We learned more about K's birth mother and her family and the health in the family. All is good for K and us ~ just a sad situation in which K's mother could not take care of her.
Olga also informed us that the judge has moved our court date from 4/22 to 4/29. (!!!!) There is no way that I can be upset about it because nothing changes with the fact that we continue to see K as much as we want. Because of all the May holidays (May Day on May 1 and Victory Day May 9th), our 10 days will still be counted within the same timeframe and we will depart to Moscow May 13th as originally scheduled. The only crux of the date changing is that we paid for airline tickets with one week notice (cha-ching!) and we're paying for an apartment when we could have waited another week to come to Russia. But how can I even think twice about it? What's done is done and had we waited, I wouldn't have gotten to hold K yesterday and today, hear her call me Mama, and listen to that cute giggle of hers. Definitely priceless moments.
When we arrived at the orphanage today, fellow bloggers Adriana and Sergio (from Spain) were there playing with their little boy, Pablo. Truly a blessed day as they survived Court today and are officially Pablo's parents!! CONGRATS!!! It was fun to play with K and see her interact with a fellow groupie (both are in Grupa 4 --- which means K recently changed Grupas AGAIN).
It was heartwarming to hear K call us Mama and Papa, even though I think she called a piece of paper Mama, too. She's quite the babbler and we look forward to her opening up even more as the days pass by.
As for the weekend, we've been given the OK to come in both Saturday and Sunday and we feel it's important to keep the momentum going -- so we'll be there both days. In the meantime, I think we'll have to make a trip to a local toy store...we have so many days to see K that I'm afraid our toys will run their course!
Still trying to catch up on lost sleep ~ off to get some rest so we can keep up with "our" 2 year old tomorrow! :)
Unlike the "warm" weather from yesterday, today started out with a blanket of snow. BBBbbbrrrrr. Snow in Ekat means pretty snow on trees and lawns but dirty slush everywhere else. We got a call from our Translator, Lydia, around 3pm (our pick-up time to go to the orphanage) and she informed us that our Russian Coordinator, Olga, would be coming to meet with us prior to leaving. We learned more about K's birth mother and her family and the health in the family. All is good for K and us ~ just a sad situation in which K's mother could not take care of her.
Olga also informed us that the judge has moved our court date from 4/22 to 4/29. (!!!!) There is no way that I can be upset about it because nothing changes with the fact that we continue to see K as much as we want. Because of all the May holidays (May Day on May 1 and Victory Day May 9th), our 10 days will still be counted within the same timeframe and we will depart to Moscow May 13th as originally scheduled. The only crux of the date changing is that we paid for airline tickets with one week notice (cha-ching!) and we're paying for an apartment when we could have waited another week to come to Russia. But how can I even think twice about it? What's done is done and had we waited, I wouldn't have gotten to hold K yesterday and today, hear her call me Mama, and listen to that cute giggle of hers. Definitely priceless moments.
When we arrived at the orphanage today, fellow bloggers Adriana and Sergio (from Spain) were there playing with their little boy, Pablo. Truly a blessed day as they survived Court today and are officially Pablo's parents!! CONGRATS!!! It was fun to play with K and see her interact with a fellow groupie (both are in Grupa 4 --- which means K recently changed Grupas AGAIN).
It was heartwarming to hear K call us Mama and Papa, even though I think she called a piece of paper Mama, too. She's quite the babbler and we look forward to her opening up even more as the days pass by.
As for the weekend, we've been given the OK to come in both Saturday and Sunday and we feel it's important to keep the momentum going -- so we'll be there both days. In the meantime, I think we'll have to make a trip to a local toy store...we have so many days to see K that I'm afraid our toys will run their course!
Still trying to catch up on lost sleep ~ off to get some rest so we can keep up with "our" 2 year old tomorrow! :)
12 comments:
Your post made me laugh out loud. I am a mommy to an almost two year old, and it is exhausting at times (hehe). BUT SO VERY worth it. The giggle you mentioned will be music to your ears on days when you are down. Her calling you mamma will warm your heart EVERY time you hear it. You are starting the most magnificent journey of your life, and I am so happy to be able to share in it with you.
Love,
-T
Laura,
Loving your posts. Thank you. Know that we are with you in spirit...asking God to bless you each moment of your journey as you bring "K" home.
Love,
Anna (OH)
Sorry to hear about the change in court date but thankfully it doesn't change your other plans. Keep visiting with K. Our judge had us visit Colby every day for 5 days before court. It is the best thing we could have done. Despite the craziness with lodging and the bitter cold walks. Take lots of photos.
Melissa
We knew where the toy store was, too! We also saved some brand new ones for when Hudson came to the apartment with us. So happy for you guys!
P.S. I'm only 25 years old and I teach 44 kids per week in horseback riding and train horses for a living-but Hudson wears me out :) HA! So, you are sooo not alone!
I'm so happy and excited for you. It IS exhausting running after a two year old and everything happens so fast. I check your site everyday and can't wait to see a picture of K!!! We MUST plan playdates this summer!!!
lots of love,
Joni
Guys,
Glad to see you made it to Ekat! You're nearing the finish line and we're rooting for you!
For good grocery shopping you should check out Greenvich (that's at least how it's pronounced. They had anything and everything when we were there. Difficult to find good bread though. We actually found a place that sold "American Bread" LOL!! We're glued to your blog, so keep the posts coming.
Jeff, Dawn, and Roman
Hey Laura,
This is great for you to have extra time to bond with your little girl before you go to court. Take lot's of pictures each day of the three of you together for your court photo album. Our Judge and Social Worker pulled out 4 or 5 pictures of us to keep for their records.
Blessings,
Mary Holt
hi, laura!!! we are so so happy to read your last 2 posts!! joan and i have been wondering and praying!!!! she leaves kazan today, and we got home really late wednesday night -- still can't believe all 3 of us were in russia at the same time but didn't see each other!!!! happy anniversary and very much happy family week :) bleep bleep.. amy and joan (by proxy cuz she is heading to the overnight train at the moment in K.!!)
It is so good to hear that you are able to hold her again and hear her say Mamma.
Joy
your post title is such a true statement with russian adoptions! i'm glad that you at least get to spend that time with k. :)
Are you guys near 2 buildings with big blue windows? They are tall apartment buildings not far from the pedestrian walk with the statues. We stayed in one of those apartment buildings. A great location. The one we stayed in has a small but good grocery store in it.
Melissa
Hola familia!!! fue precioso compartir con vosotros y con K. esa tarde de juegos, nos encantó conoceros y esperamos veros la próxima semana. Llegamos a casa anoche y esta semana nos queda preparar todo para recoger a Pablo. Llegaremos de nuevo a Ekaterinburgo el Domingo.
Muchos besos a los tres y disfrutar mucho de vuestra preciosa hija.
Sergio y Adriana
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