Our First Adventure Out with Kristina!

It is so exciting to have so many "firsts" and today had a few.

We arrived at the Orphanage around 10am to pick-up Kristina and take her into town for her passport picture. She came down with her ski jacket, hat, winter pants and boots on ~ and the original white/black/red floral dress peeking out from under the jacket.

We swooped her up and left for town with our driver, Victor, as well as an Orphanage Rep ~ both of whom did not speak English. JD and I just followed their lead. Victor had placed a booster seat in the car as apparently, it's a law now that children should be restrained. Well -- the booster seat did nothing more than simply raise her up a few inches so she could see out the window easier! She did so good considering she was restrained with the seatbelt and this little one usually loves to run freely.

She had a look on her face of "what's going on" the entire time so we figured it would take nothing short of a miracle to get her to smile for her picture. No smile --- simply a wide-eyed look but she just stood there as the photographer took picture after picture trying to get one in which she was looking at the camera.

On the 4th try, wha-la! We had a picture! We quickly re-dressed our little girl back into her 4 layers of clothes, paid the 250 Rubles ($8 approx.) and headed out to find Victor. The drive back to the Orphanage was about 20 minutes and for the first time this trip, Kristina started to suck her thumb. When she does, all fingers stay extended like she's waiting for a "High 5!"

Five minutes before pulling into the Orphanage parking lot, she fell asleep. This was the very first time we've seen her with her eyes closed!! It was such a shame to have to wake her up. But, next week --- we'll have all the time in the world for more "firsts" --- only 7 more days and then we pick Kristina up for good!!