WOW how time....

So we have been moving so fast, Aleks doesn't slow down much, since the last time I was able to blog. Not to mention when we get Aleks down we are pretty wiped out and so blogging is the last thing on our minds. But we are getting into a groove and starting to hit our stride. So in the last week we have visited Red Square, the Ismaylovo Market, the US Embassy (YES we are official) and today we visited the Holy Trinity Monastery (Russia's largest monastery). We are doing well and I can't say enough about the hospitality of the Russian people and especially our host family... they have given all for us and we so appreciate them. Well we are in the final stretch... tomorrow is the final paperwork day and then Friday morning we get up at 2am and head to the airport to catch our flight to Amsterdam and then HOME! Stay tuned for more.

Day two at an end

So we are finnaly asleep after a very long day. It is 12:21am and Mr. Aleks is out for the count.

We got his Russian passport today and took his photo for his US passport. We are one step closer to bringing him home.

Tomorrow is an "rest" day so we will try to get Aleks on a better schedule and hopefully something that looks like a normal life.

Blogging more tomorrow.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Morning #2

So it is 7:00am on day 2 of the rest of our lives and I am once again the only one up. Little man went to sleep at about 9:30 last night and it was a really tough fight but the old sand man finally won out. Sorry we didn't skype with anyone last night but as you can imagine we had our hands full and the computer was in use as our source of soothing sounds and music.

It was a long day yesterday, we went to the doctor for Aleks' physical and he checks out ok. He had some blood taken so that wasn't very pleasant but he took it in stride with minimal screaming. After retuning we had lots of fun playing.

Well we are up now so it is time to start our day. We will update when we have time.



-- Posted from my iPhone

Together at last!

So this afternoon, October 6th, we became a family! It was a long day but now we are back in Moscow and we are all together! Connie and Aleks are asleep right now and I just love listening to the two of then and thought what a great time to update the blog.

The day started out with more paperwork and Aleks getting his passport picture taken. Then after lunch more paper shuffeling and running around until we finally made it back to the baby house to change Aleks into our clothes, load him in the vehicle and headed north.

The trip was long, 2.5 hours in traffic, but Aleks was great. We got to German's at about 9pm (that's right a 5+ hour drive) and had some dinner did some skyping and then tryed to go to bed. Aleks wasn't quiet ready but eventually gave in and is now in his bed not three feet from us! I cannot express out joy.

The road is still long but at least we travel together as a family now.

It is late or early so I am going to stop here. Love to all and thanks for all the support.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Flight was good

Thought I would do a quick blog to let everyone know that we are back in Russia.

We went to Amsterdam this time, it was a good flight but the flight from Amsterdam to Moscow was less than comfortable. Imagine me in the middle seat with Connie crushed against the window. But we are here and after a quick paperwork stop we will head to Kaluga. We will get in late so not sure if we will skype this evening or not. Talk to everyone later.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Official

Well we are back state side for the week before we head back over to PICK ALEKS UP and bring him home. Our second trip went very well and was relatively uneventful. As for our court hearing, it was really good! Kate, our interpreter, and German, our facilitator, did an exceptional job of preparing us for the hearing. Never having been in a court room in the states to compare it to, the Russian court room was pretty intimidating but at the same time it wasn't.

It was difficult leaving Aleks one more time but this time seemed a little easier because we knew we would be back in 10 days. Aleks is growing and seems to be picking up Russian words very quickly. When we would speak English he would be a little more apprehensive but then we would say a few words in Russian and he would warm up pretty quickly. We can't wait to have him with us all the time.

There is so much that I think we can't even start to describe - we have nothing here to compare it to, from the traffic, the driving, the grocery stores... they are all so different. With that said, my hat goes off to German, his family and Kate for the work they do to make this process so much easier.

We will leave for our last trip over to pick Aleks up on the 4th so between now and then we will be packing and putting the finishing touches on the house. Please keep the prayers up, He is listening.

Well it is 5:30am on Thursday morning and we are up and getting ready to depart to Kaluga. Yesterday was pretty laid back day. We needed to pick up our medical paperwork at the American Medical Center as well as our registration paperwork so we left a little before 11:00am and got down town to the medical center some time around 1:00pm - ah Moscow triafic! We then went to the registration office which is a stones throw from Old Arabat street which is a very nice version of Vinice Beach without the beach. It is the "arts" district with many musuems, street artists, sculptures and statues. It has many "tourist trap" stores and one trapped me, I found a nesting doll for Baylor and had to purchase it - now we have a matching Baylor/TTU set.

Well it is my turn to get ready. We are suppose to see Aleks today and get ready for court so we will blog again tonight.

Love all, keep the prayers coming!