a brief break from adoption talk

Tuesday night my four year old, five next week, graduated from pre-school. I used to scoff at pre-school graduation, how silly is that. I've now been through three of them and cried every time. There is something a little bittersweet about leaving the carefree days of pre-school where your biggest worry is whether your kid played nice or ate glue. From here on out it's more academic and less fun, sad. I also always get teary at these things because three and four, my favorite ages. I don't want my boys to leave being four. When kids are three and four they LOVE you, they think you can fix anything, you know everything and they are happy tell you how much they love and to kiss and hug you anytime anywhere. And three and four year olds...they are FUNNY!

Sure, when kids are two there are some cute things that happen but when they really have the gift of speech down and can use the proper intonation and add drama to what they say, they make me laugh until I cry. And listening to them talk and mess up what they are saying as they try to use the big words, priceless. Plus, three and four year olds, potty trained, but not talking about butts and poop and stuff. This is my favorite age so far (realizing I only have experience up to nine) and I'm always sad when another kids leaves it.

My older kids they love me tons and they'll tell me about it at home, but there are very few kisses good bye at the bus stop, no love you Mom's as they get on the bus and they have figured out that I don't know everything and can't fix everything. Older kids have some positive points, I'm just a pre-school age lover. Good thing I have two more coming up, because they day Princess Pink turns five, I'm going to need some serious self medication.

More about meeting our girl

Sorry for the delay in posts, but we've had my father-in-law here so I've been cooking and entertaining and then dropping into bed exhausted. We are now company free and we're hoping to get caught up on everything that has been sitting undone since we left for Russia.

Day 2 at the baby home. We went in to morning to see Princess Pink and we were taken to the Director's office. We met her and had a short chat and then in came our princess. We played in the office with Director "working" (watching). PP was quiet at first but we go out a purse that we had brought with us, loaded with fun girly things, and that was a huge hit! There were hair bow, a brush and comb, sunglasses, keys, lipstick, and a compact. This was the hit toy of the trip. We had to put all the bows in her hair and she would smile and then take them out and ask us to put them back in, too fun! She also loved the sunglasses and would get them on and smile. But her favorite thing was the play lip stick, she'd pretend to put it on and then I would and she'd, grin! One of the hardest things about our princess was getting her to open up and smile. We were able to do it, and even to get her to laugh, but it was work. She is quiet and unsure with people she doesn't know. At the end of our visit she wet through he diaper so I tried an out fit on her that I had brought. I was size 12 months and fit her exactly, so we have all size 18 months to allow for a bit a growth. Let me just say that this girl is super cute, but when you put her in Western clothes, DARLING!

In the afternoon we went back and got to be alone in a big exercise room with her. We brought out bubbles, which she loved, and played with balls and the ball pit. Every visit we could feel her getting a bit more comfortable with us, but when her caregiver came to get her, she went very happily. We think that it must be so stressful on her little self to have so much attention at once, when she's not used to it, and then language barrier must be stressful too. The poor little thing was just relieved to get back to her normal life. I understand why Ukraine does adoptions the way they do, it transitions the kids a little easier. The princess is in for a big shock soon, when we bring her home, but hopefully the transition will not be horrible and she'll feel happy and safe fast.

Sorry

It's taken so long to post about our trip. We were home a day and a half and my Father in law and his girlfriend arrived to visit. They are still here, I'm exhausted and frankly ticked that I'm cooking and cleaning for others when all I want is to sleep and play with my kids.

Enough griping, on to Princess Pink. After the longest three days of travelling ever, that included me crying my way thorough Denmark (a place I have wanted to visit my entire life!) we arrived in Magadan. We had to wait about four hours to go meet the girl because she was taking a baby nap, their words. Scott and I joked about that a lot through out the trip, when he wasn't adding ski to the and of everything he said to drive me nuts.

We got to the baby house and were taken inside. We first met with the speech therapist, PP's favorite caregiver, so she should tell us a bit about the girl. She started off by saying that PP is "special" girl. I freaked a bit internally because we've all read the Russian adoption handbook and know about "special" in Russia. Apparently she's special because she doesn't like new people and she is quite attached to this caregiver. Hello people, these are good things! Then we got hear some things about our girl, like her favorite things to play with are dolls, jewelry, dress up clothes and having bows in her hair. I almost fell off the couch with joy, and Scott almost fell off from fear for his bank account.

We then were taken to a room with the Doctor and the Social Worker to meet PP. We saw them bringing her down the Hall, and I'll be darned if thy didn't have her in head to toe pink, made me smile. She started to cry a bit when she saw us, but they gave her a piece of candy to hold and she stopped. She walked over to me and I talked to her and tried to just let her do her thing so I wouldn't scare her. I held out my arms, she held out hers and onto my lad she went. When Scott held out his arms she went to him, and he was done for. This girl can stick out her bottom lip a good foot and Daddy can not take it. I see a pony in her future!

The first visit was great she sat with us looked at books, played with her doll and ate some cookies. There were no tears, but we could tell she was uncertain of us. We were thrilled to finally meet our Princess and I was thrilled to see how great she looks in pink (her entire wardrobe is pink).

I'll tell more about visit tomorrow, I have to run now to cook for my guests.

What can you say?

About an adventure that changes your life? We had a great time and our Princess Pink is a keeper! She is smart, beautiful and she has a bit of a stubborn streak. We are not looking forward to going almost all the way around the world, and back again, but we'll walk if that's what we need to do to get our girl. I'll post pictures tomorrow, (I'm trying to figure out what time zone I'm in today and get my kids back on track) but I wanted the world to know we have met our Princess Pink and we're in love.

We leave today!

I'm excited to begin the journey to meet our daughter, but the boys have been so sweet this Mother's day that I find myself crying all the time, I hate leaving them. I think I just need to leave and then I won't have such a hard time. I won't be posting again until we get back, we are leaving th laptop behind because we can't use it in Magadan. Pray for safe travel for Scott and I and that the boys have an easy time while we're gone. And please pray that Princess Pink sees her new Mom and Dad as warm loving people. Until next week, bye!!

We leave tomorrow!!!!!!!

I cannot even freaking believe our day has finally come. Have I packed, No. Have I made lists for my parents, No. Have I done laundry, working on it. Did my super fabulous agency find a solution to my paperwork woes and allow me to relax, YES!!! So I'm feeling calm because I know all the above will get done before we leave and when we get back we'll get the papers done quick so we can get our Princess Pink forever.

I'm not quitting

but I did tell Scott that if this paper thing can't be fixed then I'm not going to Russia to fall in love with Princess Pink only to loose her over paper. He called our fabulous agency and she assured us this paper would not stop or hold up our adoption and she is working with our regional coordinator to find another way to get the paper we need that will satisfy Russia.

It's all about the agency and ours is great with a capital G! We wouldn't have made it this far or this smoothly without them and I am eternally grateful. T-minus 2.5 days and I'm feeling good and excited. (now if I could just get started packing!)