Hello everyone,
Sorry for the delay in writing of our safe return. I never knew such a little person could take up so much time and energy. Here we are hanging out in my mom's office finally getting a chance to write.
We are loving being a family!! I have been blessed with THE BEST BABY EVER. Sofia has adjusted very well to her new life. We are still trying to keep to her usual schedule and are doing that pretty well. The time change and jet lag have played a part in longer naps and earlier wakenings, but she is adjusting very well.
First, I must tell you that I have found my traveling companion. Sofie was such a trooper the whole trip. She just went along with everyting. She only cried 3 times in the whole 28 hours. And those only lasted a few minutes. The stewardesses said she was the best baby.
She has a very easy going, patient, and happy personality. She loves one on one time with her mommy, but also enjoys playing by herself on the floor for periods of time. She loves her oma (grandma) and her Tante Maria and her great grand ma. Sofia is so easy, and enjoyable, and fun to be around.
I am not able to post pictures from my mom's house. I will try to get to the library in town sometime this weekend to keep you updated.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Our adventure
Today was a sunny, not too cold day here in Almaty. So I figured it would be good to get some fresh air. A friend who was here last year, told me about a market and children's store just a few blocks away. So off we went. Everyday I get better at being prepared. So before leaving, I packed a bag of items I thought we might need. I checked her diaper, bundled her up, and off we went. It is probably a 10-15 minute walk. Sofia was awfully quiet. We got to the market and I noticed that once anyone we passed was within 3 feet, they would look at Sofie and then me. Usually when people look at her, they smile. Its like an automatic response. Nobody smiled. I thought it was weird, but kept on looking around. One lady said something to me in Russian. I thought it was "Is she a girl?" Hmmm, she is all in pink. I could tell Sofia was getting tired. Naptime was approaching. So we went back. I turned on music and we were dancing to Angela Lansbury singing "Beauty and the Beast". I put her down and she usually just goes to sleep. She screamed. Hmm, What's wrong? She just ate. If she's tired, she'd fall asleep, ahhh, better check her diaper. Yup. Full. So now I know why people were not smiling. For those of you who don't know, I can't smell. I'm sure this is not the last time something like that will happen. Poor Sofie. I bet she can't wait to be able to talk.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Day two ... I am learning so much
Last night Sofia slept unbelievable well. I didn't sleep a wink due to "new mother syndrome". I was listening to every sound she made. Checked her everytime she made a peep. Hopefully it only lasts for one night and I'll be well again tonight.
We are trying very hard to keep to her schedule from the orphanage.
A bottle at 6:00am (yeah, I'll try to bump that to 7:00 after we get home).
Then back to sleep until 8:00 ( I like that).
Cereal for breakfast. There is an incredible breakfast buffet included with my room, and today we ate down there. They brought me hot water for her cereal. It was snowing and we sat by the giant picture window.
I tried to give her a bath, but she is terrified of the tub. They only used small tubs at the baby house. So she got a second sponge bath. We'll try the tub again tomorrow.
At 11:00 she takes her first nap. She went down at 10:30!
The mashed potatoes that I cooked at the apartment are not going over well. So she had more cereal for lunch.
Dancing and reading books and then a nap at 2:00 until 4:30!! I slept soundly for the first time. Love a good nap.
We were going to go to the Guns and Roses Pub for dinner to use their free wifi, but I ran into the other adpotive parents from Buffalo so we had dinner together. Sofia only ate some of her mashed potatoes. Its gonna be great to come home and be able to try new foods on her. Its too risky to do it here, incase she is allergic. Hope she doesn't mind eating cereal all day, every day.
We rode around in her stroller until 8:00 and now she had another bottle, she sang in her bed, and is off to sleep.
So far so good. I'm learning so much. Sometimes I think I'm like Lucy and Ethel without Ethel, but I'm sure I'll figure this mama thing out.
We are trying very hard to keep to her schedule from the orphanage.
A bottle at 6:00am (yeah, I'll try to bump that to 7:00 after we get home).
Then back to sleep until 8:00 ( I like that).
Cereal for breakfast. There is an incredible breakfast buffet included with my room, and today we ate down there. They brought me hot water for her cereal. It was snowing and we sat by the giant picture window.
I tried to give her a bath, but she is terrified of the tub. They only used small tubs at the baby house. So she got a second sponge bath. We'll try the tub again tomorrow.
At 11:00 she takes her first nap. She went down at 10:30!
The mashed potatoes that I cooked at the apartment are not going over well. So she had more cereal for lunch.
Dancing and reading books and then a nap at 2:00 until 4:30!! I slept soundly for the first time. Love a good nap.
We were going to go to the Guns and Roses Pub for dinner to use their free wifi, but I ran into the other adpotive parents from Buffalo so we had dinner together. Sofia only ate some of her mashed potatoes. Its gonna be great to come home and be able to try new foods on her. Its too risky to do it here, incase she is allergic. Hope she doesn't mind eating cereal all day, every day.
We rode around in her stroller until 8:00 and now she had another bottle, she sang in her bed, and is off to sleep.
So far so good. I'm learning so much. Sometimes I think I'm like Lucy and Ethel without Ethel, but I'm sure I'll figure this mama thing out.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Back in Kaz
Hello everyone,
I arrived in Almaty at 1:00 am after a nervous day of waiting for my passport and visa. It arrived just in the nick of time on Wednesday afternoon. That snow storm was something down in Marengo.
Arman picked me up and took me shopping for water, potatoes, bananas, and bread in the middle of the night. He reserved an apartment for me and Sofia this time. It has more space, but is very run down and no telephone or internet. I didn't like it, so now I am back at the Hotel Kazakhstan.
Sofia arrived at 11:30 this morning. That was one hour later than Arman said. Waiting that one hour was as brutal as waiting the last 6 long weeks. Finally, a knock on the door. She had just woken up so she was a little groggy at first. Once the lady who brought her left, we played on the bed and with in minutes she was all smiles. Just like when I left her. She did not want to go to sleep for her nap. She was too happy. Finally she did nap at 1:00pm, two hours later than usual. Then we had to wake her up to go the the US Embassy. She didn't like that much.
At the Consular's office, she was very good. We waited an hour, then the head guy came out to talk to me. They offered a big apology for the misunderstanding in the instructions given to me. They will make sure to be more accurate from now on.
It's all set. She was approved and has her visa to come home on Tuesday!! We will just hang out here at the hotel. I met another family at the Embassy and they are staying here, too. So maybe we'll meet up tomorrow.
I'm glad to be in the hotel. Its much cleaner and feels more comfortable. Sofia is over tired and therefore very clingy.. I can't leave her sight or put her down without her crying. And I think she is tired of being schlept around. She has taken 3 ..14 hour train rides in the last week or so!! I'll keep holding her, I don't mind at all. If she sleeps through the night, then she will be back to herself tomorrow
I'll try to write again tomorrow.
I arrived in Almaty at 1:00 am after a nervous day of waiting for my passport and visa. It arrived just in the nick of time on Wednesday afternoon. That snow storm was something down in Marengo.
Arman picked me up and took me shopping for water, potatoes, bananas, and bread in the middle of the night. He reserved an apartment for me and Sofia this time. It has more space, but is very run down and no telephone or internet. I didn't like it, so now I am back at the Hotel Kazakhstan.
Sofia arrived at 11:30 this morning. That was one hour later than Arman said. Waiting that one hour was as brutal as waiting the last 6 long weeks. Finally, a knock on the door. She had just woken up so she was a little groggy at first. Once the lady who brought her left, we played on the bed and with in minutes she was all smiles. Just like when I left her. She did not want to go to sleep for her nap. She was too happy. Finally she did nap at 1:00pm, two hours later than usual. Then we had to wake her up to go the the US Embassy. She didn't like that much.
At the Consular's office, she was very good. We waited an hour, then the head guy came out to talk to me. They offered a big apology for the misunderstanding in the instructions given to me. They will make sure to be more accurate from now on.
It's all set. She was approved and has her visa to come home on Tuesday!! We will just hang out here at the hotel. I met another family at the Embassy and they are staying here, too. So maybe we'll meet up tomorrow.
I'm glad to be in the hotel. Its much cleaner and feels more comfortable. Sofia is over tired and therefore very clingy.. I can't leave her sight or put her down without her crying. And I think she is tired of being schlept around. She has taken 3 ..14 hour train rides in the last week or so!! I'll keep holding her, I don't mind at all. If she sleeps through the night, then she will be back to herself tomorrow
I'll try to write again tomorrow.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
My first Giant bump in the road
Hello all of you Sofie watchers,
I know you are all expecting to see pictures of our wonderful reunion at JFK airport today, but I have received some very disheartening news. Yesterday morning, I received a phone call from my adoption agency informing me that the US Consular's office in Almaty did not approve Sofia's visa to come to the United States!! I felt numb, sick, and so sad all at the same time. Needless to say, I am very upset. As I write this, I think of how we should be together on a plane returning to O'Hare right now.
From what I have been told, there has been a misunderstanding in her paperwork. I will hear more details about it on Monday. Plan B has now been put into action. I am getting on an airplane as soon as I can, to go and get her myself!! I leave on Wed. Dec. 9th. Arrive in Almaty on the 11th. We will return to the States on the 15th.
When I began this journey to adopt, I was told by other experienced adoptive parents to expect bumps in the road along the way. Its just part to the process, but don't let them stop you. So far I have not had many bumps. Just a few small glitches. I guess this is my giant bump. It would have been so simple to just fly to New York to get her, but now I will bring her myself to her new home and new life.
I know you are all expecting to see pictures of our wonderful reunion at JFK airport today, but I have received some very disheartening news. Yesterday morning, I received a phone call from my adoption agency informing me that the US Consular's office in Almaty did not approve Sofia's visa to come to the United States!! I felt numb, sick, and so sad all at the same time. Needless to say, I am very upset. As I write this, I think of how we should be together on a plane returning to O'Hare right now.
From what I have been told, there has been a misunderstanding in her paperwork. I will hear more details about it on Monday. Plan B has now been put into action. I am getting on an airplane as soon as I can, to go and get her myself!! I leave on Wed. Dec. 9th. Arrive in Almaty on the 11th. We will return to the States on the 15th.
When I began this journey to adopt, I was told by other experienced adoptive parents to expect bumps in the road along the way. Its just part to the process, but don't let them stop you. So far I have not had many bumps. Just a few small glitches. I guess this is my giant bump. It would have been so simple to just fly to New York to get her, but now I will bring her myself to her new home and new life.
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