Well, I’m sure you’re all anxious to hear how Olesya slept last night. She slept very well once Mommy and Grandma gave up and let her lie in the bed with them. Now I don’t want to hear anything about bad habits I may be starting. It is difficult to let your daughter lie in a crib and scream when it is a hotel room where she may be disturbing the neighbors. Also, since we forgot to ask anyone at the baby house what it is usually like when she goes to sleep, we weren’t sure if she didn’t like the dark, or missed her special blankie or what. Besides, we will be changing rooms several times over the next few days, so I figured it was better for her to get used to going to sleep in the dark and with me rather than a particular bed. Once she finally fell asleep at about 10:30, she slept solidly until 7. When she woke up, she turned her head toward me and smiled immediately. It is nice to see that she wakes up much easier than her mother does. Her father is also anxious to experience this phenomenon.
Before leaving Taraz, we knew that we had to go to Daddy’s favorite restaurant – Café Istanbul. The waitresses there were very happy to see Olesya and one of them was even playing peek a boo with her. She was also smiling at the man at the next table, but I’m not sure we should tell her father about this. After she ate a few of her carrot/potato mix. She loved, the pieces of pizza crust that I broke off for her. She knows good pizza when she tastes it. She is so excited to have her first bite of Nick ‘n Willy’s.
This afternoon, Aida took us to the Russian Orthodox church and two of the mausoleums in Taraz. It was interesting seeing them again with Mom, because it has been almost 3 months since I saw them. It was also fun to take Olesya.
Tomorrow night, we will be leaving Taraz to go to Almaty! I still don’t know when exactly we will be coming home, but it should be in about a week. We can hardly wait!
Monday, June 30, 2008
February 7
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Olesya wanted to type the update herself, but she was having difficulty getting her hands to keep up with her thoughts, so she asked if she could dictate to me.
Today was a very exciting day! Mommy and Grandma came to the baby house at 10:00. They gave my caregiver an outfit to put on me and then they got me all bundled up in my snowsuit. A lot of people waved goodbye to me. We went into the director’s office and Aida took a picture of Mommy and I standing with her. On the way out to our car, Mommy’s friend Pam knocked on the window of their visiting room to say goodbye. Aida took a picture of Grandma, Mommy and I standing in front of the baby house.
When we got to the hotel, there were many people there who were happy to see me too. We came upstairs to the room and Mommy took off my snowsuit right away. I like having only one layer of clothes on. I am pretty ticklish we found out. I played with my toys and Grandma while Mommy was talking to Daddy on the computer. I have heard that he is very anxious to see me. I am anxious to see him too.
For lunch I ate baby food carrots while Grandma had a Brisol and Mommy had a Durum at Café Bosfor. I like carrots!
After lunch Grandma babysat while Mommy walked to Gros to get more food for me. Grandma is very good at rocking me to sleep (I’ve been told). As long as I can lay on my side and pull the blanket up to my chin, I am happy.
We will be taking the train to Almaty on either Thursday or Friday, but we don’t know yet.
Olesya wanted to type the update herself, but she was having difficulty getting her hands to keep up with her thoughts, so she asked if she could dictate to me.
Today was a very exciting day! Mommy and Grandma came to the baby house at 10:00. They gave my caregiver an outfit to put on me and then they got me all bundled up in my snowsuit. A lot of people waved goodbye to me. We went into the director’s office and Aida took a picture of Mommy and I standing with her. On the way out to our car, Mommy’s friend Pam knocked on the window of their visiting room to say goodbye. Aida took a picture of Grandma, Mommy and I standing in front of the baby house.
When we got to the hotel, there were many people there who were happy to see me too. We came upstairs to the room and Mommy took off my snowsuit right away. I like having only one layer of clothes on. I am pretty ticklish we found out. I played with my toys and Grandma while Mommy was talking to Daddy on the computer. I have heard that he is very anxious to see me. I am anxious to see him too.
For lunch I ate baby food carrots while Grandma had a Brisol and Mommy had a Durum at Café Bosfor. I like carrots!
After lunch Grandma babysat while Mommy walked to Gros to get more food for me. Grandma is very good at rocking me to sleep (I’ve been told). As long as I can lay on my side and pull the blanket up to my chin, I am happy.
We will be taking the train to Almaty on either Thursday or Friday, but we don’t know yet.
February 6
Well, we were hoping to bring Olesya out of the baby house today, but no such luck. The document that we need from the Ministry of Education will not be ready until this afternoon. So, we have been told that tomorrow morning will be the day. We were instructed to bring a blanket so that we will be able to wrap her up when we leave. We will do that, but as soon as we get to the hotel, we will unwrap her from everything and let her enjoy being in a few less layers.
After our visit to the baby house today, we had lunch with Christa, Pam and Nazym at Marmaris. Mom enjoyed her Adana Kebob and I enjoyed some beer after the disappointment of not being able to bring Olesya home today.
We have been told that maybe Friday or Sunday we will be able to go to Almaty, but of course who knows, until it actually happens.
Hopefully tomorrow, Olesya will be here and will be able to help with the update.
After our visit to the baby house today, we had lunch with Christa, Pam and Nazym at Marmaris. Mom enjoyed her Adana Kebob and I enjoyed some beer after the disappointment of not being able to bring Olesya home today.
We have been told that maybe Friday or Sunday we will be able to go to Almaty, but of course who knows, until it actually happens.
Hopefully tomorrow, Olesya will be here and will be able to help with the update.
February 4
What a busy exciting day today! This morning I went to the central registry office with Aida and Jeanette to sign the papers necessary to order Olesya’s birth certificate and adoption certificate. After that, we went to the airport to pick up my mother. Then after that Mom and I went to lunch and then to the baby house to visit Olesya.
While we were at the airport waiting for the plane to land I met Paula who is adopting a boy just 1 day younger than Olesya. She was waiting for her husband to arrive. I was glad to see that Mom made it safely along with all of her luggage! She was very excited to be here and insisted that we start taking pictures immediately.
After flying over 8500 miles, I was very glad to arrive. I spent a total of 19 and a half hours actually flying, 2 hours and 55 minutes sitting in the planes waiting to take off, and another 6 hours waiting in various airports. The flights were all on time and uneventful. I had a fairly easy time connecting to all flights. The Frankfurt airport was the largest and the signs, though in English, were not very specific. That was the only place I had to ask directions. Taraz is a very colorful city. Many of the buildings have beautiful ironwork and pastel colors. We are taking pictures and will post some of them later.
Of course, the most exciting thing was meeting Olesya. She didn’t know what to think of me at first but quickly warmed up. I brought her some new chew toys, which she immediately checked out. She is just wonderful. We are anxious to bring her home. We should be able to have her with us all the time early next week.
While we were at the airport waiting for the plane to land I met Paula who is adopting a boy just 1 day younger than Olesya. She was waiting for her husband to arrive. I was glad to see that Mom made it safely along with all of her luggage! She was very excited to be here and insisted that we start taking pictures immediately.
After flying over 8500 miles, I was very glad to arrive. I spent a total of 19 and a half hours actually flying, 2 hours and 55 minutes sitting in the planes waiting to take off, and another 6 hours waiting in various airports. The flights were all on time and uneventful. I had a fairly easy time connecting to all flights. The Frankfurt airport was the largest and the signs, though in English, were not very specific. That was the only place I had to ask directions. Taraz is a very colorful city. Many of the buildings have beautiful ironwork and pastel colors. We are taking pictures and will post some of them later.
Of course, the most exciting thing was meeting Olesya. She didn’t know what to think of me at first but quickly warmed up. I brought her some new chew toys, which she immediately checked out. She is just wonderful. We are anxious to bring her home. We should be able to have her with us all the time early next week.
February 3
Happy Birthday to Olesya! Okay, so it’s not her actual birthday, but she did turn nine months old today. Also today, the court decision is final. After our visit to the baby house, we went to the court to pick up a copy of the decision and then we went to the central registry office so that Aida could fill out some paperwork. Tomorrow morning we will go back to the central registry office so that I can sign some documents. These documents will be necessary to get Olesya’s birth certificate and to register the adoption so that I can take her out of the baby house. Aida and Jeanette keep telling me to be patient, but I am hoping that I will be able to take Olesya out on Monday or Tuesday. I think I have been patient enough.
Mom is on her way to Almaty right now! Tomorrow at this time, Mom and I will be watching movies together. Or she might be sleeping off some jet lag. It sure will be nice to have the company. I know Olesya is looking forward to meeting her babushka. We have been talking about it a lot lately.
Today I went to a new restaurant with Christa, Pam and Nazym. It wasn’t a new restaurant, but it was new to me. I don’t remember the name of it, but it has a lot of Uzbek dishes. I ordered something pronounced mon-thee, which was very similar to pirogis. They were dumplings with beef inside and very good. Christa and Pam ordered Ploff which is like rice pilaf and it was also very good. Nazym had a kind of soup with lots of noodles and beef. It looked very good. It is always nice to be able to add a new restaurant to the rotation.
Congratulations to Karen and John! Karen arrived back in Taraz yesterday with her sister, and she was able to take Maeve out of the baby house!
Mom is on her way to Almaty right now! Tomorrow at this time, Mom and I will be watching movies together. Or she might be sleeping off some jet lag. It sure will be nice to have the company. I know Olesya is looking forward to meeting her babushka. We have been talking about it a lot lately.
Today I went to a new restaurant with Christa, Pam and Nazym. It wasn’t a new restaurant, but it was new to me. I don’t remember the name of it, but it has a lot of Uzbek dishes. I ordered something pronounced mon-thee, which was very similar to pirogis. They were dumplings with beef inside and very good. Christa and Pam ordered Ploff which is like rice pilaf and it was also very good. Nazym had a kind of soup with lots of noodles and beef. It looked very good. It is always nice to be able to add a new restaurant to the rotation.
Congratulations to Karen and John! Karen arrived back in Taraz yesterday with her sister, and she was able to take Maeve out of the baby house!
February 2
What an exciting day we had today. Olesya got to go on a little outing! We went to a photo store to have her passport photo taken. First though, we had to get her dressed for her first “official” picture. I brought in an outfit with a yellow fleece top and flowery knit pants. When they brought her back to me, that outfit was on her, but they also put a blue shirt underneath and another pair of pants underneath as well. She also wore her purple snowsuit, a knit hat, and a scarf around her mouth. I didn’t bring the scarf, but the ladies at the baby house insisted on it.
When we got to the first photo place, Olesya was sweating because she was so bundled up. It helped to make her hair stand up though. We couldn’t get the photos done at that store though because they didn’t do the size that was needed for the American Embassy. So, we had to go to another place. Olesya did a very nice job of sitting in the chair, but she wouldn’t look at the camera because there were so many other people to look at. The photographer had to ask everyone else to step outside so that he could take a picture with Olesya looking at the camera. I had spiked her hair for the picture, but they smoothed it down. It was a little difficult, but eventually we did get a picture of her looking at the camera. She looks very serious though. Then, we had to wait forever to have the pictures printed. Olesya was falling asleep in the car on the way back because she was so tired of waiting. She was very well behaved though and seemed to enjoy riding in the car. Even if she was so bundled up that she could barely move. For those of you familiar with the movie A Christmas Story, that is exactly what Olesya was like in her little snowsuit.
Tomorrow we will be able to start all of the necessary paperwork to get this process finished. In less than a week, we hope to be in Almaty!
When we got to the first photo place, Olesya was sweating because she was so bundled up. It helped to make her hair stand up though. We couldn’t get the photos done at that store though because they didn’t do the size that was needed for the American Embassy. So, we had to go to another place. Olesya did a very nice job of sitting in the chair, but she wouldn’t look at the camera because there were so many other people to look at. The photographer had to ask everyone else to step outside so that he could take a picture with Olesya looking at the camera. I had spiked her hair for the picture, but they smoothed it down. It was a little difficult, but eventually we did get a picture of her looking at the camera. She looks very serious though. Then, we had to wait forever to have the pictures printed. Olesya was falling asleep in the car on the way back because she was so tired of waiting. She was very well behaved though and seemed to enjoy riding in the car. Even if she was so bundled up that she could barely move. For those of you familiar with the movie A Christmas Story, that is exactly what Olesya was like in her little snowsuit.
Tomorrow we will be able to start all of the necessary paperwork to get this process finished. In less than a week, we hope to be in Almaty!
February 19
I’m sure many of you have been waiting for a final update, or maybe you gave up hope of ever seeing one by now.
Our trip home was long, but smooth. Olesya has proven to be quite the traveler. She slept through all three take-offs and did not seem to be affected by air pressure. She slept when she was tired and ate when she was hungry. The only crying she ever did on the plane was when she was getting tired, but as soon as she found her thumb, the crying stopped.
As soon as we cleared customs in Charlotte, Olesya became a US citizen and will retain her Kazakh citizenship until she is 18. Since I have spent so much time in Kazakhstan over the past 3 months, I too am pursuing dual citizenship (just kidding).
We were so excited to get to DIA so we could finally meet up with Joe again. He was excited and happy to see me, but I think he was more excited to see Olesya. He took her from me right away and did not give her back. I had to take my own heavy suitcases off of the baggage carousel and drag them through the parking lot while he got to carry Olesya. After being away from us for almost four weeks, I guess he was entitled to that.
Olesya has settled into life at home quite easily. After having to fight with her and her father for the covers my first night back, I decided to put her in the crib the next night and that worked out just fine. She eats everything she tries and after sleeping all afternoon, evening and night on the 17th, she has settled into a fairly regular sleep pattern, and didn’t seem to suffer much jet lag. She has enjoyed the outings we have had so far to restaurants and shopping because she loves to look at everything. We were worried that she might be afraid of our dog at first because although he is gentle, he is kind of big (lab mix), but those worries were not necessary because she was not frightened at all. Every time he gets close she opens her mouth and tries to lean in to kiss him on the nose, but he keeps just out of reach.
We have appreciated all of the kind thoughts and messages many of you sent while we were in Kazakhstan and we are also thankful for the many congratulatory messages we have received from friends and strangers who have been following our story. For those of you who are still in the process, we know that it can be long and frustrating at times, but we are proof that eventually there will be a happy ending.
Our trip home was long, but smooth. Olesya has proven to be quite the traveler. She slept through all three take-offs and did not seem to be affected by air pressure. She slept when she was tired and ate when she was hungry. The only crying she ever did on the plane was when she was getting tired, but as soon as she found her thumb, the crying stopped.
As soon as we cleared customs in Charlotte, Olesya became a US citizen and will retain her Kazakh citizenship until she is 18. Since I have spent so much time in Kazakhstan over the past 3 months, I too am pursuing dual citizenship (just kidding).
We were so excited to get to DIA so we could finally meet up with Joe again. He was excited and happy to see me, but I think he was more excited to see Olesya. He took her from me right away and did not give her back. I had to take my own heavy suitcases off of the baggage carousel and drag them through the parking lot while he got to carry Olesya. After being away from us for almost four weeks, I guess he was entitled to that.
Olesya has settled into life at home quite easily. After having to fight with her and her father for the covers my first night back, I decided to put her in the crib the next night and that worked out just fine. She eats everything she tries and after sleeping all afternoon, evening and night on the 17th, she has settled into a fairly regular sleep pattern, and didn’t seem to suffer much jet lag. She has enjoyed the outings we have had so far to restaurants and shopping because she loves to look at everything. We were worried that she might be afraid of our dog at first because although he is gentle, he is kind of big (lab mix), but those worries were not necessary because she was not frightened at all. Every time he gets close she opens her mouth and tries to lean in to kiss him on the nose, but he keeps just out of reach.
We have appreciated all of the kind thoughts and messages many of you sent while we were in Kazakhstan and we are also thankful for the many congratulatory messages we have received from friends and strangers who have been following our story. For those of you who are still in the process, we know that it can be long and frustrating at times, but we are proof that eventually there will be a happy ending.
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