No (More) "Soup" For You...

The BIG day has finally arrived!! My 10 day wait was officially over yesterday - a court decree was picked up on my behalf and a new birth certificate and an adoption certificate were requested from the Vital Statistics office. I can now finally introduce you to the main man in my life...

Introducing & Presenting...

Alexander Thomas Repp

Born September 23, 2009 - Vasilievsky Island, Russia

Tomorrow we will do something with for his passport - I am a little sketchy on the details, as it was a little garbelled when it was explained to me but either way, I'll show up, sign what I have to sign and do what they say. Then after a quick stop at the store for diapers, flowers and 2 cakes (great combination, eh?) we'll be off to spring Alex from the Baby Home. I cannot wait!

I am sure some of you are asking yourselves "why doesn't she have him yet if the 10 days are up"? Trust me -- this was an issue for me earlier as well. However, we have a couple more "public buildings"/offices to visit tomorrow, and I am sure he'll be out of his element and scared... so I am 100% in agreement that it was best to wait until after most of it is done before springing him. Some of the visits he will need to be on -- but, if I can spare him some stress up front - and it was really only 1 more night, than it is for the best.

While I am typing, the hotel has delivered and set up his crib (think large pack and play) and I have the rest of the day free for exploring and getting ready to bring an 18 month old little man home. I haven't even really unpacked yet, so there is much to do!

My arrival last night was uneventful, which is by far, the best way to arrive! The flights from Detroit to Amsterdam and Amsterdam to St. Petersburg were smooth and on time. Early in fact. We were so early into Amsterdam that my 5 hour layover suddenly became a 6 hour layover. Compared to Paris (CDG), I MUCH prefer Amsterdam. The layout is much better and it's easy to see where you are going. They are a little lacking in seating near gates however, the only major downfall I have seen so far. I killed time during my 6 hours by taking advantage of the free hour internet session, getting a bit to eat and snoozing in the lounge chair section - it was VERY hard for me to let go and do this, but I succeeded! There is something a little unsettling about having all your valuable travel items on you and falling asleep in public. Maybe it's the old college girl in me, but doesn't that just scream "come on! mess with me!"?? I was also super paranoid that I would fall asleep and miss my plane, so I set an alarm on my iPod and probably got a good 2 hour snooze fest in.

After arriving at the hotel last night, I met up with another single woman, Lynda, who is on her first trip for her second adoption. We had emailed back and forth before, while she was waiting to travel - so it was nice to meet in person. I will admit, it's SO much nicer to have someone to talk with - certainly helps pass the time, and especially with adoptive families -- you connect with this instant bond of shared experiences. Our dinner lasted 4 hours! I also bumped into Lynda and another couple, Laurie & Todd (also here on their first trip), at the notary today. Such a small (adoption) world! Laurie and Todd are also staying that same hotel as Lynda and I. I'll be bummed when they all leave tomorrow -- but thankfully my friend Sara arrives on Sunday. Sara and I actually met in Vladivostok during my last adoption - her son, Max, is also from Vlad. Sara is the southern version of me - we swear we were separated at birth! So yes, in other words - she rocks! Haha!

More tomorrow after Alex's big departure. Go check out his pictures again - you know you want to!