Wait Day 6 - Over the Hump

Happy Monday from Vladivostok. Never did I look forward to Monday so much -- a day with Tatiana! So this morning at 11:00am sharp my fierce protector, Sergei, arrived for our trip out to Artem. He plays the role of "tough Russian man" really well, but inside he's a big teddy bear. Don't tell him I told you!

It was a great visit day with Tania. She came pitter-pattering down the hallway after her lunch and believe it or not there were NO tears... until she walked smack dab into the wall. Kids living in the baby home don't see men much - so sometimes it takes her a minute to stop looking at Sergei! She was too busy looking at him and ran into the wall. THEN the tears came out. But she calmed down quickly. We had a blast. She was in rare form today - there was singing, dancing, laughing - quite the performer she is! I can't wait for Friday to finally roll around...

I also realized today that I have been remiss in filling you in on a couple MAJOR events of the past week. I keep forgetting about them -- and I am not sure how, as they have been some highlights of the otherwise slow week! (Ok only slow after court, haha!)

A brush with the "Fuzz": On the way home from the orphanage last Thursday, Sergei got pulled over by the police! The police are super efficient here -- they stand on the side of the road with a black and white stick and if they want you to pull over, they point the stick at you, and you are expected to stop. Somehow, I don't see this going over in Detroit!! I asked Elena, my translator, if Sergei was in trouble - and she said she didn't think so, that unlike the US (she was an aupair in the states for a couple year) - the police can stop you for any reason. So I think that Sergei showed his ID and pretty much, we were off. Big events!

More Shotgun Blasts: For those of you who have been loyal followers on my journey may remember a post from last November about things I was missing in Russia. I talked about how Rhonda and I kept hearing "shot gun blasts" at night - and since we are near a big miliary building, we figured why not? Turned out that it was actually fireworks!! Saturday night after the wedding, we had more fireworks! Must be part of their "wedding package"!!

I am certainly missing things from the US by now. I am not homesick - because I love being here and soaking in the culture and seeing T -- but there are lots of things I am missing. Here's the short list:
- I miss my kitties. A furry face at night would be sooo wonderful about now!
- A couch or soft chair: hotel beds get old after sitting in them for so long.
- A nail file: hint, hint Rhonda!
- Riverside: Yes, I know - I can't believe I miss that place... (it's a restaurant at home)
- A multitude of TV channels: I have found where old TV shows that have been cancelled in the US go after they die... Asian satelittle. October Road, Eli Stone, etc... and the repeats. UGH!

Paka from Vlad! More tomorrow...

Wait Day - 5 : 1/2 Way There!

First a note Lanotch and his wife who left a note on my blog yesterday. Congrats on your upcoming first trip! I don't know how to reach you, so hoping you get this message. Please feel free to email me: danivann@aol.com. Yes, I get to visit some during my 10 day wait. I visited her Thursday and next week, I will go Monday, Wednesday and Friday should be the big day. Typically the baby homes are "closed" on the weekends. When is your trip?

Now onto "Wait Day 5". Nothing much to report today. Another family arrived in the last 24 hours - the Jones Family from Georgia. They're adopting a little girl who just turned 3 - so it looks like we'll have quite the girly group going by the end of the week!

I have a follow up to my post about the big yellow building next door... it IS a "spa"/vacation spot for high ranking military officials. The Russian word is "sanatoria" - which is why I was getting "sanitorium"!! In fact this whole area is referred to as "sanatoria" - meaning vacation spot. So mystery solved. Not that it was really much mystery.

I really wish I would have gotten a picture of the bride last night. I may have to pressure my new friends Lisa and Andrew to publish. Ahh the things that entertain us. Lisa and Andrew are really good people -- hoping to keep in touch with them long after. I really miss my original "Vlad Family" from trip 1 -- Sara + Steven, Mike + Heidi and Phyllis + Ed.
Ok I think that's all for today --- Paka from Vlad! Leaving you with one last teaser pic of Little T :)

Wait Day - 4 Saturday in Vladivostok

Saturday. Does it seem possible that I have been here a WEEK? Nyet! 1 week down, 2 to go!! Saturday in Vladivostok was - err a mixed bag!

I will admit that boredom is setting in! I turned on the TV to find American Idol TWICE again today! Enough! Sheesh with the American Idol. I thought I'd miss most of the season - even though I DVRed while gone, I rarely go back and watch the whole Idol episode. Nyet - I am overdosing on American Idol. I did watch an episode of "Nip/Tuck" from Rhonda's DVDs last night. Very good - will watch again tonight assuming I don't zzzz.

So my "Vlad family" (Lisa + Andrew, Jeanette + Sophie) and I hung out at the hotel for a good portion of the morning and afternoon. We met another new arrival family - The Traylor's from Florida. Their first visit was in September, so I can no longer complain about my timeline! They are adopting a little boy who just turned 3 - and is from the same baby home as Sophie.
Later, Lisa and Andrew took me on our adventure of the day: we wandered out to the little "party store" near the hotel. I wanted to get some "Coca-Cola Light" for the hotel and other assorted items. Then we walked back via the railroad stop. It was chilly but not horrible.

When we got back to the hotel there was a wedding party taking pictures in the lobby. WOW is all that can be said. The bride was -- ummm -- endowed and hmmm showing off her goods. Quite the lowcut bridal gown. To "top it all off" (literally) she had smothered herself in body glitter - well at least "part" of her if you get my drift. Andrew and Lisa were able to get some pictures... enough said. The rest of the eve we hung out in the gathering room upstairs called "The White Rabbit" (you Vlad alumnae know it well!).

Paka from Vlad!

Abandoned "house" in front of the Vlad Inn. This is a former school that moved up the road to much more spacious digs!

The "restrooms" near the market (read: party store) by the hotel.

The aforementioned "market"

Wait Day - 3

Nothing major to report today. A lazy day around the Vlad Motor Inn. I got up this morning and watched the American Idol results - AGAIN for the 2nd time. The Vlad Inn has a "satelitte" service for TV - and the main 2 channels are "Star TV" and "Star movies". They also have National Geographic and FOX News -- but I can only watch the snakes bite people so many times. I may have to break out the DVDs this evening.

I went outside to "play" with Jeanette and Sophie this morning. The hotel has a wonderful playscape for the kids to play on - and even though the weather isn't great, it's actually not muddy down there - quite the reverse, the problem is rock solid ICE. They don't shovel much other than a main sidewalk - so the rest gets beaten down under feet and tires.

It's starting to snow this early evening - weather reports had been reporting this since yesterday. I'll try to get some pictures of the snow! Paka!

Wait Day - 2

Sergei: My driver and Coordinator. And fierce Russian protector!
Elana: Sweet, sweet translator!

Artem Baby Home - "Gym" (above & below)

Today was another great day in Vladivostok! Sergei and Elana came to the Vlad Inn to pick me up around 11am and we were off to Artem. We were greeted at the door by the Baby Home Director, Natal'ya. I met her in October and she was back today after the "holiday" - she's as kind and generous as I remember!

My translator, Elana, asked if we could see a little boy that a blogger friend of mine, Heather, is adopting. Heather and her husband, Justin, made the BEST book for their little one, Blake, and asked if I could deliver it to him. I was honored! At first the director said "yes, I will give him the book" but Elana (the Great!) said that I would also like to get a picture of him for his mama and papa. And Natal'ya agreed! She brought Blake into the visiting room and he was such a doll! Huge smiles. I didn't want to confuse him, so it was great to have Elana around - I asked her to tell Blake that I was a friend of his mama. He loved the book and quickly picked out both mama and papa. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to deliver a piece of his new home to him!

As if that wasn't a great day in itself a minute later Miss T came tromping down the hallway. She teared for only about 30 seconds today - and she sat on my lap and was easily calmed. Natal'ya had some wonderful advice - she said T is stubborn (hmmm I wonder if she gets that from me! hahaha) and that I need to be firm, but calm with her. And most importantly, don't give into her every whim and spoil her. Uh huh! I'll have to seriously try on that one.

Natal'ya the director was followed by Natal'ya the doctor. She gave me all sorts of great information on T -- no allergies, they have started to try potty training her etc. It was great to talk with her as well. She said they have been really happy with how much more interest T has in "learning" lately. All good.

Natal'ya the director mentioned that when many of the children in the orphanage figure out that they are "important" to someone, that they have a tendancy to get really bossy in their groupas. So she said "maybe you don't come everyday". So we decided I'll go next week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday should be pick up day. Sergei, Elana and I will go to the store on Thursday. Ahhh, things to look forward to!

Finally, T and Elana and I got to play in the Gym this afternoon - it was good to get out of the visiting room and see some other parts of the baby home. We had a great treat at the end - one of the other doctors and Natal'ya the director came up to play Ping Pong. T was FASCINATED!!

One last note, my social circle is growing! I met a fabulous couple last night - Andrew and Lisa from Vancouver, BC. It's great to have more people to spend time with and talk with!! Paka - it's dinner time!!

Wednesday in Vladivostok - Day 1 of Wait

No visit with Little T today -- as I was getting out of the car yesterday after court (my translator had left already), I said to Sergei, my driver "das zaftra, 11?" (meaning see you tomorrow, 11am - which is our normal time these days). He said "zaftra - nyet". So not sure why, but today is an off day. I miss visiting her, but I also don't mind saving the $15/hr each for the driver AND translator.

Last night I ordered a pizza from the hotel restaurant. I had the pizza when I was here in October, and while it's a little different, it's actually really good! It's got some cheddar cheese on top as well, sounds odd, I know, but trust me! I stayed up LATE last night and waited for those of you in the eastern part of the US to wake up! I got to talk to Angie last night and get caught up! Suddenly I realized it was almost midnight here, the latest I have stayed up by a LONG shot. Since I have been waking up around 4am, I was exhausted.

After my wild and crazy night, I actually slept in until 6:30am! Wooo hoo! More internet time, and "skype" which has been a godsend to be able to talk to people back home. Then I figured it was time to get outside and get some fresh air, so I walked down to the Sea of Japan again. Note to Rhonda, I did NOT almost get hit by a train unlike some people I know hehe AND if you will want to do this in a couple weeks, make sure you bring some grippy boots. Imagine at home when it snows and nothing gets plowed and then it gets driven through and walked on and finally freezes. Frozen ruts are hard to walk on!!

Here are some pictures of the trip so far... enjoy! More tomorrow!

Giant building next to the Vlad Inn - possibly a sanitarium

"Cottage" near the Sea of Japan - unsure if it's occupied!

"Pier" out to the Sea of Japan - hard to tell where the beach ends and the Sea begins!

The Courthouse where I became Tatiana's Mom!

Tatiana has a new Mommy!

The big day! COURT! This morning at 10:30am, Vladivostok time (which was approximately 8:30pm at home) I was pronounced as Tatiana's new mommy! The Tatiana that was yesterday is no more - she is now Tatiana Elizabeth Repp!

I was SCARED out of my wits this morning. You think of court as a "bad" place where you go when something is wrong. We arrived at the Courthouse around 9:30am and went inside the room about 10 minutes to 10. The judge had not arrived yet, and everyone else inside was very friendly. I had made a picture book of Tatiana on Snapfish for the judge to see - and they all looked at it. The prosecutor said "future super model - Miss USA". And then there were jokes that "too bad she can't be President" - but I told them by the time she's old enough "AH-nold" will have fixed that!

The judge entered as the proceedings began. While I was still scared, it was really painless. The questions were exactly as expected with a couple small, but easy exceptions. My translator (a new one, specially for court) was GREAT! Very helpful and reassuring. After about 25 minutes of questioning and discussions from the social worker and prosecutor, we left the room for the judges decision. 1 minute later we were back inside and I was pronouced a mommy! And yes, Rhonda, I did tear up :)

I just had my celebratory lunch with Jeanette and Sophie and I think it's time for a nice nap!! Paka from Russia!
~ Tatiana's Mommy!