It's a Boy!

At approximately 4:50am this morning, Eastern Standard Time, April 14th, 2011, I was pronounced the new mama to the sweetest little Russian boy. Soupy's got a mama! Just think, 10 more days and I won't have to tease you with "Baby Soup" anymore. Speaking of that... I have been threatened by my relatives that I will NOT call him Soup. I can't promise that it won't sneak out now and then - in nickname fashion ONLY, but typically, he is referred to by his new name... which shall be released on our about April 26th-ish.

I woke up this morning ready for court. I wish I could say I was bright eyed and bushytailed, alas, that was not to be. I could have slept for a couple more hours. But exciting times lay ahead. I had my traditional Courtyard breakfast (the place was HOPPING this morning!) and came back up to get ready for the day.

Thankfully, Rhonda (aka travel queen extraordinaire) was home working the late shift and was able to entertain me via skype so that my mind didn't wander. And then suddenly, it was time to go. My driver arrived and I was surprised to see the Doctor from the Soup's baby home in the car along with the Social Worker. I don't know why this surprised me -- it was essentially the same in Vlad - we drove the Social Worker to Court (but no doctor), but it did.

We arrived at the very non descript building and in we went. I expected more people, but the place was quiet. There was another family in the court room ahead of us, and a younger girl waiting outside, not so patiently. I was soon informed that she was waiting to be adopted - by the family inside. She danced around in the hallway and often pressed her ear to the door. She looked concerned at one time and the person accompanying her brushed it off. Finally, close to 12pm, the family came out and announced "Das Aftra" - which means, the Judge told them to come back tomorrow. HEART ATTACK. Being the only non-Russian speaker, I didn't get the details. I think they were a Russian family - and the girl was 14 but looked 9. I was piecing together what they said and was quietly asking my coordinator "were they just told to come back tomorrow?" - my heart sank when she confirmed this. I said, "Oh my... I am suddenly MUCH more nervous", to which Anya snorted and said "Why? You have different agency, different coordinator - YOU will be fine". Oddly enough, that semi-reassured me.

The court proceeding was very straight forward. Because it was a "closed" procedure, I am not really at liberty to spell out all the juicy details. I had NO surprises thrown my way and everyone was VERY kind and VERY supportive. The Judge was near my age - possibly a little older (translation - YOUNG! haha) and blond. My speech went well and the questions were all expected - except one... the Judge totally called out the two cats pictured in my homestudy pictures (wandering around the living room in my house photos) and asked what I would do if Soup was allergic. Good eyes, Judge! Color me impressed!

So now, we wait. Again. Hurry up and wait is the theme in adoption. Officially, my 10 day clock has started. Tick tock, Soupy! I get to visit him again this afternoon (camera batteries CHARGED this time) and then tomorrow morning while you are all fast asleep I'll start making my way back home. Das Zaftra! And this time, for me, at least - that's a GOOD statement. (All jokes aside -- prayers to the family before me)

So Happy Together...

I started to title this blog "Reunited... and it feels so good", and it started to sound familiar to me. More familiar than me being apparently a rampant Peaches and Herb fan, because I used it the day that T and I were back together again!! So... I had to get creative. So now if you're singing "The Turtles" 1967 song all day, it's all my fault. And I'll totally admit, it's now stuck in my head!

After sleeping like a complete log last night, I awoke to the coolest wake up call I've experienced to date. The hotel has their TV system tied into the phone, so my TV turned on with a non-jarring alarm and a screen that very politely told me to wake up. Very cool. Yes, I am easily amused and entertained. After inhaling a great breakfast ( I was STARVING), it was time to get ready to see the Soup! Masha arrived to pick me up and there was a surprise waiting for me in the driver's vehicle... another couple going to the same baby home.

PEOPLE! Real People! Who speak english! And are having the same emotions are me!

I warned you -- I am easily entertained. So Shelly and Wayne are from Western NY and here on their first trip, but 2nd adoption. We instantly hit it off as our eldest children should be married off soon via arranged marriage. We swear they are the same child! My deepest apoligies to Rachel, Kristine and Angela - who's sons I have also promised Tatiana's hand to.

We arrived at the baby home in no time. I could literally walk, if I knew the way. Minor details. The 2nd big surprise of the morning was that I got to go inside his groupa room! Last time I stuck my toe inside - and took a picture. The room was nice - a kitchen area and table/chairs for eating. Man - that was just the TIP of the iceberg. Soupy is living in a mansion! All I saw was room #1. There are at least 4 others. JUST FOR HIS GROUP. Half way into his kitchen room, there is a glass door to a large playroom. And there he was. I instantly spied him. He locked eyes with me and as much as I'd love to say that instantly he remembered me as his MAMA, I am sure it's more like "hey, she looks pretty familiar, I think I know that chick!". Either way, he is a doll.

We wandered through the kitchen room, in through a bathroom, with a raised child sized bath tub (I so need one of those!) into a room of closet type cubbies - one for each of the kidlets, with their name on it. Off that room there was 3 rooms -- two which I did not see, but I suspect one was maybe an office (I could hear someone talking) and one must have been the groupa bedroom. The third was a medium sized playroom with a desk in one corner. Nice, quality toys were placed throughout the room. There was a door here into the larger playroom that I could see him in via the kitchen room (imagine a big U shaped series of rooms). The door opened and in came little Soup. He played shy again for about the first 5 minutes. No tears. Just shyness. We played a little bit and then he turned it on. We were sitting down and he kept closing his eyes like he was tired. So I scooped him up to hold him and he put his little head on my shoulder and snuggled. We sat and I rocked him a little and he was perfectly content like that for probably 15 + minutes. At one point he got down and went over to see Masha, and then came right back to mama and essentially asked to be picked up again. I see a mama's boy in my future! What a great little snuggler he is.

Masha took off for a couple minutes - and not too long after that, he turned into wild, crazy fun boy. He was banging toys and loudly shouting his baby words (da da ba ba) and throwing a ball back and forth with me. So apparently he does everything in BIG fashion - he loves big and plays big!

The only down side of today was that stupid mama forgot to check her camera batteries this morning before I left. Something seems to have killed the batteries in my camera AND my optical mouse. Thankfully, the camera batteries are re-chargable and I have the recharger... but had no camera today. I did take some video, but... I can't post that here. Sorry! No teaser pictures AND no picture of the groupa mansion!

Tomorrow is court. I have been told noon and I have been told 11am. So that's either 3am or 4am eastern time tonight when you sleep. Say a couple prayers for us before bed! When you wake up -- I hope I have fabulous news for you!

Smooth Sailing to St. Pete's

Deja Vu! I am back in St. Pete's! Much less snow and no visible ice sheets to walk on (thank goodness!) but the rest is about the same.

I left Monday pm from Detroit into Paris on Air France. I somehow pulled the "Coach Plus" seating -- which sounds good in theory (and looks good too). This is the new thing for airlines -- the rows at the start of coach are now premium, and on larger planes are their own section. You get a little pod - and they say 40% more room. I am doubting the 40% - sure, a little more room, yes, but 40% is questionable. You also get a footrest. A useless foot rest - because YOUR SEAT DOES NOT RECLINE. What the? (that's for you, Sara) And the foot rest doesn't even go up all that high or feel all that strong and secure.

I did score a FABULOUS seat mate. His name is Andrew and is a personal trainer from the Ann Arbor area. Possibly the best seat mate you could want on an airplane - personable, friendly, funny but also knows when to be quiet. Seriously, what more could a talker like me want? We dined on some interesting looking chicken, and had our share of Champagne. But the sleeping was in fits and spurts due to the lack of comfort level. Oh. And this Air France flight made Korean Air flights feel COOL. You heard me right, Vlad mommies and daddies. It was a roasting oven on there most of the time. My feet threatened to turn into ham hocks on me at one point, until I rescued them from the socks they were trapped in. Yes. I took my socks off on a flight. Sue me!

The first small hiccup was in Paris. Air France couldn't give me a boarding pass in Detroit for Rossiyana Airlines -- my connection in Paris. So I had to go on a slight scavenger hunt to track down my boarding pass. CDG Airport in Paris is huge -- I can totally see how someone lived there for a while. After some slight language barriers, I finally had my boarding pass in hand and went upstairs to find my plane. And we were off again.

Rossiyana is a different story. Very clean planes - and very nice staff. However, the best way to describe it is sardines. If you ever want to know what a sardine feels like in one of those cans -- fly Rossiyana. I have short legs and my legs are STILL touching the seat ahead of me. Yipes. For our meal, I was offered "lamb" (I think) or "PIG". Yes pig. Poor flight attendant couldn't think of the word pork. And who am I to blame her -- I can't say that I know the Russian word for either to be honest.

Arrival in St. Pete's was on time and smooth. I love how the Russian's clap when they land safe. It makes me smile EVERY time. I know it's cheesey. But I love it. I, of course, choose the slowest passport control line in the airport. (Perhaps the world) Second small hiccup was there was no staff waiting for me with my friendly name sign. Slight panic did set in, I'll admit. However, I have read many times that you need to be patient and some times traffic snarls can cause issues, etc. So I took a couple deep breaths and went outside. I debated a taxi. However, thoughts of being murdered for my lovely stash of cash that I was carrying (adoptive parents totally understand what I am talking about) kept creeping in my head. I literally had just gotten a rate from a taxi driver and was in the process of saying about 5 Hail Mary's in my head -- when I saw the sign. WHEW! Relief!!

Now, I am tucked safely into the Taj Mahal. I mean the Courtyard on Vasilievsky Island. This is the OTHER Courtyard in St. Pete's. Having now stayed at both, I will tell you -- you can't go wrong at EITHER. Both have fabulous staff who speak english. Both have 24/7 currency exchange. Both are gorgeous. However, this one seems to be cheaper -- and it may be because it's not quite tourist season yet. I was upgraded to a King Studio Suite (thank you platinum status!!) and my room is HUGE and wonderful. I even have a towel warmer! I think I could get used to that...

Tomorrow I am off to see Baby Soup again. I can't wait. Thursday is court. Say some prayers for little Soupy and I. We'd appreciate it. And, while you're at it... please throw a couple toward my Great Aunt Greta back at home who apparently suffered a stroke on Saturday night. She is the wife of my Grandfather's brother, who just passed away last spring. Love to you Aunt G!