Monthly Archives: December 2008

by Barbara

Just A Quiet Day In Russia

Today was just a quiet day in the flat.

We all woke up at 8 and had some breakfast.

We tested the laundry facilities. A Russian character covered piece of machinery. You got to be kidding… Do you know what this means “Высокая тепло”? Anyway, we were able to get our clothes washed and now they hang drying in the bathroom.

Later, I took a walk to the grocery store to pick up some things for dinner tonight. While I was out Barbara and Dagny hung out at the apartment and entertained each other.

Later this evening it was time to give Dagny a bath. Now I know that all the pictures that everyone have been looking at of Dagny have been full of smiles and giggles. But it’s not alway sugar and spice and everything nice.

And to wet everyone’s photo appetite, here are some extra shots from the day.

Agi Mama’s sweater for Dagny

Remember, it’s not always a rosy day

Daddy and Dagny being silly

Looks like someone’s ready for a nap
by Barbara

Dagny’s First Starbucks

Dagny so far is an amazing sleeper. She didn’t wake up until 9am which is amazing to us, but not the greatest because it threw the rest of her sleep schedule off. So, tomorrow I am waking Miss Sleeping Beauty up at 8am.

I guess she is adjusting to her new environment and her new caregivers as we are to our new roles. She is truly a joy to have around. When see smiles, which is a lot, it lights the entire room up and you can’t help but smile yourself. This little girl is going to break some major hearts, but that’s not for another 30 years at least. 😉

Today, we decided to take a walk on Old Arbat street while the our apartment was being cleaned. We walked down towards Saint Basil Cathedral but we decided to leave that for another day. We had a SKYPE date with Erika. She really wanted to see her new little cousin. Erika got up at 5am to do this because we needed to work around Dagny’s naps and Erika’s school. Erika is one terrific young woman. I love Erika as if she was my own and I can’t wait to see the relationship between the two girls blossom in the years to come.

It was a little nippy and we still had some time to kill so we decided to go into one of the two Starbucks on Old Arbat. Dagny loved it. She was looking around and soaking in all the people, smells, and colors. She was such a good little girl throughout our stay while Mom and Dad drank a Mocha. Dagny also learned how to drink out of a sippy cup. In the orphanage they drink out of cups at a very early age. We just don’t feel she needs to be at that stage yet. That time will come.

by Barbara

A Long Awaited Day

Today at 10:45am the Judge declared us a family of three; Craig, Barbara and Dagny.

We had our appointment at 10:00am but didn’t actually start until 10:25am. So, with that said it went very quickly (20 minutes) and it wasn’t very painful at all. 🙂 I was elected by my husband to do the majority of the talking, YEAH. To be totally honest I wasn’t nervous at all, which is totally out of character for me. I took that as a sign, that this child was meant to be ours and everything is going to be just fine. So, I was called up to the center of the courtroom where I was facing the judge face on and our translator right next to me. She asked all the questions that we have been preparing for. Then it was Craig’s turn and he answered his three questions and then the judge went into her chambers to deliberate. Not even five minutes pasted and she came back out and we stood and she read us our verdict that we are Dagny’s new parents. Tears were coming down my cheeks even as the judge was looking at us saying those words. Everyone smiled and the Deputy Director of Dagny’s orphanage came over, hugged and kissed us, and called us Mama and Papa. I almost lost it again.

Afterwards we went to the orphanage to drop the Deputy Director, the gifts, and donations off. We knew the possibility was there that we can get custody of Little Miss D but nothing is ever in stone during this long adoption process. After we handed out the gifts we were taken into the playroom where the kids usually play. This was my second time in that room and both the times the kids were sleeping (sorry Nichole – I couldn’t get any photos of Vera). They actually woke Dagny up for us to take. We handed them her new outfit and watched as she was being dressed.

We then headed home where we had our first family outing by going to the supermarket together. She was just soaking it all in and riding in high style in her new stroller (Thank you again Uncle Timmy). We then ate, took a nap and played. What a wonderful day