May 31st

The day has finally come!!!  I have the adoption decree in hand, the paperwork for the American Embassy in hand AND Micah's little passport.  Tomorrow morning, first thing, I will be at the baby home getting dressed in her little outfit that Mammother has given her and I will carry her out of there for good!  Then we will come back to the flat, get a bath (usually only gets one once every two week so she is due,) hopefully take a nap, have some lunch and then head to the train station to go to Moscow. 

It's a bitter sweet ending here in Glazov.  Today was Natasha's birthday and she had her closest friends and their families, as well as her own, out to BBQ on the outskirts of town.  It was not only a celebration of her life but also a congratulations party for me.  They are such wonderful people.  I wish we Americans would celebrate one's birthday as they do in the Russian culture. It was just amazing.  I videoed part of the party so others could hopefully get a glimpse into their traditions.  I had  fantastic time!  And hopefully I can begin to incorporate some of these traditions in our family that Micah and I are starting. 

I am sorry this is a short blog but I am EXHAUSTED and I am dying of allergies here.  There are SO many dandelions that have now turned into white puff balls.  It truly looks like snow flurries but it's dandelions seeds!  I can't breath out of my nose....so I am welcoming the city of Moscow and all it's concrete!  =)   LOL  I will miss our little town of Glazov, Natasha, her friends and now our friends, Helena, Alexander, Nina, and Tatiana (and of course their families), Natasha's sister and brother-in-law and their most precious baby girl, the baby home nurses and doctors who have welcomed us and made us feel right at home with Micah Sveta-Lee and our little flat.  It has been a home away from home.  Tomorrow will bring the beginning of a new chapter of my life....I can't wait to see how the story develops! 

Micah's Russian Passport.

 The adoption decree (in Russian of course.)

Little Miss Thang at her first birthday party!  Cookies, presents, bubbles & balloons (which she has tied around her wrist.)

May 28th

Nothing like writing an entire blog and then your computer freezing....ugh!  So it's been a couple of days.  Thursday evening Natasha brought over three of her English pupils (9th & 10th form/grade) for their final lesson of the school year.  They were a little shy at first but soon opened up.  They were very sweet and curious about the Americans and excited to mess us.  My dad stayed in the kitchen while my mom and I played host to the students.  We had chai/tea and sweets ready, which is how the Russian culture greet their guests.  We all enjoyed sweets and chai. 

Yesterday I went to buy the train tickets to Moscow.  It brought to reality that the last leg of my journey here in Russia is almost here.  We will be getting to Moscow a day earlier than originally planned but it still works out alright.  Tomorrow will really be the last day to shop, go see the village and do any other "touristy" things we would like.  Monday there is a possibility that Natasha and her brother-in-law will take us site-seeing in Izhevsk for the day since every time I have been there it has just been to do adoption business.  Then on Tuesday a driver and I will head BACK to Izhevsk to finalize all of the documents at the courthouse and sit and wait for Micah's Russian passport.  Hopefully all will go just fine and I will be back in Glazov that same evening.  Then on Wednesday morning I will go first thing in the morning to the baby home to get all of Micah's records and have the director release custody to me. From there Micah will either walk out or I will carry her out of there. =)  I haven't decided which one.  That same day we will all board the train to Moscow.  PLEASE keep us all in your thoughts and prayers...poor bitty will have to be on a 16 hour train ride to Moscow.  Welcome to the real world! 

Tomorrow they are letting us bring some Gerber baby food and fruit to see how Micah will take to it.  She will be needing to take formula for a while just to catch her up on nutrients, calcium and such as well but we won't test that until the train ride.  Lots of transition in such a short amount of time.  She had a small outing on Thursday to get her passport  and visa pictures taken and she did wonderful.  As long as I was holding her she was fine.

So her new trick of the day...  She has discovered that if I have her hands she can climb her way up to me and I always wear a belt so when she gets to my belt she stands up and gives me a hug.  Well, today she discovered that if she climbs about to my thighs she can lean back and hang upside down. THEN after a few times of that she discovered she could flip herself over.  Little miss thang shouldn't be doing that at 1 year but it sure was cute.  Not sure how much I will let her do it in the future.  =) 

May 25th

Today was Micah's first birthday.  Of course it was just like any other day for little miss thang but we brought a bit of a celebration with us today.  This morning I was maybe 5-10 minutes later than usual and she was all upset with the nurses.  They said that she knows we are coming and she won't do anything until we get there and today she was a bit upset.  She calmed down after we got to playing and such. 

Then we met Natasha for a sort of graduate celebration at the school she used to teach English.  It was very interesting.  Of course I could not understand anything unless she let me know what was happening or if I leaned over and said what are they talking about but it was a mini show and recognition of the "seniors."  But living amongst the townspeople in a flat, shopping with them in the market and getting to know different people in the community has truly given me a better idea of what Russia is made up of and their traditions as well as the traditions of Micah's little town. 

After that fun adventure we went to a store to pick up balloons, bubbles and then some cakes for the nurses. (We got the cookies for the babies yesterday.)  When we got there she was on her walk.  They passed her through the window so I could change her diaper and say hello.  Then we headed back out to catch up with her buddies and blew bubbles outside for a while.  They LOVED the bubbles, especially when my mom would catch them on the little wand and let them pop them.  It was also nice to sit and have cake and tea with the nurses.  They are always so busy.  One of Micah's most favorite nurses is actually retiring after 23 years on June 1st.  She has worked in that same room for 23 years.  I told her Micah/Sveta was extremely lucky to have had a caregiver who gives the children so much love.  She replied, "I love these babies like they are my own grandchildren."  =)  It just warmed my heart that know that for the first year of her life she has been shown and been given love and care by such people as this one nurse. 

But at any rate...as I told my Aunt on the phone...I can get a bit long winded in my blog but I don't have much to do than to watch sports with Russian commentary and blog.  =)  Tonight was my night to cook.  I made Russian "Shake-n-Bake" chicken, with rice boiled in a bag and frozen broccoli.  HA!  And if I do say so myself, it was one of the best meals we have had.  (The Russian frozen pizza wasn't too bad either.)  Tomorrow will be another adventure.  After each dinner my dad says, "Another successful meal." Well, except for when we attempted to make spaghetti.  Russian noodles and tomato sauce = not so great. 

Tomorrow I will take little Micah to get her picture taken for her Russia Passport and American Visa.  That should be an adventure.  It will be the first official trip outside of the orphanage gate with her.  Hopefully she will do okay.  We are pushing close to nap time so she may get fussy.  Everyone keep their fingers crossed!  

May 24th

Another routine day in Glazov.  My sweet baby girl gets so excited when she sees me in the morning.  She is normally in the part of the room where the babies are blocked off on a carpet for play time.  I usually just sneak up (though the nurses are all saying, "Sveta....Mama...Sveta."  The dots are all the Russian words I can't understand.)  =)  Micah was so sweet this afternoon when she woke up from her nap.  The nurse actually got her up (which happens to the babies most of the time to keep them on a strict schedule) and so she was a little droggy coming out of the sleep room.  She came right to me and rubbed her eyes and just snuzzled into me for a bit.  She is normally so active that she won't sit still long enough to snuggle at all. 

Lunch was the same as every other day, some kind of soup with a side of potatoes and ground chicken....yes, ground chicken, don't ask.  Then all of the little ones were lined up on the training potties for potty time.  SO CUTE!!!  They just sit there and clap, talk and take care of business.  Just another part of their day.  Micah was in a particularly good mood today and we spent a LONG time outside, first strolling and then she explored the play area.  Now that she is walking she is able to explore a bit.  She loves flowers...maybe a little too much.  She was too quick for us and she picked a tulip when she wasn't supposed to.  My mom hid it in my jacket pocket when we went inside. 

Her new trick of the day:  Micah discovered that she could put the toys in the sink and they don't fall on the floor.  The sink is just high enough for her to reach up and pull up on.  So she reaches her hand over with the toy, drops it and proceeds to pull up to see her handy work.  She is also starting to clap and stack her rings on her stacking toy very well.  She loves books.  Today they had a book that they were all looking at.  When Micah got fussy I put her in my lap and started to read (what I thought the book was saying) and all of a sudden I had three little boys climbing all over me too.  I hope wonderful families find these three precious boys.  They are so bright, sweet, loving and handsome little boys. 

I received permission from Tatiana, the director of the orphanage, to hold a birthday party for Micah tomorrow in her room.  =)  The nurses, and all other adults present, will partake in cake while the babies will have cookies.  =)  There will be balloons, bubbles, a few presents (which will stay in the orphanage) and little Micah in a birthday bib!!!  It may not be the 1st birthday that every parent dreams of for their child but I am so excited and thrilled to be able to spend this day with her and those that have cared and loved for her the first year of her life!  Tomorrow will be another great day. 

Orphanage & Flat in Glazov

May 22nd

Today was warm and sunny here in Glazov.  Not much is happening at 8am on a Sunday around here.  The mornings are the very best times with Micah.  She is so happy and playful.  As the day goes on she doesn't quite get everything she needs.  For instance, she could probably sleep a bit longer for her nap, eat a bit more at meal times and snack times and spend a bit more time outside.  But overall she is in a wonderful environment. 

Micah discovered a new trick she could do.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, she loves to do full blown pull ups on tables and such.  Well, she has discovered if she can put her feet on some kind of leveraging devise under the table she can lean back and almost flip herself over.  That's her favorite trick at the moment.  It's funny how I had chosen her room decor far before I even knew who she was and she fits right with with her monkeys and other safari animals! 

It's hard to believe it has almost been a week since I arrived here in Glazov.  And it's even harder to believe it will be another week and 1/2 before I will be leaving for Moscow.  Sigh....that's a long time.  I am ready to take Micah home, introduce her to her room, her dogs, her house, her toys, her family, her friends, her new world!!  It's also rough having to share her with EVERYONE...my parents (who are obviously very proud grandparents), the nurses, the doctors, the other children....I am ready to be a selfish Mommy!  =)  I was thinking today, as I was watching her play on the floor, most parents know each and every detail about their child when they are Micah's age and here I am just learning her wants and needs and getting to know every little sound and part of her personality.  It's amazing how much I have already learned in the short amount of time that I have been able to spend with her. 

May 21st

My days are becoming a bit boring to read about.  But I did discover, reading through past posts, that I should possibly proof read for mistakes before posting...but then again, where's the fun in that.  =)  I got up early again and headed to the orphanage. Today was the first day without Natasha to interpret everything and take me around town.  I SURVIVED!  =)  It was actually a pleasant walk to the orphanage.  The baby home is closed on the weekends so we had to figure out which gate to go into and that sort of thing.  The nurses all know us by now and so we didn't have any problems getting to little Micah's room.  All the babies were playing in the carpet area of the room that is blocked off with a crib railing on the floor.  I went to the railing and looked behind the crib to find Micah.  She turned and as soon as she saw me got a great big smile and toddled along the crib to get to me.  I missed her! I didn't get to see her on Friday but we picked up right where we left off.

She is so good to play with the others, by herself, with me, with the nurses, with my parents, at the table, in the crib, on the floor....she is very easy going as far as that goes.  But as you look around the baby home and all those little ones playing you realize they are pretty conditioned that way.  They have a very strict schedule.  All of the babies have such a special bond with each other.  It's so very sweet and also hard to think about how much they will miss Micah.  She is the ring leader of the room.  They all look to her and follow her. 

I went shopping for her birthday gifts again today.  I still have a few things on my list to get her.  They are gifts for when she is older.  The younger gifts were very easy to get for her.  The older birthday gifts are more difficult.  It's hard to predict what she may or may not like.  I hope this becomes such a treasured tradition that she won't be as picky as I am being in purchasing just the right gift.  =) 

Micah is becoming more and more affectionate as time goes.  She is learning about hugs, kisses, snuggles, tummy strawberries, etc.  Today I taught her how to "eskimo kiss" and she loves it.  She is so sweet.  She will just put her forehead on mine and just shake her head.  The general idea is there.  =)  We will fine tune it as time goes on.  Every day she grows in some way shape or form.  I look forward to each day and what bright new light she will bring to my life that day. 

May 20th

It's official....I am now a Mommy of a beautiful daughter!  I had court this morning in Izhevsk, Russia.  It is the state court closest to her little town of Glazov.  All international adoptions have to go through the state court.   was definitely an experience.  Traveling on Russian roads alone is an experience.  I felt like I was on a horrible children's rollercoaster for 2 hours this morning and 2 hours this afternoon.  My interpreter and now friend, Natasha, went with me so make sure that my intentions and answers were communicated well.  The baby home director, Tatiana, and the social worker, Olga, also had to be there today to give their testimony and recommendations.  Obviously all went well.  The judge was so very nice after the proceedings and the prosecutor was also very pleasant.  Overall it was a lot less intimidating of a process than I thought it was going to be.  Now don't get me wrong it was definitely nerve wrecking but they made it very comfortable for me. 

While I was away today my parents went to go see Micah in the baby home by themselves.  It was probably really good for them to have one on one time with her.  Apparently she has a new walker in her room (which of course she doesn't use) but she discovered that it played music.  Jingle Bells to be exact.  My parents said that she would push it or my dad would push it and she would dance back and forth.  Micah would want it to play again and her little temper would flare when she couldn't get it to work so my dad had to help her and of course she was happy again when Jingle Bells started up again!

I can't wait to see her again tomorrow.  I missed her terribly today.  Now I am starting the 10 day waiting period so I will visit Micah as often as I can and enjoy the wonderful town of Glazov. We have been invited to Sophia's dance recital on Monday night.  (Sophia is Natasha's daughter.  She has met with us twice, the second for dinner at our flat where I gave her a gift from "America," - - Texas Sized Jelly Beans.)  So that will be exciting.  We have also been invited to a BBQ.  I am interested to see how that goes.  There are also some pupils that Natasha tutors in English and she would like us to have Chai and Coffee with them so they can practice their English.  So we will have an exciting 10 days with baby Micah and our new Russian friends. 

May 19th

Well, my days are pretty scheduled.  8am-10am is spent at the baby home with Micah.  Then she goes down for her nap to Natasha takes us to run errands or just have tea with her co-workers.  She is our interpreter but her day to day job is an insurance agent.  Today we needed to print some pictures for court tomorrow so we did that then we went and had tea.  It is really a wonderful time to sit and chat with them about our lives and what we have in common and what we don't.  I think we almost have them convinced to take a trip to Texas.  They are Helen, Alexandra, Nina and, of course, Natasha.  Now those names look simple to say but in Russian they are a bit tricky. 
Then at 11:40am we head back to the orphanage for lunch with Micah and play time.  This is when we go for a walk around the orphanage and play in the play areas outside.  Sometimes she enjoys it more than others.  We stay there until I put her down for her nap at 3pm.  They don't let her go down early...they are very strict with their schedules.  Today was tough on her because she was SO tired but they just keep them up until it's time for nap. 
At this point we run any last errands on the way back to the flat and we are in for the day.  So far we have had to make a trip to the market every day. The first day I went with my Dad but now he just goes by himself.  We cook in, which is nice.  First two nights we had homemade chicken soup and tonight we made homemade fried chicken.  Helen brought us fresh vegetables from her garden which were delicious.  She said not to buy any more vegetables and that she and Alexandra would provide. 
We read, watch sports and of course I blog, journal and mess with pictures while we are in each night.  Everyone keeps asking about pictures.  I can't post anything until she is officially mine.  I go to court tomorrow morning at 10am which will be 1am central US time!  As soon as she is in my custody full time I will post all sorts of pictures!  There is a 10 day waiting period before I can take her from the orphanage.  I know I know...so many hoops. 
Thank you to all those that are following.  I hope to be bringing good reports from court tomorrow!  Love you all!

May 18th

Today was another busy day at the orphanage. I was able to bring Pampers to the orphanage for Micah Sveta so she doesn't have to deal with a towel falling in between her legs. I didn't mention yesterday that I gave Tatiana the Children's Tylenol and band-aids.  Some of the Round Rock Community Choir members donated some money for me to bring them some supplies that they had asked for.  Of course our Susan Putnam donated a TON of 3M band-aids and Tatiana was so amazed at how "beautiful" they were.  It was pretty funny.  And unbelievably they did NOT get crushed in my luggage.  I will give her all of her 3M post-it goodies next week. =) I still have a good $120 to spend on diapers & pull-ups for the orphanage but I want to give those right before I leave so they don't think they are for Micah Sveta. 

As for Micah Sveta....she is SO active.  Not only will she pull up on things but she will find a way to crawl over and  if you look away for just a second she is already up on something else.  She truly is my little monkey!  She loves to walk (sometimes a drunkin' run with assistance), bear crawl, play under the table (she barely fits standing up) and eat...boy that girl can eat!  The nurses keep saying they don't understand how she is so little when she eats so much.  Micah Sveta is very active and probably burns more calories than she takes in. 

Mammother discovered today that she LOVES beads.  I guess every little girl loves their jewelery. =)
She had the sweetest little jumper on today that has two pockets.  I showed her how she could put things in her pockets and she didn't think that was a bad idea.  She carried around her toys the rest of the day in there.  She is too smart for her own good. 

The nurses just love her to death.  They are very happy for her but they are going to miss her. They looked through all of the pictures I brought today and loved all of them.  Russian living conditions are so different than American.  They were so impressed with my house (little do they know it is considered a very small starter home in America.)  People, problems, likes and dislikes are the same as Americans but living conditions and such are just very different. 

I am just one full day away from my court date! 

May 17th

Greetings from Glazov!  
I am on day four of my trip and my second day in Glazov.  So far I have traveled by plane from San Antonio to New York then New York to Moscow.  In Moscow we went to the train station and boarded a train to head to Glazov.  What an experience.  That was my first time in a train and it was definitely an experience.  Dimitry in Moscow told us the wrong time that it arrived.  Of course I figured out the Russian train ticket and questioned him and I was RIGHT!  Instead of arriving at 4:05pm we were there at 8:36am.  Yes...big difference.

Natasha, my interpreter and friend, was there to greet us as the train station.  Her friend has offered one of his flats for us.  It is very nice.  It is nice to have a little apartment that we can cook, relax and most importantly, have internet in!  It is very quiet.  


The sun rises here at 3:30ish in the morning and sets very late.  It is almost 9pm and the sun is just setting over the horizon.  It is starting to be spring here so there are fresh buds on the trees, the tulips are about to bloom, and all of the vegetable gardens are starting to sprout.  Our cultures are very much the same but very different at the same time.  My dad is WAY to polite.  He just wants to help everyone, talk to everyone (of course he talks to them in English like they understand,) and still opens doors for my mom, which is not done here and the cab drivers are always having to wait on him.  


Now to Micah/Sveta.  =)  She looks just the same with a bit more hair.  Her hair has some curl in it but it's a hot mess!  They don't really comb or brush it so she pretty much has bed head 24/7.  Today I brought her little van shoes and she looked so cute!  I can't wait to get her in clothes that fit.  Her trick for the day was pull-ups.  She did pull ups on the table, on the sink, on the crib, on the nurses station....I mean pull-ups...not just hanging!  The nurses were joking and laughing saying that they were going to see her in the Olympics one day.  


There is so much to tell. This will have to do for the first blog!  I hope everyone will enjoy the updates as much as I enjoy giving them.  Until tomorrow...