Some cute pix

The rainbow came out one day at the Amsterdam airport. Seemed like a sign, somehow! The shot of my mom and dad reading the blog was just too perfect to pass up : )
The shots of JMI and myself are from Day 2 visitation. Cute hat, huh? I think they keep it on so she stays warm enough. LOL.

Day 2

Today was my second day visiting baby JMI. (I can't keep typing out her full name Josina Margaret Irina ... that's way too long for such a tiny peanut of a baby, and she's technically Irina until after the court date and appeals period ... so JMI).

We meet from 10:30 to noon each day ... cushioned on each side by a harrowing car ride across town Kazakh style (think 10,000 New York cabbies combined with the Indy 500) ... today JMI was a bit cranky. Teething, maybe, but also a little unsettled by being left alone in a room with a virtual stranger. Well, time will fix the teeth and the acceptance. We did rather well together, but she was only happy being held in my arms or on my lap. That was okay with me. More chances to give kisses : )

We went to Panfilov Park afterward with Zhaniya and Anara. An impressive area with a memorial dedicated to the memory of soldiers of the Panfilov Division who were credited with helping save Moscow from being overrun by the Germans in 1941. Also home to the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, a rococo style building, built in 1904. At one time an officers club and then a museum, it was restored to all its glory as a place to worship in 1991. Ate pizza at an Italian restaurant, bought some food and bottled water to take back with us.

Photos to follow ... No award winners, since we had a cranky day and I found it hard to justify photos when hugs worked so much better. But a couple of cute shots, anyway.

All in all, a great day!

Meet (Josina Margaret) Irina

Welcome!

We arrived on time Monday morning and were picked up at the airport by Zhaniya, my facilitator and her daughter, Anara, the translator. Very nice people, who spent most of yesterday helping us find a nice place to stay (Alma Hotel) and taking us on a short walking tour and to a grocery. We have a refrigerator in our room, which we've stocked with breakfast and beverages (lots of bottled water!) We've also been to a couple of nice restaurants and had tasty, but not too adventurous meals!

But that's not what you really want to know, is it?
 
This morning I had my meeting with the City Council/Education director, who approved me to continue on to the Baby House. After picking up a woman from Washington DC, who is on her final trip to bring her daughter home, we went on to the Baby House, where she was having her goodbye party and I was to meet my baby.

So ... welcome little (Josina Margaret) Irina to the family. She was born April 29, 2008 and is an adorable baby with brown eyes, dark hair and a little button of a nose. We met for about 15 minutes and she was very sweet, interested in me and all the toys ... and put everything in her mouth like any 7 month old! She's of Korean descent (go figure) and has lived at the BH since she was 2 weeks old.

Tomorrow I start my daily visits (1.5 hours a day) for 13 more days (not including Sundays). I'll post a photo on the blog as soon as we get them downloaded. She has that delightful, big-round-eyed stunned look in each one (much like myself, I suspect). Cute.

Once the visitations are complete, we file papers for a court date. On the next trip I go to court and hope for a positive ruling. Fingers crossed ... little (Josie Margaret) Irina will finally be a member of the family then. : )

More later. Hope everyone is well.

Kelly
Grammy & Gramps

Waiting ...

hello from Amsterdam
Long story short ... we're still at the Amsterdam airport. Our second day here waiting for our flight to Almaty. The first was cancelled yesterday (after 10 hours of waiting in the KLM lounge) then we were being routed through Moscow later in the evening. That flight also was cancelled, so we spent the night and are "freshly" awaiting the same 6 pm flight out tonight. Better rested due to our stay in the airport hotel and a nice breakfast.

Keep the fingers crossed and the prayers going out!

Kelly, Marilyn and George : )

On our way ...

Today's the day! Our flight leaves Detroit at 9:15 pm, arriving in Amsterdam nearly 8 hours later. Then a 7 hour layover in Amsterdam, before making the final leg of the journey to Almaty. (about 6.5 hours). That's a lot of traveling for this homebody!

But what is awaiting me at the other end is priceless ... The anticipation and the gift I will receive is far better than any Christmas morning in my memory (that includes 1969, the year I got the stuffed dog AND the lifelike baby doll).

The endless rounds of updated paperwork and documents to be notarized and apostilled is done - for now. The overnighting of our travel visa application, the scramble for unsullied cash to take for exchange and the rush to buy baby clothes, toys and caregiver gifts is over. The suitcase is packed (42 pounds, under the limit if you trust my scale ... ) and I am as ready as I'll ever be.

Are you ever ready?

As is often the case, best laid plans ... the idea was for me to go to the Baby House on Monday, December 8, but Monday is a Kazakhstan holiday. (Kurban Ait - Feast of Sacrifice) So I'll be meeting the little sweetheart on Tuesday, instead. More time to recover from jetlag and get our bearings : )

I don't even know where to start thanking all the people in my life who supported me in this journey and who continue to send their best wishes. You are all truly wonderful, fabulous people. Yes, fabulous : )

My next post will be from Almaty, Kazahkstan, where tomorrow's weather should be mostly sunny and 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Gotta think that's better than snow and 19 ...

Kazakhstan bound!

I got the call yesterday afternoon that the Letter of Invitation had arrived! It confirms that we'll be traveling to Kazakhstan to meet my future daughter, leaving the weekend of December 6 (most likely, to get there before the 8th). My mom and dad will make the trip with me and we'll most likely be there over Christmas.

It was so hard to be here at work, instead of at home or with family and friends, since I wanted to laugh, cry, dance - all at once. Except for the ongoing dilemma of how to get my mom a travel visa with more than 30 days for the second trip ... the world is a happy place. Now, to rush around updating the last documents and figuring out how to pack light (LOL!)

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for a safe and successful trip.

omg, this is so exciting!