Waiting to be picked up . . .

It is 10:10 and I am waiting to be picked up to go to the Ministry of Education and on to the orphanage. As exciting as it is, it is also VERY nervewracking!! Of course, I have been up since 6 am--not even a 12 hour time difference is going to help me sleep at this point. Hopefully, that 3 hour car ride will not feel like 3 days. I just can't wait to see him and hope that he is not scared.

First Day in Kras

We had a great day today in Krasnoyarsk. There is a town square right outside the hotel with beautiful fountains, pony rides for kids, cotton candy and popcorn, an outdoor theatre, which had kids singing and dancing, tents to sit under where you can have a drink and something to eat. We had lunch there today and were pretty excited when we realized that a beer for 50 rubles is only about $2!

We just finished dinner in the hotel and for all my fellow cat lovers, the hotel cat practically sat on my lap at dinner! Everyone has been very nice and we are getting tickets to see Swan Lake on Wednesday with another family who recently completed their court date.

I am finally starting to feel a little tired--just hope I can sleep tonight--feels like the night before Christmas!

I will post more tomorrow after my first visit.

We are in Krasnoyarsk!

It is 7 am and we just checked into the hotel. Given the trip was 24 hours, it really wasn't that bad and I am not in the least bit tired and ready to go sightseeing. Right across the street from the hotel is a music house, where we can see a ballet or hear music. I can't believe I am finally here. We get picked up at 10:30 am tomorrow ( which will be 10:30 pm Sunday night in NY) to go to the minister and then on to the orphange. Cindy

Vladimir--see you tomorrow!!!

Top 5 things not to say to an adoptive parent . . .

1. He/she is so lucky.

2. Why did his/her mother give him up?

3. You have to be careful-- a lot of kids in orphanages have problems.

4. Any story about a family you know whose adoption has not gone well or whose child has problems.

5. Any negative comment about your child's birth country.

three days to go!!

The countdown has really begun--only three days to go!! I am excited but also nervous about getting everything done. I will be so happy to get on that plane and just be able to relax.

4 days until take off!

Only four more days until I leave for Kras. I cannot wait! I have been busy getting ready, shopping, packing,etc. I still have some last minutes things to do--and one last trip to the Secretary of State to get my dossier apostilled! I am still waiting for my VISA's--I hope to get them today and still have to go to the bank to pick up my new money. Even though, I know this week will fly, I just cannot wait until Monday to be in that orphanage to see little Vladimir for the first time.

Adoption and "being lucky"

There are many things that people say, though well intentioned, that don't sit well with adoptive parents. #1 among them is "he/she is so lucky" I never realized it was offensive until people started saying it to me. Now I understand why. First, it speaks to that whole idea that adoption saves a life. I think many of us agree that the life being saved is our own. We are not adopting to save a child's life, but for the same reason that others are giving birth, to have a child, so when people say he is so lucky, it just doesn't feel right. It feels like people are forgetting that we are having a child--congratulations seems like the most fitting response to someone who is going to have a child.



The second reason it doesn't feel right is that there are actually more prospective adoptive parents than there are available babies for adoption. During the long, torturous wait, you constantly worry that you will never have a child. So much can happen--countries close down for adoption, restrictions become greater, hurdles become higher. Believe me when I say, when you finally get the call, you feel like the luckiest person on earth to finally have a child!! It is the parent who is the lucky one--whether the child is given to them through birth or adoption--to have their child--not the other way around!



Since no one ever says that to a parent about to give birth, when people say that to an adoptive parent, we don't like that a distinction is being made b/c we are not. We are just simply overjoyed to be having a child and don't care how that gift is given. As one adoptive parent once told me, WE are truly the lucky ones to get experience having a child in this special way.

the story behind the title

For those who don't know, Vladimir is not the baby's name. When I started the adoption process in September, I started referring to the baby as Vladimir. It sort of caught on and everyone in my family started calling him that. I started falling in love with the name especially when my 3 year old nephew would pronounce. When my niece and nephews would ask if Vladimir were here yet, I would just answer that I am still "waiting for Vladimir"

Counting down the days

I am counting down the days until I leave for Kras--16 days left. I fly out on the 29th of May. I am trying to keep busy, so the time goes fast. I have to get started on reordering all my paperwork for the dossier b/c now I need 2 originals of everything. It is hard to get anything done b/c I cannot sleep. I get up every day at 3 am to stare at Vladimir's picture. I cannot wait until the day that I get to see him in person and finally hold him!!!!!!!

"the call"

I cannot believe that I got "the call" yesterday-5/4/09 will always be a day I remember. It is hard to believe that this is finally coming true. I have to wait until tomorrow to get a picture and other information on him. All I know right now is that he is 10 1/2 months, born in July 08 (yeah! I wanted a summer baby), weighs 16 lbs, was born at 36 weeks, and has two teeth! Can't wait to finally see his picture and get my travel dates. Hopefully I will be traveling to Kras at the end of May or beginning of June! I cannot wait for this part of my life to begin!!!!