Check Out Tomorrow

Hi Everyone,
Note: Living in a hotel is so fun!! Just kidding. We are currently pros at putting a million groceries in a tiny fridge and making 3 nutritious meals a day with a myriad of utensils saved from our take out and a hot pot.

We are having fun. This morning Nathan took care of the 3 am wake-up, but he went to sleep after about 15 minutes. We had our first restaurant experience--he loves rice from the Chinese restaurant. The server there sees us all the time at the Metro station and always says Hi! He's so nice (remember him Mom and Dad? The funny little guy at the Chinese place next to the hotel?).

Later came a close to 3 hour nap and then some play time and a walk. He still cries when we put him down or any other time he doesn't like what is going on, but he is getting much easier to do a diaper change or put clothes on. Overall I am surprised on how well he is adjusting.

We are VERY excited to be leaving tomorrow on the night train. We get free late check-out tomorrow and then spend the night on the train. We have it all worked out with the Marriott in Moscow to come in early and check-in. Overall, we are set to go to Moscow and meet with the U.S. Embassy to get his entrance into the U.S. situated. Well, hopefully one day soon I will have time to post more pictures or video...for now I am tired. So good night!

New Picturesl.g

http://picasaweb.google.com/kansasjhawk79/AleksTrip2?authkey=Gv1sRgCLLEqe6TscSx-AE#

Day 2

We are the luckiest people in the world!!! Aleks slept through the night (asleep at 8 and up at 7:45)! He took a 1.5 hour nap (supposed to be 3 hours, but hey...it's fine) and eats like no other! Whatever we give him, he eats.

Today we played a lot and then....got a haircut!! They took off over half his hair and he still has a full head. Then off to the post office (yes Debi, I just mailed the post card today) and then to get pizzas for dinner.

The bath. Wow. That was an experience. Kind of like water torture? Apparently Nathan and I have a new career opportunity because Aleks was SCREAMING!!!! But now he is clean. He is wearing footie pajamas from Grandma Reinker--ugh, footie pajamas.

Right at this moment is going around cleaning the room. Good job orphanage! He has put 2 bibs away in his drawer and is now searching for more items to put up. Well, that's it. Dinner in an hour and then bed time. Hopefully we can get some pictures or video up tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for reading about us--this parenting stuff is pretty fun. See you all in leass than a week.

Tuesday Visit and Car Ride to the Hotel!

This morning we got his schedule and what he usually eats. He actually drinks tea, albeit watered down but still! He aso eats cucumber and tomatoes. We went to the grocery store and picked up cheese, milk, butter, bread, cottage cheese, and plain yogurt. Those are all items he gets in a day! A lot of dairy, but they give him fish and meat daily as well as vegetable puree so he eats pretty well-rounded.

Here is some poor video, but it is the car ride to the hotel. He had just stopped crying and was just holding on or dear life :)

Video from Previous Visits

Here is some video from Monday. The first is Aleks being a funy man!

Next is Aleks sleeping...he fell asleep on Nathan's lap! We decided he was okay with us at that point.

Tomorrow!

Today was our last visit--I don't have video ready to be posted, but hopefully I will get that done tomorrow morning.

Nathan has to go sign some stuff tomorrow and then around 4 tomorrow we go get him!! So, around 7 am you should think of us...we will be getting our son!

Check back tomorrow.

Today, Friday, was our last visit of the week. We see Aleks Monday and then we get him Tuesday.

We are exhausted! The metro ride every day wears me out, but its worth seeing Aleks!

We had another good visit today. He was in a good mood and more apt to move around without us. Before he was glued to us. I though that was good because he feels more comfortable with us now. He kept looking back at us as he was playing.

Then came the tickle monster...but he wasn't as in to that came today. He really wanted to play with the videocamera!