Sick Day Pictures--11/11

He had ROSY cheeks and was so warm...poor little guy. I don't know what his fever was, but the caregivers said it was coming down. They were on top of that fever!!

Day 1 Photos

Mommy Day

Well, today was a mommy day. He cried for a while, but then he settled down and we played. Today he stacked the cups!! We were so impressed...you will be too after you watch this:

He cried a little less today and waved goodbye when leaving time came about. He wasn't so anxious to jump into his caretaker's arms. It is snowing here...a lot! Our walk from the metro to the hotel was pretty! I almost fell down, I'm such a klutz, but Nathan saved me. How do these women wear stilletos in this slush?

Well, I'm off to watch some international volleyball on TV. We have nothing planned for the rest of the day...maybe a nap, a workout, and some dinner?

First Visit Alone

Today took the metro to the baby home...about an hour from the hotel. The metro was eerily silent this morning...hundreds and hundreds of people and no sound.

When we got there they asked (in Russian) if we wanted to go outside...sure, why not! It was abouit 32 degrees outside :) We waited for Aleks to be ready and when we saw him we just laughed. He couldn't touch his arms together and his legs were sticking out straight from his body...funny! He reminded me of the little kid in "The Christmas Story."

Of course he didn't want to be set down and only wanted Nathan. I held him for 15 seconds and he cried. Hmmm...today (and Friday) were Daddy days. Well, we will see what tomorrow brings (me or Daddy).

The Greatest Day in our 30 Long Years

November 6, 2009

The official date Nathan and I have a son!!!! Today was court, very intimidating, but we were approved! His name is officially Aleksander Charles Harman and he is our son. Now they are working on getting all his paperwork together. On the 17th Nathan will go to sign a bunch of a papers and then around 4:00 our time (7 am your time) we will go to get him for, well, forever!

Now for the video, first the "Funny Daddy" video and then the some very special footage for everyone...this is the first sighting of the smartest child in the world (remember, we are halfway around the world and have a pretty good perspective of the world in general).

Okay, Funny Daddy:

Here you will see a genius child stack cups. He does love those cups...

Well, good that I posted that instead of the 20 minutes of SCREAMING he did before then. He keeps getting woken up from a nap and then given to us. Oh well, soon he will be living out of a suitcase in various hotels with us.

Saturday and Sunday are no visit days so we won't see Aleks until Monday

Remember Us?

So, we had an exciting morning: Up at 6:30 a.m., left the hotel by 7:30, and at the hospital by 8. Yes, we sat and waited to speak with one doctor for 2.5 hours...if that isn't crazy enough, she asked us one question: "Have you had any skin problems since you were here last?" We said, "No," and she said, "Okay," and wrote something down in our file.

That was it.

Easy.

Then we went to the baby home. Now, ask yourself this: Would an almost 2-year-old remember his parents who met him about 8 times over three months ago? The answer:

Hmmmm....

Well, he screamed (in my ear) for a little while and then calmed down. Poor little guy, he had just woken up from a nap, this was right before lunch, and he had to be confused! We think he actually remembered us a little...he clung to me and kept looking at Nathan. He calmed down later and we played. Here is some more video:

That's more like our little guy...he loves those stacking cups! We go back this afternoon to play some more. Tomorrow is our first trip to court and then one more visit to Aleks. Saturday we move hotels and then starting Monday we see Aleks once a day all week, except Sat. and Sun, then back to court on the 17th to get him for good!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3 Flights and 2 Days Later...

We're here in St. Petersburg!!!  Today we got in, got the airport, and then went to the hotel for a nap. Our flights were perfect We just had dinner and getting ready for a movie.  Tomorrow is a the Russian Independence Day, so there will be much celebrating.  Thursday we are getting medicals and then seeing Aleks!!!  We can't wait.  Check back when there is actually something interesting to read about!