New Beginnings In Russia

Max's First Christmas

2011-12-25T20:56:00.017-05:00

Max embraced Christmas. He loved all the lights and decorations we saw, I can't tell you how many times we drove past a house all lit up and he exclaimed 'wow'. He was introduced to Santa Claus and quickly started calling him 'Ho Ho'. Just as quickly, he understood that Santa Claus gives you presents. On more than one occassion and out of necessity I tried to remind him that Ho Ho only gives presents to good little boys. Remember he's rapidly approaching three years old and has all of the attitudes and behaviors that goes with it, you can't blame me for trying.

Max enjoyed Christmas and all of the events leading up to it. Santa Claus visited him at school, he received gifts from people we visited and he met Santa at the mall. On the Sunday before Christmas we went to NJ to spend the day with my brother Tom, sister-in-law Maria, niece Stephanie and nephew Jonathan. My brother Richard, sister-in-law Maureen and niece Tanya also joined us. We had a very nice day. While we were eating dinner, Jonathan told me that the fire engines were coming with Santa Claus and that they throw lollipops to the kids. We had to go outside to see this, these are three of Max's favorite things; Ho Ho, pops and fire trucks. The fire trucks came, lights and sirens going, Santa Claus sitting perched on top of the engine and the firemen throwing lollipops on the ground near us. Max watched in awe. While driving home that night Max repeatedly exclaimed, 'Ho Ho - pops - oh no!' I was hysterical laughing, I guess the lights and sirens were a little too much for him. It still makes me laugh.

We spent Christmas Eve in NJ with my brother Richard and his family and friends. I spend every Christmas Eve with them and it was very nice to see how excited every one was to meet Max. He enjoyed the many types of M&M's Aunt Maureen had available for him and stayed awake for quite a while when we got home. In a couple of years he'll understand that he has to go to sleep so Santa can come.

On Christmas morning when he came out and saw the presents under the tree he wasn't quite sure what to make of it but when I told him that Santa Claus came and left presents for him he got right into it. He opened each present then wanted me to take it out of the package. He checked each thing out then moved on to the next. I had the video camera running the entire time, it will be fun to watch. After going to Christmas mass, Max took a much needed nap and when he awoke my brother Richard, sister-in-law Maureen and nieces Tanya and Jenny were here. We had a very nice day.

Max meets Santa at the mall.

Max and our friend Alexis wearing reindeer ears and ready to be Santa's helpers.

Torre enjoying her Christmas presents.

Max playing with his Christmas present from Aunt Maria.

Max enjoying a Christmas cookie. Our good friends Cyndi and Dan in Canada sent us a basket of Christmas cookies to celebrate our first Christmas together. It was a very nice surprise.

Max loves wearing Ho Ho's hat, he wore it to school a few times.

Our Christmas tree after Santa came.

Max talking about life with my brother's cat.

Max wearing his reindeer ears.

Our first Christmas picture together.

Thanksgiving in Virginia

2011-11-24T20:20:00.002-05:00

We were very fortunate to spend Thanksgiving in Virginia at Aunt Maryanna and Uncle Fred's house. I got to see my cousins, some of whom I haven't seen in years and Max met some of his cousins for the very first time. We spent time talking, eating, cooking, playing and enjoying each other’s company. When we were all together, there were four boys ranging from two to eight years old; Max, Luke, Ryan and Erik. They had a great time playing together through out the week. Thanks Aunt Maryann and Uncle Fred for inviting us, we love you.

The Thanksgiving feast!

Max with his cousins, Ryan Erik and Luke.

A sunny Thanksgiving day.

Max and Uncle Fred.

I love wearing my sunglasses.

Hmmm, anything good to eat in here?

Max and Luke.

Max & His Best Friend Torre

2011-11-12T22:00:00.003-05:00

When we came home from Russia, I didn't want to overwhelm Max with a dog on top of everything else that was new and exciting for him. My friends were kind enough to keep our dog Torre at their house for a few days. One night while Max was sleeping I went and got Torre. Torre came into the house, went into his room, sniffed around, layed down and went to sleep. She has been by his side ever since. Torre is such a sweet and gentle animal; I knew she would be great with him, I didn't realize she would be by his side from the minute she met him. She is truly a very special dog. Here are a couple of pictures of the two of them together.

Max and Torre playing hide-n-seek.

Occassionally we watch our friend's dog; her name is Abby. 'Abby' was one of Max's first words. He called Torre Abby, he called the deer he saw in our backyard Abby, all animals were Abby. Then he said his first two words together and they were 'bye bye Abby'. From Abby he started calling Torre puppy, just recently he started calling Torre by her name, it needs a little work but Torre is no longer Abby. Here are some pictures of Max, Torre and Abby.

Max starting to move in on Abby's bed.

Torre is always near by.

Abby gave in and let Max have her bed.

Max enjoying Abby's bed.

A Snow Storm for Halloween

2011-10-31T14:03:00.003-04:00

On the day before Halloween we had a major snow storm in the tri-state area. We got about ten inches of snow, trees were down, power was out for days and there was damage everywhere due to the weight of the snow. Fortunately we were still able to enjoy Halloween. Max loved Halloween, he loved getting dressed up and especially loved the candy people were giving him for no apparent reason. I loved trying to get Max the cow to say Moo.

Max had a very busy day. In school there was a Halloween parade followed by lots of goodies for the kids. After school we met some friends at the local mall where they had trick or treating for the kids. Then, on our way home, we went to the local community center where they host a halloween party every year. It was so well done and Max had a great time. He played games and got candy, he danced and got candy, he smiled and got candy, I think you get the picture. On our way home we stopped at a friends house so they could see his costume and of course they gave him more candy. Then we came home and gave out candy to the trick or treaters, another new experience for Max which he thoroughly enjoyed. Some pictures from our Halloween excursions.

Ths snow storm on October 30th.

The Halloween parade at school, Max is the cow leading the way.

Enjoying the goodies after the parade.

Apple Picking

2011-10-16T22:16:00.001-04:00

We went apple picking twice this fall. Max enjoyed picking apples, running around the maze, picnicking in the apple orchard, playing with friends and eating the apples. Unfortunately I lost the pictures from the first apple picking trip because the card in the camera went bad. Here's a few pictures from our second apple picking excursion.

Max enjoying walking around the apple orchard.

Max, did you pay for that apple?

Max and his friends at the apple orchard.

Max finally found a dog smaller than him!

Now it's time to pick some pumpkins.

Time to rest after all that apple and pumpkim picking.

Renissance Faire

2011-09-05T11:50:00.000-04:00

The summer Max and I experienced a lot of new things together. One of them was the New York Renissance Faire. It was a very hot day but Max took it in and enjoyed all of the new experiences. While we were there Max got to see his Aunt Maria who works at the faire and our friend Lorraine. We also took a ride on a camel, played some arcade games, watched a bird show and enjoyed ice cream.

At the bird show, Max loved watching the birds fly.

Max was determined to fish out a duck, success!

Getting ready for a camel ride.

Max wondering why someone else is on our camel....

Here is a link to the Renissance Faire web site for those who might be interested: http://renfair.com/ny/

Family Day

2011-08-31T09:13:00.000-04:00

Max attends Strawberry Day Care. They had a family day which was very similiar to a carnival for the kids. Some of the kids put in shows, there was food, games and a bouncy house. Everyone had a lot of fun. Max loved the performances by the older kids; he was fascinated by them. At one point he stood up and started to do the dances they were doing, it was great fun to watch.

Max enjoying the show and joining in.

Max in the bouncy house.

Animals... Up Close

2011-08-28T20:52:00.000-04:00

Andrew Simmons, a wildlife expert was doing a show locally so we went to see the animals. I think Max really enjoyed seeing the animals; we were so close to them that he sat very still and took it all in. After the show they did a raffle and Max won the 'medium' tiger, good thing he didn't win the big one, it was bigger than him!

Here's a few pictures from the show.

An eagle.

An owl, I think we woke him!

I don't remember if Mr. Simmons said this was a crocodile or an alligator, I do remember that he said it had a bad attitude! He was hissing at us.

This lizard needs a manicure! He was actually in captivity becasue one of his claws was broken.

Mr. Simmons holding a big python! He tried to feed the snake in front of us, but he wouldn't eat.

A four month old lion cub.

Max with his tiger.

Random Thoughts & Pictures

2011-08-15T20:56:00.000-04:00

Max is home a little more than 3 ½ months now. This Sunday when we were in Church I was watching him; he seems to be a completely different child than when we got home.

To me, Max looks so much healthier now; his hair has come in nicely, I know he’s gained some weight and according to the growth chart in his room he’s grown a little bit too. We go back to the doctor in the end of September for the official measurements.

His adjustment has been amazing, he adapts well to every new situation, he loves people and he loves to go places. He is happy, affectionate and excited to see me and the people in our lives that he has come to know and love.

That’s not to say that he’s been all fun, remember, Max is 2 ½ years old and the terrible two’s definitely have a place in my house! Max is very strong willed, he has opinions and he tries to express them often. I know it’s really good that he is confident enough and trusts me enough to act like a typical two year old; he’s exhausting and challenging at times, as he should be.

Remember, this post is titled ‘random thoughts…..

I love thunder storms, I always have. There is a peacefulness about them that I just love. Max has given me another reason to love thunder storms, he’s afraid of the noise. When he hears thunder and lightening, he comes running to me and he stays cuddled up in my arms hugging me tightly until the storm passes, nothing better than that!

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks.

In church waiting to be Baptized.

Riding my favorite 'Wiggles' car in the driveway.

Max in the pool, he's a sytlish guy, he always wears his shades!

We celebrated Max being home for three months with a cake and friends!

Max's First Trip To The Beach

2011-07-16T21:38:00.000-04:00

I had a week off at the end of June before Max started in day care. We went to the Bronx Zoo one day, Max really liked the children's petting zoo. He fed the animals and ran from one pen to the next. Then we went down to the Jersey Shore to spend three days with friends. There were a lot of new things for Max at the beach; the ocean, the sand, and sleeping in a pack n' play, just to name a few. He had a great time playing with our friend Matthew. Here are a few pictures from our first trip to the zoo and the beach.

P.S. Thanks to Sara & Julian, I think I may have resolved the problem people were having posting to my blog. Please let me know if you are still having problems posting, thanks.

What Have We Been Up To?

2011-06-27T21:24:00.000-04:00

June has been a very busy month for us, everyday brings something new for us and Max takes on everything new with energy and enthusiasm. I'll try to recap the month that just passed.

In the beginning of the month, we had to finalize Max' day care. We visited several day care centers and selected one where I think Max will have fun and learn a lot, he'll start there soon.

In the middle of the month, I went back to work. Max was very well taken care of by friends and really enjoyed his days. He finger painted, colored, and learned many new songs which he tried to show me, I have to learn them too!

This past weekend Max was baptized. He did very well in church and then we came back to my house for a celebration with family and friends. Max loved the party and had a great time along with every one else.

Today was a beautiful sunny day so I decided it was time, time to let Max into the pool. First we sat on the side and put our feet in, then I put his bathing suit on and we went in. He liked it but he wasn't totally comfortable. What he liked most was sitting on the ladder and splashing with his feet, that was fine with me. I'm sure he'll be much more adventurous in the pool very soon.

Stay tuned for more summer fun!

One Month With Max

2011-06-01T21:15:00.000-04:00

Max is doing great! He seems to be very comfortable with me, yesterday was the first time he kissed and hugged me without me asking him to do so. To paraphrase a famous quote, 'He really likes me'!

He is also very much a two year old, he tests me constantly and then he tests me again and again. I find myself saying 'no' over and over and over again. He lets me know when he's not happy with what we are doing or what I tell him he can't do. Max is a happy, inquisitive and independent little boy.

He loves his music, especially The Wheels on the Bus, the ABC song and Old McDonald. You should hear him sing, it's funny!

Max is also very active, he loves to go in the car and he loves to be outside. Everyday he's looking for many new adventures and experiences. It's been fun trying to keep up with him.

Max Goes To Church

2011-05-17T09:43:00.001-04:00

This past Sunday I decided to take Max to church for the first time, I want him to get a little used to it before he is baptized. He did great! We have a toddler tunes CD in my car, after each song is done he claps and says 'yeah'. In church, after the first hymn was over, Max did the same, he clapped and cheered, it was very funny! The only real problem we had was when everyone else received communion and he didn't. He could not understand why everyone else got something to eat and he didn't, he was seriously upset! Next time, I will have to slip him a cookie so he doesn't try to go up on to the alter and get something to eat from the Priest. The boy is serious about food!

Thanks

2011-05-12T09:53:00.000-04:00

I've attached a picture of some of the ballons and flowers Max & I have received for our homecoming and Mother's Day. The kindness and generosity of my friends and family is overwhelming and humbling. Thank you all!

Climbing Max

2011-05-07T11:06:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Max discovered a new talent, he climbed right out of his crib. I was shocked when he came walking into the kitchen while he was supposed to be napping. It didn't even take him a week to discover this new talent and you can bet he didn't even attempt this in the orphanage. Then this morning at 5AM, I hear a thud and the screams followed, I guess his landing wasn't quite as good as yesterday afternoon. Today we are getting a crib tent, he's going to hate it but I think it's the only way I can stop him from climbing out of the crib. Wondering what he has in store for me today.....

Max' Big Day

2011-05-04T10:04:00.000-04:00

Max had a big day yesterday, he slept through the night for the first time! When he woke up, Torre, our dog, was here. He loves Torre, he throws her bone at her, her toys, everything. When we go outside, Torre chases other animals and Max chases Torre. This morning when I woke up, Torre was asleep in Max’ room right next to the crib. I can’t believe how quickly they have bonded.

I guess I didn’t give Max enough breakfast yesterday morning, he came walking up to me with something in his mouth, I took it out and found a piece of crunchy dog food. I don’t think he liked it very much; he didn’t go back for seconds! Or maybe he listened to me when I took him over to the dog dish and told him not to eat the dog food, maybe not.

Then we went to the pediatrician, Max did pretty good except when they drew blood. After that it was home for lunch and a nap, or so I thought. He ate his lunch but refused to take a nap. He was in the crib for about ninety minutes and seemed to get more and more awake each minute.

We had to go to the super market; he did great in the cart. He just wanted me to hand him each item so he could inspect it and try to open it before it actually went into the cart. When I tried to bypass this process because I was putting a glass jar in the cart, the lack of nap reared its ugly head and the meltdown began, it lasted until we got back into the car.

Late yesterday afternoon we had visitors, my friends Lisa, Stephanie and Chrissy came over. Max did great, much better than I thought he would! He laughed and played and ran all over the place, everyone had fun! It seems Max is ready to meet my friends and family.

We're Home!!!

2011-05-01T08:34:00.000-04:00

We made it home last night. Max was a real trooper yesterday, he woke up at 6 AM in Moscow and stayed awake until we landed in JFK, about nineteen hours later. He kept himself and a lot of people around him up during the flight. It's a good thing he's cute! At 5:35 PM last night, Max became a United States citizen!

Then it was home to a welcome celebration which he slept thru. Oh well, we'll have to do another one with him in it. He woke up a few times during the night and has been up for several hours now, he's still on Moscow time and he's a bit cranky today. It will take him a while to adjust to the time change and all of the other changes in his new life. I'll keep you posted.

US Embassy

2011-04-29T11:22:00.000-04:00

Today we went to the US Embassy for our exit interview. There were seven other families there with us. Most of the kids were around the same age as Maxim. The people at the Embassy have done this before; they gave us a big bag of toys to play with while we waited. As soon as the toys came out the kids got social and played with the toys and each other.

The entire process took about an hour and a half and when it was done Max had a passport, a visa, and all of the official paperwork he needs to come home.

After lunch and Max’ nap, we went for a stroll and sat in the park for a little while. I just gave Max his dinner and bath. Once he falls asleep I’ll pack everything up so we can come home tomorrow. I hope he is as ready to come home as I am!

One Day Down, One Day To Go

2011-04-28T12:22:00.000-04:00

In preparation for our meeting at the US Embassy tomorrow, Max had his US medical exam very early this morning. He did very well. The doctor said the reason for the high fever and vomiting yesterday is because his molars are coming in. The doctor also said he's skinny but that's OK because people spend millions of dollars to get skinny!

After the medical exam, we went and took pictures for Max' Visa and completed a lot of documents in preparation for our meeting tomorrow. Once all of this was done, my documents were submitted to the Embassy and our appointment was scheduled for 11:30 AM tomorrow morning.

Then it was back to the hotel for a much needed nap, for both of us! Max slept for four hours, right through his lunch. We had a snack and went for a stroll in Solokniki Park. He liked the stroller and enjoyed his roll through the park until it started to rain.

We played for awhile in the hotel room and he explored it completely and repeatedly until dinner time. Instead of eating his dinner tonight, he kept trying to figure out how to spill water out of his sippy cup. The sippy cup is new to him; no sippy cups in the orphanage, the kids there take their drinks straight up! At first he didn't know how to drink out of it, but some silly expressions on my part that he copied produced results.

Then it was bath time, let's just say it wasn't the highlight of his day. Max screamed and cried through the entire bath. After the bath, he liked the hair brush and brushing his hair. I guess he would rather look good than smell good.

He's sound asleep now. I think our late night last night and our early morning really wore him out today. I'm glad that he's going to get a good night's sleep and that we don't have such an early start tomorrow morning.

Posted at 8:23 PM Moscow time.

Together At Last!

2011-04-27T15:25:00.000-04:00

It’s a little after 11 PM at night, we’re back at the hotel room and we’re doing great! Only problem is, Max is wide awake. He’s lying in his crib watching everything I’m doing. If I go into the bathroom, he sits up and waits for me to come out, he’s keeping a constant watch on me. So I decided to sit right next to the crib while writing this, hoping that since I am so close maybe he’ll fall asleep, it’s not working.

So how did we get here today, I had another successful flight (see my earlier post about what makes for a successful flight and you’ll understand, right Julian!), however it was delayed for three hours but when it took off all went well. Then it was a 3 ½ hour ride to the orphanage, we got there at 7:10 PM, much later than planned.

They were waiting for us so we could do the required paperwork and signatures. They said that they told Max this morning that I was coming to get him; they said he got his clothes right away and he kept looking for me at the door all day. They said he was anxious all day. They also told me he had a high fever this morning and gave me some medicine for him, but he doesn’t have a fever now.

I asked if I could see where Max sleeps. They took me upstairs to his groups’ bedroom and he was sitting there in the clothes I had given them for him. He looked at me with his little smile and said Mama! Yes, he does remember me! They showed me the crib he sleeps in and his playroom and let me take a couple of pictures. Then it was time to start the journey to Max’ new home.

I thanked them for taking such good care of him. They wished us a happy and healthy life together and told me I need to bring him back to visit.

Max made sure I was initiated as his new Mama quickly, about thirty minutes into the car ride he started throwing up and continued for about an hour. I’m pretty sure he’s fine now; he’s a smiling happy boy in his crib! Right now he’s playing peek-a-boo with his blanket.

This is finally the start of our new life together!

Posted at 11:25 PM Moscow time.

On My Way to Orekhovo-Zuyevo

2011-04-26T08:39:00.000-04:00

Today is the start of a few very busy days. I leave tonight to arrive in Moscow tomorrow afternoon. From the airport we go to the orphanage in Orekhovo-Zuyevo to get Max. After a few busy days of official appointments and meetings, we come home as a family.

Home Again

2011-04-15T21:13:00.000-04:00

Today was the first sunny day in Moscow on this trip. The nice weather made for a smooth flight. It's a long flight but I'm looking forward to doing it again soon, twice!

Now I have to get a few more things ready here so I can go and bring Max back to his new home.

I'll post again before I go.

Joyful News!

2011-04-14T11:56:00.000-04:00

With gratitude and joy I can finally say I had a successful day in court! The little man has a new name! It is now Maxim Christopher Engeleit.

After the ten day waiting period I'll be returning to Orekhovo-Zuyevo on April 26th. to bring Max home so we can begin our new life together.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support and encouragement.

Posted at 7:55 PM Moscow time.

Bird Is The Word!

2011-04-13T11:51:00.001-04:00

Today light snow is falling in Orekhovo-Zuyevo. I saw the little man this morning. The first thing we did when we got to the orphanage was take him out to get his passport picture taken. He was very quite going to the car and he would not let go of my fingers the entire time we were in the car. The photographer had a toy that helped to relax him a bit. He started talking on the way back but still would not let go of my fingers.

To my surprise I was able to spend the rest of the morning visiting hours with the little man when we got back to the orphanage. Here’s how smart he is, I have a small See ‘N Say with me, it has animals on it and makes animal sounds. He pulls the arm, it makes the sound and I make the sounds and I ask him where the animal’s picture is on the See ‘N Say. We went through a few animals and when we got to the bird, I asked him to show me where the bird was. Instead of showing me where the bird is on the See ‘N say, he puts his arm up, looks down the hall and points to the bird in the bird cage. With great surprise, my driver said ‘you taught him something’! Ah yes, repetition pays off!

This evening I met with my translator to prepare for court tomorrow. She told me who will be in the court room, the procedural things they will do, what is expected of me, etc. I guess we are all ready now.

Posted at 7:52 PM, Moscow time.

Last Day in Orekhovo-Zuyevo

2011-04-12T14:12:00.001-04:00

I had two visits with the little man today, this morning he was very interested in the other children who were in the area where we visit. He was especially interested in a little baby and not at all happy when she was crying. He kept going over to her to look at her, he didn't seem to understand why she was making so much noise.

This afternoon I went upstairs to get him again. He wasn't quite sure he wanted to give up his afternoon snack to go with me but he put it down and came over to me. They gave it to him to take downstairs but he didn't eat it, he ate his Cheerios instead. Today the doctor gave him some candy, this is the second time she has given it to him while I have been visiting. Today I saw the results of sugar on a very little man, we did a lot of running!

They have a bird cage in the area where we visit, the little man loves to stare at the bird and tap on his cage, move his cage, bang the table with the cage on it, you get the picture. Two more words appeared today, one is bird, probably because I tell him to be nice to the bird, don't do that to the bird, etc. repeatedly. The other is Mama, he called me Mama once this morning and once this afternoon. I guess he's listening to his caretakers, they call me Mama all the time.

I will see the little man in the morning tomorrow then head back to Moscow to prepare for court.

It was snowing lightly all day today but I decided to take a walk anyway. Here's a few more pictures.

A street in the middle of town.

A large pigeon coupe!

An offical looking building, it had a very large courtyard in front of it.

This statue was in front of the official building above.

A Music Man.

Again, for those who can read Russian, the plaque in front of the Music Man.

Posted at 10:14 PM, Moscow time.

Another Day in Orekhovo-Zuyevo

2011-04-11T13:37:00.000-04:00

I was able to see the little man twice again today. Whenever I go to get him from his play room, the nurses always tell him his Mama is here. Today he was on the far side of the room and when he heard them he started saying Mama, Mama and he came running over to me, then he pointed dowstairs because he wanted out of the playroom. That was sweet but he still has not called me Mama directly. Today during a conversation he was having with himself I heard the word Mama but it was not directed at me. Though he did use his other new words today, cup and no.

Today was the first day it was not raining or snowing here. This afternoon they asked me if I wanted to take him outside. Yes, of course, so I bundled him up and we went outside for a little over an hour. We climbed on the houses and played with the snow. He saw a cat at one point and went running through the play ground following him. Made me feel a little sorry for Torre (my dog). We went down a slide for the first time, he liked it and decided that maybe next time he would just stand at the top, lean forward and see what happens. Luckily I was close by and anticipated his daredevil stunt in the making. We went back inside and he did a lot of running and talking today.

Since it was not raining or snowing today, I took a walk and found what I think might be the center of the town. I took a few pictures.

A River that runs through the center of town, I think it's the Klyazma River.

A place for the kids.

An outdoor market, check out the models!

Still the outdoor market, these are fake flowers, I've seen them sold in a few places,

I guess it's still to cold to sell real flowers.

A war memorial.

Since this is an industrial town, I think they may build helicopters here.

Posted at 9:37 PM, Moscow time.

Words

2011-04-10T13:27:00.000-04:00

Today I had two visits with the little man. He was happy to see me each time, the first time he ran across the playroom to me and the second time he gave up his snack. I must be doing something right if he's willing to give up his afternoon cookie....

With each visit it seems that more of his personality is showing. He's laughing and smiling a lot. I have a little toy that plays nursery rhymes; he sang his version of Ring Around the Rosie every time it played accompanied by his own unique dance moves.

Today the little man said two words in English that I could clearly understand. I bring him a treat each visit; it's some Cheerios in a small glad container. It looks like a small cup and I guess I called it a cup because he said 'cup' about fifty times today while playing with it. I also told him the stacking cups were cups so he had lots of cups to talk about. But alas that was not his first word, his first word was the 'N' word, that's right he said NO! He said it at the appropriate time, he used it the right way and he used it a few times. As I said, more of his personality is coming out along with his independence, just ask him about it and I'm sure he'll say no!

I tried taking a walk today in-between visits. There was a cold ice/rain falling, not good weather for walking or taking pictures, hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Posted at 9:27 PM Moscow time.

Orekhovo-Zuyevo

2011-04-09T14:43:00.000-04:00

I spent my first night in Orekhovo-Zuyevo. This hotel allows me to go back and forth to the orphanage very quickly, it's only a five minute cab ride away and the hotel and orphanage call the cab for me. Today I was able to see the little man twice. This morning he was playful and he seems to be adjusting to the attention he is receiving; I think he's actually starting to like it.

Orekhovo-Zuyevo is not like Moscow in that there are very few English speaking people here. All of the conversations I have usually end up with me and my Russian counterpart saying I don't understand. Today in-between my visits to the orphanage, I had to exchange money to pay my hotel bill. I tried to talk to the woman at the front desk without success. I have a thing called a Russian Language Map, it is a laminated document with common words and phrases in English and in Russian. Today it came in very handy, what I wanted was for someone to actually take me to the exchange and that's exactly what I got. I pointed to the phrase on my map asking where is the money exchange and asked for directions. When she couldn't tell me she got her counterpart to walk me over. I then made him come inside with me in case someone tried to speak to me. Success!

This afternoon I went back to the orphanage. Normally when I arrive, the Doctor tells the little mans care takers that I am there and then they get him ready and bring him out. This afternoon when I got to the orphanage, the Doctor wanted to make sure I would be able to see him when she is not there so she took me by the hand and led me upstairs to the playroom for his group. I could understand what she was doing even though I couldn't understand what she was saying to me. She told the caretakers that I would be coming up to get him when she was not there. As I approached the playroom I could see the kids sitting around tables finishing their snacks. The little man saw the Doctor then leaned over and saw me, when he saw me he put a big smile on his face, it was a real indication that he starting to bond with me and it made me feel great! The Doctor even commented on his smile. Then I went back downstairs to wait for him. Lost in all of this communication to the care takers was the fact that I was waiting for him downstairs. After a while I went back upstairs and they were very surprised to see me, they took the little man to get him changed and indicated that I should sit down in the playroom to wait for him. This is unprecedented access, you usually see the place where you spend time with your child and no where else in the orphanage. I would love to get a picture of the playroom but I don't think I'll be able to. I sat on the couch and all of the other children in his group came over, they were told that I was the little man's Mama. Several of them started calling me Mama. When the little man came in and sat on my lap he was not happy at all with the other children being near me and the Mama talk, his reaction was surprising to me.

We went downstairs and spent a couple of hours together this afternoon. He was very quiet when we met in March, now he is becoming much more verbal with each visit. He talks to others as they walk by and he says things to me which I don't understand. Another way I got him to talk, unintentionally, was to take something away from him, he was not happy and he let me know it.

This morning when I got up it was snowing. After the snow stopped, it rained off and on all day. I walked around outside between visits and the rain.

Here's some pictures from my brief walk today.

This is my hotel.

This is a catherdal that I went into.

The name of the cathederal for those of you who can read Russian.

Homes across the street from the hotel.

Posted at 10:42 PM Moscow time.

Medical & the Little Man

2011-04-08T14:16:00.000-04:00

Today was a very long day. It started with an hour plus ride to the medical exam which took about an hour and a half to complete. There were three families in the room getting examined. We spent most of the time waiting for the various doctors to come in and ask questions, some to me and some to the other families. When it was all said and done, we all passed!

Then it was off to the orphanage, this is normally a two hour ride from Moscow, it should have taken less time because the medical exam was on the way, but it didn't. The traffic was awful today, it took us just over four hours to get to the orphanage, boy was I glad that I had my iPod with me! When we got to the orphanage the little man was having supper so we had to wait a little while for him. He came out looking a little confused at first but after a few minutes and a new toy, he seemed to remember me. He went right for the toy bag to see what other toys I had; this is something we did when we visited in March.

For the next few days I am staying at a hotel which is a five minute cab ride from the orphanage. We made all of the arrangements for the cab and I'll get to see the little man twice a day! I'm looking forward to my visits.

There is a wedding downstairs in the hotel, I can hear the band playing in my room. They seem to be having a great time. If it doesn't end soon, I may have to crash it!

Posted at 10:15 PM, Moscow time.

Moscow.... Again

2011-04-07T07:46:00.000-04:00

I arrived in Moscow about 12:30 this afternoon, local time. To me, any flight that takes off and lands as it should is a good flight. It's what happens in-between that makes each flight unique and provides a story. We boarded the plane on time, taxied out to the run way, sat for a little while, then literaly backed up to the gate. That's right, the pilot put the plane in reverse and we went back to the gate. I don't know why we backed up; but about and hour and twenty minutes later we took off. The flight was a bit bumpy through out the night. In the middle of the night, a new passenger made himself known on the plane. The new passenger was a little yappy dog that got out of his carrier. He was running up and down the isle barking away, it seems that he woke up and wanted to let everyone know about it! I thought it was pretty funny even though he woke me and the people around me up. It also seemed like his owner must be used to the barking because it took quite awhile for him to wake up then run down the aisle and get the dog. Very funny to watch.

Just got to the hotel a little while ago, lots of traffic. Tomorrow morning I go for my medical exam then out to the orphanage to see the little man, I'm looking forward to that.

Posted at 3:45 PM, Moscow time.

Ready To Go

2011-04-06T10:19:00.000-04:00

I'm all packed and ready to go. It's sunny and clear today so it seems like a good day to fly. I'm looking forward to spending the next few days visiting the little man as I prepare for court. I'll post again soon from Moscow.

Lots To Do

2011-03-30T09:19:00.001-04:00

I leave one week from today. Still lots to do. A friend gave me a lot of stuff for the little man. I greatly appreciate her generosity, now I have to find a place to put it all! That, with packing, getting his bedroom and playroom ready, child proofing, etc. I'm busy, but it's all good.

Going to the Yankees Opening Day tomorrow, should be fun but cold and damp as a winter storm approaches tomorrow night. It will be a good way to get me in shape for the cold weather in Russia. Happy Spring!!!

Court Date

2011-03-21T20:48:00.000-04:00

Today CHI called. My court date is April 14th. I will be going to Moscow on April 6th. so I can visit the little man several more times before court. Lots to do before I go, I'll post again soon.

Happy Spring!

2011-03-20T21:07:00.000-04:00

Today, the first day of spring is my favorite day of the year. It is truly a 'new beginning'. I hope you all have a great spring!

Next Steps

2011-03-13T21:43:00.000-04:00

Just a brief update since I've been home for a week now. The CHI staff in Moscow is working with the court to determine my next steps. Hopefully I'll get a court date quickly. I should hear something from CHI soon.

Home

2011-03-06T08:56:00.000-05:00

I made it home last night, it took just over eighteen hours door to door. We had a delay in Moscow due to snow and then they had to de-ice the plane. Once we took off it was a pretty smooth flight. Leaving Kennedy Airport, we ran into a lot of traffic, it made me feel like I was still in Moscow!

Now I have to wait for a court date, I'll speak to CHI this week to get their feeling on when they think it might be. Of course, as we all know, nothing is really predictable in this process so it's basically wait and see what happens.

Moscow City Tour

2011-03-04T11:21:00.001-05:00

This morning I went on a complementary Moscow city tour that CHI provides to adopting families. My tour guide was Olga, Olga trains other tour guides so you can imagine how much she knows. Since I went to Red Square on my own the other day, we decided not to go to Red Square and to see some other sites that are not normally included in the tour. The tour included a Russian history lesson because a lot of the buildings we saw were built, torn down and/or rebuilt after a war, revolution or change in leadership. Olga also took me to a shop to buy some Russian souvenirs. The tour was very nice except for the weather, it was very cloudy and windy so the pictures are not great but I did enjoy the tour.

After the tour we went to the Notary, a process that normally takes no more than an hour, usually less, took us over four hours. Ultimately the documents were prepared properly and I signed them. Then an hour ride in traffic back to the hotel. When I got backto the hotel, I went for a walk until it got too cold to be outside.

Tomorrow I come home and wait for a court date.

Some pictures from today's tour and a little bit of what Olga told me.

Me in front of the Kremlin.

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. It was originally built commerating the victory over Napoleon. It was demolished in 1931 to make way for Stalin's Palace of the Soviets. The palace was never completed and the foundation of the building became the world's largest outdoor swimming pool. We went inside, the art work, the alters and design are spectacular.

The monument of Peter the Great. Apparently this was originally comissioned by the United States to be a monument to Christopher Columbus but the United States did not like the monument so the artist put a new head on it and here it is. Notice that the ship looks like a Spanish ship.

The Novodevichy Convent was built for Nuns from high ranking and royal families. At one time there were 10,000 peasants to tend to the needs of the Nuns. It is adjoined by a cemetary for the rich and famous, war heroes and politicians. You have to be approved by the state to be buried in the cemetary.

The tall building in the back of this picture is one of the Seven Sisters. They are a group of skyscrapers built in Moscow, each with a huge star on the top that can be seen from very far away.

Posted at 7:21 PM.

Orekhovo-Zuyevo - Day 3

2011-03-03T10:25:00.001-05:00

Today was the last day I'll see the little man on this trip. He warmed up quickly today and went right for the toy bag. After he ate his Cheerios we played with the crayons for a while. His playing with crayons includes drawing some lines, taking them out of the box and putting them back in and dropping them on the floor for the other kids to pick up, repeatedly! Everytime he dropped them, the other kids would come running over to pick them up and hand them to me, apparently he thought this was great so he kept doing it. We also discovered that the little man can dance! There is a couple from Spain at the orphanage adopting a boy and a girl, siblings. They had a little music toy which he spent quite a bit of time with while their daughter played with the crayons. It was nice to see him playing with the other kids.

Tomorrow morning I get a tour of Moscow city, I'm looking forward to it. Then it's off to the Notary to sign the papers that will begin the court process to bring the little man home. Another busy day!

Posted at 6:25 PM.

Orekhovo-Zuyevo - Day 2

2011-03-02T12:42:00.002-05:00

Today went well, the little man warmed up a lot faster than yesterday. His focus today was primarily on Cheerios and bubbles. After the Cheerios were gone and he checked the container many times, he started playing with the other toys. When it came time for the bubbles, he decided he had to do it, he wasn't entirely successful but he was determined and he seemed to be having fun. He blew (more like spit) the bubbles at me, at the plants, at the stuffed animals, at everything he could think of. Besides the bubbles, the most fascinating toy was the Cheerios container, next time I may leave all of the other toys home and just bring Cheerios and bubbles, it may work!

I got back to the hotel about 2:30 PM so I decided to venture out. I took the Underground to Red Square. After getting a little bit of Russian food, a made to order bilini with cheese and mushrooms, I went over to Red Square, the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral. Here are a few pictures:

The Kremlin from the distance.

A small church in Red Square. The funny thing is I opened the door and walked into what appeared to be some sort of service, so I said a prayer. There were about 15 people singing, incense burning and a woman selling souvenirs.

Red Square from the distance.

The Spasskaya Tower, part of the Kremlin.

An ice sculpture of St. Basil's Cathedral.

And the real thing, St. Basil's Cathedral.

Posted at 8:42 PM.

Orekhovo-Zuyevo

2011-03-01T14:26:00.001-05:00

Things went well today, I went to the Ministry of Education for information about the little man and then to Orekhovo-Zuyevo. Orekhovo-Zuyevo is the region where the little man lives, it is an industrial city in the Moscow Oblast located about 60 miles or so outside of Moscow. With traffic, and there is a lot of it all the time, it took us almost 3 hours to get there today. I was able to meet with the orphanage doctor and then spend a couple of hours with the little man. He was happy and playful and seemed to enjoy our time together. Right now I am waiting for some more information which I hope to get tonight.

Tomorrow's plan is an early day at the orphanage, I'm being picked up at 8 AM to go visit him. I expect it to be another busy day.

If yor're interested in Orekhovo-Zuyevo, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orekhovo-Zuyevo.

Posted at 10:26 PM.

Sokolniki Park

2011-02-28T11:04:00.001-05:00

I took a short walk today to check out the area. I discoverd a lot of stores, a mall and Sokolniki Park. The only problem was, it was freezing out. It is so warm inside that you go out thinking it's not that cold, big mistake. It was about 10 degrees Farenheit when I went out, as I said it was a short walk because my legs were freezing. Tomorrow's walk will include long johns! Anyway, here's a few pictures that I took on the walk, there are only a couple from the park, it is huge so I'm sure I'll get more later this week.

This is a church on the way to the park.

These gates are at the entrance to the park.

As you walk into the park, there is a row of ice statues, each one with different flowers frozen inside of it, makes you think of Spring.

I read somewhere that the turn the entire main walkway of the park into a skating rink. These skaters were enjoying themselves, walking across the ice was a challenge!

Here is a link to more info on Sokolniki Park if you're interested: http://www.moscow.info/parks/sokolniki-park.aspx

Posted at 7:04 PM

Moscow

2011-02-28T08:33:00.001-05:00

I made it to Moscow, the flight was longer than planned, we boarded on time and then sat at the gate for two hours. Once we took off, it was uneventful, a little bumpy but not bad. The ride from the airport to the hotel took about an hour, lots of traffic. My driver, Vitali, told me that there is always traffic and he said this traffic wasn't that bad because at least it was moving! Yes Vitali speaks english very well, I like that, allows me to ask a lot of questions as we travel through Moscow and the surrounding areas.

Unpacking now, then I'm going to take a walk. I'm going to try to stay up for awhile so hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow morning I'll be picked up at 9 AM to get things rolling. Tomorrow is a big day!

Posted at 4:33 PM.

Time To Fly

2011-02-27T13:28:00.001-05:00

I'll be heading to the airport in a little while. Looks like a beautiful day to fly. I'll be arriving in Moscow at about 12:30 tomorrow afternoon. I'll post again Monday afternoon, Moscow time.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and support. Chris

Getting Ready To Go

2011-02-24T20:52:00.000-05:00

Today I had my travel call, everything is set for me to leave Sunday. I'm pretty much ready to go, just a few more things to get together.

A line from an old rock n' roll song keeps playing in my head, 'Catch your dreams before they slip away'.

As I take the next steps on this long journey, I'm hoping to finally catch my dreams... follow along!

Happy Birthday Julian!

The First Signs of Spring

2011-02-14T21:02:00.000-05:00

Today, the NY Yankee pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. To me this is one of the first signs of spring, it signals a new beginning of the baseball season and the warm weather to follow. It is always one of my favorite days of the year.

I am very fortunate, my bedroom windows face east and I get to see the sunrise most days. This morning the sunrise was amazing, another new beginning.....

AARRGGHHH!!!!

2011-02-02T13:02:00.000-05:00

I just found out that due to a flu epidemic in Moscow, my trip will be delayed until the end of the month. Apparently they are closing all orphanages and child care facilities until March 1st. in an effort to minimize the spread of the flu. I have to try to change my flights and determine what documents, exams etc. will be impacted. I guess I don't have to worry about Saturday's upcoming snow storm now.

Snow, Snow & More Snow.....

2011-02-01T15:01:00.000-05:00

We are now in the middle of what the weather reporters are saying is our eighth snow storm this season, I don't know about the rest of you but I've had enough! While I've been getting ready to leave, I can't help but watch the weather reports. The next snow storm is scheduled for Saturday; I'm not surprised because it's the same day I'm leaving for Moscow. Hopefully the weather reports are wrong, we'll see!

WOW, That Was Fast!

2011-01-24T19:08:00.001-05:00

Today I received my new immigration clearance, I can't believe how quickly I received it. I just went for my fingerprints for this clearance last Tuesday, it didn't even take a week. I'm shocked and happily surprised!

P.S. - I fixed the post settings on the blog so you don't need to sign in to post. Sorry about that.

New Beginnings

2011-01-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my new blog! I decided that for this new journey, I should create a new blog for my Son. This blog will document my journey to him and to bringing him home. It will become a keepsake for us. Please feel free to travel along with us and share your comments along the way.

Snow, Sleet, Ice & Fingerprints

2011-01-18T20:46:00.000-05:00

Today we had a really bad storm, it started as snow durnig the night then went to sleet, freezing rain and ice. Everything is coated with a layer of snow and ice, making driving challenging and scary. Today I also had an 8 AM appointment at US Immigration Services to be refingerprinted. Since I'm traveling in a couple of weeks, I didn't want to try to reschedule my fingerprinting appointment; I have no idea how long it would take to get another appointment. So I decided to say a prayer and leave my house very early this morning; before the roads were plowed and before there was a lot of traffic on them. I had to go about 70 miles round trip. It took me about four hours to get to Port Chester, to get fingerprinted and to get home. I was very thankful to get home safely.

Travel Dates!

2011-01-12T19:10:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have been following my adoption journey, you know that if it's winter it means it's time for me to travel to Eastern Europe! I found out today that I have been invited to travel to Moscow in early February. At this point I don't have many details, I just know I have a lot to do to get ready to go. I'll post again soon.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T16:06:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! May we all celebrate new beginnings in 2011.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy the day with your family and friends!

Next Steps

2010-12-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

CHI and I have had many discussions about the options available to me. We discussed a few regions but ultimately decided that the best place for me to continue my adoption journey would be in Moscow. That being said, today I applied for a Visa that will allow me to return to Russia in the beginning of the new year. Hopefully I will receive my invitation to travel quickly when the calendar turns to 2011. I hope all of you will continue to support me and follow along as I move forward in this process once again. I'll post again soon.

Welcome!

2010-01-24T16:18:00.000-05:00

Welcome! This blog is going to document the journey to my son. I haven’t met him yet, he is somewhere in Russia waiting for me. At this point I am waiting to find out what region he is in. For now, there will not be a lot for me to say, but you are welcome to follow along and encouraged to comment. I will post updates to this blog as I progress. Thanks for being a part of my adoption journey.