FINALLY ALL HOME!!!

This is Matthew's Daddy talking here and I just have to say that there are no words to describe how elated I am to finally have our family altogether in Canada again. It was a long three weeks to wait from the time I came home, until the time that Mommy and Matty arrived at the airport in Winnipeg. I was worried that he would have forgotten me, but not my little Matthew, he remembered me the moment he saw me! It has sure been a long haul and many hurdles to get to this point, but I can tell you this - it was it was worth every minute. If I could draw a picture it would be a bright sunny sky and there would be the most beautiful gift coming from the heavens - as Matthew's name means "Gift from God" and that just says it all!! We couldn't have a better gift!


As you can tell I am just slightly happy and excited, but I know that goes for Jennifer as well. She, after being gone from home for 55 days (8 weeks) in a very different country, has never been so glad to be back home. And yes I am a very proud Papa, but who wouldn't be. I want to say congratulations to the other couples that were in Astana when we were there. I hope your travels went well and that you are home safely, trying to figure life out back at home again. We will email you guys once we get things a little more figured out here. Like Jennifer says it feels strange to be back home - almost surreal, but there is nowhere else she'd rather be than together as a family again.


Matthew had a pretty good night sleep as he slept from 9 pm to 4:30 am, with only three brief cries where Daddy came to his rescue. I must not have been sleeping very soundly, as he is just in the room across the hall from us, but I heard him fussing about before I heard him cry. Jennifer was so tired she never heard a peep, not even when I got out of bed. He finally went to bed at 6 am after having an early breakfast which both Mom and Dad had to be there for. Then he slept until 8 am, when I gladly woke up to come and get him. What a little sweetheart and such a trooper. It is now almost noon and he has been sleeping since almost 11 am. It took Mommy to put him to bed, as I guess she has the knack for it.


Our dog Sheba sure seemed to take a liking to Matthew, the couple of brief times she had a chance to see Matty. And after Matthew woke up this morning, I heard our cat L.B. at our front door. The cat was not around yesterday when we came home or last night, so this was the 1st time that Matty got to touch him and they both seemed to hit it off, for now anyway.


As I type, I am waiting for the 1146 pictures to copy from our camera to our home computer. But since we were caught up in the moment after we all met, we didn't really worry about taking pictures. I think I am done typing now as Mommy just came into the office with Matty and he is now trying to take over.

Back at the hotel room in Winnipeg, with me feeding Matthew for the 1st time!

Matthew with two of his cousins, Stephanie and Leah (L/R) at home in our living room.

Matthew loves to fill his tummy and Dad loves to feed him!

Hi from Moscow!

Hi everyone, we made it to Moscow in one piece and spent the day sight seeing! Our paper work was done while we got to see the city! It is huge, 14 million people! Traffic is busy, it took 1 1/2 hours to drive home this evening. We are being picked up at 4am to make sure we are on our 7am flight! Matty got his Canadian visa so we are on our way home! Michael, I sent you an email to our hotmail, since I forgot the password and couldn't send it from there!
I am rather embarrassed about the amount of luggage I am coming home with. I was like the rich and famous and had to hire a cab to haul half my luggage from the Astana apartment to the airport, because there wasn't enough room in Oshut's car for four adults, a baby and our bags! Matthew slept most of the way here and was very good the time he was awake. Hope that keeps up. He is very grumpy now, after being good as gold all day and having to sit most of the time in the stroller. I just had to send Sarah up to our room because he is so cranky, so I had better go rescue her! See everyone soon! I can't wait! Michael, bring kleenex, because I'm probably going to need it as soon as I see you!

One more sleep!

Well, as long as Matthew's Russian visa comes tomorrow, we are leaving Astana on the 9pm (local time) flight to Moscow! Today we were busy packing so we only have the last minute things left.
Yesterday we were busy. We went to the internet cafe to call Michael - where Matthew ended up surrounded by the three girls who were working there, all oohing and awing over him! Then we walked to the museum where Sarah got some pictures and we got in trouble from one of the guards for not having a hat on Matthew, even inside! She pointed to the ceiling and apparently the barely noticeable air conditioning was a worry for his bare head! So I tossed the spit up blanket over his head! Then we went to the Ramstore for some water, where we met Peter getting some Rinat supplies! After a quick nap at home (Matty, not me) it was off to the Astana bakery for some pastries for supper at Soraya's. Auntie Sarah went to get the supplies, while Matthew and I waited out side in the shade. While waiting, who comes along but a man who lives in our building. He said "Zrast" (hi), pointed at Matthew and asked something, then pointed at the cafe behind us. I think he wanted to know if we were thirsty, since it was about 35C out! When Auntie Sarah came out she had bought herself a ginormous (her word) beer which she was so excited she could drink while walking down the street. She managed to get yelled at by a passing motorist when she bent down to check Matthew and he must have thought she was going to give Matty a sip of beer! We went to the mall by Soraya's to stock up on food for Matthew - they have a better selection. I did not think things through when I bought as much as I did. That poor stroller was loaded down! But it gets worse! We met up with Peter, Marin and Rinat at the store and walked to Soraya's together. The elevator in this building will accommodate three bigger adults. Peter went up with Caroline and her friend from her building. We waited for the next turn. I got on with Matthew and his loaded stroller. Sarah got on next. Then I just had to say to Marin, get on, we'll be fine. So she did. The elevator moved inches then stopped. (Thank goodness the doors opened and we could get off.) Of course the elevator was stuck. Poor Sarah had to load up her backpack with most of Matthew's food, Marin carried our 5L of water and then Sarah and I proceeded to carry the stroller up 8 flights of stairs! I tried to get her to give me a turn with the backpack, but you know Ms. Stubborn! Of course, shortly after we made it, the d*** elevator was working again!
We had a great supper cooked by Soraya and Caroline. We had three babies present! Matthew, Rinat and little, but active Claudia!! It was very sad to say good-bye. Good luck with Almaty and your trip home Rolando, Denise and Claudia and Peter, Marin and Rinat. Good luck with your bonding and court Caroline, Jay and Jenn, and congratulations on your son, Soraya! I hope that the rest of your journeys go smoothly. I have enjoyed meeting all of you and hope we can all get together with our children in the future!
Today as a reward for all our work packing, we met up with Jay and Jenn and went to the Derby grill. Matthew was really good! Then we walked to the Ramstore since it was beautifully cool out and Matthew was asleep in the snuggli. I had put him in that since it was quite windy, and earlier in the afternoon we had had a dust storm!
The last couple of days, Matthew has been clingy. He just wants to cuddle and has been kind of fussy. He also hasn't been sleeping very well. Last night I thought we were going to have a great night because he slept from 10 until 2 without a peep! But then he scared me out of sound sleep with a great cry and after that was up every hour! Sarah took pity on me this morning and let me have a nap! The poor kid is just all mixed up. I don't see it getting any better in the near future. He was also eaten alive by some sort of bug, probably mosquitoes, two nights ago. When he got up in the morning he had three huge bites on his head and face and one on his leg. They finally look better today. Anyway, if you don't hear from us for a couple of days, don't worry. In fact I hope you don't hear from us, since that means we are on our way to Moscow, and then home! We will be pretty busy getting paper work done. So keep your fingers crossed for us!

Look, Soraya, I am wearing the jammies that were too small for Max! Thanks for them!

The dust storm. There are supposed to be skyscrapers in the background!

I am helping to pack!

The latest group of parents, minus Michael. Us, Denise, Rolando and Claudia, & Peter, Marin and Rinat.

Auntie Sarah and her beer on a hot day!

Matthew and me outside a traditional yurta (sp?) at he museum.

The Countdown - T minus 5 days!

Hi everyone, I hope you are enjoying cooler weather than us, or at least have a working fan! I am so excited because in 5 days we will be on our first flight headed towards home! We leave Astana for Moscow sometime in the evening on the 4th, will hopefully complete our immigration paperwork on the 5th and fly out of Moscow at 7 am on the 6th!!!! I can't wait!(We have huge layovers, especially in Toronto, but are hoping we might be able to catch an earlier flight once landed in Toronto. Otherwise we only get into Winnipeg after midnight on the morning of the 7th. So I don't expect too many of you to be waiting for us! Just as well, I will probably be grumpy and burst into tears at the sight of Michael!) I hope it goes as scheduled, otherwise, we probably won't be able to get a flight until Sunday. Our fabulous travel agent Deddy has been sweating bullets I'm sure, trying to find the tickets he finally found us on the 6th. I was worried, because before April of this year, the Embassy in Moscow was closed on Wednesdays. Lucky for us they are now open! I have really enjoyed living in Astana, which coming from me, a total country girl who usually hates cities, is amazing. But I am READY to come home. I feel like I have been away for a year instead of almost 50 days!
Matthew has had some more sad times today. He also had a 1 1/2 hour nap this afternoon! It hasn't all been sad though, we do get some huge belly laughs as well. He also eats like a horse! He finished the bowl of supper I got for him and cried when I showed him it was empty! We swear he has gotten longer since he has been at the apartment, at least his torso anyway! He still seems to have short legs! I think you will see a big difference in him Michael!
Matthew loves to go outside for walks. He still gets very quiet and just looks around, taking it all in! He is a little furnace so carrying him in the snuggli in 30+ degree weather is tiring! I also use a stroller, but today the power was out for quiet awhile, so we didn't want to have to carry the stroller up and down 9 flights of stairs!
I must admit to being a little paranoid. We are told that most people don't like foreign adoption over here, so I keep thinking people are looking at me funny when we go out. They probably aren't though.

Matty's new bed! Tenting in the living room so the light doesn't bother him! He is way to squiggly for the suitcase!

This could have been my bed!

Yesterday, we were soooo hot!

Long time no blog

Hi everyone, sorry it has been so long since the last entry. You have Annette to thank for lighting a fire under my butt! I have been enjoying time with Matthew! He is still pretty happy, although yesterday morning he was a little sad and wanted to be held constantly. Maybe he is realizing that we aren't taking him back and beginning to grieve. He still wakes frequently during the night, but so far is fairly easily rocked back to sleep. Today we were us at the fairly decent hour of 6:20 am! Yesterday was similar and after Matty ate breakfast, Auntie Sarah very kindly sent me for a nap! We have ventured out a few times - for walks and to the Ramstore. Matthew gets very quiet and just looks around. We also had our first bath! He wasn't sure at first, but as soon as he figured out he could make tidal waves by splashing with his bum, he was full of smiles and giggling! I was hoping he would be a water baby. Last night we went for a walk with Peter, Marin and Renault(sp?) and Jay and Jenn. We went across the river to the park. I learned that the bridge sways very noticably when you are standing still on it! Jenn and Jay very sweetly gave Matthew a cute pair of slippers! They also improvised a very yummy batch of chocolate chip cookies, which they kindly shared! We are all hoping to get together sometime on Sunday, so some of us can say good-bye and we can celebrate Soraya's day in court!
This weekend is a big holiday in Kazakhstan, although you wouldn't know it if no one told you! It has been VERY hot and of course our fan broke. Hopefully it cools off soon. Hopefully by this time next week, we will be HOME! I am so excited and can't wait. I will have been gone for more than 50 days by then. It feels like time has stopped. Please keep the prayers and good wishes coming so that our paper work goes through without a hitch and we can be on that plane next week!
Well, got to go since I have someone on my knee who really wants to "help"!
PS- Matty loves to eat and boy can he poop!
- Sorry about the lack of photos, but things are not working properly this morning.

We are officially a family of three!

Well, today was "Gotcha" day! We arrived at the baby house with three bags of gifts and three cakes at about 10:45 and left minus the bags but with Matthew at about 11:45! Quite emotional to see the caregivers teary-eyed. Matthew has been an angel all day! I wonder how long that will last. I have never heard him babble as much or blow as many raspberries as he has done all day long. He only had two quick naps, about 1 hour and 15 minutes total! He finally fell asleep tonight around 10pm so we finally ate some dinner (just realized we were hungry) and after this quick entry, I am going to try to catch some sleep! Here are some photos.

Just dressed to go home!

Look Daddy, Mommy got me jeans!

While waiting for Bayan to come back.

At the front door to the Baby House about to leave.

Auntie Sarah and Me.

Mom and Me on the way to the apartment. Nice hat, eh Auntie Tracy!

First time Mommy fed me. She even did pretty well, but I had to help her!

So tired!

Two more sleeps and a litre of ice-cream!

Wow, today was a hot one! We did some power walking for about 1/2 hour to go to a mall out by Soraya's this morning. We hit the souvenir shop and did a lot of other browsing. Then down to the grocery store to by food for Matthew! On the way back we went to another souvenir shop at the Intercontinental Hotel. We got back to the apartment in time for a quick lunch before it was time to go visit Matty. We got to visit from 2-4 today, and he was very happy and very active! He is really starting to sit, especially when he doesn't realize he is because he is focused on books or toys! He really enjoyed chewing on Daddy picture today, that is when he wasn't banging on it! Auntie Sarah took some creative photos again today!
We tried to go to the museum across the road, but it was closed for some reason. Maybe tomorrow if we have time. At the Ramstore, they were all out of large jugs of water, except for the yucky mineral water. We were desperate so we had to buy small jugs to tide us over. We also had a craving for ice-cream and so bought some Baskin-Robbins! Because we have no freezer we were forced to eat the whole litre!
Bayan came by later to have us fill out papers for a Russian visa. Hopefully we filled it out properly!
As the title indicates, we have two more sleeps until we pick up Matthew. (As long as everything goes okay). That means, sometime on Wednesday, we will have three tenants in this apartment!
Here is the schedule as far as I know now, and this isn't written in stone. The 30th is a big holiday with things pretty much stalled until the next Monday. We are HOPING to fly to Moscow by the 5th so that we can be flying home on the 7th. Otherwise I think we hit another holiday in Russia. Also, the Canadian Embassy is closed on Wednesdays, so we wouldn't be able to do anything on the 5th anyway. So please, send good thoughts and prayer our way! I don't know flight times or anything yet, and actually have to guess a date because I need to change our tickets this week. We have flights booked out of Moscow on the 31st!
Okay, on to some photos! (Matthew has a huge mosquito bite on his forehead today.)

Matty and some friends!

He loves to be upside down!

The beginnings of a "juice monster". He is just like his Daddy!

Help, Auntie Sarah and I are sinking!

Matthew, thinking about his Daddy!
We enjoyed looking at lots of books today!

Mmmmmm. Ice-cream!