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!

Russian circus on ice - no, this is not a drink!

Hi all! Well, yesterday (Saturday)was quite a day! It started off with a visit with Matthew, always a good way to start the day! The play room was packed as it usually is on Saturdays. There were about 19 people present: 10 "parents & aunties" (6 families), six children ranging in age from 7 months to 2 years and at least 3 translators! Aliya called while we were visiting to say that we had to leave early to meet the baggage because the airline was trying to deliver it to the baby house. Not a good idea. Not long after we got home, the bags came, and as Sarah went to get them, Dad phoned from home to say that Lufthansa had just called him to tell him they had found Sarah's bags! That would have been around 1am for him, I think! Getting the bags was just like Christmas.
Sarah managed to catch another quick nap before it was time to head over to the "spaceship" building for some sort of ice show. It is a very interesting building and the main theater area is completely round. I am sitting here stumped because I am not sure how to go on or begin to describe the show. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before! Picture circus tricks and "Cirque de soliel"(sp?) on skates! There were people jumping rope with skates on, riding bikes and unicycles with skates on, juggling many things including fire with skates on, being hoisted up into the air with no safety net or cables and then doing acrobatics-with skates on! There was also a woman who skated on stilt-skates! Seriously, the blades were about 3 feet high! Then there was a disturbing bit involving little, Lycra dressed monkeys driving cars, walking on rolling balls (one was even blindfolded while doing this). They also paraded other animals around the ring - a porcupine, badger, raccoon and a dog in a lion costume. It was like a car accident, you didn't want to look, but you couldn't look away. And this was almost the most popular part of the show for the locals. In fact the man behind Sarah was so into it, he was sitting forward. She had to lean forward too, or his hands were in her hair and HE didn't seem to mind!?! During the intermission, they had a ride for the children that had us fearing for their lives. It was a little wooden seat with a bungee type cord across the front, in which SMALL children were raised to the roof! You wouldn't believe the line up to go on! There was also a "cow" (two people in a costume) that you could have your picture with. This "cow" was featured in the second act along with some clowns - again, all on skates! We wondered what they were skating on because it wasn't real or artificial ice. The whole show was definitely not something you see every day!
Afterwards, Sarah and I went for some pizza and then some window shopping. On our way back we ran into the new couple, Jenn and Jay! We (the girls) are going shopping at the Eurasian mall today! In fact, I have to get going to meet everyone in time! Bye for now, and enjoy the "Circus on Ice" photos!
Sorry, everyone, ran out of time before we left. So now we are back from some power shopping and supper with everyone, at Soraya's.

For those of you who might be confused, this is Matty and mommy!

Matty and Auntie Sarah hanging out!

Hey, Grandpa and Uncle Jamie, is this hat better?!

Take a good look at her skates!


These people are all wearing skates on the unicycles!

Help, my sister is being eaten by a crocodile!

The Auntie has landed!

First I have to give my Dad credit for the title!
Sarah had quite an experience on her trip over. First there was construction on #1 highway, then the 10 minute delay leaving Winnipeg turned into 40 minutes. En route to Frankfurt she had an angry, loud, large family surrounding her and a little girl kicking the back of her chair. Her seat mate was a German man named Herman - Herman the German!!! After some trouble finding her gate (which was changed) and a six hour lay over, she was taken to the plane. She fell asleep almost immediately and when she woke 1/2 hour later, they were still on the ground and the drinks cart was making the rounds! Apparently the wrong info had been punched into the computer and they waited 1 1/2 while it was changed. Meanwhile, I arrived at the airport at 10:20pm only to find out that the plane was an hour delayed! After telling Oshut, I browsed through some gift shops where I found a great book about Astana. It has lots of photos that I recognise, even if some of the buildings weren't built yet and best of all, is in Russian & English! That gave me something to do while waiting. Finally, the flight landed. Then I had to stand around waiting for my first glimpse of Sarah! Finally we saw each other and both began some exuberant waving! Meanwhile, Sarah had met some new friends, Sandra style! A Belgian reporter, a diplomat's wife and a "cute little airport dude" (Sarah's exact wordski's!) who wore fabulous red shoes! All stood (entire flight) around the baggage carousel watching everyone else's bags go around. The tags all said ALA which Sarah thought sounded more like Almaty than Astana which should have been TSE. Turns out they took the wrong bags off the plane. [The plane was continuing on to Almaty after unloading passengers in Astana]. So after an hour of waiting, the Belgian herded Sarah towards the doors, while she was saying, "but my sister, my sister!" While standing in line upstairs to find out what happened to the luggage, Sarah introduced me to a Michigan couple who just arrived via the same flight, to adopt as well! Poor them, they had no luggage as well. Anyway, at 1:15am we finally left the airport minus any checked luggage and the stroller which Chris was coerced into picking up. Poor Ashut was curled up in the car asleep! When we got to the apartment, Auntie Sarah even picked watching Matthew home video over a shower! (Not sure how I felt about that! - Sarah's comments on what she thought I was thinking!) [As I am writing this, she is pacing around and having stroller races up and down the hall! All because we had the call that her luggage has been found and is supposed to be here tomorrow afternoon!]
After a brief night's sleep, we were up and off to the airport because at that point we didn't know that the bags hadn't arrived! She did receive a consolation pack containing among other things, white XL tee-shirt, and "whitening, mild care, reduces skin darkening" deodorant! Because obviously, she needs to be whiter!) We also retrieved the missing stroller! Once back we went to the Ramstore, had lunch and while I watched a movie, Sarah had a nap. I considered poking her a few time, just to see if she was still alive. She was that still! Then it was off to exchange some money and then time to go meet Matthew! Auntie Sarah was impressed with my ability to share! I had to try really hard though, I must admit! Matthew thought Auntie Sarah was lots of fun. She plays fun games like his Daddy! Sarah had made him a book of our side of the family and he enjoyed looking at it and chewing on it! The visit went too quickly as usual. Tonight we went to Ali Baba's for a late supper and had lots of laughs with Soraya, Caroline, Rolando and Denise. Then Sarah and I walked home through the rain, each of us having to hold the umbrella so neither of us could hog it. (And we all know who the hog is! It reminded me of when we were little and Sarah was a bed hog and would even roll right over any barriers I would try to erect!)
Okay, now for some photos.

Mommy and Matty on Thursday evening!

"I'm drooling on you Uncle Jamie!"

"Hmmm, that's what I'll look like with hair!"

I love my Auntie Sarah!

Imagine what we would look like if we had been drinking!

To answer some questions

Hi everyone, I got some good questions on the comments so I figured I'd try to answer them. There was one from a couple of days ago about how long do we get to visit after court. Still the same 2 hours I'm afraid. As to where to shop, just about anywhere! There are lots of shops down Republic. If you are looking for young infant clothes that are reasonably priced, the "baby mall" is the place to go! I think they call it the "Pucha". It isn't very far from the Astana bakery and about a 20 min. walk from my apartment here in Samal. There is a store called "Mother Care". It has really cute clothes and toys too, but is more expensive. There is the "pizza mall" (can't remember the name - think it is the "Soom") which is also more expensive. There is also the Eurasian Mall which is great. It is huge and has lots of selection - prices vary. By the way, if you are thinking of buying a stroller over here, like the cheap umbrella strollers at home, they are expensive! You might want to consider bringing one. One of the moms that was here last month bought a nice stroller that was fancier than an umbrella stroller but not as elaborate as other kinds for about $70 USD.
As to price tags and help from the retailers, it isn't too bad. Most things have price tags on them, just be prepared to see prices like 800, 1,500 and even 4,000 on the tags! (I think the US exchange rate is about 125.9 right now!) So I bring a little calculator with me. To ask some one the price you just have to say "Skolka" or "Skolka eta stoit" and do some pointing. Then if they try telling you the price and you don't understand, point to their calculator and get them to punch it in on it. Be prepared to use all cash. Most stores DON'T take credit cards. Most bank machines accept our ATM cards and credit cards for cash advances, though.
Did I bring clothes with me? Yes, but I was expecting that we would end up adopting a child on the older end of our age range (up to 18 months) so I brought sizes 12 months and 18 months. Matty still fits into mostly 3-6 month clothes! I agree, it is very hard to decide what to bring, especially when you have gender, space and weight issues. We didn't specify boy or girl, but I brought all boy clothes figuring it was easier to dress a girl that way then a boy in frilly pink! I know how hard it was to pack for us and an unknown child in the summer, so I feel for those of you who are hoping to come in the winter! I have seen LOTS of snowsuits in shops over here already, haven't checked the prices, but that may be one bulkier item you could purchase over here since I don't think you would need one right away and you can always borrow one from the orphanage IF they let you go outside with your child! Just something to think about!
Anyway, if anyone has more questions, feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer them. I still find it funny that I am the one being asked instead of the one asking!
PS- At the beginning of your stay, you will have you translator with you and she will show you were to shop and help you with the retailers, so don't worry!