Light At The End Of The Tunnel

by bill - 2007-12-11 21:00:00 ( in family, adoption, holmes, travel) [php version] rebuild

We visited Elizabeth again today. We caught her when she was in the music room with all the other kids in her age group. She smiled wide when she saw us, but by the time she reached us, she tried to keep it cool. Like, "Oh, it's you. I thought you were somebody else." Just kidding about that "quote." I hope I'm kidding. :) After the crowd of kids left and it was parents' visiting time, there were three kids and their adoptive parents left. The room was too crowded for me to be flying her around the room, if she would have even let me do that. She wasn't terribly comfortable with me today or yesterday. Maybe it's the Ben-Gay smell? She definitely prefers Tara ... this week. I'm used to rejection, though, so it's OK. :)

We tried fitting her with the new tennis shoes we brought, but they were too small. Still, she wanted to wear those instead of the ones she had on. They have little lights that go on and off. And then we put some new pants on her under her dress, and she didn't want to take those off. She loves new clothes. I can already see that she'll be spending all of my money on her clothes as she grows up. We went to a mall and found a new pair of little kid snow boots for her, since that's what we'll need immediately when we pick her up for good on Monday.

We adjusted our return flight tickets today at the Aeroflot office near the hotel. I hate to say anything definitively around here, but the plan now is that we'll leave Astrakhan for Moscow on the 17th instead of the 20th. That means we'll still be here almost two more weeks, but at least it's three less days than expected. No offfense, we're just bored and homesick. We still don't know if we'll get to leave Moscow for home any sooner than planned, but we'll try.

Comments (We enjoy free speech. Try not to offend, but feel free to be offended.)

She is a very lucky girl that you are so understanding!

- Jeannie, 2007-12-06 03:08:40

What size shoes did you buy and what size does she really wear? And what about the clothes? Is 2T fitting? I've started to buy her a couple more things but hesitated because I want to be sure she'll be able to wear them!

- sandy, 2007-12-06 07:51:34

Sounds like Monday will be a great day!

- Terry, 2007-12-06 10:07:22

They probably fit when you first got there but kids grow so fast she probably outgrew them before you left, haha! That's why I buy the thrift store stuff when I can. Glad she is warming up to you! Miss you guys!

- Auntie Em, 2007-12-06 11:27:07

Sandy, those shoes that were too small were size 5-1/2. We think they were long enough, but she has too much arch in her foot or something. Tara says that she and Elizabeth have the same type of foot, short and fat.

- bill, 2007-12-06 17:38:18

O.K. What about clothes? Does she seem to prefer girlie stuff or tomboy kinda stuff? And are the 2T fitting?

- sandy, 2007-12-07 02:45:58

The only things I've tried on her so far are 24 months. I'll be able to tell you better in a few days when I have more freedom to try stuff on her. Don't even try to get shoes. She's going to be like Destiny and hard to fit (or is that like all small children??) Remember how Nanny used to complain that Destiny had a broad foot? Well, so does Elizabeth, and so did I (still do) So, it may be a baby thing.

- Tara, 2007-12-07 05:26:49

As far as style of stuff, she likes girlie stuff, especially hairbows! Actually, this child has never had anything of her own, so we could put her in a pair of camaflouged overalls and she would probably like it... But I'm NOT!

- Tara, 2007-12-07 05:28:21

well, YOU may not put that stuff on her...but i know that i'll be babysitting at some point!!! and you know how much camo destiny has! hehehehehe can't wait! ...oh the joys of being the "fun" aunt! --no offense of course aunt stephanie!

- sandy, 2007-12-07 06:49:42

It sounds like Elizabeth will have aunties fighting over her!! :-) It's funny about the girlie stuff. When I was a kid, I hated it, but when my granddaughter, Bijou, liked it, I actually had fun buying princess outfits, etc. I'm sure Elizabeth will love all the attention.

- Lucy, 2007-12-08 15:17:53

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Here is the complete blog of the adoption experience in paperback form, Russian Adoption: From Nashville to Astrakhan and Back (PDF). And here is the fictionalized, future "homeland tour" (action adventure) version in various forms: on Kindle, various electronic formats, and in paperback.

This Time Next Week -- Preparation for Our First Trip to Russia -- Travel Day -- The Day Before -- Tuesday (10/2/2007) -- In the Air -- We're in Moscow -- Adoption Videos -- -- First Time in Moscow -- It's Only Monday? -- Check-Out Time -- We're in Astrakhan -- What a Day -- It's a Girl It's a Girl -- Great Visit -- Sights of Astrakhan -- Wednesday in Astrakhan -- Last Visit for a While -- Thursday in Astrakhan -- Another Great Visit -- We're Home -- Back in Atlanta -- Round Two -- Skora Mweh Tam Boojum -- Elizabeth's Room -- Internet Access -- Back in Moscow (11/26/2007) -- Tuesday (11/27/2007) -- Mweh Yeddum V Aeroport Eta Ootra -- In the Air Again -- Back in Astrakhan -- Comments Welcome -- Russian Adoption Consultant -- Russian Bureaucracy -- It's Showtime -- And the Judge Says -- Success -- Went for a Walk -- Much Better Visit Today -- The Day After -- Beet Salad -- Saturday Morning -- It's Going to Be a Good Week -- She's Warming Up to Us -- Light at the End of the Tunnel -- Picture of Us Before Court -- She's Ours -- The First Hours of Parenthood -- More Pictures (12-09-2007) -- Bowel Movement -- Nothing Much to Update About -- Sleep, What a Concept -- Here's Your Update -- 51-1/2 Hours -- Back in Moscow (12/18/2007) -- Pictures of Our Life in Astrakhan -- Just Another Week to Go -- Riding the Metro, Part Deux -- Update to the Update's Update -- Moscow Update Continued -- Can't Leave Early -- To the Embassy -- Still in Moscow -- Riding the Metro -- We're Home! (For Good, this Time) -- A Few Pictures -- Stay Tuned -- Summary of Our Russian Adoption Experience -- Baby Shower -- Doctors Say She's Normal -- Recent Photos of Elizabeth -- Holmes Russian Adoption Videos -- Elizabeth's First Video -- A Few More Videos -- Adoption Videos Updated -- Our Russian Adoption Story -- Our Adoption Story -- Gotcha Day and Merry Christmas

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