Friday, June 8, 2007

GOTCHA DAY!!!!!!

What an exciting morning? This day has finally arrived. It feels like we have been waiting for an eternity. God has truly blessed us. Today is the big day of bringing Az home from the baby house. Surprisingly we were able to sleep last night. We got up around 7 am and Amy excrcised while I talked with some family. After breakfast, we got everything ready to go. We were ready to go about 30 minutes early. They picked us up around 9:50 am and we headed on our errands. We had several places to stop before making our way to the baby house. First we had to exchange some money and then we went to buy our plane tickets to Almaty for Monday night at 11pm. We were excited to get these because it is one step closer to making the final trip home. After purchasing the tickets, we needed to buy some champagne and a Pavlodarian newspaper for Az’s baby/scrapbook. Next, we headed off for Krindles the local bakery for several cakes. We have heard that it is tradition to have champagne and cake when a baby is born. After we had bought the supplies and tickets we went to pick up Svetlana and Nina. Finally we were on our way to the baby house by 11am. When we got to the baby house we dropped off one cake, bottle of champagne, and a gift for the Director. Then we dropped off the same with the doctors. Finally we went to Az’s room to pick him up.

When we made it up the stairs and into his room, all the children we finishing up with the bathroom and about to sit down for lunch. Az came out of the bathroom and headed straight for Amy’s arms. Az did not want to sit down in his chair for lunch. He wanted to stay in mom’s arms. The caregiver finally took Az and got him seated for lunch. He had a pretty big lunch which included a piece of black bread, a bowl of cabbage soup, and a bowl of mashed potatoes, meat, and beets. We were amazed at how well the kids fed themselves. Only a few needed help with the spoons. After lunch, Amy took him into the bathroom and got his clothes changed. He looked cute in his plaid shirt, khaki pants, and crocs. We then headed down to the Director’s office where Svetlana and Nina were waiting for us. When we got to the director’s office Nina wanted to hold Az. She reached for him several times, but he wanted nothing to do with her. He even started to get upset because of her persistence. Then they wanted pictures with Amy and Az. We got one shot and that was it. Az was not into picture time. He was pretty upset by this time and got even more upset when we got into the van to come home. He cried almost the entire ride home. Hopefully with practice he will come to like riding in cars.

We finally made it back to the apartment and Az was great. We stripped him down to a t-shirt and diaper. He played around the apartment for awhile. According to his schedule he was supposed to take a nap between 1-3 pm. Amy and I tried to put him down for a nap but he refused. There is a small playpen but it is a bit small for Az and he wouldn’t lay in the bed. We tried for about an hour and then decided we wouldn’t force the issue. While Amy played with him, I ran to the grocery to pick a few things up and then made it back to the apartment to play some with Az. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening playing with his trucks, singing elmo, and empty coke bottles. We got to talk with all the family and Az even said a couple of words/sounds. It is amazing how well he is doing. He is talking, babbling, and repeating us more than ever. He is even saying “tickle, tickle, tickle.” Amy and I love to tickle Azamat and we always say that phrase. I started to tickle Amy’s foot and Az did the same thing. He even puts up his feet for you to tickle (Rebekah does this sound familiar, we will now have to do tickle feet with Az) and he will tickle his own feet. It’s really cute and we have been trying to get it on film but everytime the camera comes out he refuses to do it.

After playing for a while and having dinner Amy gave Az a bath and got him into his pjs. We settled down on the couch and watched a bit of CNN and then around 8:30 we decided to try to put Az to bed. We knew he was tired because he had no nap. We put him in the playpen and turned on the soundtrack to “Happy Feet.” He was fussy at first and didn’t want to go to sleep but then he started watching the shapes and colors on the computer screen and it lulled him to sleep. Amy and I felt that we had finally accomplished something. Hopefully he will sleep through the night. Amy and I sat up for a bit longer and then headed for bed ourselves. Only time will tell if Az sleeps through the night. Talk to everyone soon.

Love, David, Amy, and Azamat