I am HOME!

nicoleb · #1 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 05:43 AM

OMG. Talk about a long plane ride. It was INSANE!

I will try to make this a short and detailed as possible. I know you want to see pictures, but I can't even put them on the private board due to agency restrictions.

We left Saturday afternoon and arrived in Moscow on Sunday night. It took 2 hours to get to our hotel. Our translator (who we LOVED btw) told us to be ready at 5:30 the next morning. We checked in a 10 p.m. Our room didn't have an alarm clock so we used the wake up call service, but didn't get much sleep because we were worried we would be late.

We got up, traveled 3 hours to the office to declare our intent to adopt and then drove another 2.5 hours to an orphanage.

We didn't expect to see Ryan right away, but sure enough they brought us to him. He is the happiest, chubbiest, sweetest, giggliest, squirmiest Mr. Blue eyes you ever saw. We are in LOVE! Boy, does he love his daddy.

We spent 5 hours with him, loving him, rocking him, playing with him, etc.

The orphanage was very nice and they really loved Ryan. The director told us we were getting their "angel". They cried when they thought of him leaving. He is very well taken care of.

We headed back to Moscow and FINALLY got something to eat at about 11:00 that night. (We hadn't eaten since Sunday morning.) On the way home, I had to use the "facilities" and ended up using the GROSSEST potty in my life in Rural Russia.

The next 2 days were filled with appointments with judges and notaries and doctors and a little bit of sightseeing.

The last night we were there we had dinner with some business associates of Aaron and his dad and they took us out for a $500 meal. GULP. They have also offered us to stay in a spare apartment in Moscow during our 10 day wait. I may do that.

I truly loved the city as I am mostly Russian by heritage, and felt at home there. EVERYONE looks like me. All day people would come up to me and ask me directions. Even our translators were shocked I didn't speak Russian as I looked it. This trip not only served as our way to meet Ryan and create a family, it also heald some hurts that I have had about not feeling as if I fit in here in MN. In Russia, I felt like these were "my people"!

We are hearing we may have a court date in 2 - 6 weeks. We of course are hoping for the faster date...LOL! We will be spending our days getting our house ready for this little tornado that will keep us on our toes FOR SURE!

Hope that sums it up, let me know if I left something out. I think I am a little jet lagged still....LOL!

Hugs,
Nicole

psycojenni · #2 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 06:07 AM

Oh my gosh. I am so excited for you. It sounds like he is perfect and has totally melted your hearts. What a great meeting and visit. That was great of that family to offer for you to stay. Keeping my fingers crossed that you will have a court date in 2 wks.

JBB373 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 06:53 AM

I'm so excited for you - isn't it great when you feel like you belong - you should have a special connection with Mr. Blue Eyes!

KUP!

theluvof2moms · #4 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 07:40 AM

Oh he sounds so perfect and it must just fill your heart to know he is being so loved at the orphanage right now. I can't wait until he is home and in your arms forever and we start getting Ryan stories and seeing pictures.

I hope you get to travel again real soon, I think it would be great to stay at the apartment, I think it is great that you have people there that you know.

s I can only imagine how you felt so at home there and then had to leave, although this is not really the same I know everytime I go back to DE I feel at home and then I come home here and I feel a little out of place. Hopefully when you go back again you'll get some more site seeing in and and you can even think of trip again when Ryan gets older.

You're gonna have another baby home before the end of summer!!!!

JessicaLeigh · #5 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 07:56 AM

how wonderful! I'm so excited for you!

mcweix · #6 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 08:41 AM

So glad to hear back from you Nicole! I'm sure the wait will be short! BTW, I don't know if you said before, which orphanage is Ryan living at? Our friends adopted twice from O#1 in Nova Sebirsk (sp?)

SmittyJr · #7 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 09:53 AM

Welcome home, what a journey.

Can't wait until he's yours.

Nicole, are you originally from Russia or from Russian decent? (Sorry, don't have your back story.)

ruby1979 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 01:04 PM

How exciting Nicole,

sounds like you had a wonderful time and I'm sure Ryan enjoyed this time with you two so much! How old is he again?

I'm

ing for you and

you get a court date in 2 weeks! KUP.

mildlydelirious · #9 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 01:09 PM

Wow! You are getting so close! I'm so excited and happy for you.

~m

nicoleb · #10 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 01:54 PM

Thanks ladies...we are glad to be home, but can't wait to go back to get him!

I can't tell you where his is from yet as it is against our agencies rule, but trust me, as soon as we get him home, I can spill...and I will...LOL...often!

He is 10 months old right now and is in 12 months clothes, we are also buying 18 months, just to be sure.

I love baby shopping.

I am of Russian heritage. 3/4 to be exact. I don't know much about my birthfamily other than my birthfathers parents immigrated here from Russia.

I do love it there. Now I have a reason to go back...over and over...LOL!

Nicole

*Mely1015*/Melissa · #11 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 04:37 PM

I am glad that you are back!!!...can't wait to see and hear all those secrets details

hematite153 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 05:51 PM

Thanks for letting us know about your trip.

It sounds exciting, and, I'm also hoping that you get a quick return date.