Update

We got word this morning that our court date has been rescheduled for this Monday. We pray everything goes smoothly this time. Once it is done and over with, I will go into explanation of what exactly happened. Until then, I can say it had nothing to do with our paperwork.

We have visited Bryson everyday except for yesterday. He seems to be bonding very well with the both of us and is now excited when they bring him in the room and he sees our faces. We brought some of our clothes and shoes with us to try on him and he is much smaller than we anticipated. He appears to still be wearing 9 months clothes. We have walked all over town trying to find baby clothes stores, but there aren't many stores that sell baby clothes. It gets harder each day to leave him.

Court

Well court for our part went okay, However there is a new law and the required papers did not make it in time. So we are on hold until the papers arrive. We have no idea how long or when we will go back to court. Will update more as we know.

2nd visit

Today's visit was wonderful expect for the fact that another family was visiting with their child and we were all put in the same room. We visited with him earlier in the afternoon, so he was more alert than yesterday. He was full of smiles today and was in such a happy mood. He was all over the place. I even said to Shane that it looks like we are going to have fun with him on the plane rides home. He likes to copy anything you do. We still think his favorite color might be yellow because he still goes for any toy that is that color. That or it's a bright color and it catches his eyes. Today, he and I really bonded which was nice. A few times he would reach out for me to hold him or pick him up. We both have come such a long way since the first trip. Poor thing had girls shoes on again today. I can't wait to be able to give him a bath, lather him with lotion and put him in our clothes.

After our visit, our coordinator's son walked around Novo with us. It's was so cold. I wish Shane would have took a picture of me. I was so bundled up, you could only see my eyes. It was quite a sight. Her son took us to a Russian Museum which was really interesting. It showed the way Russian's lived in the early 1900's.

We will be visiting with again in a few hours, but this will likely be our last post till after court tomorrow. Please pray for us that everything goes well tomorrow.

1st visit

We finally got to see our little boy. Our first visit with him went well. I don't think he remembered us, but it took him no time to warm up. He wasn't feeling well, but despite that, he was in a pretty good mood. He is very congested and was breathing heavily. Poor thing. He is starting to make lots of noises and has become very vocal. That is much different from the first trip where he never made a sound. He still can't walk on his own yet, but that is ok because we will have the change to witness his first steps on his own.

We don't think he has changed much, but his face looks a little older. It's been 10 weeks since we last seen him, so some change is to be expected. I don't think he has gained a pound. We plan to bring some clothes with us on one of the visits to see if they fit him. Our visit with him today was in the afternoon, so around 5:30p he was getting sleepy. I held him and walked around the room. He laid his head on my chest which was so sweet.

We are in Novosibirsk

We have arrived safely and it is extremely cold! The trip here was long and uneventful. Thankfully all of our flights were on time. The trip is so exhausting. We are unable to use our calling card to call out, so mom's if you read this, you will have to call us. We will be leaving to meet Bryson this afternoon and we can't wait. We keep talking and wondering how much he has changed or if he will remember us. We will update more once our visit with him is over.

1 day!

This will be our last post for awhile since we leave bright and early in the morning. Wow, I cannot believe we leave in the morning! I spent the day cleaning and running last minute errands. I also put his carseat in our truck and that felt strange. It's almost hard to believe that shortly there will be a little boy sitting in it. The packing is still not done, but that's on the agenda for tonight. Today it is 8 below in Novo. When I looked at the temperature, it reminded me why we live in sunny Florida.

2 days!

2 days till we leave and 4 days till we see him. Can't wait! Today is my last day at work for awhile. A break that is very much needed especially after working 50-60 hours a week for months now. Today has been laundry day so far. I still have to pack, but I keep putting it off because that is the part I dread most. We put up gates on the top and bottom of the stairs over the weekend. I officially hate them! I haven't tripped or knocked into them (YET, but it's only a matter of time). The dogs and the cats don't have free run of the house anymore and I feel bad. They have to sit at the gate and wait for one of us to open them. It will take some getting used to for all of us.

4 days!

I know this looks like the first teaser picture I posted, but it's from a different day. Each day we played with the stacking cups and each day he would only pick up the yellow ones. We thought maybe his favorite color was yellow or maybe he liked it because it was bright.

5 days!

I can't wait to see that little butt again! FedEx delivered our visas this morning. It's all starting to come together.

6 days!

Monday is my last day at work before we leave and then I will be on maternity leave. I cannot believe I only have 2 days left at work! After all these years of trying, talking and imagining having a family, we are so close to actually becoming one. I also must admit, it scares the hell out of me. I am very good with children and have grown up around many of them over the years. I am used to taking care of kids and knowing what to do, but this time it will be different because I am going to be the mom.

7 days!

Excuse yesterday's original post. Yesterday was actually 8 days (I have since corrected it). I apologize for this picture being blurry. Our camera was acting up a little while we were in Novo. Maybe it could be that it was FREEZING there.

8 days!

It's hard to believe that we will finally see our sweet little boy again next Friday. Is there a fast forward button anywhere that can get us to the 25th faster?!?

Things on our list are finally getting done and crossed off. The packing has begun and his room is a mess as a result of it. Those of you that have traveled on trip 2 before, please tell me how on earth did you fit everything you needed into the luggage? I really am trying to pack light, but I am not even sure where our clothes are supposed to fit. I am sure I will pack and repack about hundred times before next Wednesday.

Shane's birthday dinner was a success. There was a wonderful turnout, 35 people. Thank you everyone for coming. He was surprised and couldn't believe I pulled that off and that no one gave it away.

We leave next week. I can't believe it! Here is the schedule so far:
1/23- Leave the US
1/24- Arrive in Moscow
1/25- Arrive in Novo, 1st visit w/Bryson
1/26- 2nd visit w/Bryson
1/27- 3rd visit w/Bryson
1/28- COURT!

A lot of people have asked when will we return home. The answer is, we don't know. Russia generally requires a 10 day waiting period after court, before we can take custody of him. There is a 50/50 chance that the judge could waive the 10 days. If the 10 days are waived, then the we will be heading home on 2/6. If the days are not waived, then I am not sure when we will be heading home, but I imagine it will be the following week sometime. Cross your fingers that they are waived!

Happy Birthday Shane

Today is my amazing husband's 30th birthday. He is the most wonderful and caring man. He will be the most unbelievable father. He is having a hard time accepting his age this year though I am not really sure why. I can't poke fun at him because I am only a few months younger.

Tonight I have planned a surprise dinner with family and friends at a restaurant in the area. It should be a nice, relaxing night. On Christmas Eve, my family asked him if he was throwing a party for his birthday and he looked right at me and said "No, Marie don't plan anything." Silly boy. He hasn't learned by now that when you tell me not to do something, it only makes me want to do it that much more. Besides, it's a milestone birthday and I had to surprise him somehow. Though, nothing can top the early birthday present he got yesterday, our court date!

This news could not have came at a better time...

We got a court date for January 28th. I have been in a crappy mood for the past few days, but this has definitely changed my mood. We could not be happier!!! We have to arrive in Russia a few days earlier to visit with Bryson on 3 separate days before court. I will post more on our travel schedule later. There is so much to do. I don't even know where to begin. My emotions are all over the place. I am just so happy to know that Bryson will be with us before our 5th wedding anniversary on Valentine's day. Will post more later...

Happy Birthday Sandy!

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday. We have a wonderful relationship and for that, I am thankful. I honestly could not ask for a better MIL. She has been a huge part of our support system through everything. Especially our long, bumpy road to trying to start a family. She has been there whenever we needed her. Shane is extremely close with his mother. I actually call him a mommy's boy (don't tell him I told you), but he denies it. I can only hope that one day, Bryson and I have will have the strong relationship that Shane has with his mother.

Happy birthday!

Merry Christmas Russia

Today is the Russian Orthodox Christmas. If you would like to learn more about it, check out this link:
http://www.rochedalss.qld.edu.au/xmas/russiachristmas.htm

No news on the adoption front. A lot of people have asked when we will hear something. Our agency said that the courts are basically closed till 1/13, so we don't expect to hear anything till after that. It would be wonderful if I had some good news for everyone sometime next week.

If you would have seen me in the card aisle today,

If you would have seen me in the card aisle today, you might have laughed. I love greeting cards and will take my time reading them all to find the perfect ones. It so happens that Shane, his mother and his grandmother's birthdays are this month (along with one of my brothers), so I went to get cards today. As I am reading these cards, my eyes are filling with tears. I had to stop every so often before I started bawling. I am a pretty emotional person. Hell, I even tear up at commercials these days.

I would like to thank everyone that has chosen to continue to read our blog although it is now private.