GOTCHA DAY!!!

The day started with breakfast at 8:00 with Monica. At 9:00 they picked us up to go to the registry office for the birth certificate. We went right in, no waiting. They did some things on the computer and had us sign our names in a couple of places and that was it! They gave us a nice little folder with the Astrakhan 450th anniversary logo on the cover to put the birth certificate in. Galina hung on to the actual birth certificate along with Greg’s passport so that she could go get our little one’s passport. Then they took us back to the hotel to wait until this afternoon when it was time to go get our little one.

We were picked up at about 2:30 for our very last time at the baby home. We stopped at a grocery store to buy three cakes for the staff; one for the doctors, one for the caregivers, and one for the director. We also bought a bouquet of red roses for the director. Then we headed to the baby home. We met in the director’s office and a doctor came in to go over her medical information with us. We had a chance to ask questions and we had to sign more papers. Meanwhile, we gave her clothes to a caregiver to get her ready to go. Soon they brought her into the director’s office. They took some pictures of us with their camera and also with our camera. They escorted us to the door and all waved good-bye to us as we left. That was it, we’re parents now and she’s our little girl. All the waiting, wondering, worrying, the sleepless nights, the laughing, crying, and every other emotion culminated in that moment when we could call her ours. We can hardly believe it.

She did great on the drive back to the hotel. We went up to the room and we played with the toys. She had to walk around the room to make sure she saw and touched everything. Then we bundled up and went outside for a little walk in the stroller. We just went around the courtyard area of the hotel, just for some fresh air. We decided it was best to eat right at the hotel. We took her biscuit and Biphodok with us. She loved and practically devoured the biscuits. However, she wasn’t too fond of the Biphodok. Tomorrow we’re going to ask if there is a special way they give it to her, so that she’ll drink more of it. Then we came back to the room, washed up, put on her pajamas, put on some lullabies and she went right to sleep. We woke her up about 10:00 PM for her bottle, since the baby home schedule said that’s what she usually does. She was half asleep, but devoured the whole thing. Now she’s sound asleep again right here next to us. This is awesome!

Yesterday in our blog comments, Sara requested that we post the list of our little one’s diet that was provided by Baby Home #2. Here it is:

6:00 a.m. Nutrilon Comfort – 200

10:00 a.m. Cereal with Milk – 180
Curd
Biscuit – 10
Fruit Juice – 100

2:00 p.m. Meat Puree – 70
Vegetable Puree – 180
Crouton – 10
Yolk - .5
Fruit Juice – 100

6:00 p.m. Biphidok – 200
Biscuit – 10

10:00 p.m. Nutrilon Comfort - 200

Boy, what a special day! We’re as tired as she is, so we’re going to wait until tomorrow to post a picture. Sorry! Tomorrow, we’ll also let you know how she sleeps tonight!