Progress and Conversations

We have our flights confirmed with some great seats thanks to Lynn at Countryside Travel, and our visa applications are being processed. It feels good to get those things crossed off the list. Next we need to make an appointment at the international adoption clinic for Brother when we return. And also check with our pediatrician about getting a prescription for some medication to treat some common ailments that Russian children in orphanages tend to have, so we can start treating Brother right away while we're in Russia.

I've been conversing with other adoptive parents about what to bring on this trip for Brother and whether to set up the crib or bed for him. We forgot to ask questions like that on our first trip to meet him, so we will have to wait until we can ask the orphanage staff again. (I also forgot to leave the photo album for him - DUH!) Our last visit with him went so quickly, and we were so focused on spending time with him that we forgot to ask questions about his routine, what he eats, what soothes him, etc. We have a great list of questions to help us get to know him better, and we shouldn't have any problems getting the answers when we see him in 3 short weeks!

Today I bought a diaper bag and a soft blanket for Brother to cuddle with. I don't think he will be in diapers for very long - at least a mom can dream, can't she? I would love to get him a soft, cuddly stuffed animal, but he's not into stuffed animals. At the orphanage, he enjoyed throwing them at us. He also liked to push the upholstered kid's size chair around and climb up on the kid's size table. He's gonna be a bundle of energy, that's for sure! I also remember how territorial he was about the crayons we brought. It was a pack of 30 or so, and he had two fistfuls of crayons in each hand, and would not let go! Also, he found a paper clip on the floor, and Matt tried to get it out of his little fingers, and it wasn't easy! I can't help but smile when I think about his antics from the last day we saw him.

We are almost done getting a caregiver schedule together for T. I know he will have a blast with all sorts of relatives and friends. It is a huge blessing that we have so many people willing to help out. T. said that Brother can have his carseat, since his has the high back, and T. can use the small backless booster that we have in the other vehicle. He also made a book for Brother about "The Four Seasons." He did this a long time ago, and we have it proudly sitting on Brother's bookshelf. I am really glad that T is looking forward to having a brother. He did say that he was worried about them not sharing toys very well. We tried to calm his fears about not getting along, and told him that is natural, and we will be there to help them learn how to play together.

We'll continue to keep you updated with our travel preparations!