And finally, we have delivery of a boy!

Five years almost to the day of our first meeting to find out about international adoption we have our Russian son in our home (temporary as it is). It is hard to feel this is actually real! For those of you have been anxiously waiting for this posting, sorry it's late but it's harder to post now with a 5-year old in the house!

We woke up and I made breakfast as I wasn't sure if we'd get lunch today. I must have slept very well as Brian said I was "snoring weird".

Our 9am departure was delayed until 10:30 but that's not a surprise now, is it? On the trip to Cheremkhovo Egor rode with us again. On the way I asked Andrew about his trips to America (he has been to Hawaii! I haven't!) and we talked about a lot of food places in Irkutsk. He said there are two Mexican places in IRK! Sure, now he tells us after we probably won't eat out anymore! Families coming behind me, make a note to ask him about that EARLY in the trip! Also the name of the fast food place where we had the awful hamburgers (but good shashliek) is called "McCafe" LOL!

So we get to the orphanage and we were told Nathan Genya was waiting for us (well actually we were told he was waiting for us FRIDAY! Yeah, us too!) but first we got some information from his caregivers – actually Andrew has his whole medical file. Of course it's in Russian but should be of some assistance when we get to the USA. Then Nathan Genya bounced into the room and gave us hugs. He came carrying a little bag that looks like all the letters I had sent over the years so I can't wait to look through that bag! In all actuality, the next about 30-minutes at the orphanage are a blur to me. His caregiver came in to say goodbye – it wasn't tearful but you could tell Nathan loved her and she was attached to him also. I had him hand out some little gifts to the caregivers but he was more interested in getting ready to leave. I and his caregiver undressed him from his orphanage clothes and put on the clothes I had brought along – he was THRILLED with the jeans! Glad one of my boys will willingly wear them! I got instructions on how to zip his coat all the way up and then do the scarf LOL He loves his hat and new gloves too. Not long until he told me and Brian to get our coats on – it was time to go. We stopped in by the Orphanage Director to say goodbye and she gave us a nice sendoff – but when I asked if we could take her picture with Genya she gave us a 2-minute explanation on how she was so busy so couldn't – would have taken 30-seconds to do the picture! Nathan Genya was so ready to get in the car he barely could take the time to pose for the pictures outside the orphanage! Then we stopped by the Guardianship committee office and met with Galena. She was very happy to see him – when she asked him where he was going he said "to America" (in Russian of course). Then she asked who was going with him and he pointed to Andrews, Brian and I and said "the translator, papa and mama"! I told Andrew looks like he has to come with us now! LOL

The trip to IRK was really good – he was a great traveler! The first about 30-minutes he just watched out the front window – wanted to see everything. Then I took out the little etch-a-sketch and that occupied him for awhile and then I got out some crackers which he enjoyed. He only tried opening the door once and the windows twice! But really, he was a great traveler. At one point about halfway back he was talking in Russian to himself and Andrew laughed and translated as he was saying "I am Gorbik Eugeni and I am HAPPY!" Doesn't that make your heart sing? Then I said "Nathan Genya" and he said "da"… and later again I said "tee moy seen" (you're my son) and he said "da". He liked to sit back when there was lots of traffic and put one hand on each of our legs… And he liked me rubbing his back also. The "touching" thing seems to be ok!

We got back to the apartment and changed him into play clothes – I only have one set of "good" clothes along for him. He and Brian first had a snack – he devoured apples, yogurt, a banana and lots of juice. Probably would have ate more by we want him to eat dinner soon. Then he and Brian played while I started some of the dinner items. They had a ball putting the balloons on the ceiling and hitting them around. And, oh yeah, Nathan loves turning the light in his room on and off, on and off… Then all of a sudden Nathan Genya was in the bathroom and took off all his clothes… He wanted to take a bath! Where had I read they might be scared of water at first ?!? Not this kid! He not only wanted to take a bath but he loved getting his hair washed, putting his face underwater, playing with the toys, showing us how he "swam" and then washed himself with a washcloth! He enjoyed it and he and Brian are communicating quite well! He also has done well getting used to our bathroom. Overall we are surprised how prepared for "family life" he seems to be!

The 5/6 sized clothes I brought along will be fine. The long underwear that's a 4/5 is just about right so he's probably a "5" right now. The size 6 jeans with the adjustable waistband will work great. And the boots are just fine so we're in good shape clothes wise for now!

Dinner went pretty well – other than I gave him spoiled milk to drink! He took one sip and said it was bad – yep, it was. So he got juice again! I had made meatballs and noodles, cooked carrots, a salad of strawberries, raspberries, bananas and jello. He loved the carrots, salad and jello – the meatballs and noodles he ate some of it but not as much as I thought he would. Luckily his dad ate it up for him. Overall tho it was a good "baby's first meal" as I told Brian.

Here is his daily schedule that we got from the orphanage… lots of time unaccounted for so I'm not sure how accurate it is:

8am – Wake up

8:30am – exercises

9am – Breakfast

10:30am – Second breakfast – fruits, milk

Then outside for ½ hour

12:30pm – lunch

1pm-3pm – rest

3pm – snack – milk, omelet(?), cookies

Outside again

5pm – snack – fruits, milk

7pm – Dinner

Free time

8:30-9pm – Bed

They also told us to limit his citrus and chocolate (same thing they said in 2004), introduce new foods slowly and boil them first, and no nesquick (or we think they called it "children's coffee"). Otherwise they said he has no allergies. And when we asked likes and dislikes – they just pretty much said "you'll find out!" And that he pretty much likes everything and plays with all the children well.

At one point I was trying to get him to stop climbing over our and he didn't listen so I took him and sat down with him for a minute and said to stop – and he turned to me and kissed me. But I asked him if he understood and he said "da" – so far hasn't done it again! He is really doing well at repeating words – as I'm typing this he was repeating some words and Brian wanted him to say "feet" but Brian says "How do we say it?" And Nathan Genya, almost with the same tone, said "How do we say it??" Oh man, if we would have only been prepared with a video camera for that!!

So our first few hours as a family of four, less one very important member, went well – and fast! We waited until 9pm our time to call and talk to JJ – who has been WAITING to talk to Genya. They had some nice, one sided, conversations! Nathan Genya talked to Grandma and Grandpa E and JJ – and told them all SOMETHING! But then it was bedtime…so far he's not asleep but at least in bed now!

Our driver, Andrei, and his wife had their first child yesterday – a girl. Jill, I had taken the bag along to give to him anyway but it was an added bonus that it was the day after the baby was born! He said "thank you". I know they'll appreciate it.

And yesterday? We spent it mostly inside – only went out for dinner across the street… nothing too much to report from then!