The President is in Irkutsk!

The President of Russia that is! His first visit here since his election. Going from Vladivostok to Moscow so this is a stopping point – just one day I think. Other than a lot of police cars on the highways I don't know much more about the visit! You can probably find it on the internet tho!

This morning we all went to get Nathan Genya's adoption certificate. Alex drove, Andrew was along, Brian, Genya and I. Brian and I went in with Andrew to the office while Alex stayed with Genya in the car. We each had to sign in three different places and then we got the certificate. We are #13 for 2009 I think. Then we took Brian and Genya back to the apartment and I continued on with the guys to Angarsk to get the new birth certificate. That took about 10-minutes. While we were waiting we saw a bridal couple getting ready to be married in the hallway. Then we left and went to a cafeteria for lunch. I had a meat dish with potatoes, a salad, a stuffed bread (with cabbage) and tea. It was good and, I think, cheap. Alex bought as I didn't have much money along (figured it's part of the rent LOL)

Now I have a little better timeframe as to what is happening also. Tomorrow (or maybe today?) Andrew will take the new birth certificate to get the citizenship stamp on it. Apparently when you have a Russian birth certificate that is not enough to prove Russian citizenship! (Andrew says it is "stupid"!) But anyway, on the back side of the birth certificate there needs to be an official stamp stating that Nathan Genya is a Russian citizen – then we can apply for the passport. Tomorrow morning, I think, we're going to get his pictures taken for the passport and then we will use Andrew's help to do a little shoe and video shopping with Genya. Then on Monday, or maybe Tuesday, we'll be applying for his passport. Monday is "Military Day" – similar to our Veterans Day I think. Neither Alex or Andrew seem to be sure what will be open or closed tho. I'm thinking Monday closed, Tuesday working. But we seem to have a better timeframe now as to what will happen. Alex said repeatedly it will take two weeks for the passport to come – and maybe less. This has been standard this year when they've been getting other new passports for children. Today Alex asked when our return tickets were booked for and said we might miss it by a few days (yes, I know) and was ready to call Philip in Moscow on the spot to find out if we had one way or round trip tickets Moscow-Irkutsk. I'm thinking OW. But I said, "no, it can wait until we're closer to going"… Today everything starting wanting to move at a faster pace and I wasn't ready for that! LOL We still have some time to go yet anyway!

When I got back to the apartment Genya was in the bathtub. He always says "koo-pasa?" (take a bath) so I figured he had worn Brian down. Not the case! While I was gone they had an interesting time! They visited the shop across the street and Genya and the storekeeper had a conversation where Genya proudly said he was going to America. Then they went to the park with the big slide where there were other children. At first Brian said Genya didn't want to go there but eventually did. He told EVERYONE that he was going to America. He told the caregivers with the children (maybe was a day care Brian thought?) that his papa's name is "Brian" {didn't mention mama apparently!}. Brian said Genya was very well behaved and had a very good time. But they probably stayed out a few minutes too long as he had an "accident" once back in the apartment…so that's why the bath! No biggie… The bigger thing was after his bath he had to put on "just pants and a shirt" as the others were in the wash. Now to those of you unfamiliar, at the orphanage they always wore tights from little on…you'll have seen them in some of the pictures from there. We weren't going to do that anymore but I figured we had to transition slowly---hence the long underwear. Of course it's been so cold the long underwear has been a necessity also! But I think it helped him as the first few times after bath he needed them on before putting the sweat pants on (pajamas were fine without them tho, go figure). So anyway, today after his bath he had to put on just the shirt and pants – didn't even look for or panic about not having anything extra under them! Wow! He's transitioning a lot we think!

So then after bath it was time for lunch. Genya didn't like the leftover chicken but liked Brian's hot dog so they traded. And he dipped his hotdog and potatoes in KETCHUP, JJ! I said if we're buying ketchup for one kid we'll do it for two! Then he wanted an apple and ate it whole – it was a big apple tho so he only ate half and before I knew what he was doing the other half was in the garbage…just like JJ would do! Good pickings for those here who dumpster dive (a whole 'nother story)

So the English is slowly coming along. We actually communicate quite well – Andrew mentioned in the car to me that "even at the orphanage it seemed like he knew what you were saying to him and you knew what he was saying to you – quite remarkable actually" lol – Brian says it's because we recognize what little boys want and think so it makes it easier for us (but doesn't totally explain how he knows how to answer us!). But a few biggies to report today – This morning I was saying "men-ya zavoot…." (my name is …) and pointing at us all. So I said "men-ya zavoot? Debra? He said "nyet, men-ya zavoot mama!" – then I pointed to Brian and he said "meny-ya zavoot papa!" (we're trying for daddy but papa it is for now). Then I pointed to Genya and said "men-ya zavoot…? And he said "men-ya zavoot Nathan Genya" – Yeah we said!! Smart little one!! He did it two more times but then that was it – not again! And Brian said that when they came in from playing Genya said "juice please" in English!! Did it for me at lunch too… yeah!! First words! LOL

A few updates on things I've posted previously while I'm thinking of them: we found toothpaste in the grocery store – not sure how we missed it before actually, takes up one whole end of a row! We bought some soap the other day and I got some that looked like it was for kids – yikes, it stinks! We use it for hands and bought a different one for bathing! I have purchased more eggs and bread here in the time we've been here than I think I do in months at home! The 10-eggs go fast and the bread we're replacing every other day!

Oh, and this is for Stephanie M… those "little boy belches" you get a kick out of? Nathan Genya gave us a big one today! I said "I gotta post that for Stephanie! LOL

I'm typing this now (4pm) while Brian is making a store run so I'll continue on tonight with the dinner/evening report!

So we were pretty happy about the "juice, please" in English…well, when Genya wanted me to pick him up to put his toy on the refrigerator what'd he say??? "Juice, Please!"!!! hmm, guess it's not quite there yet! LOL But he's doing very well at saying "spasiba" when someone does something for him!

Dinner tonight was quite successful – and we have a lot of it on tape – so if he says he doesn't like the food again I have proof he does! We had shell noodles, meatballs, spaghetti sauce and cheese. Also fried red peppers & cucumbers, apple sauce (he finally tried it and liked it) and he had jello for dessert. After dinner he had another bath and we did our nightly routine. Yogurt was a bedtime snack. Then we watched some DVDs for awhile, talked to JJ and Grandma and then it was time for bed. A pretty full day!