This is Beginning to Feel Real

Booked the flights today. Going a day early, this Friday, Aug. 6th to Moscow (actually gives a full day and half in the city) before heading on to Siberia. Packed all the wonderful donations our friends and family gave for the children at the orphanage and plan to pack one more carry-on for Kip's and my belongings. Starting to feel real now. Thanks for everyone's kind words and wishes...we read them all and we'll keep you posted.
My boss has been so patient and supportive....and Kip's bosses are babysitting McKenna (they have an even bigger interest in this...as they are gaining a grandson!).

Visas Ordered, Flights Almost Booked

Yesterday afternoon was a mad panic as Kip, in Chicago, and I at home filled out the required forms for our visas, got new passport photos and Fed-exed our most precious documents to our travel agent in New York. Today, we braced ourselves as the flights were put together.....and yes, it is as bad as I thought it would be.....the good news is we found a way to avoid the smaller airport in Moscow altogether....after hearing of the hardships our fellow adopting parents shared (ie 11 hour layovers in a non-airconditioned airport without toilet seats!)
If anyone knows anyone in need of a kidney, mine is going up on E-bay soon! Will use one of Kip's kidneys to pay for the next trip.

We're Going to Russia!

This afternoon we received the much anticipated call with an invitation to Russia! While we were not expecting to travel until late September, we found out today that we will be meeting our little boy on Aug. 10th, which means we begin our travels (travelling over a 3 day span!) on Aug. 7th, aka 10 days from now!
I think we are still in shock. What a wonderful day!

Attachment and Bonding

Many people have heard of the HORRORS of orphans failing to attach and bond with their parents...leading to potential problems. While it is true, this can happen, I want to share with you the process that is used to prevent this. This is what we plan to do for at least the first 6 weeks of our son's arrival home. It is not meant to isolate us or offend anyone....it is just the most important thing we can do for the well being of our son:

Homecoming stage. This is the initial phase of the parenting process. The rest is "a lifetime of love." The initial phase is key to future success. Child has had several separations - first from birthmother, then through caregivers, then into home of new parents. No time to securely attach (bond). It is critical, critical, critical that parents recreate a "pregnancy" stage, wherein child is held only by parents, kept physically close to parents (best to use front-carrying baby packs, all day if possible), touched and spoken to and encouraged to make eye contact - again, with parents only, if possible - so that child becomes attached and learns that parents are... parents. Not just caregivers.

Updates from Kemerovo

We were fortunate to receive updates from Kemerovo. "Rigdon/Maxim" has grow a couple inches and gained a couple pounds. He also has 6 teeth. Our International Doctor says although he is still "small"...approx. at the 3rd percentile for height and weight...he is showing consistant growth and will grow to meet his potential when he is HOME with us. It was comforting to hear from my sister that my 2 nephews (who are now tall and strapping men), were only a couple pounds heavier than Rigdon on their first birthdays.

The other fantastic news we received came from one of the future mothers I have been corresponding with....she accepted her son approx. one month before we did and thought she'd also be travelling for the first visit around September. NOW, she is frantically making preparations to travel the end of this month! Her son is in the same orphanage (we believe) as ours. Very promising news.