Day 31--The Perfect Child Gets Better

Day 31-- February 18, 2009

OK, it only gets better with this kid. He knocks when doors are closed (and waits for a response before entering), he goes to bed at 8:00 (and doesn’t get up after we leave the room), and he is happy from the moment he wakes up (which is too early for me) until the moment he goes to sleep (which is too early for him). He LOVES taking a bath—especially when John dumps water on his head again and again. Just before going to sleep, he loves for us to “relax” him as we call it with Karis; his favorite body part to be touched ever so lightly are his feet.

We discovered another food that he doesn’t like: raspberry preserves. I had some toast today, and he wanted no part of the piece that had the preserves. Of course, he scoffed up the other piece that had just butter! He has also taken a preference of water to apple juice (that’s a good thing), and doesn’t like to drink milk, but will eat it with his cereal. He is also an ambidextrous eater. He must have a fork and spoon—one in each hand—for virtually every meal. He eats pizza with a fork, as hard as we may have tried to let him know it was OK to pick it up with his hand. John taught him how to tip the bowl and drink the milk out of the bowl when his cereal is gone. And I thought Karis learned that on her own. Silly me!

Our day started off slowly, revved up quickly, and then ended slowly as well. We spent the morning waiting for our driver to call/arrive to take us to the medical center and to have Aidar’s passport photo taken. I swear this kid is going to think we’re wealthy; what a disappointment it will be for all of us to not have a driver when we get home. As I’ve said before, I just close my eyes when we’re on the road. You don’t want to look forward, but you don’t feel any better when you look out the side windows, either. Our driver says that 50% of the drivers are crazy and 50% are stupid. It’s like NASCAR on every street.

Once we got on the road, we got everything we needed to do accomplished in record time: we picked up the translated documents; we had his photo taken for his visa; while the photo was being developed, we bought toys for the baby house (Marianne--the children’s store in the same building as the Russia grocery store is great for this (not too expensive)); and we bought flowers for the doctor of whom we have become so fond at the baby house. Our driver dropped us off at the baby house, and we delivered the wonderful surprises. Unfortunately, the doctor was sick, but we wish her a speedy recovery. Flowers always help you to feel better!

We walked to an indoor strip mall where we bought some items in the past, and we bought Aidar the cutest little slipper boots that look like colorful horses. Two stores (one across from the other) were competing for the sale, so had him try on slippers in both stores. When we asked him to choose which pair he wanted, he went over and picked up his very own shoe! Too much pressure!

We had a relaxing late afternoon at home before dinner and a bath. Aidar is asleep in bed now, and John is asleep on the couch, as your day is just beginning. Tomorrow is another busy day for us at the Embassy. For those of you wondering, I am still pretty sick, not sleeping, and still cannot talk. But, as I’ve said, being sick doesn’t preclude you from being a mom, does it?

Our coordinator asked if we would like to meet with Aidar’s birth parents on Friday. I am so glad to know that they would like for us to stay in touch. I also like that Aidar will grow up knowing them. I think meeting will bring peace to their hearts. And it brings a sense of fulfillment to mine so that I am not worried about them and how they feel to lose the child they cannot help. John is a little more nervous than I that everything could change even as late as just before our flight if they decided to change their minds. I think we all have to have faith that this is the right thing to do.