Today is the last day of the year - we are really looking forward to all that the new year has to bring. We had a wonderful Christmas - Andrew received many nice gifts! Scott received a care package from his family in Australia - including Vegemite, which he had recently run out of (and commented on every morning at breakfast!) Scotts dad gave us a very generous gift as well. We have been busy getting Andrews room ready and making lists things that we need to purchase. I would like to buy a stroller with a removable car seat - I think it would be convenient to have on the last trip - so on the airplane he can sit in the carseat and we will also be able to insert it right in the stroller as we go throught the airport(s). If anyone already has one or has seen one that they like, please let me know. We are still waiting to hear about our court date. In the meantime, Scott is renewing his passport via the Australian embassy in New York City and we are obtaining the rest of the paperwork that is needed for the next trip.
We wish everyone a happy new year and peace on earth.

Monday 4 December

Our last day!
Elena and Sergei picked us up at 9:30 - we went straight to the orphanage. Andrews group was getting ready to go outside to play. They are a little bit older (3-4 yrs old) and very cute - I wish I could take 1 or 2 more home with us! We took him to the playroom and the music teacher was there - she played a song on the piano and then put on a childrens music CD. She started to dance with him and it was cute to see his little feet move from side to side. He really likes to be twirled around and giggles like mad when this is done. It was time for lunch and we were able to observe him for a few minutes - he eats at a table with 3 other children. He was having borsch soup and black bread. He feeds himself very well and is able to drink from a china teacup without spilling a drop. We then left to go to the main orphanage building to complete the necessary paperwork to proceed with the adoption. Later that evening we had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant - the Tom Yum Gum soup was excellent.

Tuesday 5 December 2006

Sergei picked us up at the hotel to take us to the airport. It was hard to leave without seeing Andrew one more time. I am trying to focus on all of the things I need to do to prepare for his arrival. He will not sleep in a crib so I will be getting him a toddler bed. I was also able to figure out his size - he is a size 2T - so now I can start to do some shopping - perhaps a trip to the outlets is in order!
The flight home was excellent as the airplane was only 1/2 full and we were able to stretch out! Our flight from JFK was delayed a by about 1/2 an hour (it is a very noisy airport!) - my sister Pam picked us up in Providence- it is good to be home!

Sorry I have not posted for a few days......I discovered that it is quite costly to use the internet at the Marriott (I should have known as they charge $12.00 for a glass of wine at the hotel bar!). On Saturday we took a tour of the Kremlin and the Armory Museum - the tour took 3 hours and very informative - a great lesson on the history of Moscow, Russia and its leaders. The architecture is an amazing sight to be seen. The Armory was most impressive with its display of Faberge eggs as well as the coaches, clothing and armour dating back to the 1100's. After the tour, we went to GUM department store for lunch and a quick walk through part of the mall - it is so huge - it would take an entire day to see it all. Later that evening, we met Lauren and Marco for dinner - they had just arrived that day and it was great to finally meet them! We went to a restaurant called "At the Mill" - the employees were dressed in period costumes and they had pheasants and other wildlife in cages. The food was delicious and after dinner we went to a nearby coffee shop that Scott and I had discovered earlier in the week.
On Sunday we were able to make a short vistit to the orphanage to see Andrew - it puts a smile on my face just thinking about him! We spent the afternoon shopping on Arbat Street - I think we were taken a few times - but soon learned the art of bargaining!

On our third day........
Elena and Sergei were scheduled to pick us up around 0930.... due to the arrival of Russian President Putin and his motorcade.....traffic was stopped in the business area of Moscow and they were held up for nearly one hour. We arrived at orphanage around 1100 hours and the staff brought Andrew to the playroom where we were able to spend more time alone with him. He seemed happy and his cold seems to be improving. His funny habit of emptying toys from the basket and meticulously returning them to the basket is very interesting to watch. We also initiated some of the paperwork to proceed with the adoption. The drive to and from the orphanage is very interesting - passing many statues and old buildings as well as the site of the 1980 olympic games which the US boycotted. After our visit, we asked Sergei to drop us at Arbat Street - Elena showed us around briefly - and then we stopped in many of the tourist shops, getting an idea for gifts to bring home. There is certainly not a lack of Matroushka dolls, a doll, in a doll, in a doll........Had a wonderful dinner in a small Italian restaurant - with possibly the best profiteroles ever! Saturday, we plan on touring the Kremlin. That's all for now.