Russian Language Doll

Here is my adoption retail find of the day. Meet Anna. She is a soft ballerina doll who speaks both English and Russian. (Our daughter will be from Ust-Kamenogork where the language is predominately Russian.) When I saw "Anna" in a local baby boutique I couldn't resist. "Anna" counts and says things like "My name is Anna"and "I love to dance" and best of all "I love you". (I'll need to learn that one.)

(Click this post's title to go to the Language Little's website)

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Ready to Roll

Well after much deliberation I finally bought a stroller today. I decided on a Bugaboo Cameleon in grey with a pink liner (of course). Now I know this may not seem like such a big deal but let me tell you I've bought cars with less stress! I cannot believe the choices there are now. How on earth could there be so many changes since the last time I bought a stroller 9 years ago? I mean sure it's almost a decade but give me a break, there are actually strollers that unfold themselves. So I researched, read reviews, scoured the Internet, test drove models in the baby stores and even stopped unsuspecting stroller pushing parents on the street. So I settled on the Bugaboo and how could I be wrong: it is THE stroller for all of the chic NYC moms as well as the celebrity set, which of course means it will be perfect for a middle aged, Midwest, suburban soccer mom like me :) Mostly though I like that I will be able to reverse the handle bar and see my dear daughter while we stroll. After this long wait I know I won't want to let her out of my sight!!

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Cleveland Rocks....

What a fortuitous few days. I'm not sure how we are suddenly finding one another (I think it was a post in a Kaz adoption group) but I have made contact with three other Kaz PAP's in the greater Cleveland area. I am the furthest away in Stow which is about 40 minutes south of Cleveland but they three are very close; Lakewood, Parma and Garfield Heights. I bet they are not more than 15-20 minutes apart.

I am hoping we will get to know each other before we travel. Fun now and later for our kids to play together. It seems we will likely go to Kaz within a few months of each other which is really cool. I think we are furthest along in the process but that doesn't mean much in Kaz.

If anyone is adopting in KAZ and lives in the greater Cleveland area please leave a comment. Hopefully we will find a way to all get together.

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We Have a Region

Recap of my cell phone call to Dart upon receiving the news from our agency...



Dart: Hi Honey

Me: Hi, Yst-Kamenogorsk!

Dart: What ?

Me: Yst-Kamenogorsk!

Dart: Who's a gork?

Me: No, no Yst-Kamenogorsk. Where are you...is that a kid screaming?

Dart: I'm at the grocery store, it not our kids. Where are you?

Me: I'm in the car-the top is down.

Dart: What are you saying?

Me: Yst-Kamenogorsk. Yst-Kamenogorsk!

Dart: What's Yst-Kamenogorsk?

Me: Yst-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. It's where our daughter is!

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Having a great time...wish you were here!

This morning Dart took the boys and their cousins (visiting from CT) to Cedar Point. I had to work so I missed the fun :(. They are still there but Dart has been sending me pics by email. Apparently the little guys are too small to ride a lot of the coasters so Dart has been letting them play games. Looks like they are pretty good!

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A Printy Family 4th of July Weekend

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Crack Mamma...

Baby's first smiles give mom's brain a buzz

Any mother who's ever felt a jolt of joy at her baby’s first grin knows how intoxicating that can be.
Now, scientists at the Baylor College of Medicine say there’s more to the baby buzz than just a rush of happy feelings. Turns out that seeing your own child smile actually activates the pleasure receptors in the brain typically associated with food, sex — and drug addiction.
“It may be that seeing your own baby’s face is like a ‘natural high,’ said Lane Strathearn, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor and and Texas Children's Hospital who studied the brain reactions of 28-first time moms.
“We know similar brain circuits are activated,” he added. “Whether that feels the same as a shot of cocaine, I’m not sure.”

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Agencies Denied Hague Accreditation

I post this for anyone getting started on their adoption journey...






The DOS published an updated list of agencies that have been denied accreditation yesterday.( July 1, 2008 was the statutory deadline for publishing the list).http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/convention/convention_4240.html

• A.A.C.


• Adoption Blessings Worldwide


• Adoption From the Heart


• Adopt International


• Angel's Haven Outreach


• Celebrate Children


• Children's House International


• Commonwealth Adoptions International Inc.


• DeColores Adoptions International


• Florida Home Studies and Adoptions


• Focus on Children dba Focus on Children of Wyoming


• Las Estrellas dba Adoption Partners
• PLAN Loving Adoptions Now
• World Partners Adoption
• Worldwide Adoption Services
  

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Looking for a Crystal Ball

Photo Title: Girls In Astana (Kazakhstan)

The next milestone in our Kaz adoption is the assignment of a region. Yesterday I sent an email to my agency asking for their best guess as to when this might happen and when I might travel. I am trying to get a sense for if, and when, I need to update my USCIS paperwork (uggghh). Our approval from US immigration expires on January 17, 2009. We need to file for an extension if we aren't able to complete our adoption before then.





What I was told is there is a family that is one month ahead of us who has already been assigned a region. This tells me we may have a region assignment this month. BUT this family is also hoping to adopt a girl (translation-longer wait) and they have been told they will not likely travel until October. If this is an indication of what we can expect then my best guess is we will travel this winter. Looks like we have to refile with USCIS-darn.

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