We've Come a Long Way, Baby!

It was a year and a week ago that we landed at the cold, concrete-walled St. Petersburg airport. Walking through clouds of cigarette smoke while our tummies were in knots over simply knowing we were finally in the same city as our children, we knew we were in for the experience of our lives. And boy, were we!

After going through immigration one by one and picking up our bags, we made our way out the gate and into the crowded airport foyer to look for our driver. Andrei! Andrei? Andrei....? It turned out he was given the wrong flight information from our agency and wasn't expecting to pick us up for another hour. Needless to say, our first 45 minutes on Russia soil were a little nerve-wracking!

But! We had our babies to look forward to. We settled in to our hotel (THE best hotel in the world, I will now proclaim, thanks to their phenomenal service) took a look out the windows and took it all in.

(Notice D's lack of facial hair!)

We were so anxious to get to sleep, knowing the next day we would finally be able to hold our babies. Finally be able to tell them that they are so loved. Finally be able to have our family together for the very first time. We opened up our laptop and took a look at the pictures of our kiddos which we had found via Russia's online orphan database.

We've never shared these photos outside of our family, so this is a first. These are the earliest photos we will ever have of our babies:

Alim (Bennett) pictured in his orphanage, no more than 15 months old

Nargiza (Celia) pictures in her orphanage, no more than 3 months old

Beautiful even back then, weren't they? Gosh, we're so blessed to be their Mama and Papa!

Last Full Day in St. Petersburg

I can’t wait to be home where I can prepare my own food and actually eat when I’m hungry and finally get our kiddos on a proper routine. Today is our last full day in St. Petersburg. I love the city. I love the people. I don’t quite love the weather. But I love that this place has now been ingrained into our family history. Nevertheless, there’s no place like home.

We leave tomorrow evening to take an overnight train to Moscow, where we will go to the American Embassy to apply for their Visas. I probably won’t be able to get online tomorrow, but will do my best once we’re in Moscow.

Today was a good day. Celia is feeling better I believe. Both kids, however, are demanding more intimate, one-on-one time. This is definitely wonderful, particularly with adopted children. However it makes things a little difficult. I think because neither of them had ever had to share us with another child before we brought the siblings together, it’s another adjustment we’re going through. Add on to that the facts that they are grieving the loss of everything that was familiar to them and that this is the first time either of them have experienced parental love, and I can see why they would be so protective over the attention they receive from us. C won’t let me get two feet away from her and B isn’t a fan of either Mama or Papa giving his sister too much attention. When they’re on their own, however, they get along increasingly well. B fed his sister some Cheerios from his snack catcher. He even will share toys with her—those he associates with her, but not so much with the toys that are “his.”

We actually were able to eat between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. today! Woot! Derek went out and picked up blinis for us. My goodness, they are DELICIOUS! Both Derek and I were expecting each one to be the size of a sushi hand roll so Derek ordered nine (thinking we’d have what was left over for dinner). We were mistaken. These yummy pancake treats we huge! We sampled the mushroom, chicken, ham and cheese, sweetened condensed milk and sweet cottage cheese and jam filled blinis. Mmmm… I wish we had tried this place sooner!

I’m off to try to get some shut eye. There’s not much of that these days! Here’s some photos from today:

To get out of the hotel room, we’ve taken to walking the halls

And looking out our favorite window

We had fun with balloons

Bennett likes to tackle Papa

They opened their new toy, which our friends bought for our kiddos for Christmas

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Santa stopped by St. Petersburg today and brought presents to our sweet babies! I’m sure they don’t understand that these presents are particularly for Christmas, as they have received many new toys to play with over the last few days, but Mama and Papa sure got a kick out of them opening their stockings.

Santa also surprised me with two presents that one of his elves snuck in a suitcase. I suppose I didn’t make it on the naughty list after all.

This morning was difficult for me. Our sweet little girl’s tummy got even worse and she had a bad case of diarrhea. I was beginning to really stress about C’s health. There was even a fleeting moment when I thought that perhaps she is in worse hands with me than with the caregivers at her baby home. Surely they would know exactly what to do and have just what she needs to make her feel better. Self-doubt is a terrible beast isn’t it?

However, when Derek had to leave for an hour and a half to pick our kiddos’ passports and our babies refused to take their afternoon naps, God certainly showed his mercy on me. I have been seriously praying over the last few days that the fear and insecurities over my job as a mother would leave me, and God is so faithful. It occurred to me as I changed poor C’s diaper four times in one sitting that I need to focus on one thing at a time. Whatever I can do in this moment, I need to do my best at that. (And Derek might have mentioned that to me once or twice…) So, I changed those diapers and then B's (just one for him—though a very full one!) and enjoyed each minute as it came with the kiddos.

Some new—but very dear—friends invited us to dinner tonight, in celebration of our Christmas. Earlier this morning I seriously doubted that we would make it. C was sick, I was showered but felt I looked awful, and we were exhausted from lack of sleep and skipping lunch three days in a row. However, God gave me the extra boost I needed while D was away. He also spoke through my children to urge me on. At one point, Bennett took his and Celia’s coats and such and took each piece, one by one, to the door. I guess we were going out! B and C later played on the stack of soft bundles.

Dinner was fabulous. Being the very first time eating out with the kiddos in a group setting, we didn’t know what to expect. But they were fabulous! Sure C got fussy a few times and B (once he got over his fear of being in a new place with a bunch of unfamiliar people) was not quiet. But they were great! It was really good to get out of the hotel—something I hadn’t done in several days. (What day of the week IS it…?) Our sweet friends and the wonderful group of friends who they introduced us to definitely made the best Christmas even better!


Merry Christmas to my friends and family at home! This is the first Christmas I will not be able to talk with my parents, which makes me a bit homesick. But I know everyone understands. Friends and family, we miss you all so very much and can’t wait to bring the whole Hunter clan home! We love you!

Happy Christmas Eve!

Our Christmas Eve started out rough. Our poor baby girl had a bad night. We were up with her for four hours as she cried and cried. I felt terrible that I couldn’t or just didn’t know how to ease her pain or unhappiness. So much for thinking that we bypassed the staying-up-all-night stage with a little one…
I’d say Derek and I got about two hours of sleep last night, which was not made better by the kiddos refusing to take a nap at the same time. Add into that the fact that our bodies have had to adjust to completely different time zones three times in the last three weeks. I mention all this so that I will not be judged by the photos I’m about to post.

Despite the tiredness, this has been the best Christmas Eve ever. As I look at the sleeping (at the moment) miracles in the cribs next to me, I’m reminded of the miracle that took place on Christmas centuries ago. I am and will forever be completely thankful for God’s amazing miracles.

Due to exhaustion and the fact that poor C has been up crying three times already since we put her to bed two and a half hours ago, I’m going to summarize the day through pictures:


It wasn’t all bad for sweet Celia today

B likes his stroller. …and—we’ve learned—sucking his thumb

Mommy surprised the kids with their first Christmas tree!

But I think the kiddos liked the many felt ornaments and the container that held them all better.

We decorated our tree

Ta-da! Thank you to everyone who helped make ornaments for our tree!

Brother and sister started playing together…

Finally, Papa told the Christmas story with the help of B and C’s first Christmas presents. They were a hit!

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Things I've Already Learned

Things I’ve learned parenting young adopted biological siblings:

• As much as I wish I could, I can’t differentiate between their cries… yet. Are you hungry? Thirsty? Sick?

• I can’t imagine loving any individuals more if they had come into our family any other way. What a story we have! “Jesus loved you so much, He brought your parents halfway across the world to bring you together and bring you home.”

• Girl poop is much less messy than boy poop.

• It’s very hard to get a one-year-old to drink when she doesn’t use a bottle and doesn’t understand the sucking needed for a sippy cup. I’m worried she’s not getting enough fluids… but we’re still going through diapers. Hopefully one of us will catch on soon.

• Laying down face-to-face with my son and having him fall asleep looking into my eyes and grasping the charms on my necklace is heaven. Pure heaven.

• As difficult as it may make juggling things, I secretly love the fact that when my baby girl is sick, nothing but Mommy will do.

• Disciplining a child who has never felt the love of a mother or father, or who has never had any material thing completely belong to him is difficult.

• Hearing our boy say “Mama” and run to me melts my heart.

• …so does seeing how much his face lights up when his Papa returns from doing one of several hundred things that he seems to be taking care of.

• Parenting makes me love my husband even more.

• Doubting yourself and your parenting skills in these early stages is not helpful, though it's hard not to do so.

• It is nearly impossible to get a good meal with young kiddos who are desperately drinking up the one-on-one attention they are finally getting—and so deserve. I honestly think B and C have ate more today than either of their parents.

• Baby Einstein “Praise Baby Lullaby” is one of the best DVDs ever. If it were up to me, it would have won an Academy Award. Or, at least a super-duper Mommy award!

• This is as hard as I expected. Possibly more…?

Parenthood is definitely setting in. It’s tough! But more rewarding than nearly anything I’ve ever done.

C is sick. She has some bug causing her to be congested and I believe she is also teething what must be a monster of a tooth, considering how uncomfortable she is. We have the proper medications. I just wish they would work faster—and longer! (sweet thing didn’t get much of a nap today since she was in pain).


Derek took B out to pick up lunch while I held and walked with C. Derek reported that Bennett did pretty well! He didn’t say much, as he’s not a fan of strangers—or, “dya-dya” in Russian. After they had a bite to eat, it was time to play some more. Today Bennett gave one of his stacking cups to his sister. We’re making strides!

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I plan on putting up our “tree” and have the kids decorate. I plan to post pictures—especiallysince some of you helped make the ornaments! We have small gifts for the kiddos to open on Christmas. Three a piece—just like Jesus.

Well, Derek just got back with dinner for us. He has quite the story to tell about his journey out tonight! But I’ll let him share it later. Hee hee…

I think we lucked out last night with the kids each getting 11 hours of sleep. Poor C has been up twice already and it's only 9 p.m.

Good night friends.

Quick Note...

...just to say that Bennett is ALL boy! Whew!

And I believe Miss Celia is all girl!

"Indescribable"

It’s “Gotcha Day!”

We began by stopping off at a Russian supermarket to buy diapers, wipes, food, juice and other items. My stomach was in knots as we made our way down the snowy roads to our baby girl’s orphanage.


As we walked up the slippery path to the main door, I paused, turned to my amazing husband and gave him a kiss. “Are you ready to be a mom?” he asked? “Yes,” I replied without even thinking about it. “Are you ready to be a dad?” “Absolutely.”

When we got up to the third floor and saw our baby girl everything seemed to happen so fast. The caregivers, who were teary-eyed at her leaving already, had dressed C in a beautiful burgundy dress with a huge white bow. It means so much to us that they care for her as much as they do.

I quickly changed C into her outfit, which we brought from home. Derek went back to her group’s room and snapped pictures so that down the road she can see where she spent the first year of her life. We left out gifts with the caregivers and they gave us some last pieces of advice: “She loves bread,” “She’s used to being spoiled,” “She’s a very smart girl,” and well wishes: “We wish you a full and happy life,” “take good care of her!” As we were heading out, the caregivers stopped us and gave us a chocolate bar and wished us “Happy New Year.” We bundled here up and we were off to get her brother!

Celia fell asleep on the car ride to B’s home.

The three of us (plus our driver/translator—have I mentioned how AWESOME he is?!) got out of the car and trekked through the snow to B’s orphanage. We stopped at the director’s office and she suggested that C not g up to B’s group because she might get sick. Derek stayed in Dr. G’s office (the baby home directors are also pediatricians) with C while I went up to get B. After he was changed into the clothes we brought him—and I was chided for not dressing him in tights—our translator took some pictures of his group’s room, we handed out gifts and said our goodbyes and we went to join the rest of the family!

Our driver opened the door to Dr. G’s office and in B and I went. I swear, C’s face lit up the second we walked through. Bennett and Celia… Alim and Nargiza… brother and sister were united at last! Celia was simply enamored with her biological brother—which truly touched my heart, because I was always so enamored with my late brother, Trevor. Bennett on the other hand must have been thinking, “Who are you and why is my Papa holding you?” Ah! I can’t wait to see how their relationship blossoms. There is something truly special about a brother/sister bond—especially one with a backstory like this one.

Before we left, Dr. G insisted we feed them a small lunch. Celia was all about it. Bennett was nervous and it took him a few minutes to come around. Soon enough we were off to head back to our hotel! The drive took a bit longer than expected due to traffic and both of our kiddos got a 45 minute nap.

When we got “home” to our hotel, we played and played and played. Bennett was into EVERTHING! We will DEFINITELY have our hands full with this two-year-old boy! We took several walks around our hotel floor and looked out windows. It still amazes me that they are seeing SO much for the first time. First boat, first line of traffic, first view of the world from 6-flights up… Bennett was looking at his photo book and saw a picture of me, pointed, and said “Mama.” He then flipped to the picture of Derek and said, “Papa.” Papa and I both teared up. B was so quiet at every visit up until this point. Now he just talks and talks! I guess his caregiver was right, aybe he was just saving all of his gab for us!

We were able to get onto Skype and talk to all the grandparents at one time. (They all met at a McDonald’s while Derek’s mom was on a work break.) There were tears all around.

After the call, we fed them dinner (I sure hope we’re feeding them enough. For an inexperienced parent, it’s hard to tell). In a word, it was MESSY! We’re still trying to figure out the best way to get them to drink. They are used to drinking out of small tea cups. Hopefully either they’ll catch on to the sippy cup or we’ll learn how to help them pour the drink into their mouths. Then it was bath time. B LOVED his bath and could have played in there for hours! C… not so much. The poor thing cried and cried. We made it through though!

After a short visit from our in-country coordinator, we got ready for bed. Derek read them part of a “Soviet” folk tale as we rocked each of our adorable and cuddly little ones. Then I popped in the “Praise Baby Lullaby” Baby Einstein DVD that a dear friend gave us. B was entranced! C enjoyed it as well. The first song that played was “Indescribable.” Listening to the words, rocking with OUR babies in our arms at last, brought tears to Derek and my eyes. I don’t think we’ll be able to hear that song again without thinking of the indescribable miracle God granted us. God loved B and C so much that he had their parents fly more than half-way across the world (three times!) just to get them. And God loves us so much that he brought us all together in the most PERFECT way.


And then, we put them to bed.

Dear friends, I say goodnight to you as a mother who feels blessed infinitely more than I deserve. I have two beautiful, smart and lovable miracles to call my own. I truly don't feel like I know what I'm doing, but--for the first time in a long time--I like that feeling. God has had his hands in this for years and years. He's got us this far, and I can't wait to see where he takes us now! We are all in the best of hands! I'm SO GRATEFUL!

Happy Birthday Celia!

We left our hotel this morning at 9:20 a.m.—well before the sun came up. This Saint Petersburg winter day—which are usually extremely short as it is—was practically non-existent since today is the shortest day of the year. But man! We sure packed a lot into this “short” day!




After making two quick stops for paperwork, we went to the “Baby Palace,” or where we pick up our official adoption decrees and new birth certificates. After a two hour wait and several Russians asking us (I’m guessing) “Are you in line?” they called us in. Signing the documents that officially state that we are Bennett and Celia’s “Mama” and “Papa” gave me chillbumps. Derek reached for my hand and we both glowed with excitement as we got up from our chairs and said “spa-see-ba” to the women who prepared our documents. (They also commented in Russian about how “young” we are. I suppose to be adoptive parents, we are rather young…)



Side Note: As we were off to drop off some of the documents to Bennett’s baby home, “Pour Some Sugar on Me” played on the radio. One of my favorite childhood memories is of me with my late brother, Trevor, in his red Chevy Camaro just listening to rock songs, one of which was “Pour Some Sugar on Me”. To this day, the song makes me think of my brother, who passed away five years ago. It was good to have one of those “hugs” from God at a time like this.



We dropped off the official documents to both baby homes so that they could take them to the local police station and have our kiddos legally released from the orphanage. After making both stops, I looked out the car window and pleasantly watched a mother pull her young son on a sled through the snow. At that moment, I wished for a little sled with which we could play with B and C this week, but realized that trekking through on a stroller would be adventure enough.



And then it hit me.



The stroller!



We left the stroller at the airport yesterday. Completely forgot about it! Not a single thought. Nothing until that very minute. Oy!



“Not to worry,” our amazing and laid back driver/translator told us. He took us by the airport—which, luckily, was a short drive away from the baby homes—and we picked up the stroller. It may have taken us filling out several pages of customs documents for unaccompanied luggage, waiting and hour and 15 minutes and paying two Euros per kilo (thank goodness this sucker was relatively light!) and a “service and handling” fee, but we got it! This was just Mommy Mistake #1 of what I’m sure is going to be a long list of “oops!”



We then got to swing by Celia’s baby home for a quick visit and to sing “Happy Birthday” to the birthday girl. Perhaps she could feel that I was a bit frazzled after the craziness that turned out to be our day, because she was particularly taken with Papa today—something I know he absolutely didn’t mind! I wanted to do more for our C’s birthday like bring a cake and celebrate a bit more, but the day didn’t allow for that. I told her I’d make it up to her when we got home.

After several other quick stops we went to file for B and C’s passports. Derek and our driver/translator took care of everything after waiting just 20-30 minutes. The Russian passports should be ready Saturday, which is a day earlier than was first estimated. That could put us home as early as the 30. However, since we already had tickets booked and it would cost us a minimum of $600 to change them, we’re sticking with our original plan and coming home on the 31st.



To those who would like to meet us at the airport (and we would LOVE to see you!), we will land at 6:20 p.m. if the weather cooperates and everything goes as planned. I hope you fall in love with our kiddos at first glance, just as we did!



We will head out tomorrow morning at 9:15 and make a stop at a store to pick up diapers, wipes, food and a scarf (for me, since I lost my nice black cashmere scarf somewhere along the way…). At about 10:30 we’ll be at Celia’s baby home, saying goodbye and THANK YOU to her caregivers, dressing her in her first outfit that 100% belongs to her, and take her from the orphanage. The three (plus our driver/translator) of us will then be off to pick up Bennett and do the same with him. Our babies will meet for the first time in their life, and the brother-sister-bond will start, something that is near and dear to my heart. We should be back in our hotel room tomorrow in time to feed them lunch!