How to describe a day like today?

      We got an early start as usual, talked with our awesome boys on Video Skype and had breakfast. We had to wait for the court house to open so that we could get the official court order to release Lena to us. I swear that the clocks run slower here than anywhere else. Finally at 10:30 we head towards the baby home to pick up our daughter. Despite Yuri's best attempts to avoid traffic jambs; it takes us nearly 2 hours to get to the baby home. Following is the navigation tool that he uses, green is light traffic, yellow moderate and Red for jambs. We had to take a detour because a bridge was in the Red.

     On a positive note, I was able to finish listing to Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace.  Seriously, I was able to complete the entire novel in 2 & 1/2 trips to the baby home :-)

     Finally, we arrive at the baby home (Picture below) and go through our normal routine of having the security guard call "Nickolivia" out for a visit. (This is her former last name)

     A whirlwind of activities start once we are ushered upstairs to the play room. There are forms to sign, gifts to give the caretakers, social worker, doctors and director. Finally, the caretaker asks for the clothes that we brought so they can dress her. We all want to make sure she is warm so 3 layers and a snow suit later we finally hear footsteps coming from the baby wing.

     Straining our eyes to see down the hall, we finally get to see our sweet daughter dressed up in her new clothes. With tears of joy in our eyes, we completely forgot about all of the doubt, fear and frustrations leading up to this point. The only important thing now is right here in our arms. Thank God for this amazing gift! Two of the caregivers comment on her cute outfit and once again call her a princessa(russian for princess). We thank everyone once more and step out to start our new lives as family of 6!

     We cram in to the back of Yuri and Irene's car and head back for the motel.

     Within 5 minutes of driving she shows us how she felt about her last lunch from the baby home. Christy spends the next several miles cleaning up the mess while I try not to join Lena :-)

          After cleaning her up and playing for a few minutes, she is fast asleep.

Momma was out 10 minutes later...

     Two hours later, we had to wake her up at the motel. The manager greats us with a Teddy Bear as a gift and assures us that the room is equipped with pack and play, boiling kettle and a cleaned out mini bar; making room for the formula. Boy has my life changed :-)

Next, she takes a bottle from Christy.

And some banana & Rice baby food from me!

Then for some play time...

  Sorry for the blurry photo but she doesn't quit moving! We will post again tomorrow after we hopefully get some sleep.