Bitter Sweet (Moscow Trip 1 - Day 7)

The day started with tears and ended with some misty eyes. When the caregivers brought the Peanut to us this morning he was balling his poor little eyes out. He let me pick him up and bounce him around a little but the only thing that stopped the sadness was…. Cheerios! Honey Nut Cheerios! He was obviously still not feeling well and started out being a bit tired. The psychologist came in and we showed her some video from our past few days and she was very, very pleased.

We left the garden room we started out in because the little guy had a cold and it was freezing in there. The psychologist allowed us to use her office since it was warmer. I put him down before we left the garden room and she asked him if Mama should hold him and he said “da” so I picked him back up and trekked up the stairs. Boy is he heavy.

We pulled out the blanket Keith’s mom made for him. We sat on it yesterday and he knew exactly what it was. He scooted his little butt over onto that blanket and continued with the cheerios. Same as Wednesday – feeding mama, feeding papa and letting us feed him. Keith put the cheerio between his teeth again and the Peanut told him no. He stomped and waved his hands in the air. It was hilarious.

We played with the hammer, bubbles, a ring stacker and a toy that made animal sounds. It was interesting having the psychologist in there because she helped to bring out his real personality. He would talk a bit and nod his head vigorously when talking to her. At one point, he heard his groupa playing in the hall. He told K and the psych that they were being loud and he was going to tell them to be quiet and not to be naughty. He ran to the door, opened it with Keith’s help and went out and told them to be quiet. The caregiver made a mistake of giving him a hard candy. When he came back in with the psych she was holding him and he started to choke on the hard candy. She turned him upside down and wacked him and he was okay. I believe Keith has that on video tape.

Once he came over to me, I asked him to give it to mama and he spit it in my hand. Then he was distracted by the cheerios and forgot all about it. He was very, very interested in the laptop, video camera and camera. Keith showed him how to use the little Sony camera and my boy took pictures of Keith and I. It was so, so funny! The camera is one that doesn’t have a view finder, but instead a big screen. He put it right up to his eye, closed one eye and snapped a picture. He even took a semi self portrait! :-)

The psychologist told me that I need to lie down (and had me demonstrate) when the Peanut gets upset and put him on my chest so that my heart is close to his heart. She said that it is very important for children to have that and our poor little guy never did. She said it’s a good way to bond and to calm him down. So we tried (even though he wasn’t upset) and he snuggled for, oh… 2 and a half seconds. Then he wanted more cheerios. :-) While he was on my lap he fed me cheerios, then handed them to Keith. At one point he even fed Keith a cheerio that he had in his mouth. Such a good little sharer! (And yes, Keith ate it.)

After our little bonding, he sat on Keith’s lap and had some animal crackers (we got in trouble for helping to ruin his lunch!). Our translator told him that we were going to be going very far away to America and we would return with presents for him. She asked him if that was okay and he said “Yes!”. She said “Okay, they will go home and then be back for you” and he said “No, No!”. She then told him “But they have to go home in order to bring you lots of presents like more crackers, cars, toys and also to get your big brother. Is this okay?” And he said “Yes.”

Soon thereafter, it was time for lunch and they wisked him away. We had forgotten to give him his gifts! They brought him back and he could have cared less about the photo album but graciously took it. Keith gave him the blanket his mom made and he took that. We went to give him the stuffed dog we made at Build a Bear and he said “Nyet” and shook his head. Do you see now why I think we’re going to have some difficulties with the dogs?? Oye Veye!

After the orphanage we went to the big baby store in the city center. We bought a few Russian CDs with fairytales, Christmas songs, and songs about animals. We noticed again today that we have a huge hurdle to overcome with language. He understands everything, just doesn’t talk too much.

We stopped by the office and saw S and I. Keith asked S for a timeline for court. Since the Peanut was born in a different city, they have to get his papers from there as well as from the baby home he was in. Also, the MOE needs to write a letter stating he has been on the databank long enough (or something like that) and until the judge receives it, no court date will be give. She said maybe 5 weeks. Not that we’re talking about it, we’re not sure if she meant 5 weeks for them to get the letter or 5 weeks until we get a date. I guess only time will tell! :-)

Tonight we’ll head to dinner with the crew again and then tomorrow we’ll leave our flat at 8:30 am for a 12:55 flight! Next post will be from a very jet lagged person!

Paka!
Becky