Court date is scheduled for Friday!

Today I found out that my court date is scheduled for tomorrow - which will mean I can make it back to Florida on Dec 23 as planned - YEAH!! My court time isn't until 5:30, so I'll still get to have one more visit with Angelina tomorrow and then I will fly to Almaty on Sunday so I can sign papers at the consulate there on Monday. Then I will leave from Almaty at 4:10 AM enroute to Frankfurt.

Today we took Angelina for her passport picture - of course without a babyseat - just like in China! She had her eyes wide open and was watching the scenery - I don't think she gets out much! After that we still had about another hour for a nice visit.

It's snowing!!

It's snowing! It's been snowing since last night and is supposed to continue for the next several days. Here are a couple of pictures from right around my apartment - including the biggest mall in Shymkent.

I guess I will find out tomorrow if my court date is scheduled for Friday or not. We went out today to print out some pictures of Angelina and me to make an album to take to court. Hopefully it will work out for me to come home for Christmas!

She definitely knows me now!

Today I had another nice visit with Angelina - she definitely knows me now - which will make it hard for both of us when I have to leave her for about a month. She was mostly in a good mood and didn't even take a nap while we were there. She had on another nice outfit when we got there, so I still didn't change her into the clothes I bought for her. But she really looks plump in the outfit - it's because she has 3 layers of clothes on! And it's the very nice interpretor Ira in the picture with her. When we were done at the babyhouse we went to Farida's office and I signed some more documents - then she went to take them somewhere else - I hope I know soon if I will get a court date for Friday - since it's Monday already! Tomorrow is another national holiday here and the babyhouse is closed both tomorrow and Wednesday. It is also supposed to start snowing - so I may not have anything to add until Thursday - but hopefully I'm in the last week of the journey!

Tired today...

Angelina was very tired today - she was yawning as soon as she came in - but she did have a big smile for me right away - I think she is beginning to recognize me :) She played for a while, but was yawning and rubbing her eyes. Then she had about a 40 minute nap and woke up and was still cranky! She was just about to fall back to sleep when they came to take her back. She had on a new outfit today, so I didn't change her into some of the clothes that I bought for her yesterday. Now it's the weekend - so I don't get to see her for 2 days. The weather is supposed to get colder and wet - so I don't know if I'll be going anywhere this weekend - if I do, I'll post some pictures.

Another nice visit

We had another nice visit today - although she had a short nap while she was with me again. I guess middle of the afternoon is always going to be close to nap time. Before we went to the babyhouse, we stopped by the bazaar to get Angelina some new clothes - apparently I could have brought some with me - but I would have brought clothes that were too big anyway. We bought some that were for 8 months today and when we tried them on, they were very big - just like the clothes they have for her there. I would say she's closer to 6 months size.

Yesterday the translator Jenga got several papers from the babyhouse that are needed to schedule the court date. He got them earlier than usual, so hopefully I will get the court date for next week Friday, so I can be home for Christmas. Then we will just have to wait a bit longer for Angelina to join us.

2 hours again!

Today we had another good 2 hour visit. This time she was in a good mood when I first got there and then got kind of tired. I guess it makes sense, since we start the visit at about 2:30 and 4:00 is supposed to be nap time. She played again with the toys I brought, as well as some from the visiting room. She was also doing her bubble blowing again today - she sticks her tongue between her lips and just blows away! It's so cute :)

2 hour visit today!

Today I got a 2 hour visit with Angelina - apparently they forget sometimes that the babies are in with the adoptive parents - as I hear that we are only supposed to get about an hour visit. When they first brought her in, she was in a bad mood - all fussy and crying - so I rocked her to sleep and she had about a half hour nap and then when she woke up, she felt great! Ira even got her to smile with us - she also played with the 2 little toys I brought along. I put a diaper on her today and man is she small! But she is very alert and moves around a lot and pushes herself up when she's on her belly - so I'm sure I can put a little more weight on her once I get her back home! And her hair is shaved - just like Kira's was - so that it will grow back in nice and thick!