Welcome to our Personal Journal. Here we'd like to share with you some of the fun, mystery, adventure and ummmm "other" things that will happen to us in Almaty and Moscow. Apart from sharing this adventure with all of you (family and friends) we also hope that the information in these pages might be useful to future adoptive parents.
So the updated plan is to go out and experience life in Almaty one day at a time. Then go back to the apartment and download each day's adventure into the web
site as a new day....(see blue links at left to jump to a specific day). We record
as we go so we don't forget any of the details.
Each Day will have a description of what happened that day along with an assortment of different pictures and our commentary. So far we have included
pics of the babies (obviously) but are also putting in pictures which cover life
in Almaty, types of food you can eat and an Almaty survival guide.
Thanks for looking and check back every day for updates....and sign the guest book. We plan on using that section for the kids' memory books....we care that much about what you say to us that we thought it would be sweet to share it with the kids as they grow up....C and D
Denise- Talking...again.
Taking a moment out of the journey to get a bite at the "Images" bar in Hartsfield. We recommend the Beef Dip!
Day 1 - The Voyage Begins
Hanging Out In the Business Elite Lounge.
After dragging your gross body weight in assorted luggage and hauling your butt downtown...you can bet a girl deserves a moment with herself.....
Morning in Almaty
The trip to Kaz was so uneventful. I got to sleep and eat....sleep some more.
Denise didn't really sleep. We had a great customs person...no probs whatsoever.
Except for the total snowstorm they had on the way in....As we were landing I said to Denise look at all the nice puffy white clouds....then the plane touched down.
Those clouds were just the whole ground plastered in snow!!!!
In my defense, the altimeter screen they were showing pegged us at 2300ft above sea level....hmmmph
"This is no ordinary door"
On the way to see the kids for the first time. First challenge: try to find a way to lock your door. It took a good 15 min to figure this out. In Kaz..no one gets in - no one gets out!
"Da we go get kids now!!"
My wife...the consumate Russian traveller.
"So this is what a mommy looks like..."
Mother and Son meet for the first time. The video for this is really quite amazing...but enjoy the still for now...
Ethan checking out the new folks.
"Welcome to Mother Hood"
Denise and little Isabella having a moment..."Bless her lil heart"
"I don't care what you call it...."
"It's wearing my suit...Mine is a Ralph Lauren
Original...tell it to change!!"
Daddy's Girl
"It doesn't get better than this...me, my daddy, cold soft squishy thing, no DUCK and oh yeah ...My Daddy."
Baby Isabella and Her New Dad
"I love my daddy cuz he made the duck
go away..."
"What's he doing here again!?!"
" I thought we were clear...NO DUCK!"
Hey...Save Some for me!
Isabella watches intently as Ethan proceeds to eat the
inflatable walker-thing-a-ma-bob.
Ethan- mugging for the camera
Whew...So much happened today. The flights were sooooooooooo smooth and everything went off without a hitch.
When we landed in Kaz...it was snowing....alot....and me without my boots. We did have to make space for the 3.5 tons of girly-stuff
D couldn't be without. But the snow was actually a surprise. Kaz was going through a warmspell until the Correias decided to show up.
Kazak customs was a breeze. Guys - Big Tip- when going through
customs make sure you're beautiful wife flashes the baby greens and your life will go very smooth.
We met our driver Vitaly (You'll see him shortly) and interpreter Dimash. Very pleasant fellows who helped us port the luggage to the car. I'm so glad all of the luggage made it in !!!
We got to the apartment. Everything was great. It was the exact
same apartment that Dave and Leslie Boyette shared last fall.
A bit cool because of the cold weather...but very nice digs.
Sleep was interesting. For once Denise woke up Early and kept waking me up. I was not amused. But we were up by 6am and just got our act together. Then we went to see Gulbanu. What a sweety...we went through the business stuff, chit chatted and then we got to see our lil ones.
The pictures speak for themselves but I want Denise to write something in this space...but she's out. Lack of sleep will do that to a person. when she gets up I'll see that she says something too!
OK I'm up! Short and sweet - we had a great trip in - our facilitators and apartment are great. We met Ethan and Isabella today in the baby house directors office without fan fare (and surprisingly enough I didn't cry) probably too tired! Ethan was all smiles and loves being tickled. Isabella seems to have a very reserved temperment. She cried through 3/4 of our first visit and 1/2 of the second visit. She has yet to crack a smile - but I am sure she will as soon as she feels more comfortable. In addition she is teething and has some major congestion going on - so no wonder she is miserable! All in all we were very surprised that they did not change alot from their initial referral pictures - except Isabella has lost the mohawk hair and now seems to have a more even fuzz! Well that's all for now - more tomorrow! Denise
