Since We've Been Home

Since returning from Khabarobsk we have discovered a new four letter word ~ WAIT!

It has been a hard journey with a lot of unexpected turns, but adoption is not for the faint of heart. We have had to update almost all of our paperwork and made numerous trips to the courthouses and to Columbus. We have had to get our physicals redone 2 times in a month and I have a new second home at Staples, where I overnight package after package to our agency. But, the paperwork is DONE!

We have celebrated Avery's 1st birthday, had baby showers and Aunt Becky painted a mural in the nursery. Things are getting accomplished and we are getting closer each day.

Now we are putting the final touches on the nursery, assembling her crib, and packing for our upcoming trip, not knowing exactly when that will be. So although the word wait has left a sour taste on our mouths we will continue to wait for our little princess.

Meeting Avery

What can I tell you about meeting Avery for the first time? On May 3, our driver and translator picked us up from the hotel and drove us 35 minutes across town to the orphanage. Driving up was so overwhelming! We walked in the door and put on our booties then followed the translator to a small waiting room at the end of the hall. After what seemed like an eternity of pacing this small room lined with chairs the door opened and there she was! Our sweet little Avery. There was such fear in her eyes and I wanted nothing more than to make it all better, but I couldn't. She clung to her caregiver and cried when they tried to coax her to come to me. I cried and had to turn away. Eventually she warmed up and once they lowered her down to stand I picked her up and held her close. She is such a shy little girl and sucking her fingers seemed to be her soothing habit. We spent 3 hours with her each day for 3 days. Over the course of those days she warmed to us more and more. We got to see such personality from her and Ryan is wrapped tightly around her little finger. We played, we walked, we danced, we sang, she fell asleep in my arms (on the second day I was able to let Ryan hold her while she slept) and we just watched her and listened to her breathe. Those days were precious and leaving her was the hardest thing in the world.
We have been waiting for nearly 3 months to go back to Russia and bring Avery home. The wait isn't easy, but it will be worth every minute to have our sweet little one FOREVER!

Introduction

On May 28, 2004, we signed on with our agency to begin our Russian adoption journey. What a journey it has been. After months of paperwork and waiting we got the call we had been waiting so long for on Spetember 28, 2004. The agency had a referral for us ~ a baby girl ~ 3 months old! The next day we saw our daughter's face for the very first time. She was precious and had eyes that could reach into your heart. Finally, on October 7, 2004 we accepted the referral of our daughter.
After many delays we finally travelled to meet our baby girl on April 30, 2005. We met Avery for the first time on May 2, 2005 and to date it is the best day of our lives! I'll write more about our first meeting later.
We are currently waiting for a court date to bring our beautiful girl home! Soon we will be a family of 3.