Today started off very interesting. We were supposed to leave the good ol' Vlad Inn at 8:00 to be there by 10 to see Lex. We did not get to leave the hotel until around 9:15 because the President was staying in a building that is about 50 yards from the front gate. There were military and police everywhere. They weren't letting anyone in or out of the hotel grounds. Finally Irina, our facilitator, got in to get us and then we had to walk about 1/2 a mile down the street to where they made her park her car. They weren't going to let us out at first, but Irina worked her magic and they let us go. She is AMAZING!! She has been such a blessing. She speaks amazing English and is very well-connected. She has made this trip feel so safe and stress free. After we leave, I will continue to pray for her and the work she does. There is truly a special place for her in heaven.
We finally made it to the baby home around 11:00 (only an hour late). We were afraid we would only get to visit for an hour, but we ended up staying until 1:00. I was wondering all morning if Lex would recognize us. Yesterday when we met him for the first few minutes he had this look of terror. He never cried, but he looked scared to death. lol. I guess he was trying to figure out who the heck these people were (especially Daniel being a man) and what were they saying (he does understand Russian). I was really hoping not to see that face today, but to see a face that remembered his mom and dad. They brought him to us bundled up because they said we could take him outside for a walk (bundled up and it was like 80 degrees outside). When I say bundled up, I mean 2 layers of clothes, shoes, and a hat. When they came through the door with him, he looked at us with a look of "Hey. I remember you!" It wasn't a bright smile, but it definitely was not a look of terror :) Thank God for small victories!
We took him outside for a while. I tried to make sure he got to experience as many things out there as I could. Besides the playground stuff, we felt wood, trees, dirt, grass, flowers (mostly he just tried to put them all in his mouth). I don't know how often he gets to go out so I tried to cram as much experience into his short outing as I could. Daniel would call me a nerd and say that's just the teacher in me, but I couldn't help it. It's like he is just this sponge that is waiting to experience this life that we all take for granted. I think back to our other children and how even as newborns we took them everywhere we went--the beach, the ballfield, church, the store, anywhere. I think of all of the experiences they have already had in their short little lives. They know the feeling of sand between their toes, water splashing around them as they swim, the fur of cats and dogs, the feeling of sunshine on their faces. I can't wait to be able to fill Lex's life with those things...to give him those experiences he otherwise would never have. I knew coming here, I wanted him. I wanted to take him far from this place and give him a life, but after today and seeing the way he wanted to learn all about the world around him and getting to share that with him, I can honestly say that I am so in love with this little boy. He has stolen my heart the way all of our children stole my heart when they were born.
After our walk, we went inside to meet with the social worker. This was a very brief meeting in which she informed us of the little info she has about his birth mother. Then.......we got to feed the big boy lunch!!! Needless to say, he ate it all. They feed him from an adult sized bowl, spoon, and cup. I made a mess! At one point I swear he baby signed "more". After lunch, we got to undress him and take some more pics. We actually got to take pics of him in the exact spot where his referral pics were taken. He LOVES being naked. I mean what guy doesn't I guess, but he loves it. He laughed and played like it was the best time he's ever had (he was probably just happy not to be sweating from all those clothes). After a few minutes they came to take him for a nap. We kissed him goodbye and he actually waved Paka (bye) to us before we left. We may get to see him again tomorrow. We aren't sure yet. We have to get to the notary on time to sign the official "We want him." papers. After that, no one can get him except his birth mother. (Hallelujah!!)
I really hope we get to see him tomorrow, but if we don't I know he is going to be okay until we get back. He seems really happy despite his surroundings, and he loves the people at the baby home. Every time any of them walk in the room, he lights up. He smiles at them and they play with him. Everyone there is amazing. It takes a special calling to be able to do the job they do, and they are absolutely amazing. I pray that God will bless them for taking care of these babies as well as they do with what little they have. On top of the great caregivers at the baby home, I know he is in God's hands. I know that is the best place to be. If he is there, nothing can touch him.
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