Tuesday, March 19, 2002

This morning we had to run around to various places to record the adoptions with the state and get passports for the kids. Chris and I went to eat with Nadia and sign forms. I have no idea where Corey and Mike were. Now we’re on our way to the baby homes. First we go to Kara’s. We were waiting in the room for her for what seems like forever and then her caretaker brought her in to us although she didn’t give her to me for a little bit. She was so cute—still not much hair and in a very pretty green outfit. Her caretaker seemed sad to let go of her and before she did, she brought in a doll and showed us that Kara knew where the dolls hair, eyes, nose and mouth were. Kara looked a bit scared and didn’t have much of an expression on her face. She definitely looked to her caretaker for comfort. After she gave her to me she stayed for a minute to make sure we were okay together. Nadia had told us ahead of time not to try to dress her right away but to let her get a little comfortable with us first so we played with her for a bit. Dressing her for the first time was a challenge. I was trying to take it slow with her but she started to cry and I could just imagine them swooping her away saying “what kind of mother will you be—she’s already crying!!” But we got her dressed. She looked so adorable in her pink overalls and little slippers. We set her on the floor to see if she was walking yet and she took slow, unsteady steps to us. We bundled her up in her snowsuit and out to the car we went. Corey carried her to the car—I’m always afraid I’ll fall. Once in the car, Corey held her first. I was carrying her off the plane to our families so he got to hold her in the car. We took off her snowsuit and put on a cute little while sweater that Nana and Papa had searched high and low for. In minutes she was sleeping in her Daddy’s arms and he looked as content as could be. After she woke up, Corey managed to let go of her and I held her for a while. She was sucking her thumb and playing with a fish. After picking up Sean Albert from his baby home, we were off to the airport. We went into the hospitality room, where Nadia got us food and we fed the kids for the first time. There’s nothing like watching new parents do this for the first time. Corey held her and I fed her and she ate and ate and ate. Then she and Sean walked around a bit. Kara’s so teeny tiny that it looks strange for her to walk. Now we had to get ready to leave. We put Kara into her snowsuit and hat—so cute. I propped Kara against my legs while I was picking things up and she topples over like a weeble and whacks her head on the floor. This was the first time that Corey yelled at me for something having to do with Kara. A tyrant is born—who would have thunk it?? Kara’s first plane ride. These planes are not big so it’s a little smooshy. Kara mostly sat with me. She did great on the plane, with the exception of throwing up on me, but she didn’t fall asleep until we were landing. I wrapped her up in my coat and put her hat on but she was out like a light. We deplaned and got our luggage without a problem and were into the car for the 2 hour car ride back to the hotel. She slept the whole way back to the hotel and even through hotel check-in. We had a crib for our room so we changed her into her jammies and put her into the crib. She started to cry so I rocked her for a little bit until she was asleep.