Today is our little guy's second birthday. Initially we had hoped that he'd be home with us in time for his birthday; guess that just wasn't meant to be. When we saw Andrey last, I didn't ask the orphanage whether or not they'd have a little birthday cake for him. I didn't want to hear their response if the answer was "no". I mean, that's alot to ask, considering they have many kids to care for and not alot of resources available to them.
You can bet that he'll have a homemade birthday cake next year. Maybe even a present or two as well as plenty of birthday hugs and kisses. I'm sure he'll also be fussed over by friends and family since it will be his first birthday home with us.
Things will be very different for Andrey in a few short months. We just have to be patient and stay focused on getting him home safely. It can't come soon enough. Happy 2nd birthday, my love!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
What's in a name?
Andy and I have had Andrey's "new name" picked out for quite some time now. We thought long and hard about picking out a name that would honor his past and also link him to both my family and Andy's family. We think we've come up with one that suits him just fine.
Vincent Andrew Barry
We decided to use his current name as his middle name. We'll use the American translation, which is "Andrew". How appropriate that he shares a name with his new daddy!
His first name will be Vincent, after my dad who passed away 7 years ago. I know that somehow my dad knows that his first grandson has been named after him, and he's smiling big time about that! As an added bonus, Vincent was also the name of my mom's oldest brother. He was also very special me. So it's kind of like a "2 for 1" !
His second middle name will be Barry. He was Andy's mom's brother. Barry died when he was a boy. Apparently he was quite a special boy and he was adored by Andy's mom. Maybe one day Vincent will complain about having 2 middle names instead of just one. We'll deal with it when the time comes. If that's his biggest issue, then we're doing just fine!
So until he's home with us, he's still Andrey. Or cutie-pie. Or chubby cheeks. Take your pick.
Vincent Andrew Barry
We decided to use his current name as his middle name. We'll use the American translation, which is "Andrew". How appropriate that he shares a name with his new daddy!
His first name will be Vincent, after my dad who passed away 7 years ago. I know that somehow my dad knows that his first grandson has been named after him, and he's smiling big time about that! As an added bonus, Vincent was also the name of my mom's oldest brother. He was also very special me. So it's kind of like a "2 for 1" !
His second middle name will be Barry. He was Andy's mom's brother. Barry died when he was a boy. Apparently he was quite a special boy and he was adored by Andy's mom. Maybe one day Vincent will complain about having 2 middle names instead of just one. We'll deal with it when the time comes. If that's his biggest issue, then we're doing just fine!
So until he's home with us, he's still Andrey. Or cutie-pie. Or chubby cheeks. Take your pick.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
A great visit
We're back home now, safe and sound. We have more pictures to post from our last day with Andrey; once we get our new internet service working at home we'll be sure to post them for your viewing pleasure.
I have to tell you it was hard saying goodbye to our little guy. I think of it more as a "see you soon", but that can be hard to explain to an almost 2 year old. I wonder what he thought when we didn't show up the next day? I also wonder what his caregivers told him. Nothing? "They'll be back for you?" "That's your new mommy and daddy?" Who knows exactly what they are telling him. I'm hoping they're telling him we'll be back to get him.
We left Andrey a picture book of our photos; Andy and I, our parents, siblings, Andrey's cousins-to-be. He seemed to enjoy the book when we gave it to him, pointing to each face in the book as Andy said the name of the person. Our interpreter, Katya, pointed to my picture, looked at Andrey and said, "mama." For a moment I was a little stunned; that was the first time anyone referred to me as his mom. It was a moment of joy and yes, a little panic! Wait, I'm going to be his MOTHER? Oh, right, I knew that!
He gave us each a little hug the last day. Then, at the encouragement of his caregiver, he shook Andy's hand, then my hand, then Katya's hand, then he completed the circuit again. Then he smiled sweetly and said "paca", goodbye in Russian. What a little politician! He already knows how to work the crowd. Yes, folks, I managed to exit without crying, but it was a challenge. I did get a little teary at the airport, but the rational side of me took hold. We'll be back for him soon. Maybe not soon enough for my liking, but things will happen when they happen. Best estimate is that we'll return in 6 to 8 weeks for 2 more visits with him. On the third day of our visit, we go to court and he "officially" becomes our son. Several more weeks have to pass before he can leave the country with us, so then we will head back to Moscow for trip number 3. I should just send my entire paycheck directly to Aeroflot Airlines at this point!
There's a popular quote that speaks to adoptive families and their journey to their children, "Nobody said it would be easy; they just said it would be worth it."
Little Andrey, you are so worth it!
I have to tell you it was hard saying goodbye to our little guy. I think of it more as a "see you soon", but that can be hard to explain to an almost 2 year old. I wonder what he thought when we didn't show up the next day? I also wonder what his caregivers told him. Nothing? "They'll be back for you?" "That's your new mommy and daddy?" Who knows exactly what they are telling him. I'm hoping they're telling him we'll be back to get him.
We left Andrey a picture book of our photos; Andy and I, our parents, siblings, Andrey's cousins-to-be. He seemed to enjoy the book when we gave it to him, pointing to each face in the book as Andy said the name of the person. Our interpreter, Katya, pointed to my picture, looked at Andrey and said, "mama." For a moment I was a little stunned; that was the first time anyone referred to me as his mom. It was a moment of joy and yes, a little panic! Wait, I'm going to be his MOTHER? Oh, right, I knew that!
He gave us each a little hug the last day. Then, at the encouragement of his caregiver, he shook Andy's hand, then my hand, then Katya's hand, then he completed the circuit again. Then he smiled sweetly and said "paca", goodbye in Russian. What a little politician! He already knows how to work the crowd. Yes, folks, I managed to exit without crying, but it was a challenge. I did get a little teary at the airport, but the rational side of me took hold. We'll be back for him soon. Maybe not soon enough for my liking, but things will happen when they happen. Best estimate is that we'll return in 6 to 8 weeks for 2 more visits with him. On the third day of our visit, we go to court and he "officially" becomes our son. Several more weeks have to pass before he can leave the country with us, so then we will head back to Moscow for trip number 3. I should just send my entire paycheck directly to Aeroflot Airlines at this point!
There's a popular quote that speaks to adoptive families and their journey to their children, "Nobody said it would be easy; they just said it would be worth it."
Little Andrey, you are so worth it!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
It's Moscow, baby!
Here are some photos from our trip to the Red Square area last night. We took the metro from our apt. in the Begovaya neighorhood to the Revolution Square stop, which is right near the Kremlin. The metro is very clean and efficient, and the stations--especially the older ones near the city center--are quite elaborate. The subway trains themselves seem a bit old--definitely Soviet era--but they have quite a smooth ride. People were not nearly as pushy or elbow-y as we'd been warned.
We hung around Red Square, taking some shots, then crossed the bridge near the Kremlin just in time to see the sun setting over the golden domes of the Kremlin's many cathedrals. What a sight!
It's hard to describe Moscow in a few words. We explored a few neighborhoods later on last night, and some of them reminded us of London's Picadilly Circus, others reminded us of Rome, and others, esp. near Red Square, were just ... Moscow. This is a city like no other ... part European, part Asian. There is a lot of prosperity here, but also a huge amount of disorganization (the street traffic!). Construction cranes are everywhere. It's too much to describe in just one post. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so enjoy the ones we've posted here. More to follow.
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