Happy Gotcha Day, Sasha!

"Gotcha Day" is the term used to describe the day that your adopted child was legally and physically yours. Most adoptive parents choose to celebrate this day each year with their child. Often times, parents will select gifts from the birth country and foods from the birth country and make it quite the celebration.

At two, we've decided to make this first 'Gotcha Day' pretty simple. We do have a gift for Sasha that we purchased in the Russian markets with our good friend, Alex. We will officially celebrate "Gotcha Day" tomorrow evening with my father who will be in town visiting his grandson. More importantly than the party, is the opportunity to take a bit of time and revel in how much Sasha has changed from the quiet (it's impossible to remember him as being quiet), serious, angry little boy. The first photo is of a little boy that doesn't realize that his whole world is about to change (notice the teeth marks on this crib ... I should've known!).

Dressed in his denim OshKosh overalls, coat and hat for the trip to Moscow. Ultimately, we had to change him from his cute little outfit as he had an accident and these clothes had to be retired to a ziplock baggie in the trunk to make the drive to Moscow bearable.

He walked to the car, holding Baba's hand. I'm sure he has no idea how excited Baba is to finally have been told that we can finally leave Kaluga and take her grandson with us.

The last photo taken by our good friend, Alex, who saved our lives while we were 'waiting' in Moscow, is of Mom and Sasha and I, ready to make the journey from Kaluga to Moscow. If you look at his face, you can tell he has no idea of the life that awaits him outside the walls of the home that he has known his whole life.

Happy First Gotcha Day, Sasha!