Ready, Set, GO!

Last week we received word that our agency is accredited. All the documents necessary to get a referral are being hand carried to Moscow with week. Our dossier should be registered in Moscow the end of the month. Wow ... it's incredible to think that this is really going to happen ... and SOON!

Our agency thinks that we'll get our referral in April. The process for Moscow is different than our first adoption. For Sasha, I was at my Mom's house when I got 'the email' with the two photos and medical information attached. Despite being warned not to open the photos until after a specialist had reviewed the case and told us to travel, I couldn't resist seeing this little boy. It was so amazing! This was the little boy that had been in my head since we started the journey. I had a long conversation with my Mom the previous night about naming, we talked through how if his name was Boris then we'd likely change his first name but if his name was ... umm ... say Alexander then we would keep his first name. And, as you know the story, his name was Alexander. This was our son.

This time around we won't get anything except the promise that they have located a child for us that meets our specifications which is a girl under 2. We will travel about 10 days later for the first trip in May and the second trip in June or July (yes, summertime in Russia again for us) to bring her home. We are hoping that Grandpa Tom and Uncle Bryan (the Sasha's Godfather who has agreed to be our daughter's Godfather as well) will join us for Trip 2. We want to work a trip to St. Petersburg this time as it is supposed to be spectacular. Baba will join me to pick up her granddaughter and to help me bring her home. She probably deserves a medal for volunteering again for this duty. It' not glamorous work let me tell you but it will create a lasting bond with her granddaughter that's priceless.

This morning we chatted about making a welcome home banner for his sister. We talked about the awesome banners that Grandma Jan made for his homecoming. I admit to crying as we talked about what a wonderful woman Grandma Jan was and how much she loved him. We talk about how she was the best Grandma ever and that now she's an angel in heaven that watches over him every day. And I'm sure she's helping guide us to our daughter and to his sister. She would have loved to have a little girl in the family. I will miss her always (more tears).

We then talked about how he'll come to the airport and help with the balloons and banners to welcome his sister home. Then Mommy, Baba and his sister will come through the doors at the airport (smelly, tired and beyond DONE I'm sure) and be so glad to see everyone.

Now the challenge of this quick process is that we have NOTHING done. If she came home tomorrow, she'd sleep on the floor and wear Sasha's old clothing! So ... this weekend we're planning on painting the room and trim. We still need to purchase the bedding which we've picked out from Babies R' Us. Too cute! The room has sage curtains, the room will be painted yellos and Sasha's stuff has some overlapping colors ... well not the pink but the other colors. The pattern is called Tiger Lily which is the PERFECT set for a future gardener. I think that Sasha will be a future gardener as well. Each morning when our Aero Garden comes on, he says quietly, "Wake up little plants". Too cute. We've been talking about how when the snow melts and it warms up, we'll see all the plants outside begin to awaken for spring. It is my favorite time of the year in Illinois.

We still need to purchase a crib as 'beaver boy' has chewed on the top of the crib and broken a slat out. We're not sure if it's possible to repair the crib but wish we didn't have to buy another one that will only be used for 6-12 months.

We have found a couple of clothing items at Sam's. I know folks keep telling me that little boys clothes are cute but come on, they're not really THAT cute. Little girls clothes are too cute! Everything from the tights to the hair ribbons to the cute little dresses with matching bloomers - CUTE! Nathan has decided that he will never be on little girl hair duty but I'm sure he will learn how to do pony tails just like every other father of daughters have done over the years. With the right training, Nathan will be mastering french braids and reverse french braids in no time!

(Yes, photos will be posted of this great event!).

And so ... the journey to our daughter is in full gear now. I have a mental picture of her in my mind so we'll see if that turns out to be her.