Our 1st Russian Adoption experience

We fell in love with our son, then only 8 months old. We viewed him on a video, and couldn't believe how cute he was. He melted our hearts...and stll does.

Nervous, Nervous, Nervous...we flew to Moscow Russia and then rode in a van for 8 hours to the orphanage.
His orphanage was in Borovichi. It was a stark, fall day in September. I will never forget seeing the building and my eyes welling up with tears because I could feel him in my heart already. I kind of felt a sense of pain, from all of the other parentless children residing in that worn down, white brick building. When we entered the side door, we walked up stairs and smelling lunch cooking. It was the smell or poridge and cooked meat. We were led into an office, by our coordinator, Natasha and translator Yuri. They provided us with snack and tea. BUT, Before we could sit down and talk about our child to the director...in walked a caregiver with little "Budda Bean" in her arms. She quickly handed him to me. It was a surreal feeling seeing this child on a video and now I was holding him in my arms.

He giggled and laughed and hugged me so tight. He went crazy when I kissed him. He started belly laughing. Our visit was short, but we feed him, and took him on a long walk in a stroller around the orphanage. His medical history was outstanding. So, we signed to get the process going.
We handed him off, got back in the van, and drove to the airport and BAM we were back in the US. Crazy. Only one week later we got a call that said our court date was just a week away, so we prepared as best as we could, for 1st time parents. Before court, we visited him again. I will never forget when we walked in the room, he was sitting in this huge playpin. He was wearing aqua overhauls and the caregivers had just washed his hair and slicked it to the side. Again, he laughed and smiled as we played with him for the last time before he was ours forever. It was as if he truly remembered us and knew we were coming to get him. When we left the orphanage in Borovichi, we drove about 3 hours to Veliky Novgorod.
That's where court took place. We were soooo nervous, but everything went smoothly.
When you adopt from this particular region, you get to pick your child up on the side of the road...literally. The orphanage van, with babies and children, meet you at a crossroads about 8 hours outside of Moscow.
The caregivers packed bottles and snacks for the ride to Moscow. It's surreal. It sounds kind of wierd, but it's our delivery room and we wouldn't have it any other way. :)
The ride to Moscow is bumpy and LONG. The children and babies in the van have to sit on your lap the entire ride to Moscow because they do not typically use carseats.
"Budda Bean" was perfect the entire ride to Moscow, although he didn't sleep. When we arrived to the Marriott Grand, we saw it as an oasis...food, comfort...etc.... BUT baby was totally out of sorts and cried most of the time we were there. Once we got on the airplane to fly home, perfect again. I ended up getting very sick before we left Moscow and Daddy had to step up and quickly take the leap into fatherhood.


When we arrived home, we couldn't believe what a gift we had brought home. That's our 1st adoption experience. Sounds easy doesn't it? Well, it was. BUT Russia was very different just 3 years ago. Budda Bean was the missing link in our lives and I can't believe how great he adapted to everything. He is healthy and loved beyond imagination! After our financial revitalization, we began the process again in October 2005. That's another day. :)
BTW: "Budda Bean" is a nickname for our son, don't ask me how, it just fit. :)