Sunday visit with Harry...

We woke today to a balmy -5F weather, although that was at 4:30 a.m. Yep, still not getting a full nite's sleep, but I dare say, we're making slow progress! I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll have no energy after 1:00 p.m. so I'd better take advantage of what motivation I do have, early on...That being said, I had my first cup of coffee, made breakfast, cleaned up afterwards, ran a load of laundry, ironed what I needed for the day, straightened out the apt. and got Skip started on his homeschoolin' all before it was light out. Of course, this time of year, it doesn't begin to get light out before 8:30 - something else that totally throws me off these days! Anyway, we bundled up and made our last pre-court visit with Harry. I don't know how many times I've made my way into the building known as Angarsk Baby Home 2, but as we walked from the parking area to the main entrance, I couldn't help but pray that this would be the last time I came here to visit Harry. The next time Mike & I make this trip, I want it to be as new parents, arriving to bring their son home with them!

Harry was playing trains with the others in his group when we arrived but smiled when he saw us, and came right away to us. And, his first words to us today were in English! Now before y'all go running for tissues to wipe your eyes, you'd better stick around long enough to hear what those words were...Not Momma, or Poppa, or Skip. Not Hello. Nope, we were greeted with a "DVD?" Hey, we'll take it!

And so that is how our visit began - with Tom & Jerry. I suppose it's a strange way to start a visit, but actually, its bonding for Skip & Harry. The two scamper off to the couch, set the DVD player up, pop a cartoon in, and laugh & giggle together as they huddle together in front of the tiny screen. Some days it's an American DVD, others a Russian cartoon, but it doesn't make a difference to either of them. They enjoy the cartoon, point things out to each other, and fight for space on the small couch! Today after the DVD, Harry was intersted in playing around with the new V-Tech Write & Learn Smartboard. Santa brought it for Harry, but Skip likes it too, so apparently it will get lots of use. Harry doesn't quite have the concept yet, and of course, and doesn't understand what the eletronic voice is telling him to do, but he had a ball practicing his letters and numbers. Of course he was more interested in just pushing ALL the buttons on it, but once he got that out of his system, he was trying to copy the letters and numbers. Finally we played again with the Hot Wheels set, and today the boys tried to get really creative, and make the track go all different ways. All three boys had lots of fun with it, and were disappointed when Natasha came to tell Harry it was time for lunch. Today, he came to give us hugs before he left, I gave him a kiss and said "I", then waited. He put his head down, and then shyly finished the sentence: "glove you". He did the same with Mike, and then gave Skip a REALLY big hug, before running off to find his usual seat at the table. Every care giver we ran into today wished us luck tomorrow, and several have said they are praying for us. I guess we can't ask for more!

I don't know how many times I've made my way into the building known as Angarsk Baby Home 2, but today as we left the building toward the parking area, I couldn't help but stop for a minute. I couldn't help but hope that this would be the last time I came here to visit Harry. The next time Mike & I arrive at the entrance to the building known as The Angarsk Baby Home #2, I want it to be as new parents, arriving to pick up their son.