This past week we have been waiting in Graeme’s region for his passport. We have fallen into a routine for the most part. It gets daylight here around 4:30am. So this early bird always wakes up thinking it’s a lot later than it really is.

The past few days have been difficult waiting. Chris and I felt like it was time for us to go to the Capital and wait. We need to get home not only for Graeme but also for Morgan. She has been having some medical issues that need to be addressed.

If the passport doesn’t arrive today then we are stuck here till next week. And honestly we don’t want that. My poor mom has been staying at our house while we have been gone. We are so thankful for her helping us during this time. I know she wants to get back to her house and her life. Also the sooner we get home the sooner Graeme gets the medical care he needs.

XoXo

Tia

The past few days have been going extremely well. Tuesday was Graeme’s first full day out. I woke up that morning with a touch of a stomach bug. Many of the families seem to get this bug when they travel over here. With it being Graeme’s first day out and my stomach bug we decided to stay in. So we played all day and everyone was perfectly happy.

Wednesday I woke up feeling so much better. We decided to be adventurous and walked to Gorky Park. Graeme loved every minute of it. He’s so happy about just being pushed in the stroller people were actually waving at him when we walked by.

Gorky Park is absolutely beautiful! Graeme wanted to touch all the statues. I took him on his first carousel ride. He was not to sure about it at first but then of course loved it. We ate lunch at the park and of course he was good. After lunch we headed back to the apartment and Graeme was sleeping like a rock by the time we got back.

Thursday we decided to stay in. We think it will be best to limit activities to maybe every other day for right now. Graeme is extremely smart. He picks things up very fast. We are trying to teach him now that we are his mamma and daddy. And we get him to FaceTime with Morgan and we show him pictures of her all the time. It’s important for him to learn we are his people.

We are hoping to get Graeme’s passports soon. We need to get home and get Graeme to the doctor. He has some issues with his feet that need to be addressed as soon as possible. On top of that Morgan really is having a hard time with us being gone which kills me. And I am having a hard time being away from her. This is the longest we have ever been apart. And yesterday I officially became home sick. Chris and I are those people who love to be home. Our vacations are usually 4 days. So this is very major being gone like this but it is worth it. We are all making sacrifices in order to bring Graeme home.

XoXo

Tia

Monday May 21 2018 Graeme got busted out of the Orphanage!

Monday morning I woke up early. I couldn’t sleep I wanted to make sure the apartment was clean and I had everything packed to take to the orphanage. Like a baby is going to know if the apartment is clean? Crazy the thoughts that run through your head at these moments in your life. Our lives changed the moment we saw Graeme’s picture for the first time. Which happened to be this past July while Chris, Morgan and myself were on vacation in Key West. But today our lives were going to physically change.

We got picked up from our apartment by our Facilitator which happens to be awesome. She really fought for Graeme to get out of the orphanage. And she went above and beyond for our family.

When we got to the orphanage Chris and I were lead to Graeme’s groupa. This is where we handed out the Nannies gifts and we got to get Graeme ready to go. After we got him ready and he said his goodbyes in that area we went to the Doctors office. They gave use 2 pairs of special shoes for Graeme that help push his feet out and the Nannies also made him a book filled with a few pictures and personal information. We had a lot of visitors come into that office to say their farewells to our little man. Walking Graeme through the hallway was extremely emotional knowing he will never have to know that life again. It seemed to take forever to get to the car everyone was coming out for him. The doctors did tell use he was the favorite and he’s a very special boy.

When we finally got in the car it was very hard to see one of the Nannies sobbing as we drove away. We did promise to email updates and pictures.

Graeme’s first night went extremely well. He slept for about 9.5 hours. Graeme’s personality lights up the room. He is a true blessing. He’s genuinely excited about everything and it brings joy to your heart just watching him.

We are currently still in country waiting for our little mans passport. Hopefully we will be coming home next week.

XoXo,

Tia

Sorry for the long delay in post. Since court we have been on the go. We went to court May 17th. So let’s rewind a bit.

Chris and I arrived to Eastern Europe later then expected. After delayed flights, having to change airports to another town and changing airlines we finally arrived. While we were collecting our luggage we realized 1 suitcase was missing. Can you guess which one was missing? That’s right it was mine. I had no clothes! Baby C had all his toys in my bag and half his clothes. After traveling for 24+ hours that’s the last thing you want to happen. I was trying my best to fight back tears and communicate with the baggage claim representative to file my claim.

Since I had no clothes for court after we left the airport we went shopping. Which I love shopping! However when you are exhausted to the max and upset plus in a foreign country it’s not fun. The shopping experience was very overwhelming for me. I like to do my own thing and I don’t do well with people constantly coming at me. But I managed to get through it.

The next day Chris and I took the fast train to where Baby C is. We got to have an afternoon visit with him. It was so wonderful to be able to be back with him.

Court Day I woke up so nervous. What if we went and the judge decided we were not good enough for Baby C? I had a million things flying around in my head.

As we got to the courthouse the whole seen is completely different from what we are used to in the States. While in the courtroom Chris and myself were asked a series of questions. We had 2 ladies who were jurors. One of them was smiling the whole time which put me at ease. The court session lasted about 20 mins. The Judge came back into the courtroom and announced we had been granted the rights and read Baby C’s new full name. At that moment Chris and I were brought to tears.

After court we were able to have our afternoon visit. That visit seemed different from the rest. Baby C knew from the start who we were and wanted to stay with us when it was time to go back.

Welcome to our family Graeme Christopher.

XoXo

Tia

Last week we got the call our court date is this week. We had another short notice so Chris and I have been running around like maniacs. It’s very hard to pack light for ever changing weather. Also we are not only packing for ourselves we have a little one to pack for. I think I packed more for Baby C than I did for myself. This trip is also going to be a long one. So we are having to pack for a few weeks. Needless to say our suitcases are jammed full.

Leaving our house this morning knowing the next time we return we will have Baby C in tow was an awesome feeling. I am ready to have both my children in the same country.

The past few weeks have been extremely hard. Your heart is constantly torn. You constantly have people asking you questions or if you have heard anything. I know people mean well but that’s been one of the hardest things to handle when you don’t have an answer and your heart is breaking.

We are on the final end of this chapter and we could not be anymore excited to start the new chapter. But first court…

XoXo

Tia

Everyday Chris and I are asked “any news” everyday we say “no not yet”. Yesterday made it 3 weeks since we got to meet Baby C. We are still not crossing next week off the calendar yet for a court date. Chris would love to spend his birthday next week with Baby C. We are prepared to leave if this is the last trip or not.

Maybe possibly by the end of this week we can say “yes we are leaving”.

Until then…

XoXo

Tia

2 weeks ago today we got to meet our little man. It almost seems like a lifetime ago. There has been many of tears in the 2 weeks, many pictures looked at, many videos watch and many stories told. Baby C is apart of us now in every way.

For the past 2 weeks we have been busy getting back to everyday life with work and school. We have also been trying to get everything prepared for our next trip in case this is our last trip. If this is our last trip we will be in country with Baby C a few weeks before we can come home. If this is not our last trip we will only be there a few days for court then come back home. What we are currently waiting for is our court date. And from what we understand that could come any day. So that being said we have been running around almost every night making sure Baby C has what he needs. We have also been buying all the goodies for everyone who has helped with Baby C. Every time I cross something off my list it seems like I add 2 things onto it.

Hopefully we will find out this week about court and our trips. Chris and I are ready to get back to our baby boy and for him to be with us forever.

XoXo,

Tia