Another Trip to Tokmok

Today we had another visit with Ellie. Our driver, Victor, must have thought our pick up time was 9:30 as he was late. Aliya, Elizabeth and Bill went on ahead, which we were fine with. It sprinkled on the way there and we were concerned it might rain.

We took her some formula, a couple of pacifiers and a photo book of us for her crib. She was asleep during our entire visit today. She did take to her new pacifier. When I went in to meet with Tatiana to see if we had any questions (we don't right now), she said yesterday (when we weren't allowed to visit), she went in around our visitation time, and Ellie was crying. She picked her up and took her outside to walk around and she stopped. When she put her back down, she cried again. I think that's a good sign she either likes us or likes the attention.

Apparently, the little peanut is already getting spoiled. When she comes home, I'm going to get a sling to wear her for a long time. Of course, if Josh is home, I'll have to fight for her. If Kevin is there, I suppose it will be a three way fight. We might have to resort to rock-paper-scissors to see who gets to hold her. Do you think she'll be spoiled????

Speaking of spoiled, I got an email from my friend Carla who indicates she has gotten her a BOX of clothes ranging in size from 3-18 months. I suspect you may never see the girl in the same outfit either. Since she wears the same one for several days in a row here, that will be a change for her, I suppose. She is always clean, however, and the clothing is not stained. I truly feel they take very good care of the children here.

We also got to give her her bottle today. She slurped it down quickly but this girl DOES NOT burp. Other adoptive parents who are there say that their babies don't either. I think they are getting the food so quickly, there just aren't any air bubbles. Josh, ever the good brother, even tried showing her how it was done. :-)

Speaking of other adoptive parents, it has been so nice spending time with I, K and now K (from Nashville, too). I can't post names right now as there is some sort of "thing" going on (that we all think is crazy). I can't elaborate any more than that, even on a private blog, at this time. BUT... we really are enjoying putting faces to the names of people we've emailed with for so long. I've LOVED getting to love on their babies as well.

Anyway... enough of all that, here's what you really came for -- your Ellie photo fix. Please note, if you will, that her outfit today (picked out by and belonging to the orphanage is an ELLIE-Phant!! Do we need any more confirmation that this peanut belongs in our family??).

(yes, she is peeking out at me as I rub her head!)

She almost had her eyes open here, but I guess it was too much to do.

Love the bunny ears on the elephant outfit. She looked like a little pink bear in it. When she gets frustrated from us trying to switch "holders" or from us really trying to wake us up, she arches her back, makes these funny faces and makes a grunting noise.

We were also told today that we should do everything we can to make sure Kevin is the person who returns with me. One parent will need to stay with the baby when official government appointments are held. Aliya indicated that while they would stay with the baby it would be better if Kevin could come. We also realized that our I171H is in HIS name and so in order to get her paperwork done, HE has to be the one who appears. So.... it looks like we are going to have Kevin come back. We have a few options in mind for Joshua, but nothing worked out as we have to ask around. He's not upset as we have talked to him about it. He's hoping that sometime while we are gone, he'll get to go fishing with his DeeDee. Somehow, that makes everything ok. We are not sure about Kevin's vacation yet and will have to check on that and/or sick leave to make sure he has enough time, but apparently, it is a have-to situation. I did have an offer from my friend Jennifer to travel with me and we were working on the details when this came about.

We are hoping to go back to the Metro this afternoon for dinner. We are needing our American fix. While we love our visitation time with Ellie, this is a LONG time to be in a hotel room and in a different country. We hope, when we leave, we will be back in about 8 weeks (56 days, but who's counting??). We should get Ellie the day after we arrive and she will be with us from then on. We anticipate she will go before the court system here the week of June 30. After court, it is a 30 day waiting period, followed by 1-2 weeks to get her passport, and then we will return.

So tomorrow after our visit, our drivers are taking us (along with Elizabeth and Bill) up to Barann Tower(spelling???) in the mountains. This is where we had planned to go earlier with others until we were told we couldn't. That's another story too. *sigh* There have been some challenging moments here.

Oh, and we were told that starting Monday, Ellie will have massage time every day. We are to buy her some baby oil (I'd really rather not use baby oil as it's made from petroleum, but what's the other options here??) for her daily massage. This will hopefully help her build muscle tone and work her muscles as well. NOW.. they are going to do this 8-9, she gets a bottle at 9 and then we arrive at 10. Do you think after a massage and warm bottle she's going to wake up for us? I wouldn't!! :-)

That's all for today folks. Continue to remember us in prayers. We need them daily.