Day in the Life of a Ukrainian Adopter

This is a combination of the last two days, as we have not been very exciting lately. The Garretts and the Fields agree that being in Ukraine has made us extremely lazy. We slept in a little on Monday and then the Garretts picked us up in a cab for a trip to FoxMart.

We had quite the experience in the electronic department, with security following us closely. Matt and Brian found a keyboard that has the alphabet in both Russian and English on it for about $20, so they were excited. We also purchased a cheap camera for Nastiya so that our camera would survive the trip. We were checked twice at the checkout stand to make sure that our receipts matched our purchases, and were then checked again in the Market.

We picked up a few supplies, and headed back to our flat. Brian needed an umbrella for us and also for Nadya, so he had to call her on the phone to get her to translate to the clerk that we needed one. No worries for acid rain now!! I found an avocado at the Market, so Brian and I had a sandwich with tomatos and avocado and we felt a little more like we were at home.

We walked down to the orphanage after lunch and Brian and I got to spend some time with Nastiya from 3-6. We quickly decided that we needed more activities to fill our time, as all she wanted to do was take photos. By the end of our time she was sitting on Papa's lap playing games on the cell phone.

We caught a cab up to the main street and had dinner with the Garrett's and Nadya. We seem to end up at the Pizza place each night and are getting really tired of pizza. After dinner it was back to the flat for a movie and we were crashed.

Being in Ukraine is kind of like Groundhog Day, it seems like we wake up to the same day over and over again. Today, we did a little paperwork at the attorneys office, and then it was down to the orphanage to see Nastiya. Today, we brought her the CD player that Karen bought for her to give her something new to play with. We played some cards and Brian practiced his Russian with her. She really enjoyed being the teacher and was teaching Papa the correct pronounciations.

The only news we have at this time is that our court date should be either the 14th or the 15th of October if all goes well. Brian is trying to decide whether to stay with me or head back after court, as I will not have an interpreter and the Garrett's will be leaving about a week ahead of us. I am not sure that I am brave enough to stay here in Mariupol without anyone here with me. If I disappeared, no one would even notice for quite a while. We will get it figured out soon. Thanks so much to everyone for the comments, they are really appreciated!!

To my girls, we miss you so much and can't wait to get back home. Daddy says that if you have any other picture days, please ask one of the neighbor mom's to come over and dress you!! We are really hopeful to be home by Halloween with your new sister. That is, of course, if all goes well. The Grandparents have signed off for us, so that is complete and our paperwork was sent to Kiev today. Tomorrow we will meet with the Grandparents so that they can be assured that she will have a good family. Nastiya decided that she would like her name to be Anastasiya Taylor Fields, so that is the official name for her birth certificate.

We did make our donation to the Orphanage today, so that is finally out of the way. We were also asked to buy a couple of boxes of paper and some files. All of the office workers said thank you as they passed through the waiting room. And on a note to Wendy, Pirate has been fed, I have pictures to send you of her. I also think you should know that she is definitely carrying kittens now, and according to Nadya she should deliver in about a month. To the Matthews, we got to see your Nastiya twice now, and she came in for pictures and hugs tonight. She has the sweetest personality!! We would love nothing better than to sneak her out with us.