Just getting started

Yesterday (Monday) was a long day. We had a great morning getting here, having breakfast and meeting with a woman who debriefed us on what we'd be doing on our first day. This is the American woman who works here to help babies get adopted, and is as wonderful in person as she seemed to be through our long-distance contact with her. We only wish we could have her with us our whole time here.

After we met with her, our driver picked us up to go exchange some currency and buy a couple of cakes to take to the orphanage for the workers. We were told that was a very important custom. Feeling very excited/nervous/anxious, we finally got to the orphanage to pick up Anara. We only had about an hour before we needed to be heading to our appointment at the Embassy with the woman who is our social worker and adoption coordinator. I felt compelled to be a typical American dad and have the camcorder running as we walked in to meet Anara, and doing that I often feel like I can't really soak in the real experience. Still, it was pretty neat walking up to the room where we immediately saw Anara standing up in her crib looking at us. She looked to us just like she looked in her pictures. It was exciting and overwhelming for both of us to pick her up and hold her for the first time.

The doctor and the workers spoke to us about her through our driver/translator and it was pretty obvious that Anara was a very special baby to all of them. The doctor suggested that after our appointment at the Embassy, we bring her back to the orphanage so that Amanda and I could go back to the hotel to get some rest. We didn't really say no since she almost insisted, but when we left, our coordinator said it was okay if we didn't bring her back. So we didn't. We hope that the doctor and the rest of the workers are okay with that since we didn't give them a chance to say much of a goodbye. We are so grateful to them for taking care of her, though, and plan to send pictures and updates as she grows to assure them that she is in good hands.

It didn't take long for Anara to start to seem comfortable with us. Amanda is amazed at how quickly she laid her head on her shoulder. We were both anticipating a baby that might not want to be held, that might not look at us, might not show any emotion and definitely not smile very much. But praise God it hasn't been that way so far. When we've put her down or put her in her crib, she actually pulls herself up and gets a little upset if we don't pick her back up. She loves lying on the bed with us and just looking at us and playing with us. When we pick her up to hold her, she gets visibly excited. She doesn't mind us holding her closely or giving her kisses. I'm a bit proud to say that I was the first one to get her to laugh, and I've been pretty successful getting her to do it whenever I want. She's a very sweet baby and smiles a lot.

Here are the things we're still a bit uncomfortable with and could use prayer for, though. Anara's bladder looks okay and I think we're not too intimated caring for it, but we're not sure if we're doing everything right. She also has a bit of a cold and we hope it doesn't get worse. The appointment at the Embassy was a little uncomfortable, too, as it seems some of our paperwork didn't look completely okay to them. Finally (and I'm trying to wrap this up quick because someone is waiting for me to get off the computer), we're just not yet comfortable being in this country where so little English is spoken and where it's hard to feel welcome or acclimated to our surroundings. I'm sure it will get better with a little more time, but it sure makes us want to get back to Indiana sooner.

Okay, we'll post more later...probably won't get any pictures up for a few days, though, when we get to our friends' home. Thanks for all of the kind notes!

Big hugs and kisses to Violet for us, please!