Christmas Pics!!!

"Ahhh whipped cream, yum, yum, yum!"


"Give me some more of that Momma!"


"Yep, forget about the pumpkin pie - this is the best!"

"I know there are some more presents in here somewhere"

"This is awesome, thanks for showing me how to do this Momma!"

"Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled, Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies, With the angelic host proclaim:"Christ is born in Bethlehem" Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!" - yes she can sing!

"I love Christmas!"

My best "I know I am Cute" pose

Go ASU Sun Devils! - even though they lost to Hawaii

Good to be Home

Orthodox Cathederal in Kyiv


More photos from the Orthodox Monastery


Angelina sleeping in our hotel in Munich - she loved staying there and enjoyed herself (so did Mom & Dad!)


Sleeping on the Munich to Chicago flight


At home in her Oregon bed! She is sleeping so well...(at night only, still not taking more than a 45 minute nap)


Thanks Aunt Cris! See I am a little froggy!


"Hey Dad, what are you doing over there with all of that office stuff?"


"I am a big girl in Momma's running shoes"


I was going to write more about our return trip, but will keep this to a brief post with pictures. We are happy to be home and finally settling in with our lovely daughter, each day I am amazed at new things she learns and how charming she is.Everyone seems to be settling in just fine, especially Angelina......it is like she has always been here with us. Nothing seems foreign to her and we could not be more happy with her seemingly easy adjustment. Daddy is changing diapers and giving baths, but not without Momma close by, but this is tremendous progress from just one week ago. Yesterday Pamela put her down in her crib for a nap and about 45 minutes later Angelina surprised Momma by showing up in the kitchen! She crawled up and over her crib and dropped to the floor! Can you believe it!? She was not hurt, but just stood there in the kitchen looking at Momma like I know I was a bad girl, but you cannot keep me in a crib - I refuse! So she has been sleeping with Mom & Dad and this I believe is helping with the bonding / attachment progress.


This morning laying in bed she started counting 1 through 10 by pulling Momma's fingers. We could not make any of the words out (baby Russian), but she was quite clearly counting out each number one at a time and pushing on Pamela's fingers. It is amazing, she is really beginning to open up and talks incessantly......oh we are loving it! More later.......


Merry Christmas!


Pamela, Brian & Angelina

815 Days Later.......We are Home!!!

This is the picture that was in the file at the SDA when we selected Angelina on Nov. 15th. You can tell it looks like she has red hair and Pamela thought she looked like the Gerber Baby.

CLICK ON THE MATRIX TO SEE LARGER VERSION

Overall adoption timeline. 815 days from start to finish!


Angelina's passport picture. Not long until her hair grows out!


We all arrived in Portland around 8pm last night after flying from Munich through Chicago. She did really well on each flight and we are so proud of her courage during her first travels. It is absolutely amazing watching her in her new enviroment - she is very happy, smiling and babbling alot (much more than previously). Just wanted to let everyone know that we made it home safely and Angelina is adjusting quickly to her new home in Oregon. I will post more details on our adventurous trip home later.

Done, Done, Finally Done!!

Gaela in our apartment - she loves balloons!


With Daddy's hat showing off!


Really showing off!


First bath from Mommy the day we left Mykolaiv

Reading up on the train with Mommy

Gaela sleeping at 3am........1 of many sleeping positions - this little girl tosses and turns alot!

Been a crazy couple of days, on the move since Tuesday morning and we can now FINALLY take a breath and wait for our flight on Sunday. We are done with everything but boarding in Kyiv, boarding in Munich, boarding in Chicago O'Hare and finally crawling into our own bed next Monday night.

Tuesday, December 12th: I woke up at 1:30am for a telecon that went 2 hours so I decided not to go back to bed at that point. Oleg picked us up close to 7:30am and we all loaded in the car for an all day adventure. First stop was to the court house to get the decree, we waited with Tonya, Christina and Jason, finally receiving our paperwork around 8:30am and we were off. 2nd stop was the Immigration office in Mykolaiv and then the 75km (1.5 hour) drive directly NW to her birth town named Voznesensk.

The drive from Mykolaiv to her hometown made us feel like we were right in the Midwest with all of the black soil and farmland - of course with the exception of the well worn road and the sheep herders who like to play Russian roulette with the vehicles. We spent about 1 hour there getting her birth certificate, with the first 45 minutes of that waiting in the car. Finally, we were asked to come inside to complete the birth certificate, but only after our feet were already frozen from sitting in a cold car. This was the start of our frustrating day which consisted of continually waiting in the car at every stop, asking questions without responses, being cold (it was a very cold day) and in general being left in the dark on information. The day that started at 7:30am lasted until 9pm and we were not able to finish due to notaries that were either closed, closing or too busy to help us - of course we should have had an appointment! But these were documents already issued from the state - so I could not understand why they also needed to be notarized, more of the typical bureaucratic red tape. We did confirm that the passport was done and could only be picked up with the notary of the birth and adoption certificates. Good thing we did not have train tickets for Tuesday night. The biggest disappointment was not spending what we thought would be our first night with Angelina.


Wednesday, December 13th: Ok new morning, new start, new attitude. Oleg picked Sveta and I up at 10:00am to get the birth and adoption certificate notarized. After visiting 4 more we finally got our "special notary" and I am still wondering why a state issued document needed this.......Anyway, to the passport office and within 10 minutes we had her passport and it was around 11am so we had the whole day until the train at 7:30pm. We picked Pamela up and had lunch at our favorite pizza place then went back to the Orphanage to finish packing. Picked Angelina up at 4pm, bathed her and loaded everyone in both Oleg(s) cars for the train station. Everyone got on the train fine, but as Oleg(s) and I were carrying the last bags across the tracks we were stopped and some officials wanted to look in the single Rubbermaid container we had all of Angelina's items in. They would not let up and finally I think Oleg #1 told this official I was an American with wife / child and to piss off! Based on how black market goods move through the Ukraine, they must have thought I was smuggling some goods - yeah right! Made me think I should have loaded some dirty diapers in there. Angelina's train ride was great, she was a brave girl and never fussed. She did snore (still has a cold) and tossed and turned all night, but she did sleep the whole night!


Thursday, December 14th & Friday, December 15th: Arrived in Kyiv around 5:30am and headed straight to the apartment. Again Angelina did well in the car and seemed fascinated by the train station and the few cars that were on the street that morning. At 7:30 Pam, Angelina and Sveta headed for the adoption medical appt and I went with an acquaintance of Sveta's named George to the German Embassy with the plan to meet at the US Embassy before our 11am appt. The German Embassy told us we needed her passport (duh! I already knew this, but the girls had it and we needed to process through US Embassy first) but that we could make an appointment for Friday @ 8am and they would TRY to expedite our transit visa. Now we have +2 hours to burn before we meet the girls, so George took me on a walking tour around the section of Kyiv that the Embassy is located. Had a great time and learned alot about the area and his family that lived and fought during the Revolution and WWII. Met the girls around 11am and were shuttled into the Embassy like VIP's for our appointment. I spent about 45 minutes filling out the necessary US Embassy paperwork, we met with Consular official (young guy from east coast) who thought Angelina was adorable and told us to come back at 4pm to pickup her passport with US Immigration Visa. It was between this time that I tried to post on the blog, but could not get on the site, second time this has happened since I have been here??? Anyway, back to US Embassy at 4pm, walked through the line of American men picking up their Daisy Brides, and got her Passport with Immigration Visa - YES! Friday morning, I met George again - went to the German Embassy and turned in all of the necessary paperwork, told to come back between 1-3pm to pickup. We picked it up at 3pm after waiting for 1.5 hours and we are now done with everything!


As I write this final post from Ukraine there are many things going through my mind. The blessing of us finally meeting our daughter, the overall timeline to finally complete, the bureaucracy (can it ever be simplier!!??), the time away, the associated costs, the need to return to work and the spoiled American conveniences that are unfortunately taken for granted until you are placed in an enviroment that does not allow these everyday luxuries. But, you have to be adaptable when you travel internationally PERIOD. The final 35 days of this adoption journey has made us both feel so alive and brought so many wonderful everlasting experiences with our daughter in her homeland. Both of us have enjoyed being able to share this experience with our families, friends and the many people we have never met who have all posted words of encouragement. Above all, we are so thankful that we finally found our daughter and that she waited for us - the day she OFFICIALLY became available for International Adoption was the day we arrived in Kyiv: November 13th.


See you soon,
Pamela, Angelina and Brian

Picture Post!

"See I told you I was a shopper, a happy shopper!"


"Check out this book Daddy gave me!" .........


....."What is this?" "I wanted a picture book instead.......oh yeah I did promise Daddy that I would start reading this book very soon"


"Are you still taking pictures of me?"


"Geez, come on already!"


"Hmmm, is this soap?"


..."I am not so sure about this"

"This smile is because I THINK I am mischievous!" (not because I tasted it!)

"This look is because I KNOW I am mischevious!"



"My best look of defiance !"



Time to go back and see my friends for supper.....soon I won't have to leave Momma & Daddy at night and we will be off to see my new home, friends and family in America. Tell everyone "Aello" in the meantime! - (her hello)

Party Pics

"Momma, you are really throwing a party?"


Wow these are good!


Angelina hoisting her "pint" while Lyra wonders, "Why is he so close? Is he trying to take my cookies like his Angelina did?"


"Whassssuuuuppp! - You talking to me?"


Mayhem while the children open gifts from the Warchol's


Early Christmas!


Natasha, Angelina and "Jaws" on their way to the Musical


The Orphanage's Winter Musical


That is Angelina in the center wondering what this is all about


The party on Friday for the kids in Angelina's group was great, they all loved the cookies, candies, bananas and juice we brought for the festivities. The Warchol's had purchased some toy gifts earlier in the day and gave them to the kids to open right after they had their food. It was great to see their reaction for the whole event, all though I did not get the food mess that I had been hoping for. Interesting reaction from the caregivers, some were grateful and the other typical stuffy ones were......well stuffy and seemed like this was a big pain in their butt. Geez, they did not even offer us a cookie let alone a piece of the cake! Just wish a few of them had lightened up a little bit. Oh well, they have a difficult task as it is caring for these little ones. I am going to gift the DVD on Monday when a couple of my favorites are working. Angelina had a blast as I am sure you can tell from the pics - she was even grabbing cookies from her playmates and hoisting that big ole cup she had with ONE hand!


Right after they party finished up the caregivers informed us that the Orphanage was having their Winter Musical at 4pm and asked if we would like to join all of the children. Of course and what timing for Angelina's group - a special day for them in many ways. The Musical was great and involved another group that was closer to 4 yrs old. They danced, played a couple of group games to music and showed off for the caregivers and the Orphanage Director - Olga. Olga was actually smiling, clapping and laughing through the entire event (something I had never seen her do) and how could you not these kids were truly enjoying themselves, including Angelina who kept looking behind her and smiling at Pam while she filmed the Musical. We filmed the entire event including the party, it was priceless and will be fun to make some DVD's when we get back.


Yesterday (Saturday) we went to lunch with Tonya, Christina and Jason to a pizza joint near our Notary office. I had seen it last week and suggested that it looked like a good place to try for us Pizza starved Americans. You see before Landon (Tonya's husband) left he and I were dying for pizza. Both of us had gotten box pizzas from the supermarket and they were horrible, but I was determined to find some decent pizza while we were here. So we all met around 1pm and ordered 3 pizzas with cheese, tomato sauce, mushrooms, pepper, onions and salami (looks like pepporoni), including Stella Artois' and Beck's beers. The food was great and the conversation with our friends was even better. We sat and talked for several hours.....let me tell you there is nothing like having a good ole same language conversation on a Saturday afternoon in a Pizza joint with cold beer!

It's Party Time!

Lyra, Angelina and Pammy

Future shoppers!

Come on girlfriend let's go shopping!

"Daddy, I am not so sure about this now - just wait in a few years I will be taller than you"

First, thanks to everyone that has posted and left words of encouragement for Pamela, Angelina and I. The traffic on the blog has picked up over the last week and I cannot believe the locations around the world that have visited - we now have visitors from every "habitable" continent!

We have planned a little party this afternoon for the kids in Angelina's group. Pamela, Tonya, Christina, Jason and I are meeting at 2:30pm to hit the local supermarket to get a cake and some cookies for the little bash. As we planned the party over the last week, another item that I think maybe got lost in translation was that this event is focused on the children - I think the caregivers interpreted it was for them (there are 15 in the group that work on different shifts) as they said cake would not last over several days and we should just get cookies. Hmmmm, we only intended to have one gig with the kids and the caregivers that just happened to be working that day......yet another testament to how communication is ever so critical regardless of language. Don't get me wrong we appreciate the caregivers and everything they do, but we got each of them individual gifts and the focus on this party is all about the little ones. I am quietly rooting to see them all make one big mess!!

Yesterday Sveta found a haircut salon for us. I had my extra long hair whacked, "#1 attachment on your clippers ma'am" or should it have been "crazy chick?" Pretty wild looking girl with tattoos, short black hair and probably 45" inseam jeans! She did an excellent job and I could not believe how much of my hair covered the floor - odd it didn't seem to cover my head in the same way....Pam got a pedicure, but did decline the straight edge razor they proposed using on her feet! 55 hrvynia's (UAH) in all (that is $11 usd). While Pam was getting her feet worked on Sveta, Oleg and I went to a local tech market (like a Best Buy) and checked out DVD players that we wanted to gift Angelina's group before we leave. Pam gave me strict orders not to spend over $60 (~300 UAH). Well we walked around the store, there was nothing under 400 UAH and the cheapest being a Thomson unit which I had never heard of. While we were looking at the more familiar LG units the salesman informed us that all units were 20% off through that same day. So I ended up getting an LG unit for 352 UAH after discount and spent only $9 more than my orders! Then we purchased some kids DVD's and will give the Orphanage group the DVD either today or tomorrow. I want to make sure a particular caregiver that is fond of Angelina is there - some of these gals are better than others in not only personality but the way they work with the kids.

So, less than a week to go in Mykolaiv and it will be back to Kyiv to finish up at the US & German Embassies then flight bound on the 17th. We cannot wait to get home and sleep in our bed, cook in our kitchen, use our shower and more importantly be HOME for Christmas. I know we will probably look back on this time and long for time we have had here with the quiet mornings and afternoons, but we are both ready for re-entry. Our apartment time with Angelina has been getting better and I have developed a new strategy with her, which actually is her plan. I am realizing that when she wants me in her circle vs. me pushing the progress she will let me know. She has already done this to some extent, but less than with momma. Having her in our apartment (versus up with all the other children) does help and just being in the same quiet room with just momma and daddy is promoting our progress. Yesterday we spent time playing some new games that help with her understanding of English - my favorite is the nose, eyes, ears, mouth and tongue charade. I point to my own face and say the name, she then does the same and tries to pronounce the name - it is great and quite funny, she is getting better and is learning quickly. Yesterday she actually grabbed my face - so yes progress. This little girl is smart and has such a deep emotional sense.

So with about 9 days to go in Ukraine, my mind has begun to shift back to work and I have been working on a few action items in preparation for my return to work - even in spite of my colleagues doing a good job of trying to screen me from this. Also, I was finally able to secure my flight reservations yesterday to fly abroad again for work to and will leave the day after Angelina's birthday (1/6/07) and be gone for almost a month (someone has to pay for those diapers and food!) We are talking to the Grandma(s) about splitting the month of January to help Momma and Angelina while I am abroad collecting more permanent jet lag and frequent flier miles. Then in February we will visit Illinois, Iowa and Arizona seeing family and friends in those locations. These next few months will be the next major challenge of our new adventures.......so, I need to start showing Pam the blog "working's" so she can continue posting when we return and keep everyone up to date.

Post 2 of 2 - Forever Friends

Thanks to Tonya for these photos she took the other day while we were all visiting. I wanted to post them for everyone to see. These little cuties lifelong connection began prior to their new families arriving at the Orphanage, but this connection and friendship has been galvanized over the last few weeks as we have all spent time together. Please visit their families blogs which are listed on the sidebar to the right (Kissack & Warchol). It will great for us all to stay in contact when leave and for these 3 to meet later in life.........BTW, as you can see our little one has her 2 year old pouts down pretty well!


Each of these little girls have been under the weather for the last week or so. Angelina seems to be getting better and looks better, but has a nasty wheezing cough. She is getting treatment from the Orphanage doctor and caregivers, we hope she is in good shape by the time we travel on the train next week Wednesday. The caregivers allowed us to start bringing her down to our Orphanage Apartment in the afternoons for a couple of hours. It is helping alot with us, which is still touch and go between her and I. Somedays are better than others, but I trust this will improve once we get home into our own enviroment without the distractions of her current environment. She is finally saying "Daddy" "Bye-bye" "Ball" and a few other words so she is definitely coming along as we work with her outside of her environment.


Today is day #5 since court and I just realized that we have to actually wait 11 days (12/1 thru 12/11) because of some beauracratic (again) office hours on Monday, Dec 11th and cannot get our court order until the morning of the 12th. That leaves us all day Tues & Wed to secure passport and birthcertificate, with departure on Wed night train. Angelina still requires the German Visa (thanks David, but it won't work) - so we are going to be up against the wall getting everything in place in just 2 days in Mykolaiv and 2 days in Kyiv. Had we known about this German Visa when we secured our flights last month we would have tried a different route on the flights. Problem is the last Lufthansa flight out of Kyiv on any given day is in the late afternoon - most of the Germany connections for US bound Lufthansa flights have already departed when the flight from Kyiv arrives. Not alot of options either way and to change our flight plans would be $200 each. Still planning on leaving by the 17th and arrive home the night of the 18th.


Regardless, we purchased Angelina's plane ticket yesterday so that is now complete. However, another lesson in local beauracracy & technology.......called Lufthansa twice, Pam finally got through and spoke to a gal that secured everything. Just could not pay by phone, but they WOULD accept a fax with an authorization letter, copy of my passport and copy of my Visa card. So we set out yesterday afternoon to First print out the authorization letter, Second find a copy machine and Finally find a fax machine. How many of you think we could do this in single location?? Nope, no where is this possible - Fed Ex/Kinko's should expand their business scope to Ukraine and give me a cut for letting them in on this business gap! Printing was easy from the internet cafe, but copying took two efforts with a few laughs. Strike one was because the young gal at the copy center claimed my Visa card would "destroy" her new digital copier. What, your kidding me right??? I asked Sveta do they have a policy about photocopying credit cards and no they did not, but this gal truly believed my card would damage her copier - well ok then if you want to believe so, but that is the stupidest response I have heard yet, maybe ever. Right down the street we found a photo store that had a copier and the gal inside made our copies. Oh and if you were wondering it was the same exact copier and guess what it actually made two copies after mine and my Visa card still works too.........jeez.......faxed from the local post office, called to confirm with Lufthansa and 2 hours later we are headed back to Orphanage. Glad we have time on our hands.......we are bouncing of the walls. Come on December 17th @ 5:05pm!

Post 1 of 2 - Finished Reading....

This morning I finally finished reading the 2nd history book that I brought to the Ukraine. I decided to photograph the book and an excerpt out of the "Burden of Dreams" so if any of you are interested you have a visual of the cover, author's name and title. For those that are considering adoption from UA or those of you that may have already been in the UA - I highly recommend both of these books.


There is a natural order that these should be read in: 1) Borderland, overall history and an easy read. 2) Burden of Dreams, post Soviet rule and modern independent Ukraine. The second book is basically a thesis not an easy read like the first, but provides a very good analysis of post Soviet Ukraine and references much of the history that is explained in the Borderland book.


I had a general understanding of Ukraine and the Soviet Union before reading these books, but most of my understanding was about Western Europe in WWII. You will come away from both of these reads with a detailed understanding about Soviet Communist rule, the suffering of Ukraine through the centuries including the Great Famine/WWII, and the continued Ukraine economic struggle post Independence. Necessary requirements to understand/maintain the cultural heritage of our daughter.

10 Day Wait

Little Miss Innocent


"Hey Grandpa, does this zip tie look like straw from the barn?"


Her favorite activity with friends

This is better than that zip tie Daddy!

"Hey Daddy - I can take better pictures than you, if I could just get this open!"

and yes, her favorite pout and eyeballing look - she has this one mastered!

We are now into our 3rd day of the 10 day wait since court. The clock officially started on Friday and will end at the close of business on Monday, December 11th. Tuesday morning (Dec. 12th) we can pick up the court order, finalize birth certificate and passport. Fortunately we do not have to travel to Odessa for the passport as it can be secured here in Mykolaiv. Travel to her hometown will be necessary for the birthcertificate. This should be interesting and will plan to videotape the experience. So we should be able to leave Mykolaiv on the Wednesday (Dec. 13th) night train arriving in Kyiv the next morning. Thursday and Friday will be spent finalizing all of the US Embassy business and getting a German Visa for our overnight in Munich. We are going to call and check with the Kempinski (our Munich hotel) to see logistically how they are situated within the airport. There still might be an outside chance we will not need a Visa if you do not have to leave the terminal. We'll see......


Decided to remain at the Orphanage as this will allow us to bring Angelina to our room during our visiting hours and help us to begin the transition up to the point that we leave. They would not let us take her off of Orphanage grounds until the 10 day appeal period expires. So even with her being officially ours, there is still red tape. Not a big deal, we have survived for 2 weeks here, so what is another 10 days?


Thanks for all of the comments and visitors from all over the world. Pam and I very much appreciate everyone's interest and encouragement in our journey. It truly helps pass the time and keeps our spirits elevated as we wait, wait and wait. Oh I almost forgot - Angelina wanted me to tell Uncle Tony and Aunt Dawn that you actually have to put your glasses on to see the similarities in the comparison pic from the previous post!

Gotcha Day - Court is Adjourned

many mentioned the comparison - you be the judge, just be more congenial than the following story!

Sveta arrived at the Orphanage yesterday morning around 6:30am. Pam was still sleeping and did not get up until around 8:30 so Sveta and I went over plans and got caught up on things. I had made coffee in our hot pot that morning (I am getting pretty used to the Nescafe Gold instant) and added milk we had gotten the previous day. After Pam got up and poured some milk she said "I am not sure this is milk." Why not? "Because it stinks!" Sveta looks at the label and it was 2 months old! Could not believe there would be milk on the shelf that was 2 months past, but shame on me for not looking at the date when I picked it up. Won't make that mistake again as I did not feel well the rest of the morning. Coupled with nerves for court this was not a good combination.


Oleg & Oleg picked us up at 12:10 for our 1pm court. Pam and I went with one Oleg, Sveta went with the other Oleg to pick up the Orphanage Director and the Regional Inspector. We arrived at the court before everyone else and met Vitaly our translator. He is a great guy and has some pretty good stories about being in the Soviet Army before the Wall fell and Ukraine gained its Independence. He has a sister that lives in San Francisco and he even lived in Baton Rouge, La for awhile working for an American company. We shared some stories about Shanghai (he's been there also) while armed guards led various criminals in and out of various court proceedings and we waited for 1pm. Sveta and Co. arrived and about 5 minutes after 1pm the court reporter led us into the court room and seated us. Shortly after, the judge and 2 women (I think one of them was the prosecutor) entered the court room and we all rose then were told to sit in Russian. My first impression of the judge and the way he carried himself was oh sh*t, this was going to be everything that I had imagined it would be - Intimidating and I was glad I had prepared. There was probably 15 minutes of initial proceedings in either Ukrainian or Russian, but none of initial discussion was translated to us. During this time there were 2 heated exchanges, with the first one being between the judge and our translator Vitaly and the second with the Regional Inspector. Later it was explained that the judge and Vitaly were debating how the court was going to be handled linguistically - Ukrainian or Russian? All of our paperwork had been translated to Ukrainian, but we were in a part of the country where Russian is predominantly spoken - but this was a Ukrainian court. I still am not sure which language was used, but I believe Ukrainian. The second one with the Regional Inspector was related to paperwork and some signature she had not been able to obtain, she profusely apologized. For us it was unnerving because clearly the judge did not seem very pleased and I was thinking here we go another issue that jeoparadizes this +2 year effort.......


We then went through introductions with our full name, address, etc all translated while the judge eyeballed us through his brow. The judge then asked who would speak for our family and answer the questions that the court had for us - and I stated it would be I your honor. The questioning was lengthy, broad and at times confusing. We were asked why we had chosen adoption and I explained our path over the last 5 years, including our experience 3 years ago that finally led us to adoption. Who was our employers and the company locations, What was our combined salary, Why had we not adopted from America (sorry, open adoption is not for us your honor). Had we studied the detailed legal differences between America and Ukraine and would our adopted child have the same rights in America as an American child? (well of course, they will be an American citizen.....I think some of the context of this question got lost in translation both ways as he would not leave this point and in the end I was really not sure what he was asking - trick question?). What is the size of our home and sq.ft. was not acceptable so quick conversion to sq. meters in my head. Who would care for the child? Well duh? but what he really wanted to know was since we both worked who would provide care - I explained that Pam would care for her. "How will you support this child off of one salary when your homestudy is based on two salaries" (whoops I backed into that one), I looked at him closer and stated that we had planned, budgeted and prepared for this until the child would be 5-6 years old and at that point he asked me to be seated. This entire time, the two ladies sitting on both sides of the judge kept making eye contact with Pam and smiling - we knew we had at least 2 of the 3 in front of us on our side! The judge had Pam rise and asked her if she agreed with everything I had stated on our families behalf, of course she did agree. Then he had us both stand and ask the court what we would like the court to do. Thinking it was obvious we both stated that we would like the court to grant us and approve this adoption request. Another trick question lost in translation - he showed some immediate displeasure and stated that we could not ask for this, we could only ask if the court would review our request for adoption not approve it as that would be his decision. Obviously beaureaucratic semantics, but I am thinking well.....hmmmm is'nt that why we are here in your court in the first place and why we submitted that 4" stack of paperwork sitting in front of you, is it not obvious! So we politely asked him to review our request. The judge asked the Orphanage Director and the Regional Inspector if they both agreed that this adoption was in the child's best interest, they both stated they agreed. Then court broke for a small recess. About 5 minutes later they all returned had us stand and read the verdict, then at the very end of the verdict the judge stated "The court would like to send its warmest congratulations to you both on your first child and new family, best wishes to you all." I could not believe the rush of emotion it was the absolute defining moment of the last 26 months. The way that judge changed his demeanor in that moment, he very well could have been a doctor in the delivery room saying "it's a girl!"

Angelina Grace is now OFFICIALLY our child.