What a wonderful world...
Today went extremely well... we were picked up and taken to the notary to sign documents for Tamara's birth certificate and visa and told she has a Western Drs. appointment Tuesday.
A checkup by an embassy appointed Dr. is a requirement to obtain her visa to enter the USA.
Then we went to the US embassy in Tbilisi. For those who haven't been to a US foreign embassy it felt like home base. Remember when you were a kid and made it to home plate? The feeling "I'm safe" lol.. yeah sort of like that. We had to show our passports and say who we were there for. Then the security screening. They checked my purse.. a rather small one compared to what I use at home but in it they found.
2 mobile phones.. one from home and the other for here.
lipstick, make up, chewing gum, hand disinfectant and a bunch of other stuff that wasn't allowed. So much so I took my wallet and travelers checks and told them to hold on to the rest of the purse..lol Then we passed through that building and proceed through a nicely landscaped court yard... to the next building. Had to get buzzed in and go through another briefer screening.
It was interesting. We have to bring Tamara back after all her papers are complete as well as the Drs. visit. They want to meet all the children.
Now here's the good part... they had everything they needed... woohoo!!!
Tamara is coming home!!!
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Tamara's Foster home is on the 9th floor or Top floor of this building.
OK.. I know you're all dieing to know what happen. Well right after the embassy we went to pick her up. The foster mom was instructed not to be home. Just grandma and the other children.
Tamara was excited as she was wearing a pretty new dress that our facilitator had given her and she knew she was going out to have some fun. Our nanny / cook was with us as was our translator Nina. We all went upstairs. 9th floor and it appeared that the elevator was broken. Grrr... but after 3 floors we found out where the elevator was so we hopped in. Yeah I know... crazy but it worked. Took us up the rest of the way.
Tamara was very happy to see us all and we had Anna carry her out as she's known Anna for months and likes her. Grandma is a very sweet woman. With tears in her eyes she kissed Tamara good bye and told me "you're a good woman.. you will be a good mom."
It meant a lot to me to hear that from her.. as it was heart felt.
Tamara was wonderful on the ride to our apartment.. taking everything in quietly.
We had decided to not do the park yet but rather go to the apartment to see how she might react.
When we arrived she was fine and then Anna left to go pick up a crib for Tamara and Tamara had a melt down. It was heart breaking but we had to do it. If you ever see Tamara cry it will melt your heart. She doesn't like to cry so when she does you know she's upset.
She cried for about 15 minutes and I was able to console her enough that she sopped crying and started to listen. I told her I loved her repeatedly and with each I love you you could see a change come over her. Another half hour went by before Tamara let me hold her. I started to bring her some gifts. Her first baby doll and some doll clothes. A few of the dolls dresses had matching dresses for Tamara. I was showing the matching dresses to the translator and Tamara wanted to try one one.. so we did and then we dressed the doll to match. She liked it. My girly girl then followed me into the spare room where I had her wardrobe laid out and she noticed the new shoe collection. Yup I got her size right. 7 pairs to match all her outfits is what she saw.
She picked up a pair of black Maryjane's and wanted to wear them. I looked at them and said.. they don't match baby girl. OK.. if we're going to wear the wrong shoes for the outfit lets make it fun ;o) And showed her her Disney princess light up sneakers. Wow.. it was like Christmas. lol
She immediately sat down on the floor took off her shoes and held her feet up one at a time so I could put them on. How cute is that? She started running around the apartment so proud of her new shoes. It was adorable.
Then after a cookie and apple juice break (doesn't seem to like milk or sippy cups) She likes the cup but has me screw the top off to drink and on when she's done.
Then I gave her a necklace I had purchased for her with a little angel charm and a little charm that says Mom. I had the translator tell her this was for her because she's my little Angel and she told her the Mom charm was because she now has one. She loved it. Let me put it on her and wore it proudly. Really adorable. ;o)
Then I brought out the coloring books and I told Bruce to sit down and color with her. He did and again she loved it. Daddy took turns with her. She would make a line and then daddy would. It was cute. From a far it looked like they were playing tic tac toe...lol
After coloring she walked back into the spare room and found her hair accessory and sunglasses collection. Yes my daughter wears sunglasses.
Is she cute or what? lol
Behind her is Anna making dinner.
This picture cracks me up. She wanted me to stop taking pictures. She reminded me of one of the Hollywood starlets when they get fed up with the photographers. So funny.
I had Anna make scrambled eggs and french fries for dinner my personal comfort food favorite from when I was little. Tamara loved it. Ate two helpings and was very happy to be sitting with Mommy and Daddy during dinner. At the orphanage and foster home they would put her in a quiet room by herself at a kid size table. She would gobble her food up in 10 minutes. Tonight she took her time. Asked for more and giggled through most of it.
Our first dinner together... Tamara has excellent table manners. I would not hesitate taking her to a 5 star restaurant... seriously... she was that good. And extremely funny.. she has a great sense of humor.
Bath time... Tamara loves water and she went nuts with her first bubble bath. Again she was awesome.
Bedtime is 9 pm at the foster home so we're trying to stick to that until we get home. She'll have to adjust to the new time zone anyway so we'll get her to bed earlier and up sooner as she will have pre-school in September. She sleeps 9 to 9 and a 2 hour nap at 2 pm. After her bath and brushing her teeth which she loved .. amazing kid no? I put her to bed in her new crib and she got up and raised her arms up. So I picked her up and rocked her. This happen about half a dozen times. She finally went to sleep at 9:30.
Still asleep.. now 12:45 am. She's an active sleeper. Kicked off her covers a few times but she's an angel.
We also tried out the stroller in the apartment she likes it but not the harness. We'll try again tomorrow. Have to get her used to the harness before we travel anywhere. Not just the stroller but the FAA approved CARES harness for the plane and when we return the car seat.
OH and one more thing... I received photo Id's of both birth her parents. So not only does she have their identity but their pictures as well. That's a really big deal for international adoptions. Woohoo!!!
Ok.. Mommy needs some sleep...
Awesome Day!!!
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