Retrospective look back to Moscow-Embassy day

August 18, started out like no other day in my life. I was awakened by the coos of a baby. I got a smile the minute that I popped my head up. Out of the travel crib a quick diaper change and the squirrel was off to gather nuts I mean toys. We played in the apartment most of the morning.

One thing that I have worried about and I am sure every adoptive Mother worries about is attachment and bonding. Just like so many who have done this before I feel that my time in Moscow was very good for attachment but way to short for attachment to be secure. I wanted Gerard to be a part of this phase so that is the reason why I came home on Wednesday. It gave him 4 days off in a row and he spent every minute with us.

I dressed her in white jeans and a poke-a-dot shirt. She looked too cute. We took a short walk to the Arabat street but did not want to be late for Alex because he was taking us to the Embassy. This is a big day after all.

We made it through the check point and in we went. There were 4 other families there. One had a very young baby (12 months), the other 2 were just a couple of months younger then Anna and the other couple had 2 boys, one was the same age as Anna and the other was 3. She told me that her younger boy was eating everything.

I will let you in on a secret, Anna is having a hard time eating. I have resorted to writing down everything so that I do not obsess on what she has not eaten and instead can feel as though we have accomplished something. I know it is too early to tell if this will be a problem but I want to have an accurate account of what she will eat and has eaten as well as the quantity. I think it is the nurse in me.

Back to the point of the post, if the eating becomes a problem I will write about it because right now aside from 3 others this is not something that I have read extensively about on other people's blogs. I am guessing it is because Mothers and Fathers do not want to feel like failures. I do not feel like a failure but I think that it is important for anyone who is struggling right now to know that you are not in it alone.

I really enjoyed the Embassy appointment. How many people in the U.S. can say that they have been to a U.S. Embassy. Well we can say that. It was quieter then I thought it would be. Just getting the chance to talk with others who are at the same stage as I am was wonderful. Anna was a doll.

Then it was back to the apartment for a snack and the camera. It was now or never. If I was to get a picture of her at St. Basil's then I would have to take her now because the following day we were leaving.

Why is it that when you ask how far everyone told me a short walk? Okay I need to walk more I guess. I also let her play in the flower garden where all the other children were getting their pictures taken. After all she is a Russian child.












Then it was the short walk back, which is when she figured out that she CAN take off those shoes and socks. She very politely handed them to me. The funny part was when she hiked up her pants to see her creamy white, I mean whiter then milk legs. Yes I got a bunch of stares along the way but can a girl do when she needs a tan after all.

Now I think for the most part I am all caught up. I think.