Quick Update

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick update on our adoption. We submitted our I800 with in a week of returning from Bulgaria. We received approval Dec. 2 and fillout out our DS 260 on Dec. 4. Our Bulgarian NGO represented us for our Visa interview on December 12 and we received article 5.

We are now waiting a signature from the Bulgarian Minister of Justice. Then we will get assigned to a judge for court. After passing court, M. and E. will officially be our children! We hope to bring them home in April.

Dear M and E,

Next Christmas we will be together! I dream of the fun we will have making Christmas cookies and playing with the nativity set. How I love you! I miss you every single day! You are always in my thoughts and prayers. 

XOXO, With Love,

Momma

Sight Seeing in Bulgaria: Along the Danube River

We had a little time for sight seeing in a town in Northern Bulgaria on the Danube River.

Church of St. Peter and St. Paul from the 12th - 14th Century

Andrew and Ivan Exploring

Danube River and Romania on the Other Side

Stacks of stones on the side of this cliff are ruins from ancient times.

Sight Seeing in Bulgaria: Kabile

While in Bulgaria, we had an opportunity to visit Kabile, an archaeological site. Kabile, an ancient town, is situated around and on a huge rocky hill/mountain surrounded by flat land for miles, making it the perfect fortress.

When we visited Kabile, we toured a small museum before climbing the hill. We saw lots of artifacts (Pottery, Tools, Coins, Statues/gods, jewelry, etc.) from as early as 2,000 BC from ancient Thracian times, up through Greek and Roman times into the time of the Byzantine period. Andrew and I were fascinated to see how people grew in knowledge, from having only pottery through the iron age. It was very cool to look at things left behind by ancient things from thousands of years before of Christ. It was weird to think about civilizations that lasted hundreds of years, then conquered by another civilization that lasted hundreds of years. I felt a little strange, almost insignificant as a person. People live and die and time marches on. I also thought about how young America is and how, with the exception of some Native American artifacts, we don't have very many artifacts or cool things from ancient times. The oldest is maybe 400 years old - not thousands and thousands of years.

Fossils, Including an Elephant Tusk

Ancient Pottery 

Artifacts from the Iron Age

After the museum of artifacts, we walked trails outside, past an ancient Roman bath, more digs were they are still unearthing artifacts, and up the huge hill, with several pauses to catch my breath. On top of the hill, was a sanctuary for the Thracian goddess of fertility, Cybilla. There are still huge rocks positioned North to South and East to West that were used for sacrifices. From the top of Kabile, we could see a long ways. What a view!

Ruins of Roman Bath

Dimo, Our Driver

Ivan, Our Translator

We climbed to the top!

Saying Goodbye to M.

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click theses links if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria. We first spent 5 days meeting our daughter E, then 5 days with our son M. You can read here about the day we met our son M.

From October 28: 

We met M. and his foster parents at the Social Welfare Office and went inside. M. sat between Andrew and me. We sat in their for a while and signed some papers saying we had visited with him for the past 4 days and today. We thought we would have the morning to visit with M. then we would say goodbye because we would have to travel in the afternoon. However, the Social Welfare Office informed us that M. needed to go to school. (He had already missed Friday and Monday visiting with us.) Our visit was shorter than I expected, just the time in the office. 

We went outside the office building and took pictures of M. with his foster parents, of M. with us, and of  M. with both his foster parents and us. Then we all said our goodbyes and had goodbye hugs and kisses with M. right in front of the social welfare office. M. got in the car with his foster parents and went to school. We waived and blew kisses to him as drove away.

I don't know if it was the suddenness of the goodbyes, or the fact that M. is in a foster family, or that I had already done this before with E., but I didn't cry. It was hard and I miss my son every day, but I know we are coming back for him!

Since we have been home, I have received a few emailed photos of M. from his foster mother. (And also of E. from her orphanage director.) It helps to know they are well, but I miss them both everyday! Sometimes I look over their pictures and videos. Sometimes I cry. I miss E.'s radiant smiles and hugs, and M.'s spontaneous laughter and kisses! But I tell myself only a few more months and we will all be together as a forever family! 

I know you all want to see pictures of our handsome son. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with M., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish his name or photos online.

Day 4 with M.

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click theses links if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria. We first spent 5 days meeting our daughter E, then 5 days with our son M. You can read here about the day we met our son M.

From October 27:

Although it was still cold, the sun was shining! We did not spend the day in our hotel room! We went to a near by larger city to have M.'s photo taken for his Visa. M.'s foster mother came along and sat up front where Ivan, our translator usually sits. Ivan sat in the back of the hatch backed car on a seat that flips up out of the floor. M. sits in the back seat between Andrew and me. M. though Ivan sitting basically in the trunk was funny. He said to his foster mother. "Look, Uncle is sitting in the back like luggage!"

After we had M.'s visa picture taken, we went to a near by mall that had a play area with a big inflatable bouncy house/slide. M. loved it! Next, M. did sand art pictures at a little shop. I would peel off a sticky section for him and then he would spoon the sand over it. Here is a beautiful rose he made for me!

M. also loved the escalators and automatically opening doors at the mall. Andrew took him up and down the escalators just for fun! M. found the automatically opening doors fascinating. We spent probably 5 minutes just standing in front of the doors making them open, walking in and out, etc. Oh, the laughter and smile over the things we take for granted! 

On the way back home, M. was quite. We think he might have been realizing this was one of our last times together and been sad. Also, we think he was sad to leave all the excitement of the mall, tired out, and possibly over stimulated at the mall. Once we returned to M.'s foster home, he perked back up. He sat on my lap and looked at the photo album we made him. We talked about what it would be like once he was adopted and lived with us in America. M. was full of lots of plans for what life will be like. He said he wants a red fast bicycle like daddy's and a basket on the front like momma's. M. thought with a basket he could ride to the store and get a loaf of bread, etc. for me. I am thinking to myself, "You are very sweet and helpful to volunteer, but NO way would I let you ride to the grocery store by yourself!"

We also had a chance to chat with M.'s foster mother and ask her questions. Then we said goodbye for the evening.

I know you all want to see pictures of our handsome son. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with M., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish his name or photos online.

Day 3 with M.

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click theses links if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria. We first spent 5 days meeting our daughter E, then 5 days with our son M. You can read here about the day we met our son M.

From October 26:

View from our Hotel Window

Once again the beautiful snow was falling. We didn't realize it was daylight savings in Bulgaria (a week before ours in the US) and we woke up at our usual time (no alarm clock needed - we just woke up around 7am each morning). We went downstairs to the hotel lobby to meet our interpreter and driver, but of course they weren't there. The lady behind the desk communicated through pointing at her cell phone that the time had changed. So we went back upstairs for another hour.

Because the roads were snowy and trees were down, our son's foster father brought him into town to our hotel. We spent a third day together in our hotel room. Poor energetic kid confined to a hotel room for 3 days! We played all the same things together - Playdough, Go Fish, Crazy 8, batting the balloon around. Andrew and M. had a great father/son time wrestling on the bed. Andrew laid on the bed and M. would run and jump on him. I loved watching them! 

Playdough  in our hotel room!

Instead of going to the restaurant we stayed at the hotel and had chicken soup with fresh lemon to squeeze in it and fresh bread. Mmm! Perfect on a cold snowy day!

We took M. home in the afternoon and returned to our hotel to find we had no electricity! I am sure it was because of the snow and the trees that were down! (We had also had 3 different times already when there was no water! We would turn on the sink or shower in our hotel room and nothing would come out. After a few hours, the water would return.) I told our driver and interpreter not to worry, we had packed our sense of adventure with us! Andrew had also been smart and packed a small flashlight with a new battery. I told him we wouldn't need that, but he said we might need it and he was right. It got very dark early and we went to bed since we had no light besides the flashlight. I was worried about the cold and we piled on extra blankets. After we had been a sleep for a while, the electricity came back on and we were awaken by heater clicking on and all the lights in our room suddenly coming on. We must have left a switch up! I got up and turned them off and went back to sleep.

The story continues about day 4 with our son here.

I know you all want to see pictures of our handsome son. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with M., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish his name or photos online.

Day 2 with M.

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click theses links if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria. We first spent 5 days meeting our daughter E, then 5 days with our son M. You can read here about meeting our son M.

From October 25:

Maybe it was the falling snow that lifted my mood, or maybe it was an encouraging email that I received from my friend V.  or maybe it was the cold medicine I was taking and a good nights sleep, or maybe it was looking forward to spending time with M. himself. But I was definitely over my blue mood.

Beautiful snow began to fall!

Our second day with M. was cold and snowy. We picked M. up from his foster parent's home and spent our day in the hotel room again. We played Playdough, Old Maid, Go Fish, Crazy 8, and batted around the balloon. We brought a box of K'Nex that makes an airplane. He was excited about the airplane but found it difficult to build, so we helped him. We really just enjoyed getting to know each other and M.'s personality, sense of humor, and hearing his laughter. We need more laughter in our home and I think M. will definitely bring that!

We spent the first 3 days visiting with M. in our hotel room!

We also discovered M. is very affectionate! I think he is making up for years of not having affection. He wanted to hug and kiss and kiss and kiss!

In the evening, we drove M. back to his foster home. The snow was beautiful. We didn't go in because of the snow and needing to drive back to our hotel while the roads were still okay. I was a little worried we would have trouble picking up M. the next day for our visit. 

The early snow on grapes on the vines in M.'s foster family's garden. 

The story continues about our 3rd day with M. here.

I know you all want to see pictures of our handsome son. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with M., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish his name or photos online.

Meeting M.

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click theses links if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria. We first spent 5 days meeting our daughter E, then 5 meeting our son M.

From October 24:

When I first woke up, the sun was starting to peek out. But the day turn out to be overcast and cold. This was exactly my mood. I wanted to be excited and happy, but the like the sunshine covered by the clouds, my mood was overcast by leaving E. the day before combined with a cold I had caught, the jet lag that was probably catching up to me and the dreary weather. Andrew and I both felt the sadness of leaving our daughter the day before. At the same time we felt nervous excitement to meet our son. 

When we went out to the car, our driver Dimo discovered that the car had a flat tire - more of a slow leak. Dimo drove us to the Social Welfare Office and then went to get the tire fixed.

Andrew and I went into the Social Welfare Office with our translator, Ivan. I assumed it would be the same as with E. We would meet somebody official, then we would go to meet our son. 
We walked down a hall. When we stepped into the office, I was surprised to see M. sitting on a chair in front of one of the desks. As soon as I saw M., I knew it was him. I recognized him from the pictures we had received of him. He looked nervous, fiddling with the wrapper of a roll of bread. (He told us later he remembers watching us get out of the car in the parking lot - that he could see us out of the office window.) I went immediately to him and said his name and knelt down by him. It is all a little fuzzy now in my memory as it all happened so fast. I sat on the left of M. and Andrew on the right. We pulled our chairs right up next to his. I asked him "Gladen Lisee?" (Are you hungry, pointing to the bread roll.) M. said no. After a few moments. He looked at me and said "momma" and at Andrew and said "daddy." He took turns snuggling up to Andrew and me, going back and forth. He looked pleased and happy! Here was the son I had been waiting 6 months to meet. I just wanted to finally touch him. I stroked his silky black hair, and rubbed his back. 

After a few minutes, M. pointed to Ivan our translator and said what sounded to our ears like teacher (something like che-cha). Andrew said "da, yes, teacher." M. was actually saying the Bulgarian word for uncle. It stuck. For the next 5 days, M. called our translator uncle. (Later when he met our driver, he called him "my man!") 

After our Ivan got everything settled with the people at the social welfare office, Ivan, M.'s Social Worker, Andrew, M. and I walked to a park together. Well, the social worker and Ivan walked. Maybe walked isn't exactly the right word for how Andrew, M., and I got to the park. Andrew and I each held one of M.'s hand. As we went down the side walk, M. wanted to jump. So we said, "One, two, three, jump!" And M. said, "edno, dve , tri..." M. had a beautiful joyful laugh!

On the way to the park, M. showed us the school he attends. Then M. told "uncle" about a toy store. M. explained that it had more stuff besides toys, like perfume, if we wanted to buy something. Not a toy for him - something for us. But the store did have this toy...

M.'s School

At the park, we discovered M. like to swing too. We are definitely going to have to put a swing in our back yard! He didn't need pushed like E. did. He could pump his legs himself. I gave him an underduck anyway, just for fun! He laughed. M. wanted me to sit on the swing next to him.

After swinging, M. announced that he needed to go to the restroom. We walked to a restroom. Next door to the building with the restroom, a chicken was being killed. As we left, M. said "Mom, check this out!" I didn't look. (I want to continue to enjoy eating chicken!) 

We walked to the toy store. Sure enough, M. went right to the gun with a red and a blue laser site on it. He must have wanted it for a long time. it cost 4 Lev or about $2.50. I am wondering, "Is it culturally acceptably for us to by the gun for M.?" It must have been because our translator offered to buy it for him. No, we could buy it for him.

Next, we walked to a pharmacy and got some over the counter cold medicine. As we walked together, M. had a blast pretending to shoot things. He also like to pretend to be a policeman. M. would have us put our hands up and pretend to frisk us. Then he would laugh!

M.'s social worker decided we were fine together. She said we could take M. to our hotel since it was cold. We walked her back to the Social Welfare Office, then walked to our hotel with M. and our translator.  

In the hotel, Andrew and Ivan had coffee. M. and I had herbal tea. I took my cold medicine - a powder that dissolved in a cup of hot water. It was lemon flavored with a yucky after taste. 

We all went up to our hotel room. We were about to see how a boy with lots of energy did in hotel room for several hours. M. is full of energy, but he also has the ability to self-regulate and calm himself. First, we played with a balloon, batting it around and trying to keep it from touching the ground. Again, we got to here M.'s beautiful laughter! After we played with the balloon, I got out the picture album I had made for M. to show him our family, our home and his new sister and grandparents.

When it was time for lunch, we all walked down to a restaurant for lunch. The restaurant had a Foosball table that cost about a quarter to play. M. wanted to play, so we did when we had finished eating. M would laugh and cheer, saying "goal, goal" no matter which side the ball went in.

After lunch, we check back in with the social worker and then returned to the hotel room and played with Playdough, and played Go Fish and Old Maid.

At 4pm. we went back to the Social Welfare Office and signed some papers about our first day visiting with M. Then the social worker rode with us to the village where M. lives with his foster family. I like seeing where M. has been living the past few years. A quaint village with houses with little gardens and grape harbors. His road is a dirt road and he directed us to his home. M.'s foster mother greeted us and invited us into the home. We got to meet M.'s foster father, foster mother, foster sister (the biological child of his foster parents) and foster grandmother. We sat down at their table and M.'s foster mother served us cookies and coffee and tea. It was nice to get to know everyone and a nice way to end the day.

Side note: M.'s foster parents are not related to M. in anyway. Just like foster parents here in the U.S., they have received training and had M. placed in their home. M. does not call them mother and father though. In Bulgaria, foster parents are trained not to become too affectionate to the foster children, and not to let the children placed in their home call them mother or father. M. calls his foster parents by their given name.

Read about our 2nd day with M. here.

I know you all want to see pictures of our handsome son. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with M., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish his name or photos online.

Saying Goodbye to E.

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click theses links if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria or meeting our daughter E.

Andrew paid the hotel bill the night before. When the alarm went of, I didn't want to get up. I laid in bed for a few moments and a song to sing to E. popped in my head. She was always asking us to sing to her, so this song would just fit the occasion - May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You.  E. wouldn't understand it's significance, but it felt like a prayer of blessing over her. I found the song on Youtube and listened and sang along as we packed up our suitcases. We had breakfast and loaded the car.  

We had been blessed with beautiful sunshine on the first 4 days together. On our last day together, it was overcast and threatening rain. As our Ivan, our interpreter said, even the weather was mourning. E. greeted us and we spent a little time outside swinging while the rain held off. The rest of our visit was spent in a room inside due to the cold. To us, E. seem a little bit different than she had the other days. Almost like she was holding herself aloof slightly, to prepare herself for our separation. E.'s psychologist and speech therapist stopped by and we had a chance to chat with them. Then we had our last time with E. The aloofness was gone and the three of us enjoyed being together for ten or so precious minutes. We sang to her and snuggled her on our laps. Then it was time to say goodbye. Andrew carried her to the front door. I still have the memory fresh in my mind of her snuggling her head on his shoulder as we walked to the door. Then she wanted me to pick her up. I lost it for a moment while I held her, but E. couldn't see my face because her head was now snuggled on my shoulder. Andrew got a tissue and wiped the silent tears from my eyes. We had group hug and individual hugs and kisses, told her how much we would miss her. That we promised we were coming back for her as soon as the documents were ready. That we loved her so much! When we walked out the door, she was saying her final good byes to Andrew and I took a few moments to take deep breaths and get my tears under control. Then I said my final good byes and we walked out the gate and got in the car. We blew E. kisses from the car as it pulled away and she waved and blew kisses back. When E. was out of site, I let myself cry. How I miss my girl so much already! How cruel it is to have to say good bye to her! (We can email and send pictures to the director over the group homes in E.'s region and E. will get them. Nice to have some communication while we are apart.)

Before we left town, Andrew had to stop at a money changer and change some dollars to levs. Then we went to the Office of Social Welfare and our translator dropped of some paperwork about our visits. All this official business help distract me.

We had a drive of around 3 hours, maybe longer, to the town we would be staying in for our visits with M. On the way, we stopped for gas for the car and sandwiches from the gas station. Andrew and I also split a cherry filed croissant. It was delicious! We went through a mountain range on a windy road. Made me carsick, so we stopped and got out for a little while. Brr. It was colder up here. 

The rain and the separation from E. had us all in a depressing mood. I am sure the drive was probably pretty and I tried to soak up my kids' country. Eventually, I fell asleep in the car for a while, laying across the bench seat with my head on Andrew's lap for a pillow. When I woke up he went to sleep.

Rain all the way to the town where we would visit our son M.

We finally arrived at the hotel. It was the only one in smaller town on the Danube River. A town that used to be a big and important but was now somewhat forgotten. The hotel looked like it was fancy back in it's day. It had dark wood  interior and a cool painted ceiling. When we arrived it was felt cold, dark, and empty. Almost spooky. We were the only guest from what we could tell. I am sure our mood didn't help our perception at all. However, the rooms seemed clean enough and that was all I cared about. We had internet too, which was an extra plus. We weren't sure that we would in this smaller town.

Hotel Lobby, photo taken a few days later on a day when the sun was shining!

The next day we were going to meet our son! That was exciting and something to cheer us up! How strange it is to feel so many emotions - to be sad about saying goodbye to E. and excited and nervous about meeting M.!

Click here to read about meeting our son M.

I know you all want to see pictures of our beautiful daughter. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with E., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish her name or photos online.

Day 4 with E.

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click theses links if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria or meeting our daughter E.

From October 22:

Our 4th day visiting E. began first with hugs and kisses. She gives me a kiss on the cheek and lets me kiss her cheek in return. Andrew kisses her on the top of the head, because she doesn't like the prickles of his facial hair. She kisses her daddy on the cheek.

E. was wearing the outfit we gave her yesterday. It looked cute on her, but definitely no growing room, and a little small in the shoulders! Ah well, we know to bring bigger size clothes for the next trip when we get to bring her home!

We rode with E. in the car to a photo shop to have her picture taken for her visa. I don't know if she was nervous or carsick (she has rarely ridden in a car) or both, but after her photo was taken, she threw up right in the shop! I helped her get cleaned up and thankfully the floor was tiled, not carpeted! Then we walked to a large park with our translator and her social worker who came with us from her orphanage. E. said she wanted to swing and was feeling fine, but then she got a little motion sick again and had to stop swinging. E. sat on my lap until the feeling passed. It was so nice to hold her and have her snuggle up to me. When she felt better, we played on the other playground equipment and stayed off the swings. It was nice to see her slide and climbing, since she had been mostly only interested in swinging the other days. 

After a while, we bought her juice at a little outdoor cafe. Her second time to have something from a restaurant. 

I am going to pause here for a funny little conversation I had with E. When her bottle of juice was 2/3 empty, a gnat or bug flew down in it.

Me: "E., There is a bug in your juice!"

Ivan translates to E.

E: Bulgarian equivilant of "That's a bummer." (E procedes to drink all her juice anyway, bug and all! I am thinking Ew! Gross! I guess she didn't want to waist her special treat!)

Sitting at our table with E., her social worker, and our translator, Ivan. Photographed by E.

That afternoon we pushed her on the swings a little, sang some, strung wooden beads on a string. Near the end of the visit, we spent sometime with E. sitting on Andrew's lap while we talked with her about her adoption and what would happen next with the process. We had to go and visit her bother, just like we had visited her. After that, documents would have to be prepared and then we would return. It would be after Christmas, New Years, and her birthday, probably in April or May.  Tomorrow would be our last visit together. E. has seen another child from her group home in the adoption process, so she understands that we will be leaving and returning. She told us that she didn't want me to cry tomorrow when we left. That we would be happy together soon. My girl, you have strength and wisdom beyond your years. You have learned that tears a luxury you can't afford. Life has made you strong. But I am going to tear up, no matter what. I will do my best to be strong for you.

This talk was not only good for E., but me also. It was good for me to see that she understood we were returning. It helped me to begin the parting process - not that it was easy, but that this made it less hard.

The group home allowed us to stay later than normal with E. since it was our last evening together. (Thank you! Thank you!)

Click here to read about our last day with E. 

I know you all want to see pictures of our beautiful daughter. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with E., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish her name or photos online.

Day 3 with E.

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click theses links if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria or meeting our daughter E or our 2nd day together.

From October 21:

We had a wonderful 3rd day visiting with E! She is sweet, funny and witty with the things she says, spunky, always cheerful and smiling, kind to the other children, and just a bundle of fun!

We spent our morning visit with her at the group home. Most of the visit was in the back yard of the orphanage pushing E. on the swing and singing to her. She loves for us to sing to her while we push her on the swing. We have been singing Itsy Bitsy Spider, Old MacDonald, B-I-N-G-O, Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes, ABC Song, and more. I have been racking my brain to think of more children's songs! By the end of the day, I thought I might loose my voice. She kept asking us to sing her another song. Her favorite is always the song with the words "I love you" which she sings along with us. If she got to a part with words that she didn't know, E. just hummed along.

Swing We Pushed E. on Behind her Group Home.  Photographed by E.

One of my favorite memories from this day was watching E. dance. Our translator Ivan, put some music on his phone on for her and she showed off for us. She was so cute clapping and singing along - sometimes with a huge smile on her face, sometimes with a look of concentration! Halfway through her dancing, she offered Andrew a hand and he began dancing with her. The first father-daughter dance! I loved watching them together! She is such a performer! She even got some twirls in and gave a bow when the song finished! After dancing with Andrew, she wanted to dance with me.

For our gift today, we gave E. a dress and leggings I had bought for her, just geussing on size, along with a matching hair bow. I just guessed on size based on the most recent height and weight measurments we had. Hoping they fit her. But even if they are too big or too small, it will be nice to see them on her so that we can know what size clothes to buy for the next trip!

We got to see her room, which she shares with a bedridden child. The room was very neat. On the wall was a calender, some crafts and artwork, and a black and white picture of her with one of her closest friends at the group home and their social worker. She has a bed with a bright yellow blanket with yellow flowers, a desk, and a cabinet for storing her clothes in. Across the hall is a bathroom for the children.

In the afternoon, we walked to a park with our translator and one of the caregivers from her group home. We got to talk with her caregiver about E.'s routine, her personality, what excites her, calms her, etc. We also were able to ask her about any questions/fears she has about coming to America and what it will be like to live in our home. We hope we can ease the transition for her by talking about it. The care givers have also done a good job of explaining the adoption process to her. 

Communication with E. ( and later with M.) was interesting. I had learned some phrases/words in Bulgarian (I love you, I will love you forever, Are you hungry, Are you thirsty, yes, no, You are beautiful, Sit Down, Stand up, Goodbye, Good morning, Hello, etc.). But our real life saver was our translator, Ivan. You could tell this was more than just a job to him. He cared for the kids and for our family. He went above and beyond to help us communicate with our children and to help them and us with bonding.

Ivan (pronounced Evon) our wonderful translator 
who did so much more than just translate. Photographed by E.

E. loves our camera. She loves to take pictures with it, to have her picture taken, and to sit and look at the pictures that have been taken with the camera. Some of the pictures she took are funny - close ups of our noses or such. But others are actually good, and captured neat moments from our trip that would have other wise gone undocumented! It is also interesting to see what exactly she wanted to photograph. It is like seeing the world through her eyes! And since she took the pictures, she isn't in them and I can share them with you!

At one point we had given Ivan the camera to take pictures and he hadn't started (probably because he was talking to us) and E told him "Come on. What are you waiting for? Start taking pictures."

Let me tell you another funny thing E said. E. told her social worker: "V., I didn't think may parents would be so young and beautiful!" (Apparently, she was expecting older, uglier parents?) Oh, you make me laugh girlie!

Andrew and I both love her so much already. For me, it has been a wonderful but strange experience to feel the love of a mother. How can I feel such a fierce protective love for someone I have only known in person for only a few days?

Click here for our 4th day spent with E.

I know you all want to see pictures of our beautiful daughter. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with E., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish her name or photos online.

Day 2 with E.

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click theses links if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria or meeting our daughter E.

From October 20:

Day 2 with our daughter went just as well as the first day! When we arrived, she excitedly greeted us with out stretched arms, ready for a warm hug. We were blessed with beautiful weather again for both our morning and afternoon visit.

During our morning visit, we went to another park. We climbed lots of steps up a huge hill. Andrew held E's hand on one side and I did on the other side. Walking with E is a little slow because of her Cerebral Palsy, but she was a trooper and walked all the way to the top. From the top, we had an amazing view of her city!

View from the top of the park.

At the top was a little cafe and a swing and slide. We got to take E. for her first restaurant experiences, a bottle of juice at an outdoor table at a restaurant at the park. and we pushed her on the swings for a while. E. was not even interested in the slide. Our translator and the social worker were nice enough to sit a little ways where they could watch, but we could have a little time just to ourselves. Of course, she wanted us to sing while we pushed her. E. likes to be pushed high, but we were cautious about pushing her to high. She would occasionally try to tell us the English word "higher" which sounded garbled! (Our translator had taught it to E. yesterday.) After a while, she got cold, but didn't want to stop, so I put my jacket on her, which was huge. She look cute with the sleeves rolled up! 

On the way down the huge hill back to the group home, we sang her a song with the words "I love you" in it and she joyfully told her social worker (who was often with us to supervise visits) "they love me!" I don't think I will ever fully be able to understand the joy of an orphan at having a mommy and daddy come and adopt them. Sometimes during our visits, she would look at me or Andrew and get excited all over again. A huge smile would takeover her face and she would exclaim "momma" or "daddy" and throw open her arms for a hug!

Lunch with our translator Ivan and driver Dimo 

On our afternoon visit, we stayed at the group home. We pushed E. on the swing in the back yard, sang, and had fun batting a balloon around.

This afternoon, I was full of emotion and teared up. E. did not like my tears. She wanted to know what was wrong. She told me not to cry, that we were going to be that "happiest family in the world!" Our translator tried to explain they were happy tears, but E. just gave him a look of disbelief. I think she only understands tears as sadness. 

My favorite memory from our second day with E. was right before we left. Andrew got down on his knees to tell E good bye. As he gave her a goodbye hug she took his head/face in her hands and gave him a kiss on the top of his head/forehead! I love seeing them together! I think she might just turn out to be a Daddy's girl!

The story continues here with our 3rd day together.

I know you all want to see pictures of our beautiful daughter. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with E., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish her name or photos online.

Meeting Our Daughter

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip.We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. Click this link if you would like to first read about our trip to Bulgaria.

From October 19:

I woke up sometime in the middle of the night. Was this from the time change or from excitement? I tried to go back to sleep. What time was it anyway? I looked at the cell phone given to us by our translator. It said December something 2013. If the date was wrong, the time was sure to be. The alarm we had set on the phone would be useless! I got up and check the time on the computer, then added 7 hours. It was around midnight here in Bulgaria. I set the correct day and time on the cell phone. I tried to lay still so I didn't wake Andrew and go back to sleep. Eventually, my stomach started to complain. I knew I would never go back to sleep if I didn't eat. So I got up and munched on the pretzels they had passed out on the plane. Poor Andrew awoke to me crunching away! Finally, around 3am (I think), I fell back asleep. 

We awoke to the sound of the cell phone alarm. I felt sleepy now - but I got up excitedly. Breakfast was continental provided by the hotel - fruit, yogurt, toast, different cheeses and cold meat cuts, scrambled eggs, hot tea or coffee, juice. Our driver and translator met us at 8:30 and we made the several hour drive from Sofia to the town where E. lives. We go to see some of the Bulgarian country side -  fields, Mountains in the distance, the occasional sheep or cows. We are both a little nervous and excited at this point. 

Driving from Sofia to the City where E. Lives

First, we went to the office of Social Welfare to meet the director. They were all very nice to come in on Sunday, their day off, and unlock the building and meet with us. Then the director went with us to the E.'s orphanage, which was a smaller "family center" (What we would call a group home in the US.) It was a newer facility with a large living room and dining area with kitchen. Home to 14 children. E. moved there only a few months ago from a large orphanage. 

When we arrived at around 11:3 or noon, I looked out my car window through the glass front door of the group home. I could see her sitting on the couch waiting for us. I started tearing up immediately! As we were getting out of the car, she got up and walked out to meet us. She came out the front door and was so excited! But here we were, a translator, driver, Social Welfare Director, and Andrew and I. She didn't know which off us was her mommy and daddy! She had her arms out to hug us, but wasn't sure which person to hug! I knelt down and gave her a big hug and then motioned that Andrew was her dad and she hugged him. Some one must have been prepping her because she said "I love you, Mommy" and I love you, Daddy" in English! I told her the Bulgarian words for "I love you!"

We went out on the back deck of the group home and sat down. The sun was bright in my eyes. They brought out herbal tea and Banitsa (a delicious pastry/bread made of Phyllo and cheese). E. served us both and the caregivers bragged about what a great helper E. was to them. 

Andrew and I were sitting on a bench together at the table. She came and gave me a kiss on the cheek and a hug. Then she hugged Andrew - she did not want to kiss him. Possibly it was shyness but she also did not care for Andrew's goatee!

We found out that they had been expecting us the day before. Apparently, there had been a mix up in the communication about when our plane arrived, etc. E. had gotten all dressed up for us the previous day and we never showed up. She was upset and told her caregivers "my parents are never going to come." They calmed her down and explained the problem, but I can't even imagine her dissapointment as the day went on and we never arrived!

I got a craft out of my bag and worked on it a little with her, then she wanted to go swing.  We swung for a little while and then the social worker suggested we take her to a park and visit there. 

Roses in the Park

We went to E.'s favorite park. When we arrived at the park, it must have suddenly occurred to her that we have other names besides mommy and daddy, because she asked what our names where! 

I spontaniously sang E. a little song with the words "I love you" in it. She loved it! From then on, everyday she would ask us to sing to her and with her.

The park had nice wide paved paths for walking, tall trees, a large fountain and a large play ground. E. wanted to swing again. We spent the whole time at the park pushing her on the swings. One would stand behind and push E. on the swings and one would stand in front and push her feet or knees. 

At one point E. asked our translator if "we would take her." We he told her yes, she said she was "a very happy girl." Breaks my heart that she thinks we might not want her. We aren't shopping for a pet at the pet store. She is a girl who needs a mommy and daddy! 

In the car on the way back to the group home, she gave us both a kiss on the cheek again and even allowed daddy to give her a kiss on the cheek too! Our first visit ended at 2:45 pm. She said good bye easily and "see you at 4!"

She took a nap in the afternoon while we were gone. The orphanage care givers told us she doesn't nap! Apparently all the excitement made her tired!

We returned at 4 for our afternoon visit. We spent the time with her in the back yard of the orphanage. First I braided her beautiful black hair in 2 french braids. I gave her 2 bows to put in her hair. E. asked why I hadn't given them to her sooner and I explained that I wanted to save surprises, not give everything at once. She loved that idea and became excited that there would be a surprise the next day! E. asked if she could do my hair, so I let her. She did my hair in 2 pig tails. It looked hilarious.

I brought a small picture album of our us, our home, her grandparents and brother, etc. to share with us. She liked it and it was nice to share with her. She had a few questions, but she was ready to swing again after looking through it!

We pushed E. on the swings in the back yard of the group home. E. loved to swing and would ask for harder in Bulgarian. The translator told her the English word and she tried to say "higher".

E. asked if she could give us a tour of the yard. We walked 3 times around the group home, pausing along the way for this and that. She picked us flowers. Next door was another group home like E.'s. Also home to older children. A boy in the group home next door came out and looked at us through the fence and she proceeded to brag to him about her momma and daddy. Other children came and looked at us over the fence too. This ended up happening every day for the five days we were there. When we were out in the yard playing or swinging with E., children from E.'s group home would watch out the window and children in the group home next door would come and look longingly over the fence at us. Most of them were boys. There were healthy older boys, and boys with varying levels of disabilities. It was a sad reminded of the many many children never adopted, and put a little sad damper on our joy of spending time with E.

When it was almost time for us to go, E. asked our translator what time we would be coming back tomorrow and tried to bargain with him for an earlier time! (She is so smart with time and schedules. She has the social workers schedule memorized and thanked her for coming on her off day. She knows the schedule of the orphanage and understands time!) Again, our good byes were easy. We gave hugs and said "ciao" and blew kisses from the car as we pulled away.

The day went so naturally - easily. I think it was because E. knew why we were there, was excited and broke the ice and our calmed our nervousness with her huge hug when we arrived. Fromt hat first moment, she accepted us as her parents and never looked back. Sometime that day (it all runs together now), one of E.'s caregivers was talking to her about her upcoming adoption. She said she was happy for E. to have a family but would miss her when she was gone. E. told her, "Please don't be sad when I leave. I will miss you, but this is the way it is."

I loved E. before I ever met her, from only a description of her cheerful personality and her pictures. But meeting her this first day made that love blossom! I will never forget how she welcomed us with such excitement and her outstretched arms to receive us!

I blogged about our 2nd Day with E here.

I know you all want to see pictures of our beautiful daughter. However, I won't be sharing any pictures publicly on the internet. In order to be allowed to take pictures with E., we had to sign papers saying we wouldn't publish her name or photos online.

Heading to Bulgaria (In Pictures)

We have been gone to Bulgaria for 2 weeks! Now that we are home, I will be blogging all about our trip. 

From October 17 - 18:

Leaving our Hometown for our first flight - to Atlanta! 

Can you tell we are excited!

Dinner on the plane from Atlanta to Paris

Over night flight! Our journey was tiring but went well. We got about 4-5 hours of sleep on the plane from Atlanta to Paris.

Breakfast! I love airplane food - I know, I am strange!

Crossing the Atlantic! Nothing underneath us but water!

Less than a 2 hour layover in Paris. To short to leave the airport. But we did get to see the Eiffel Tower from our plane window when we were landing!

Welcome to Paris! We went pretty quickly thru the airport, and ended up having plenty of time and sitting and waiting at our gate for a while.

Lunch on the Plane from Paris to Sofia, Bulgaria!

Our translator, Ivon, and driver, Demo, met us at the airport and settled us into the hotel. Ivon took us to a traditional restaurant for dinner.

The food in Bulgaria is GOOD!

After dinner we walked around Sofia to see some of the sites.

Good Night!