Train ride and 1st Visit

Thursday we got to sleep in and then we packed up our stuff and headed out to the adoption office around 4, again we rode with another couple- one in which we met at dinner the night before. The other families were there at the office waiting around outside as well. While we waited the team filled us in on what the plan was for everyone and we got to know the others a bit. After about an hour or so, they called us in to give our referral. From there, we were taken to the train station with the same couple since we are both going to the same region. We ate lunch/dinner at the McDonald's there before boarding. We boarded the train for a 7:30pm departure, it was a 11.5 hr train ride overnight. We chilled for a bit and the the other couple, who was right next door to us, lent us a movie to watch. We watched the movie and then I tried to sleep and Erick worked. Sleep was not happening though. Erick's computer died after a while and he wasn't tired so he played games. We both finally slept, but he awoke after 1.5 hrs and didn't get any more. I had more than that but not sure how much, it was not constant either. We were to arrive at 7am, we were both up at 5am I think. We started the day tired and are extremely tired right now.

We arrived and split from the other couple, as we were going on to a different city. Luda and our driver took us an hour away to do some paperwork, then took us a little ways further for more paperwork, then we went to the orphanage which was not far from there. I was impressed when we first walked through the entry way outside. There is lots of playground type stuff in the courtyard. One little boy was out there and we stared at us as we walked by. We went in the building and straight to the directors office. A lot of Russian was spoken and some translated to us. She and the doctor told us all about Peyton. There was lots of discussion. And lots of agreeing on our part. Then the caregiver brought Peyton in. He smiled when he saw us; he has the biggest, cutest, sweetest smile (just like all my kids). He is little and has darker hair than we thought he would and it is cut very short. The director talked with him and had him do some drawing and answer some casual conversation type of questions. He acted out some animals, apparently he recently was in a little skit or something. It was so cute!!! She talked to him about us and then we gave him a toy Thomas the train. He smiled at it. He came and got it from me and then said thank you and walked away a bit. He talked with his caregiver and she pointed out things and so did he. She showed him how to play with it and rolled it on the desk in front of us for him. Then he came over and played with it for a second. Then he walked away again. He stood there and she asked if he would like to keep meeting with us and he smiled excitedly, said yes and looked at us then bashfully put his head down with the smile still beaming. He would do that a lot... So stinkin cute! Every time he would look at us he would smile. It was his lunch time so he had to go and we were not allowed time for pics. We can take them the next visit.

We talked more with the director and then we left to be shown his groupa, which is the group of kids he belongs to and where they are in the orphanage. They were eating lunch and we walked in and Peyton lit up with a big smile again! They were all so cute sitting around the little table. It as kind of dark in there so it was not very easy to see. We said bye to the kids and then we were shown where to come and go for our visits and we waited outside for Luda to finish talking. The director liked us and is getting the process started for us.

We left and went back to one of the offices we had gone to before for paperwork, we finally got some food (1pm) while Luda did business. Then we finally got to go to the apt we are staying in. Erick is taking a nap and I am writing this blog. We are about to be picked up to go back for our second visit! And yes, we will have internet!

Will post again after this visit

Love
The Wilsons