One Week Home

Our first week home has gone remarkably well. We've been very busy. But Hannah is such a happy baby! We've had a lot of fun....interspersed with only a few crying episodes.

Tuesday, we picked up Grandma Molon from the airport. She has come to stay with us for 2 1/2 weeks to help out with Hannah and everything else. She has been a big help, even helping with the cleaning! : )

Wednesday, we took Hannah to visit Daddy's work. We brought a yummy cake to celebrate Hannah coming home! And again, so spoiled with more toys from his coworkers! And Wednesday night, we went out to dinner with our friend, Luis, from San Diego who is in town on business, and a few of his coworkers. It was also the night Holland played Argentina so we were all decked out in orange!

Friday was a day of shopping!!! Hannah was such a trooper shopping the sales with Grandma and me.

Today, we had more visitors. Kati (an exchange student of Grandma and Grandpa Molon from > 10 yrs ago), her husband Jorg, and 2 daughters, Lily and Johanna, came to visit us from Germany. We spent the day at home and then went to Vondelpark for some swimming and playing...

Home at Last!

We finally made it home! As promised, here are some pictures of our girl....


1st steps on US soil!

Having lunch with Auntie KK!

On the swan boats

Hannah loves her cousin Addie!

Sammy finding the weakest link.

Father's Day in Vondelpark

Hannah has her US Passport

Yesterday was very productive...not only did we pick up Hannah's US passport (which is adorable by the way) but we also applied for her social security card. She's completely official. The only paper we have left to get is her Certificate of Citizenship. Supposedly, it will be mailed to us but as other Americans abroad have reported, we are usually denied this document until we return to reside in the US. Or I think you can pay extra and file a separate document. We'll just wait...

Things are still going well. Hannah's been great and is starting to eat more and more solid foods! Something she didn't have much of in the orphanage as she was in a room with mostly 0-6 month old babies. We're still learning every day. 2 things I've learned....#1 If a sick baby puts her hands in your mouth, you will get sick! #2 Taking Nyquil when you have a baby that wakes up in the middle of the night is NOT a good idea!

She is finally adjusted to Boston time...just in time to go to Amsterdam! We leave tomorrow at 715 in the evening and will arrive Saturday morning. Once we get settled we'll definitely post the latest pictures of Hannah!!!

Boston, MA

We arrived in Boston on 530pm on Sunday night. It was a LONG day of travel, but overall Hannah did wonderfully on the flights! On the first flight, when I was by myself, the other adoptive families on the flight helped me out with Hannah! They were a godsend. She also had bassinets on both flights so we could both get much needed sleep.

And as of Sunday, it's official, she's a US citizen. The first thing we had to do when we got here is get her passport photos taken. We layed her down on a piece of white poster board in the CVS Pharmacy. Worked like a charm. Monday, we were 1/2 hr late to the US Passport Agency for our 830 appt. but luckily it didn't matter so all her paperwork for her US passport is done and I'll pick it up tomorrow while Joe's at work.

We are all doing well adjusting to eachother and our new roles. A little nerve-wracking at times while we try to figure out her signs and moods but again, she's great....such a trooper!! Joe and I have managed to adjust to the time change pretty well but our little girl is a different story. We're not quite sure what time zone she's on anymore but she has consistently woken up at 3 am every night (she slept through the nights in KZ) and stays awake for 2 hours before going back to sleep. Oddly, she's in a great mood at that time so it's pretty easy...play, eat, play and then back to sleep.

All is good

Of course everything happened at the last minute, but it's now all done. Suzie picked up Hannah bright and early on Thursday, there was a mix-up with the train schedule so Hannah was 2 hours early and Suzie had to pick her up practically in her pyjamas. Welcome to motherhood! The heath check came up positive on Thursday afternoon and we even gained some more information about her parents. On Friday, the US embassy was quick and ready so the visa is ok and Hannah is ready to come home. Then we got our tickets to Boston on Friday afternoon and we are ready for the next step, her naturalization. We had to coordinate our flights because Hannah cannot officially leave the airport, so Suzie can't even check in luggage to Boston, just what she can carry on. We made a connecting flight out of Schiphol (Amsterdam airport) and I'll check in and meet them at the airport. Then, we're off to Boston and arrive around 5:30 in the evening. It will be a long travel day for both girls for sure, 20 hours in transit, with a 10 hour time change! Monday, Suzie made an appointment with the Boston immigration office bright and early so we hope to take care of the paperwork quickly so we can come back home by next Friday. Hannah will be a 'jet setter' at 9 months!

Second Trip has started...

Well, Suzie is in flight, on her way to Kazakhstan. It's just me and the boys (Sammy and Charlie) for the next five nights, eating Shoarma and drinking beer while Suzie does all the hard work. I dropped her off with her one suitcase with donations and her carry on with all of her possessions for the next week. We still have to sort out this one form that is to go to Almaty from Frankfurt. The folks in Frankfurt have sent it, but Almaty claims to have not seen it. Nobody seems to want to work together, so I'll try to call from here and Suzie will work it direct at the source. It's a little nerve-wracking being so close to the end, but I'm sure it will all work out soon enough.

A surprise gift from Hannah!

I was very surprised this morning when I read another couple's blog (they are adopting through our agency and are currently in Karaganda bonding with their son Tristan) and they asked for my email address! They had seen Hannah and have sent us pictures! They said she is doing fine! Little does she know that her life is about to be turned upside down in a few days! (p.s. she is 9 months old today!)

I also found out today that 2 of the other families (moms only) will be on my same flight coming and going to Almaty. I knew they would be there at the same time but am so happy that they are on our flight because I now have people I trust to pass Hannah to when I have to go to the bathroom. : )

Finally, her room is finished!! The pictures are hard to take because it is such a small room but I gave it a try....

Notice the orange changing pad cover. Joe had to get it for the WK (Wereld Kampioenschap - World Cup). Go Holland! (p.s. Oma - remember to bring "orange" when visiting). The map we got in KZ as well as a few of the other decorations.

The only thing is missing is her!

TOO Much Shopping!

You know when I get tired of shopping, it's ENOUGH! Joe has another 4-day weekend so we spent yesterday shopping for Hannah. It's amazing how much stuff you need. OK, actually we're more on to the "wants" by now.

We started out at Ikea and then went to Prenatal (again). Now Joe doesn't mind shopping, what he minds is my style of decision-making (of lack thereof). If it were up to him, we'd be in and out. I like to take my time and think about each purchase. Sheets, hmm....how many do I need? that's a nice color, oh wait, that's a better color....no, I think I like the first one better...Now onto a diaper bag. I know I need one, but I hate them! Hate is a strong word but they are just ugly. My cousin tells me the US has cute ones, but here??? After about 15-20 minutes debating which diaper bag to choose, I walked away with nothing (another time) except an annoyed husband. Luckily, we had already thought about which high chair we wanted so that was painless. All I needed was to choose a color...and a cushion color....and...

After a nice breakfast out this morning at Bagels and Beans (the beans refer to coffee beans), I ventured to the Amstelveen mall (alone this time). I finally found a diaper bag that is acceptable (plain gray)! And I was back within an hour. Of course, when I go alone it seems to be quick. Now we're back to decorating her room. My cousin, Cathy, gave Hannah a frame with her name inside that she had made with her stampin' up stuff. It is absolutely beautiful and I was so excited because I wanted something with her name on it for her room. She also sent a bunch of clothes for little Miss Hannah! So adorable. We also received a gift from Auntie Jenn this week too!! What a spoiled girl she is already (and she's not even here)!

Business....I picked up my visa yesterday (the sweet talk worked) only to find it has my maiden name on it. I pointed this out to him and he pointed at the first page of my passport (which has my maiden name on it). The amendment is way in the back where he didn't notice it. Not to mention that the application was for Molon. Anyway, after he checked with someone, he said it shouldn't be a problem. Fingers crossed it won't!

As far as the approval in Almaty, something wacky is going on, but hopefully it will be straightened out by Monday. The Frankfurt Immigration office resent the cable (approval) and received verification that the cable was received by the US Embassy in Almaty but they still say they don't have it. Odd.

That's all for now.