(Maureen's Post)

Today was another very warm day in Almaty.  Even though it's September, it sure feels like it's still summer!  However, the temperatures will be changing soon, even as soon as tomorrow.  The high temp today was in the upper 80s/low 90s, but is expected to only be in the low 80s tomorrow.  While watching the weather on TV we noticed the weather has gotten considerably cooler elsewhere in the country, particularly in the northern parts of Kazakhstan.  The temperatures for Astana today ranged from lows in the 30s to highs the 60s.  So, fall is definitely on its way!

We had quite a bit of time to relax at the apartment this morning since Sasha wasn't going to pick us up until 1:30PM.  We were able to settle into a better routine with Michael today, and he was even able to get in a morning nap.  He eats like a champ and definitely lets us know when he's hungry.  What seems to work right now is that he gets a total of 3 bottles of formula a day (8 oz.), along with breakfast, lunch, and dinner which is usually rice cereal combined with jarred baby food of fruit (breakfast) or a meat/vegetable combo (lunch/dinner).  Plus we feed him snacks, usually the Gerber snack puffs.  We may also venture out to the Ramstore tomorrow for some baby biscuits to include for the flights home.  What's funny is that Michael also wants to eat whatever it is we're eating and comes crawling over to us when we're eating, making noises and smacking his lips.  So, we've let him try a couple of harmless things - a tiny piece of hamburger bun, a bit of pizza crust, etc.  So far he's liked everything we've given him.  Sean nicknamed him "baby bird" while we're in Kazakhstan since he comes to us with his mouth open when he wants us to feed him something.  By the way, Sean also gave James the nickname of "mondo destructo" back when he was a baby here in Kazakhstan since he had a very strong grip and would crush even the hardest baby biscuits with one hand. 

One of the nice things about getting to spend a few days alone with Michael before returning home is that we get a lot of face time with him.  Or should I say, we get in his face a lot of the time.  Ever since we took Michael out of the Baby House we've been trying to facilitate bonding with him, as we did with James when we adopted him as a baby.  So when I say we get in his face we literally do that, trying to force eye contact as much as possible.  No sense of personal space here, folks!  Sometimes it even takes making weird faces and acting goofy (not hard for Sean to do). 

Another thing I've been doing while playing with Michael is working on getting him caught up on some developmental delays, particularly in his motor skills.  His upper leg strength is not that great, probably from being put in a walker for a good portion of his playtime at the Baby House.  So, we've been working with him again on standing on his own.  James' old Jumperoo we have at home should help Michael develop his leg strength, too.  However, when he can, Michael still tries to keep climbing up which is on target for his age.  Also, while he has no problem grabbing and holding toys or transferring them from one hand to another, his pincer grip (between index finger and thumb) is not yet developed.  So I've also been working with him on that, sometimes also using the Gerber puffs for motivation.  He's made a great deal of progress in the past couple of days - he used to just bang his fist over the Gerber puff but has now learned how to grab the puff in his fist and try to put his fist to his mouth to eat the puff. 

After lunch we were picked up by Sasha, who took us to Panfilov Park.  It was so neat to see Zenkov Cathedral and the surrounding park area during the summertime when everything is green and flowers are blooming.  This was a stark contrast from when we were last here during the wintertime with everything covered in snow.  With today being Friday, there were lots of wedding parties there; there were lots of decorated cars and a few decorated limousines (saw a white Hummer limo) parked along the perimeter of the park.  Many newlyweds were having their pictures taken at the war memorials, as is customary for brides and grooms to do, usually in post-Soviet bloc countries.

Afterwards we headed to the sisters' office for our (as well as the Chinns') final meeting and last-minute instruction before our U.S. Embassy interview and departure for home.  We also got to take our pictures with Gulzhan and Aizhan, the same sisters we worked with face-to-face when we were completing James' adoption in 2007.  We then walked over to the building tower across the street which houses the U.S. Embassy for our interview appointment.  The embassy interview was short and sweet (just as James' was), with them basically asking us under oath if our submitted documents were true, then having us sign a couple of the documents.  Then we were given Michael's Kazakh passport with his visa to enter the U.S.A.  As I've mentioned before, since the adoption was completed here in Kazakhstan with both parents present, the visa Michael was given is the IR-3, which will make him a U.S. citizen once we touch down on U.S. soil and pass through Immigration.  So it's official - we have the "all clear" to finally bring Michael home! 

Unfortunately, still no sign of the stroller.  It never did show up at the sisters' office here in Almaty.  We called Lufthansa tonight and they claim they delivered it, but the sisters' office did not receive it.  They are checking on it again, so we shall see.

Tomorrow's agenda will be pretty much hanging out at the apartment in the morning, then meeting up with the Chinns in the early afternoon for some shopping at the Tsum.  Afterwards, we'll all grab some dinner and then head back to our apartments to pack to finally go home!

It will be so great to see James.  We miss him like crazy and will be so happy once our family is all together again. 

James, we love you and can't wait to see you!  Just two more sleeps and Daddy, Mama, and Michael will be home!

Enjoy the pics and we'll catch you all tomorrow!

We took our pictures with two of the sisters, Gulzhan and Aizhan.  Even with all the changes with Kazakhstan adoptions they continue to work so hard so that we and others can grow our families.  We will always be grateful to them for helping us bring both Michael and James into our lives!

That's all for today!  Paka paka and love to all!