We may or may not ever be able to make an announcement that "we're pregnant"...but we have come to understand that the blessing is the fact that however parenthood happens, it is a miracle! ....... Now we have been home with our precious blessing from Russia since August 2007. Join us on our fun and crazy ride that we call "life with this child of mine."
Friday, July 20, 2007
The Good News! :)
Good morning!! (of course, afternoon for you all) We made it through!! We are parents!!
I know the FIRST thing you are going to want to see is pictures! And we were actually asked to wait to post a lot of pictures of our son (yes, I said our son!!) on the blog…but, if you will send me your email addresses, I will create a group email to send pictures to for the few days that I’ve been asked not to post them. But…for now, I am going to post a link to one picture, and will take it down in a few hours. I just want you to get immediate gratification. (and it’s not a pic of the three of us, we don’t have one of those yet…poor little man just gets freaked out by the camera…and freaked out by us…so the combination does not produce good pictures. And last night, he was really upset, so in the interest of not doing permanent damage to him – ha ha – we decided to forego the first happy family picture). So without further ado, I present to you…our son, Iliya Franklin Bridges.
I guess I had pretty fair expectations of our day yesterday…probably actually a little more UNrealistic (timewise, anyway) than realistic, but that’s the way it goes, I guess. I’m going to have to be quick, because wakeup time will be very soon! Anyway –
We had initially been chagrined that our court time was at 3:00 p.m., but as it turned out, that was pretty nice. We had an entire day to sleep late (till 5 am, instead of 3:30! making progress, here!) and basically relax. We had a nice breakfast (BLT for me, Italian Eggs for Nathan), we moved ourselves into a suite (unfortunately will have to move out next Wednesday, b/c the suites are all reserved then, but we'll take what we can get!), had a relaxing lunch (ham sandwiches in the suite), and then it was off to buy a water filter/cooler for the baby home and some medicine for Iliya.
I know the FIRST thing you are going to want to see is pictures! And we were actually asked to wait to post a lot of pictures of our son (yes, I said our son!!) on the blog…but, if you will send me your email addresses, I will create a group email to send pictures to for the few days that I’ve been asked not to post them. But…for now, I am going to post a link to one picture, and will take it down in a few hours. I just want you to get immediate gratification. (and it’s not a pic of the three of us, we don’t have one of those yet…poor little man just gets freaked out by the camera…and freaked out by us…so the combination does not produce good pictures. And last night, he was really upset, so in the interest of not doing permanent damage to him – ha ha – we decided to forego the first happy family picture). So without further ado, I present to you…our son, Iliya Franklin Bridges.
I guess I had pretty fair expectations of our day yesterday…probably actually a little more UNrealistic (timewise, anyway) than realistic, but that’s the way it goes, I guess. I’m going to have to be quick, because wakeup time will be very soon! Anyway –
We had initially been chagrined that our court time was at 3:00 p.m., but as it turned out, that was pretty nice. We had an entire day to sleep late (till 5 am, instead of 3:30! making progress, here!) and basically relax. We had a nice breakfast (BLT for me, Italian Eggs for Nathan), we moved ourselves into a suite (unfortunately will have to move out next Wednesday, b/c the suites are all reserved then, but we'll take what we can get!), had a relaxing lunch (ham sandwiches in the suite), and then it was off to buy a water filter/cooler for the baby home and some medicine for Iliya.
eating lunch before court
We got to the courtroom a few minutes before 3, and waited for the judge till about 3:15. During the time that we waited, the court reporter & prosecutor came in & got prepared. The baby home social worker & our translator were also in there with us. The judge swept in at 3:15, and we were initially intimidated by her. But she asked really good, fair questions...was not overly hard on us. But she asked a lot of questions...and the prosecutor asked quite a few questions...and I guess court ended up being almost an hour & a half. We tried to make a case for the 10 days being waived, but overall, they typically ONLY waive it if the medical needs of the child are too severe & they need to get home to the US. Because of Iliya’s personality (slow-to-warm, remember), both the prosecutor & judge thought it would be best to have the 10 days to bond. Honestly? We agree with them. So we were not really disappointed at all.
Once it was overwith, we just really could not believe it. She pronounced Iliya to be our son, and if you can believe it, I actually held back my tears! (they always say, don't cry in court)
It went by so quickly...now, it's almost a blur!
before court
AFTER court!
After court, we went by the hotel to change clothes & pickup stuff for Iliya. Here is the part where you, the reader, will have to read between the lines. If you have a hard time with it, just email me)
Most orphanages do not give guardianship (remember, custody will happen once the court documents have been signed in 10 days) but because some are so small, and they probably have a pretty decent-sized “waiting list,” it’s good to make room for babies to come in as soon as other babies are adopted.
So, for now, that’s all I will say. BUT, we went to the orphanage (3 hrs. one way!) and ‘I’ had just lay down for bed. They had to get him out of bed & boy did he cry when he saw us! Hence the fact that we do not have any pictures, yet. It was not an ordinary night for him (or for us). In fact, it was an extremely long night, since we didn’t get back to the hotel till about 12:40 this morning, and as Kristy said in the comments, I did text the family & let them know that we were on our way back with a sleeping stowaway.
Who is still asleep right now. Must’ve been a pretty rough night for him.
But now we are a family, and we will make it through these next 10 days, learning each other and figuring out life together. Thanks again, for each of your prayers. They were definitely heard, and here we are. After 8 ½ years, two finally became three.
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Video Archives
For your viewing pleasure, click on the title to go to the video
*The Road Home*
*Eating (in Russia)*
*"More"*
*a Video for my sister's class*
*on a Friday afternoon*
*The Dog*
*Selecting a Book*
*Doing Dishes*
*Elfin' Great Moves*
*Christmas 2007*
*Family Fun*
*January 8, 2008*
*Dinner Time Fun*
*Spring Break 2008*
*Trip to the Zoo*
*123’s*
*Leap Day Fun*
*Comparison – 1st Trip*
*Comparison – 2nd Trip*
*One Year Later*
*At the Beach*
*The Wheels on the Bus*
*Canoeing 1*
*Canoeing 2*
*Canoeing Story*
*Ring Around the Rosie*
*The Road Home*
*Eating (in Russia)*
*"More"*
*a Video for my sister's class*
*on a Friday afternoon*
*The Dog*
*Selecting a Book*
*Doing Dishes*
*Elfin' Great Moves*
*Christmas 2007*
*Family Fun*
*January 8, 2008*
*Dinner Time Fun*
*Spring Break 2008*
*Trip to the Zoo*
*123’s*
*Leap Day Fun*
*Comparison – 1st Trip*
*Comparison – 2nd Trip*
*One Year Later*
*At the Beach*
*The Wheels on the Bus*
*Canoeing 1*
*Canoeing 2*
*Canoeing Story*
*Ring Around the Rosie*
Blogroll
Referral Picture
Trip One - March 2007
Database Pic #2
Trip Two - July 2007
November 2007
January 2008
April 2008
November 2008
Happy 3rd Birthday!!
Visitors since April 2006!
If Only I Had Enough Time….!
Elle
Jeff & Jenny
Susan & Randy
Deb & Dave
Warren, Kylie & Bearcub
Carrie & Michael
Brouillette Family
Denise & David
Tricia & Mike
Margaret
Rob & Dede
The Marlowe Family
Allison & Stu
Rhonda & Brian
From Dad
Olive You
Kate
Come Undone
Adrienne & Jim
Becky & Keith
Troy & Rachel
Sira
Ana & Russ
Suz
Lauren & Marco
Lauren & Marco - Life w/ Cupcake
The Next Step
Carey & Norman
The Ginsbergs
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Unexpected Miracles
Joy & Gerard
Leslie & Bryan
Jane & Jim
Chris, Danica, & the twins
Jane-Jane
Sean & Robin
Jaime & Suzanne
3 Journeys of the Heart...
Lea & Paul Pisarik
SAHM at last
Katie
Kev, Jen & Drew
Elle
Jeff & Jenny
Susan & Randy
Deb & Dave
Warren, Kylie & Bearcub
Carrie & Michael
Brouillette Family
Denise & David
Tricia & Mike
Margaret
Rob & Dede
The Marlowe Family
Allison & Stu
Rhonda & Brian
From Dad
Olive You
Kate
Come Undone
Adrienne & Jim
Becky & Keith
Troy & Rachel
Sira
Ana & Russ
Suz
Lauren & Marco
Lauren & Marco - Life w/ Cupcake
The Next Step
Carey & Norman
The Ginsbergs
Shane & Kathy
Nancy & Brian
Unexpected Miracles
Joy & Gerard
Leslie & Bryan
Jane & Jim
Chris, Danica, & the twins
Jane-Jane
Sean & Robin
Jaime & Suzanne
3 Journeys of the Heart...
Lea & Paul Pisarik
SAHM at last
Katie
Kev, Jen & Drew
A Growing Boy!
Referral Picture
Trip One - March 2007
Database Pic #2
Trip Two - July 2007
November 2007
January 2008
April 2008
November 2008
Happy 3rd Birthday!!
Quotes
"When I was very young, most of my childhood heroes wore capes, flew through the air, or picked up buildings with one arm. They were spectacular and got a lot of attention. But as I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me."
~Fred Rogers
"I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be." ~Robert Munsch
"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but its the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning" ~Hope Floats "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"
~Fleur Conkling Heylinger
"The real issue in life is not how many blessings we have, but what we do with our blessings. Some people have many blessings and hoard them. Some have few and give everything away."
~Fred Rogers
"When I was very young, most of my childhood heroes wore capes, flew through the air, or picked up buildings with one arm. They were spectacular and got a lot of attention. But as I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me."
~Fred Rogers
"I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be." ~Robert Munsch
"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but its the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning" ~Hope Floats "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"
~Fleur Conkling Heylinger
"The real issue in life is not how many blessings we have, but what we do with our blessings. Some people have many blessings and hoard them. Some have few and give everything away."
~Fred Rogers
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I think I have refreshed your blog about 700 times today (they must've really appreciated my inactivity at work today..)
Anyhow.. please include me on any and every email list!
Love
-Uncle Christopher
(P.S. basically if you send anything, just cc me on anything.)
Love,
Bridget
Please include me on the pic emails. It's AprilThomas@charter.net. I am so happy for you and Nathan! Have an awesome rest of your trip!
I would love an email for more details and pictures...adriennefleming@bellsouth.net
I am SOOOOO happy for you I can barely contain myself!! I wish I were there to give you a big hug!
I can't wait for the day we all 6 can meet for a playdate.
Love,
Adrienne
so happy for yall. Being parents is the most rewarding job ever. Can't wait for yall to return home with sweet baby boy. Please e-mail me more pics when you put your list together. Miss yall. Oh....The cats are great, I gave them lots of attention this afternoon. Mia is a talker. Just FYI the litter box needs to be cleaned more than once a week. I will know for next week to get it atleast two times maybe even three. Shana
You've got my e-mail. I'd love to see more pics of the little guy.
So happy that you are able to have him with you so the bonding can start now. I've always thought it would be a good thing to have those 10 days for that while in Russia just the 3 of you so the bonding can really start there where Iliya is a bit more comfortable.
I'll be praying for him to calm down and settle in with you guys quickly.
I will continue to pray for you guys over the next 10 days!!
just in case you don't have it...
ellis@robertson-realty.com
LOVE YOU THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am typing through tears of joy for you guys! (amazing how God knits hearts together that have never met face to face)
Enjoy these nest 10 days! I'll be praying my heart out for your handsome boy to settle into your arms soon.
I would love to be on your e-mail list kaymommy@wireweb.net.
Man, you must be living on excitement, because sleep sure has not been on your schedule too much.
Since you're so close to our little one there in Vlad say some special prayers for her, and for our judge Irina. No news yet on a date for us, but no news is good news for now.
Debbie Landon
Never dreaming what we'd have to go through.
Now here we are. I'm suddenly standing at the begining with you.
No one told me I was going to find you. Unexpected what you
did to my heart. When I lost hope you were there to remind me.
This is the start.
And life is a road and I wanna to keep going,
love is a river I wanna keep flowing,
life is a road Now and forever.
Wonderful journey.
I'll be there when the world stops turning,
I'll be there when the storm is through,
In the end I wanna be standing.
At the beginning with you.
We were strangers on a crazy adventure.
Never dreaming how are our dreams will come true.
Now here we stand Unafraid of the future.
At the begining with you.
And life is a road and I wanna to keep going,
love is a river I wanna keep flowing,
life is a road Now and forever.
Wonderful journey.
I'll be there when the world stops turning,
I'll be there when the storm is through,
In the end I wanna be standing.
At the beginning with you.
Knew there was somebody somewhere.
Like me alone in the dark. Now I know my
dream will live on. I've been waiting so long.
Nothing's gonna tear us apart.
And life is a road and I wanna keep going,
Love is a river and I want to keep flowing,
Life is a road now and forever.
Wonderful journey.
I'll be there when the world stops turning,
I'll be there when the storm is through,
In the end I wanna be standing.
At the beginning with you.
And life is a road and I wanna keep going,
Love is a river and I want to keep flowing,
life is a road now and forever.
Starting out on a journey!
Life is a road and I wanna keep going,
Love is a river and I want to keep going,
In the end I wanna to be standing at the begining........With you.
(Lyrics from "Anatasia")...When I re-read your conversation with Sarah posted on the left side, it made me think of this song & I kept humming it over & over...
It was so wonderful to talk to you all this evening! and to know how well everything is going...we look forward to the time we can give you all hugs again!
love you much!
mom & dad (gramps & mamalin) -- Christopher called us first thing this morning after the 2nd text msg & greeted us as "gramps & granny", so maybe that's what dad can be called & I'll actually answer to whatever little I wants to call me :o)
I'm so happy for you and little I is so cute! Those chubby little cheeks! Here is my email addy and I hope you can include me on the mass email.
MandyJo013078@yahoo.com
Congrats! I couldn't be happier for you and if you post what is going on there w/ your beautiful new little munchkin ... I promise to give out any top secret nanny tricks that I hold dear to my heart! Have a good evening and get some rest! You'll be in my prayers ! MandyJo
Congrats again and I hope you have a great bonding time at the Vlad Inn.
Please give Irena and Lana a big hug from the "Crazy American Woman".
My thoughts and well wishes with you and your new son.
-Heidi
Mom to Hans "Jack" home since Sept. 22 '06
Love,
Andrea
- Love Bethney
I am so so so happy for you all! You're in my prayers. Congratulations!
---Lisa
We too were granted our adoption of two beautiful children. We're waiting out the ten days with visits back and forth to them. We will be in Moscow on the 31st. Email me if you want to join my blog - it's private at the moment.
Can't wait to hear more along the way. Have a wonderful 10 days and I pray that bonding will begin to form quickly.