We received papers from Helen last night, so we are officially able to leave the hotel! Whew!! Just in time. Although, we have found many (boy) uses for an air mattress--a punching bag, trampoline and wrestling mat. Andrew is quit the gymnast. He can do a head stand and hold it for a long time while still talking to us...he is very strong! Taking baths and showers has also proved to be a great way to pass the time. Their first bath was so fun. We gave them cups to pour water on themselves. Kathlena reminded me of Emily when she was this age. She did not like water on her face or poured on her head; she would stiffen. Kathlena is the same...all girl. Andrew and Kathlena both love the water though...so I think they will really love Houston summers with sprinklers and pools. These children are just amazing...I keep saying it over and over. There little laughs and sweet smiles just melt your heart...loving them is so easy. Adoption is no different than bio kids...you just love them where they are at and pray for the grace to handle what will come.
Paw Paw, I have to retract my comment from yesterday. As soon as I got back to the room from posting Emily had already figured out a way to to teach Andrew how to distinguish between Paw-Paw and Papa(pop-uh). He has got it now. He goes around saying to himself Dedushka-DoDad, Babushka-Nana and Dedushka-PawPaw(very drawn out with Emily's southern drawl) and Babushka-Grandmommie. It is so cute...I can only imagine what is going on in his mind to think of having two sets of grandparents when just a short time ago he had no parents or siblings. He is still looking through his picture book at the faces of grandparents he cannot wait to meet.
We have one more night here at the Dvina Hotel. It has been a wonderful experience to stay here. We were so concerned about noone speaking English. Pointing and picture books take you a long way and the people are so gracious with us. David went down stairs to make copies of our adoption certificates and birth certificates to take with us to the Wooden Village in case we were asked any questions. When David returned from the business center to pay for the copies the lady at the front in English said "no payment for you, a small gift from us" They knew we were adopting and were very happy for us and the kids. It is one of the things I was not sure how people here would react to. Would they be glad? So far yes! I think they are happy for the children as they must know there are so many in this town that need homes.
I would definitely stay in this hotel again. Once we figured out the Internet situation it has been great. We have two points of access. We are on the 4th floor and wireless Internet is on the 5th floor lobby with an Internet access card purchased. So, I go and connect, open the post window, then come back to the room, type, then go back to the 5th floor and post. For video and pictures David has to go to the 1st floor lobby to the business center, get the key, then he is able to access blog and upload pics and video. It is a great set up now that we figured it out. Another big bonus of this hotel is the market next door. We have made all of our meals in our room which is great with 4 kids. David makes his daily run for milk, lunch meat, cereal, pastries (kolaches, strudel) and water (8 liter bottles at a time). The market has a great a bakery that we smell every morning and wait patiently for it to open at 9am (which seems like a long time when you are up at 5am everyday). It also has a deli that has wonderful sausage sliced...great since we do not have knives!
Paw Paw, I have to retract my comment from yesterday. As soon as I got back to the room from posting Emily had already figured out a way to to teach Andrew how to distinguish between Paw-Paw and Papa(pop-uh). He has got it now. He goes around saying to himself Dedushka-DoDad, Babushka-Nana and Dedushka-PawPaw(very drawn out with Emily's southern drawl) and Babushka-Grandmommie. It is so cute...I can only imagine what is going on in his mind to think of having two sets of grandparents when just a short time ago he had no parents or siblings. He is still looking through his picture book at the faces of grandparents he cannot wait to meet.
We have one more night here at the Dvina Hotel. It has been a wonderful experience to stay here. We were so concerned about noone speaking English. Pointing and picture books take you a long way and the people are so gracious with us. David went down stairs to make copies of our adoption certificates and birth certificates to take with us to the Wooden Village in case we were asked any questions. When David returned from the business center to pay for the copies the lady at the front in English said "no payment for you, a small gift from us" They knew we were adopting and were very happy for us and the kids. It is one of the things I was not sure how people here would react to. Would they be glad? So far yes! I think they are happy for the children as they must know there are so many in this town that need homes.
I would definitely stay in this hotel again. Once we figured out the Internet situation it has been great. We have two points of access. We are on the 4th floor and wireless Internet is on the 5th floor lobby with an Internet access card purchased. So, I go and connect, open the post window, then come back to the room, type, then go back to the 5th floor and post. For video and pictures David has to go to the 1st floor lobby to the business center, get the key, then he is able to access blog and upload pics and video. It is a great set up now that we figured it out. Another big bonus of this hotel is the market next door. We have made all of our meals in our room which is great with 4 kids. David makes his daily run for milk, lunch meat, cereal, pastries (kolaches, strudel) and water (8 liter bottles at a time). The market has a great a bakery that we smell every morning and wait patiently for it to open at 9am (which seems like a long time when you are up at 5am everyday). It also has a deli that has wonderful sausage sliced...great since we do not have knives!
Sleep schedules are pretty good...we are all very ready for bed at 8pm and the kids are usually up around 6-7am. It is so bizarre here, as it is daylight until 1am and the sun is up again at 4am. So at 8pm you look out and it is like 3 in the afternoon and at 6am it is like 10 in the morning. I can only imagine the other end of this in the winter time when it is so dark. I think I would hibernate like a bear. It has been really good staying here...I will miss this little hotel on the Dvina and our sweet beginnings with Andrew and Kathlena. I will always remember this quaint little hotel.
