Not much new to say

I've been making a gigantic pile of stuff to pack for our trip. It's taking over the guest room. Seriously. We are going to get fined big time by the luggage police, I just know it. I am a very experienced traveler but I am kind of at a loss as to what I am going to need so I just keep on piling stuff on. We'll be staying in an apartment for the majority of the time which will be nice because we'll be able to cook for ourselved when we get tired of shashlyk (kabobs) or when one of us has stomach issues (which a lot of people do) or when we just want to cook up some mystery meat and something that we found at the supermarket that we have no idea what it is because it's in Russian. So I am bringing some comfort food and some things I just can't live without like a thousand books and DVD's and my own towel. I am not bringing much baby stuff since I want to use the same bottles, formula, and food that he/she/they had at the baby house. I'll just bring some toys to tide us over for the first few days until we get over jet lag and can do shopping. And we'll have lots of free time to shop for baby clothes (and we'll only need enough for the last week anyway). That should save a little room on the way there. And I just looked at the Lufthansa website and we can have an extra bag on the way back because we'll have another person with us. That's all I can think of for now. Let us know if you have any valuable packing advice!
-Maren

It's really going to happen!

Oh my gosh, it's really real now! We have made reservations on a flight leaving DC on July 18th and we will arrive in Kstan on the 19th. I can't believe it! So here's the other news- Peter has decided he is going to try and stay for the duration so I am planning a 'surprise' for each week to keep him entertained. So far I have bought some DVD's and some books but if anyone has suggestions of small things that I can fit in my suitcase, please let me know. Oh, and poor Pedro has to get 6 vaccination shots. Those of you who know him well know that this is a huge ordeal which includes me not being allowed to speak to him the entire way to the doctor's office and then him having the nurse lay him down for the shots. Looks like I'm going to be making all of the doctor runs with our kid...

We (almost) have an invite!

Hi family and friends!

Here's the big news. It came quite a bit sooner than we anticipated which we are really really REALLY happy about. We got a call from our fabulous caseworker this morning as I was walking out the door to head to work and she told us we're going to Astana, Kazakhstan to find our baby on....drumroll please...July 18th! If I was able to kiss her through the phone I would have. And I'll be suprised if you say you didn't hear us scream with excitement all the way from where you are- Tatiana was laughing at me. I don't think I actually heard much of what she was saying because my head was spinning. Of course nothing is actually official until we get a letter from Kazakhstan with a fancy stamp on it, but that's where it stands now. So I am playing hooky from work today to check out flights, and start working on our visa applications (in Russian!), and fill out a bunch more government forms, and get some more stuff apostiled (yes, there's more), and just to jump up and down and do cartwheels in my living room.

WOOOOOHOOOOOO!

Much love,

Maren

ps- could someone leave a comment to make sure it works? Thanks!

Update already!

Hi all!
So we already have some news from the agency front. It looks like we'll be traveling to Kaz "likely in July, and in August at the latest" according to our fab caseworker. I love her. And with potentially less than a month left before we hop a plane, I will have a lot of scrambling to get things done before we get that invite. So, if you are wondering what we're up to you can find us painting the nursery, putting up childgates, locking up all the alcohol and matches...
Cross your fingers for us that whoever's desk it's on right now doesn't decide to head out on vaca for a month!
Much love,
Maren & Peter