Anelya is 7 Months Old Today!

It took us a while last night to fall asleep. It wasn't because we weren't tired, but because there was some excitement outside our hotel. Never a dull moment! At about 11p.m. Mom said, "What IS that?" referring to some gunshot like sounds outside the window. I just rolled over and said, "sounds like a gun fight". Mom said, "Oh." and then a couple of minutes later she said matter of factly, "Well, should we hit the floor?" and we both burst out laughing and stayed where we were and eventually fell asleep to the sound of trains and shots being fired.

It turned out to be two things. There were some drunkards out and about setting off those fireworks that pop, but don't go up in the air, and there was some tactical training for the military's anti-terrorist forces happening in the middle of the city. Never a dull moment in Kazakhstan!

Today Anelya turns 7 months old! My little monkey has really thrived in the past week. She is still a little wobbly when sitting and she can sit up herself yet, but she is reaching for things and wiggling her way to them and rolling around to get places like you wouldn't believe! She was actually awake when I first got there this morning and her little buttski was under the faucet when I walked in. She smiled a big smile and then promptly resumed to her Soviet passport-style face when the nurse put her back on the changing table for changing her diaper. All business.

I had brought an outfit today and asked if it was ok if she wears it. "Yes, of course!" she said and put it on Anelya. I told the caretaker what the shirt said and she gave me a very warm smile. It said, "Mommy Loves Me". The caretaker, whose name is Farida, said to me in Russian, "I am happy you love her so much. We all know it. Anelya is my best girl." and gave her a big kiss. Anelya came to me with no problem and off we went. I say without a problem because Farida is the caretaker who she is most attached to. For those of you who have not experienced adoption, it is very important that the babies attach to someone because it is crucial for brain development. So, while sometimes it hurts when Anelya makes it clear that Farida does things better than I do, such as feeding her the Kazakh way, it makes me happy to know that she has attached which will only make her more emotionally healthy in the future.

This is Anelya and her favorite caretaker, Farida

We went up to the bonding room and Anelya was ready to go! Boy was she playful today. She had one rattle in each hand and shook them both while balancing on her tummy. This girl has talent, I tell you! At one point, she rolled onto her back right under me and started playing with my hair and gave me the most spectacular smile I have ever seen. Everyone in the bonding room gasped, it was so cute. Unfortunately, my vigorous blogging wore out my camera battery (which is now charging so calm down, people) so we didn't capture it on film.

Rattles - one for each hand!

We played for a little while and then Anelya let out this great giggle and proceeded to puke. Yeah, pretty funny you little monkey. Luckily, we have enough Wet Ones for an army, or at least for three Caesar girls for the month, so I cleaned her right up and we kept playing.

Ok. Yes. She has a purple barrette too.

Mommy Loves Me

We made our way back to the tower of joy and she played and played there. How much fun is that thing? Baba is already looking for one online. The best part is that she dances now. She obviously can't stand up on her own yet, but she does with help and when you hold her she starts bouncing up and down to the music. Guess I should start researching dance schools!


I was able to feed Anelya again and I think it's good that now they know that i want to feed her anytime I can. Anelya thinks I am a loser at feeding her because I am clearly not doing it the Kazkah way, but I am trying and pretty soon home turf will be a whole new ballgame and she will understand why I am so worthless at it right now. Listen missy, you just wait until you get into your Rolls Royce of highchairs and eat like a queen. You just wait. Then we'll see if you still think Mama is a loser. :-)

After the visit, we went with Tammy, Bob, Sarah, and Daniel to the bazaar. We bought some presents and I bought a handmade traditional Kazakh dress for Anelya to wear when we get home. It cost $17. I was amazed. We also bought the first of 18 gifts I will be getting to give her every year on our Gotcha Day or Meetcha Day. I haven't decided which. Gotcha Day is the day that you bust the baby from the orphanage. Meetcha Day is the first day you meet your child, which, in our case, is August 10.

We walked around the bazaar and, I have to tell you, our translator, Daniel, is just amazing at taking care of us. He jumps in front of cars that are driving so fast if he is worried we will get hit. He translates and negotiates amazing prices and, mostly of all, he is incredibly patient in answering our consistent lingering question, "Where is Bob?" We say this sentence approximately no less than 20 times a day and every time someone says it we laugh. Bob is always very close by, but ALWAYS off trying something, buying something, or chatting up locals in pantomime. It's excellent. We love Bob.

We went to the indoor bazaar this time which was just astonishingly beautiful and neat. We will go back there and take pictures. They let you try everything before you buy it, which is really fun. We ended up buying some marinated red and green peppers, rice noodle salad, and some marinated mushrooms. I'm not ready to go into the meat department yet, where the meat is hanging on hooks. When we, once again, answered the question, "Where is Bob?" we headed back to the car where we met Pasha who drove especially batty and got us home in no time.

Now it's time for a quick nap before heading back to the birthday girl. 7 months and I get to be with her. I am one lucky Mama! More of our Semey adventures tonight!