Reunited

Holy Moly, Batman, full-time mommyhood in less than 12 hours!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!! I was a little (okay, more than a little) scared, but after seeing Brady again today, I am just wanting that sweet little boy all to myself 24x7. I want to revel in this feeling and remember it, because I’m sure it won’t take too long before I’m worn out and wondering when his nanny will show up!

Started the day by going to two different places to do various sorts of paperwork. We then went to the babyhouse to talk to Gulmira, the head nanny, to get Brady’s schedule and find out what he eats. I wasn’t able to see him then, but the nannies all smiled and said hello. It felt really good that they were genuinely happy to see me. So, heaven help me please, here is his current schedule:

6:00am – bottle of formula

6-9am – nap

9:30am – feeding (porridge and juice)

9:30-11am – playtime

11-1pm – nap

1pm – feeding (porridge and juice)

1-2:30pm – playtime

2:30-4pm – nap

4pm – feeding (porridge and juice)

4-6pm – playtime

6-8pm – nap

8pm – bottle of formula

8-9:30pm playtime

10pm – bedtime

11:30pm – bottle of formula

11:30-6am – bedtime again.

I’m tired just typing it out. Um, that late evening schedule is going to be the first to change!

Next up was grocery shopping. Ainura helped me by translating labels, however she has no experience with baby products or babies period, so not quite sure what I ended up with. If it didn’t have a baby on the front of the package, she wasn’t sure I should give it to him. :) I’m stocked up for several days now.

We did head to the babyhouse late in the afternoon. Brady smiled when he saw me. I fell in love all over again. I swear he has grown since I was here 2 weeks ago. We played for about 20 minutes, then my coordinator called and said we had to go to the passport office. “We” was all of us – Brady too! So they added another layer of clothes on him, got permission from the babyhouse director/doctor (Hello! He is legally ALL MINE now, but I didn’t point that out.) and off we went. He was a sweetheart. (Don't ya just love the hat they put on him?)

He was all eyes in the car, then hilarious when they tried to get passport pictures (again – not sure why). Everyone in the crowded little room was trying to get his attention, but he was a mix of scared, bewildered and curious and looking all over the place. Then we trekked to another floor and waited to register some paperwork. He and I sat in the waiting area and before long he was banging his toy on the nearby table while continuing to watch everyone in the room (big place with lots of people). My dream child. Please let him act just like this for the 24-hour trek home in a couple of weeks!

At the end of our big adventure, he fell asleep in my arms on the way back to the babyhouse. I had to give him back one last time. Three of the nannies came to meet us at his babyroom door. Their love for him was written all over their faces. Many that have gone before have mentioned that this part of the phase is bittersweet. I’m feeling that in waves today. Smiling like crazy one minute, and shedding tears the next. We are both fortunate that he is so young (turned 10 months last Friday), but he is still going to miss his nannies and they are certainly going to miss him. I know time will help, but I so wish I could spare him this hurt.

I planned to do another post about the babyhouse before our Gotcha Day, but it is late, I’m tired, and I’m picking him up tomorrow morning. I need some sleep in a big way, so the post will have to wait til another day. If you don’t hear from me tomorrow, don’t fret, we’re just busy. I’ll post as soon as I can. This is it. The BIG moment. Scared, excited, heart is full. Tomorrow is the first day of our life as a family. I’m lovin’ it!