Extraordinary Mundane

I guess I should start at the beginning though. How am I ever going to get all the info into this one post? It was such a wonderful day. John was going to do the opening statement for court. Early this morning though, we decided that I had more public speaking experience and he was worried he would get all teared up in court. (isn’t that sweet?) So with much fear and trepidation… I prepared my 7-minute opening statement for court. I practiced several times, and I was SOOOO nervous.

We got to court at 9:55. Court didn’t start till 10:30. Someone from the Minister of Education’s office was late. In attendance was the Chief Justice of the Almaty Court system, the prosecutor, the court reporter, someone from the Minstery of Education, Director of the Baby House (Chief Doctor), Gulbanu, our translator and facilitator, and us. They read through our petition and then asked me if there was anything I would like to add or anything I would like them to know about. I’ll do another post if I have time about my opening statement. They asked me how long and how often I have been visiting the children. I answered five hours a day for 2 weeks. The judge then heard statements from everyone else present… asked the baby house director if anyone in Kazakhstan had approached her about adopting these children and if she could find parents locally. She answered no. Then he read some more documents, listened to the prosecutor give her recommendation that our petition be granted.

Then was that special moment. A moment where I could hear the translator whispering the words “I am taking the prosecutors recommendation and hereby granting the petition to adopt Hannah Dinara and Noah Kanat to John Gregory and Kymberly Anne OurLastName.” I started to cry as soon as I heard it. I couldn’t help it. I was so nervous, and it was such a happy moment. Everyone was smiling at me because I had tears running down my face. It really was an incredible moment.

When we left the courthouse, it had started to snow. It was a fine powdery snow.. so new so fresh. John and I were both so happy. We took it as a good sign.

We then went to Gulbanu’s office to sign more paperwork and then went out for a celebratory lunch with the other couple who adopted a child here. It was a very festive day. Then we went to the Tsum store and spent an exorbitant amount of money on Souvenirs like Soviet Pocket Watches, a beautiful sterling egg that has an amber angel it, and some more nesting dolls. We also got an antique brass vase that has beautiful etchings that I can give to Dinara one day…. And some beautifully carved wood boxes.

Then at four o’clock, we went to the baby house. We hauled in all our gifts and donations. The director of the baby house was very pleased with the “exesaucer” and “babyswing” we bought them… I wish I could have been there when they got to go through all the stuff we brought them.

We gave them our children’s clothes… and they went to dress our children. They brought Dinara in first. No tears. She immediately went to “papa”. She looked so cute. Then they brought in Noah. He also was so precious. We did some well wishes, more paperwork, and then left with our children.
Dinara was very quiet in the car ride over. She watched her brother. It was lightly snowing and she learned to draw on the windows.

Up the five flights of stairs we went with two kids in tow. Dinara entered the apartment and she was a “new little girl”. She was happy and exploring. She smiled and laughed. She immediately went for the toys. She did not like her brother touching her stuff. Typical toddler “Everything that is yours is mine and everything else is mine too”. Compounded by the orphanage “fight for what should be yours”. Poor little Noah is going to have his hands full with Dinara and Emma!

It has been AMAZING to watch Dinara absorb her new world. Walking barefoot on the carpet. All the “machine-a” sounds (cars) outside. Watching her eat her dinner. She has already learned the word “up!”. She was just in the bathroom with her daddy using the potty and he was saying “Washing machine” and “shower” and Dinara said “shower!” Finally she’s repeating things after us. This was not happening at the orphanage.

She has not cried. She has not shown the slightest bit of sorrow at being gone. I know it could come… but it’s like a completely different child. She has hugged me, played with me and has been laughing up a storm. It’s been so wonderfully fun!!!

Dinara just saw a dog on TV and yelled “EAT!” (Kazak word for dog).

Oh and I forgot to tell you guys about dinner. Interesting things left over from the orphanage. She drinks “last”. She gets upset if she drops anything on the floor. She eats very neat. And she eats EVERYTHING. Mom you are going to have a blast feeding these kids. Noah too… loves to eat.