Monday, May 5, 2008

Greetings from Bishkek!

We are here! We arrived early Sunday morning after a long, but uneventful journey. I slept away most of the first day so I think I've gotten over most of the jet-lag and am on Kyrg time now. We have a nice apartment (although the electricity is cut off from midnight until 6:00a.m. every day) that has two bedrooms, a little kitchen, and a living room that has a TV with several English channels, including ESPN...Stu is is heaven!
Now on to the important stuff: We met our HotDog this morning! She is beautiful. She has the biggest cheeks I've ever seen on a baby and the cutest little lips ever. She already has the "pout-lips" mastered and Stu realizes that he is putty in her hands. We were able to spend two hours with her and she slept the entire time, despite my best efforts to wake her and catch a glimpse of her eyes. I was even able to feed her a bottle, and boy, can that girl eat! Even though she was asleep while she was eating it, she managed to suck it down in less than two minutes. If she continues to eat like that, we are going to have to take out a second-mortgage just to keep paying for formula:)
Our Chipmunk will be thrilled to know that she does indeed have hair. That was his biggest concern and it drove him crazy that in our referral picture she had a cap on and he couldn't tell. Although she was bundled up today with a hat on, I snuck a peek and saw beautiful, thick black hair.
She seems to be very healthy and is gaining weight rapidly (though most of it is in her cheeks, I think). We were thrilled with the condition of the orphanage too. It is very clean and colorful. The caretakers absolutely adore the children and are so happy to see them with families.
So far, this trip has been great. We aren't able to visit HotDog again until Friday so we have a few days to go out and explore this wonderful city. On Wednesday, we are going to make an excursion into the nearby mountains and we are very excited about that.
I'll post an update again soon.

10 comments:

Margaret and Tom said...

Oh Allison, I am so glad you had a safe trip and your first visit with your little one sounds fabulous! Her description reminds me of our little girl with the beautiful lips and the big cheeks! And she slept so much the first day we met her too, even eating while she was asleep! Thanks so much for posting, it helps me live vicariously through you, but soon I will be over there too! Let's meet for Dinner Sunday or Monday OK? :)

Michele said...

I am so happy you made it over there savely. She sounds like a baby that was in the room with our babys. Very cute big bown eyes & thick black hair. She sounds like the one that they always had under there arm. She looked happy, if that is the baby we saw.
Why do you not get to go back tell friday? Take care!

Shane & Marie said...

I am so glad you made it there safely! Hotdog sounds adorable! Can't wait to hear more about your visits.

Rachel said...

This is so exciting!! I can't wait to read more about your trip and get details once you are home. So happy you are with your HotDog right now!

Jennifer Main said...

Holy COW!! I am so excited for you guys and I can't believe you met HOTDOG!! Hopefully everything is great and can't wait to hear more!!

Jennifer Main

Mom to 2 Angels said...

So good to hear that you made it there with no major snafus. I can't wait to see pictures of those cheeks!

Troy and Rachel said...

YAY!! Can't wait to hear more about your daughter. Enjoy your time there!

Maria said...

As you know I am SO happy for you -- it's finally a reality, isn't it? It's all worth it now, I'm sure. I know both you and Stu are as in love with her as you are your Monkey and Chipmunk. Have fun--take good notes and set aside, oh, three or four hours to debrief me when you get home! :-)

Shari & Michael Keen said...

I'm so thrilled that you guys have FINALLY met your hotdog! I'm thinking about you and soooo anxious to hear more!
~Shari Keen~

Jackie said...

Allison,

So glad to see this update. Enjoy your time with HD...she sounds wonderful and like everyone else, I can't wait to hear more and see pics when you are able to share.

Jackie & Little Squirt