Happy Tuesday!

The sun has actually popped out here a bit today. No new snow but the old stuff is definitely still here. Today I walked past a house where they have not swept or shoveled snow and the snow was above my shoulders so I finally got a feel for about how much there has been.

Yesterday afternoon's visit with Abby kept me busy because a certain adorable baby girl was incredibly busy. :-) Actually Olga and Masha had a meeting in the music room where we were and Abby kept trying to figure out what was going on. Pretty funny afternoon all in all. Afterwards, we took Masha home first and they told me she lives in the relatively new part of Uralsk. It was great having a new drive home - and a longer drive. I love the drives through Uralsk. In the car Olga asked which I preferred - night Uralsk or day Uralsk. While I enjoy both, I do love night Uralsk. It looks completely different at night with all the lights.

On the way to drop me off we made a stop at a store and when Olga returned to the car she had bought me flowers for my birthday. So sweet!!! I get sad thinking about leaving Olga, Assia, and Igor tomorrow.

This morning I got to see Abby get a baby massage. It was really neat to see. This was the first time for me to see Abby without 14 layers of clothes too. She is very healthy looking though pretty petite. I think half her weight is in those cheeks of hers. :-) The massage lady put the baby on a towel on the desk and just gave her a massage all over. It lasted maybe 15 minutes and I did take pictures. For the most part Abby stayed pretty still though it.

During the break between visits, Assia helped me buy formula, cereal, juice, and snacks for Abby. I brought some of this stuff with me but not enough for a whole week. We then went to a different bookstore from the other day and I bought some books, postcards of Uralsk, and a large map of Kazakhstan. I want to get it framed when we get home. It has some Kazakh history on it too. Kazakhstan joined the Soviet Union in the 1930s and became a free and independent country in the early 1990s (1991 I think? I can't remember if it was 1991 or 1992). It is a cool map. I wish they had also had one of Uralsk but they did not.

I walked around awhile after they dropped me off. My last full day in Uralsk. When I got back to the apartment, I began packing. This morning Assia asked me if I had packed yet. When I replied "no" she paused with the comic genius of Bob Newhart and then asked "Will you by tomorrow?" :-) I decided it was probably time to begin. I don't think I will have as much trouble fitting everything this time because between gifts and stuff I have already used I am simply not taking as much back. But after a week in Almaty, I'm sure I will fill those bags back up again. :-)

A few of you have asked about why we go to Almaty. Tomorrow if the judge grants my adoption, I will officially be Abby's mother! But there is still a lot of paperwork and stuff that has to happen before we can leave the country. Aside from a trip to the Embassy (which is in Almaty), most of what will happen will be done by my agency. Hopefully, everything will go as planned, and we will be able to fly back to the U.S. on January 28.

This afternoon a lady from the Ministry of Education will be at my afternoon visit with Abby. I'm hoping all goes as it should but with an active 10 month old, who knows. :-) Also this afternoon, Olga and Assia will prepare me for court tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be a very busy day and I do not know if I will have time to post or not. In the morning I will have my visit with Abby. Court is at 4:00 and then we will go to the baby house to get Abby and say good-bye to everyone. I hope to get lots of pictures of her caregivers at this time. And then, we are off to the airport for a late flight to Almaty. I have no idea how much I will be able to post once we are in Almaty. I doubt it will be every day but I will post as often as humanly possible.

Please keep Abby and me in your prayers as I go to court tomorrow. Take care everyone!