"Signs point to yes" - or at least so says my Magic 8-Ball.
We have word that the number is in the system, the visas are being processed, my brother is en route to the Consulate, and KJ and I are making final preparations while Tougy is in school for the morning. The plan calls for us to leave home around 1pm to give us time for a relaxed drive down to Boston and hopefully set up a tone of calm anticipation for Tougy. As always it is so hard to leave the boys (our dogs) here at home though I know that they will be well loved in our absence.
Waking up this morning, we began to think about the 'lasts'. The last morning to wake in this house with only one child, the last diaper free time for a while...
Tougy is so excited to be a big sister, and we are equally excited to see what Wednesday has in store for us. Adoption can be such a strange and seemingly random undertaking. To imagine that there is a child living in a government run Baby House in Shymkent, Kazakhstan right now, and that within a matter of weeks, that child will be our child, and that child will come be a part of our family in Boothbay, Maine - what are the odds?
Perhaps they are no greater than for any other child. Of all the children born the day I was born, what were the odds that I would be who I am. Did I have an equal shot at being born to a family in France, or Niger, or Kazakhstan?
I need to remind myself that this is not the time for such thinking, I need to keep packing. We'll talk again soon. Take Care.
Join us on our journeys as we adopt our daughters from Kazakhstan.
Meet Aitugan
Aitugan Astana Elizabeth
Aitugan is pronounced "eye""two""gone" with mild emphasis on the first syllable. Aitugan is Kazakh for "born under a new moon" and was the name given to her by her birthmother. We have chosen to keep the name Aitugan as we love the name, the meaning and the connection that it will maintain to her country of birth. Our adoption of Aitugan was finalized the eleventh of December 2007 when we finally left the Hope Astana Baby House as a family of three.
Meet Nurai
Nurai Alia Anson
Nurai is pronounced Nur (sounds like were) and "eye". Nurai is Kazakh for "shining light of the moon". This is the name that was given to her by her birth mother. We love the sound of Nurai's name as well as the meaning so have decided to keep her birth name. Similarly to Aitugan, we like that her name will remain a tie and tribute to her birth country. Our adoption was finalized on the eighth of December 2009 and we plan to return to Maine as a family of FOUR on the sixteenth of January 2010.
About Us - Kjersten and Steve
We have been married now for eight years (as of July 2009) and in many ways the time seems to have flown by. As we discussed starting a family we had to decide whether to start with adoption or a biological child. We have both known for many years that we wanted to adopt and we finally decided that adoption made the most sense for the start of our human family. Our daughters join us and our two furry and very friendly rottweilers (Bokar and Daouda).
Elena's Kazakh Gift Shop
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34 comments:
So awesome!!! I hope you are done packing and are ready for your adventure. Give each other a big hug from all of us! Much love to you! Kerrie, Mark, Will, Molly and Addie
So excited for you! Safe journeys. We wish you all the best as "bobek" becomes a part of your family!!!
Great news. Safe travels.
how wonderful! Safe travels!
Bon Voyage!
At this time of year, Shymkent should prove a wonderful place for families.
That's right, you can be pensive on the plane! Though it sounds like you have everything handled and under control. I agree that the randomness of it is confounding. I was listening to a special on the radio last night about the "orphan train" that used to take children from the East coast to the midwest to be adopted by families (usually farms). It was really interesting and the interviewer was asking about the cultural differences, etc. They also stated that this doesn't happen any longer and I thought "yes, it does, in international adoption." What a totally natural yet unnatural thing for a child to be raised in a different family and a different culture than he or she was born into. Ok, now I am getting pensive.
All the best for a safe and smooth travel and meeting of your new little one!
So incredibly amazing. I cannot wait to follow your journey and I just know that Bobek is waiting very patiently. Safe travels.
Sandi
Yay! So excited for you!
Tears of joy!!!
Cannot wait to meet the little "Bobek". We all know Tougy is going to be the sister of the century. Have another amazing adventure!
I look forward to reading Steve's eloquent and entertaining updates.
XXOO!!
Congratulations and good luck on your journey. As a fellow adoptive mom to two kaz girls (Uralsk 2005 and 2007) I know well the journey you are on. Have a great trip
I think of things like that all the time Steve.
You are already on your way to start your journey to Kaz. I honestly doesn't feel that it was that long ago that I stumbled upon your blog when you were headed to Astana for Tougy.
Who would have forseen all that was to come!
Safe travels!
SAFE TRAVELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh YAY!!! and... you're OFF onto the NEXT amazing journey of your lifetime! So happy and excited for you to meet that VERY special child. 2nd children are TROUBLE (in my anecdotal/observation experience ~ Ha!) but oh SO WONDERFULLY entertaining and lovey. Best wishes for safe & easy travels!!!
Wonderful news. Safe travels. We are looking forward to see who Bobek is , aside from YOURS of course.
Yeah! Can't wait to cyber meet the newest addition to your family! Is Dina still the contact in Kaz? If so...please tell her the Masse clan says hello!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! So excited for you! Hope you have a very safe trip and a wonderful meeting with Bobek! I so look forward to following your journey! Andrea
Wow, you don't log onto the computer for a few days and you miss all big news! So glad things are falling into place.
Wow, Wow, Wow! Blessings on a safe journey! Wow! :)
Exciting times and thought-provoking sentiments. This is HUGE! You two are such wonderful parents that this baby clearly won the lottery. I can't wait.
Sounds like the adventure has already begun and you haven't even taken flight yet! We are excited for you and hope everything goes well. We can't wait to follow along as you meet bobek and transform into a "party of 4" Safe travels. Jaimie, Gena and Berik
Yay! I've found your blog and as promised I will be happily following your journies as you meet little Bobek and expand your family. I'm so excited for all of you! I wish you all the best!
Your boys at home miss you of course, but they're being well cared for, spoiled and loved. I wouldn't have it any other way. So don't you worry about them.
Enjoy your time together, make some wonderful memories, and I can't leave without saying give Tougy a big hug for me! She's going to be such a great big sister I can't wait to see her in action!
Congratulations!!! Can't wait to read more updates soon!
Wow so many changes in one week. Can't wait to follow your second journey, seems like just yesterday when you guys became a family of three. Good luck, this brings back memories of our travels!
Kathy
jkcronauer@comcast.net
ooh i can't wait to meet this child. :)
this is SO EXCITING!!
xoxoxox
safe safe travels my friends!! I can't imagine myself back on that looong flight to Kaz with Leeza in tow...but Tougy seems much more serene in nature than wild Leeza Grace. :)
Hi Guys...I have been thinking about you all weekend!! Can't wait to hear any news!!
I'm so excited for you, and can't wait to hear about Bobek!!
Incredible!!!! Tears of joy for you guys - seriously. Brings back all the memories and emotions of our trip to bring Andrew home and the wonderful time we had with you guys every day in the Astana baby house. We're so anxious to experience this trip with you as well, albeit remotely, and can't wait to meet little bobek! As you know, you're in for an amazing ride. Love and prayers to the FOUR of you.
Brad, Corrine and Andrew
With happiness for your family as you set off to meet Bobek, I wish for you a smooth, loving, adventurous journey! And it is my sincere wish that November has the Karp and Morrison families dining together in Kazakhstan!!
Until then ....
Stephanie
Thinking of you guys and hoping you have a safe trip to meet your Bobek! Another great adventure in love...
Just stalking away...thinking of the Morrison family..the coolest people EVER.
Getting a little obsessive with the blog checking over here. However, I know from personal experience (times three) how jet-lagged and overwhelmed you guys are. you'll tell us the news when you can and when the internet connection cooperates I'm sure. Meanwhile, know there are many, many people cheering the 4 of you on as you become a bigger family.
xoxo April, Zach, Kai, Grace and Noah
Just stalking. Missing you all. Dying to hear news. Stalkers unite! We love you!
Oh for crying out loud, some of us keep checking this hour after hour after hour... Don't you realize the pressures that we are under on this continent?
Oh, wait a minute, we are really just the hangers on. It is really you who are experiencing all the pressures. So just letting you know that we are thinking about you. Obsessively, mind you. But still thinking about you.
All the best with everything that you are facing. But as the Robinsons have stated, we are united. In love and support. (And anticipation, too). So hugs to all the stalkers, too.
Ditto! Waiting with anticipation and thinking of you.
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