Apr 28 - random thoughts

Hi everyone - here are some things I've been thinking about lately, in no particular order or significance:

• Our child has definitely been born and is waiting for us to come and bring him/her home. I often send out what I hope are comforting wishes and hope they can travel on the wind.
• Kazakhstan is pronounced 'Cause-ick-stan', with the first syllable's 'a' pronounced like in 'cause', not 'a' like in 'cat'. I'm having trouble making this transition myself.
• Also about KZ - Astana became the new capital city in December 1997. Paul and I were married in Dec 1997 - I find it interesting and somehow comforting to know a major event in our life and in Kazakhstan's life happened at the same time.
• I fluctuate between being excited, terrified, overjoyed and nervous about being away from home for 2 months, meeting our child and starting our life together as a family.
• I'm so sorry our dog Gypsy (who passed away a few months ago) won't have the chance to meet our child and cover him/her with her famous kisses. I absolutely know in my heart that she would have been wonderfully gentle and protective.
• Adoption is a one-time occurence in a child's life; when speaking about someone adopted into a family, it's more appropriate to say that she/he 'was adopted', not 'is adopted' as if it were a defining characteristic of the person.
• Our child's birth-Mother (or birth-parents) are not 'bad people'; I absolutely cannot think of them that way, not with the amazing gift they are bringing to our life - we are forever grateful to them. We will attempt to instill compassion and fondness for them and for the birth-country in our child for the rest of our life.
• Kazakhstan is not AT ALL how it was portrayed in the movie 'Borat' - that was purely fiction/satire. KZ is having amazing growth since breaking away from the Soviet Union in 1991; the cities are growing rapidly and becoming more cosmopolitan, and the people are attempting to bring back their culture- but of course this takes time and it hasn't even been a full generation yet!
• We are attempting to learn a little Russian, as this is still the major business-language in KZ. I'm sure we won't get much further than pleasantries and really simple phrases, but it would be wonderful to feel a bit of independence while we're there - at least to be able to ask for directions or buy simple groceries. (Paul's still hoping he'll find someone there who speaks French - haha)
• Just when I think I've finished baby-proofing the house something happens that makes me realize it's not there yet. It's been suggested that I crawl around the house on my hands & knees to get an idea of what needs to be changed/removed/bolted to the wall, in preparation for a 1 year old. That makes a funny mental-picture.....
• I have completely changed my stance on how much help we'll need when we first get home. My instincts are always to say 'we'll be fine and won't need help' - I've now converted to expecting to say 'please come over - can you move in for a while?' :-)
• Re-reading the point above about fluctuation of emotions, I want to say that today I'm more excited than terrified. But still nervous.

I think that's it for now. Have a great day!
take care,
N