She likes books! (Bonding Day 2)

Today we had our first full visit with Alia.

A blonde-haired little boy snuck into the visitation room just after we arrived. He was probably 2 or 3 (?). Scott played peek-a-boo with him for a bit and he didn't want to leave. Our interpreter came in and shooed him out. She told us he was headed to the orphanage in Tschuchinsk. Since this is a hospital we don't see any of the other kids. We hear them sometimes, but we don't see them. Alia stays by herself in the visitation room during the bonding period.

She is such a sweet girl. The only sound she makes is a giggle! When we arrived, she greeted us with a smile, but seemed tired already. She does seem to have a bug - congested and a little warm. We changed her into the clothes we brought - we are asked to provide clothes and diapers during the bonding period. We also gave her a little baby wipe bath.

We showed Alia the toys we brought today - a book and a doll. She was not so interested in the doll, but the book - she was fascinated by the book. Scott read it to her, pointing at the pictures and she carefully, quietly followed his finger with her eyes. She was a little fussy, so Scott walked her back and forth until she fell asleep. He then gave her to me and she slept on my chest for about 20 minutes until a nurse brought her bottle. It was so amazing having that little being with us snoozing away.

She sucked down a pretty large bottle in no time - it looked like it was larger than 8 ounces - maybe 12? They feed the babies warm keffir, a fermented milk that is like liquid yogurt. That's it. Babies don't have solid food or even cereal until they leave the hospital.

After a burp or two, she was ready to play for a while. She sat in my lap and we read the book again. At one point, I swear she pointed just like I was. She does not sit up, but wants to very badly. If we are not holding her she wants to be vertical. She rolls over and sort of pushed up on her side today. She is a little stiff. I thought I had read that babies are often stiff because they don't get out of their cribs a lot. Is that true? We have been stretching out her arms and legs and hands whenever we get a chance.

Scott can really get her giggling. He lifts her in the air or tickles her and she loves it. The visit was over before we knew it. We had to leave her in her crib all by herself. She started fussing when we laid her down, but we had to leave. After visits are probably the worst time of the day for me . . . between the jet lag and having to leave her . . . it's hard.

We haven't gone out on our own yet. We may walk down to the "Pick-Up" store later on to pick up a few more things (hence, the reason our interpreter calls it the "pick-up" store). We went yesterday, but I discovered I bought liquid soap instead of lotion the hard way. I am a little itchy today :). I also bought 2 bottles of shampoo instead of 1 bottle of shampoo and 1 bottle of conditioner. Grocery prices are pretty similar to the U.S. - maybe a bit cheaper. Name brand diapers seem a little more expensive, but that's about it.

And, yes, we were followed around by some store employees a bit. It didn't bother me as much as I had thought it would.

Generally, we can get the same or similar stuff as we can at home. So far, I only wish I had brought a few envelopes for sorting stuff like money and a cardigan to wear around the cottage.

The jet lag is okay. I have been getting up around 5 or 5:30 a.m. and pretty much crash in the afternoon. Today, I feel better than yesterday though. Getting up early is actually great because we can Skype with Luca right before he goes to bed.

Okay - now I am rambling. Do svidaniya!