We're ready!!!!

We are ready to go!!! We are only waiting for the Visas which we expect to get on Thursday. We’ve booked the flights- NYC-London-St. Petersburg. We are leaving on Saturday Dec. 20 at 7:10 p.m. arriving in St. Pete at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. We are staying at the Marriott Courtyard (yeah points!!) Our driver and the agency facilitator are meeting us at the airport. We are meeting with the Ministry of Education Monday morning and hope to meet baby boy that afternoon.

If all goes well we expect to meet with Baby B everyday. We have to visit him around his nap schedule. I’ve been told that the orphanage is very strict on schedules.

I’ve been told by my IT department that my cell phone will work in St. Pete.
Mom, please remember that there is an eleven hour time difference from Vegas!

The only thing left to do is pack. From reading all the blogs this past year this is what I was advised to bring:

snow boots, gloves, hat (I plan to buy a big Russian fur hat while we are there)
lots of layers of clothes (average temp now is 17 degrees but they over compensate with heat inside)
warm socks
bubbles (for baby)
cherrios (for baby)
goldfish crackers (for baby)
stacking toys (for baby)
camera
camcorder
computer
lots of new unmarked US dollars (for everyone)
gifts for orphanage and caregiver

I was also warned not be surprised if our luggage is lost—so we are taking 2 days worth of clothes in our carry-on bags, just in case.

We are leaving St. Pete Friday night Dec. 26 and we will be home early Saturday morning with lots of pictures and video.

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful comments.

Talk to you soon!

Paka (Bye!)
Jodi