So here we are, Stephanie and Gary, waiting in the hotel room sitting on our unmade tiny and hard bed (though sleep was good last night) with Gary busying himself with organizing stuff, or maybe he’s just pacing, I can’t really be sure. I am here in Almaty looking out the window as I type at a gray mid morning sky and the snow capped mountains in the distance. The blare of rush hour traffic horns reach up to our room on our 11th floor. Soon we will be on that road to Baby House #3 to meet a boy that God willing will become our son. The emotions I have now are unique to anything I have ever felt, but the most surprising thing is, there is a part of me that feels extremely calm and peaceful here as I wait. I can only hope this feeling will transfer into the Baby House and into the Director’s office where, on bended knee and with a soft voice, I will offer a brightly colored toy and a ball, to a little boy who I can only pray will look at me too.
I still feel like I am dreaming. That this moment is not really happening and this is just an extensive and most vivid dream that I have ever had in my life. But Gary assures me this is real and we are here. We have had many discussions about what is about to happen shortly and the reality is that we won’t know how it will play out until we are there.
Once today happens, I hope to spend more time uploading the photos from yesterday when Gary and I took a one hour walk, stopped into the pharmacy (imagine gesturing for hand moisturizer and being offered soap and body wash and finally getting it right.) It is a strange land, this place called Almaty. So gray and misty/foggy/smoggy with trees so tall and barren. All signs on the street and advertisements are brightly colored and look like signs you see in Asian stores at home (sort of outdated in a way.) I know that in the Spring and Summer, this city, with streets lined with more trees that you can count, is very lush. But I know given time, it will be a place I will think of fondly as it will be the land in which my son was born.
Oh Steph and Gary, I am sending you so many good vibes!!!
Your descriptions are right on. I will never forget the strangeness of it all. The environment, the oddly exhilarating yet calm mix of feelings about what was about to happen. The surreal, dreamlike quality to it all. It's a wild and beautiful ride that I have very very very fond memories of now.
We look forward to hearing and seeing much more soon.
Love,
Regina, Frank and Milo
Oh Steph and Gary, I am sending you so many good vibes!!!
Your descriptions are right on. I will never forget the strangeness of it all. The environment, the oddly exhilarating yet calm mix of feelings about what was about to happen. The surreal, dreamlike quality to it all. It's a wild and beautiful ride that I have very very very fond memories of now.
We look forward to hearing and seeing much more soon.
Love,
Regina, Frank and Milo
Oh Steph and Gary, I am sending you so many good vibes!!!
Your descriptions are right on. I will never forget the strangeness of it all. The environment, the oddly exhilarating yet calm mix of feelings about what was about to happen. The surreal, dreamlike quality to it all. It's a wild and beautiful ride that I have very very very fond memories of now.
We look forward to hearing and seeing much more soon.
Love,
Regina, Frank and Milo