Holland Boy: A Chip Off the Old Block

I’m afraid that bloodlines are not the only indication of a child’s true nature. Stephanie validated as much for us yesterday after a trying day with Nicholas in Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan. Let’s just say that our boy tested his boundaries throughout the day. It seemed all was well by the afternoon when Stephanie took her young charge to the pool at the Hyatt, where they were staying for one night of recuperation following 12 days in Ust.

I’m not sure exactly what transpired at the pool… only that it ended with our digital camera at its bottom. This is the second camera claimed by Kazakhstan (the first was dropped, lens first, on the pavement in a park).

This second camera was actually a gift for Sophie, to reward her for outstanding grades (7 A’s and 2 B’s). Lucky for little Nicky that Sophie is 6,481 miles away, or he would have experienced his first big sister beat-down.

But nearly all else is well. Stephanie is still wearing the same clothes she traveled in (they’ll be donated to the Science and Industry museum upon her return). We should have the results of Nicky’s visit to the SOS Clinic any day, and tomorrow Stephanie will take him to the US Embassy for his passport. We’ll need to keep him away from the camera of course, or be forced to use the image above until we can properly restrain the boy.

Those of you who have know me since my youth must find this terribly amusing. It’s nice how things come full circle.

Around town

Walking around Ust is fascinating in many ways. For one, Russians (caucasians) and Kazakhs (asians), as far as I can tell, have totally meshed here. I think I said this in a past post. This is evident not only in the way they all live/work together, but in their features. I can't help but look twice when I see a blue-eyed, jet-black-haired asian man, sitting on the park bench with his red-haired russian wife, and their blond-haired, almond-eyed child!

Anyhow, I don't have many photos of the people because I feel awkward interrupting regular people to take their photos. But there are lots of other surprises here too. Picking thru a dumpster is not just for the homeless (hmm what have my neighbors left for me today). Ok, I did once take a plant that the Philipps' had set out for pick-up, but that's not a habit of mine. Broken side walks and over grown grass adjacent to meticulously maintained, expansive rose gardens. Perfectly ok for a male child to pee into the grass, not ok to step on it. We were reprimanded (army dude blowing whistle at us). Enormous attention paid to fashion--it's like Fashion TV on the streets. Also a photo of a shooting gallery. These are found on neighborhood streets. No idea why. I haven't seen anything other than a policeman pistol since I got here. The photo of the turquoise booklet is Nicholas' birth certificate and next to it, his adoption decree, with his new name: Nicholas Peter Holland (the "h" in Holland is written as an "X" here; the "p" in Peter is the symbol for Pi). The little log cabin in the flowers is a tiny Christian church.

As far as my plans, Sunday night I hope to be at the Hyatt in Almaty for a one-night mental health day. Just FYI, those Brits still haven't gotten me my luggage. I'm such a baby, but feel legitimately sad that I have no gifts to give, rum-pa-pa-pum.

However, I now understand that the lost bag is God looking out for us. The Friday, June 29th flight which was completely sold out (no chance of being done as originally scheduled, on 26th). But since Justin has been calling British Airways daily to find out about the bag, he was able to use the lost bag as leverage for a little special treatment. We have seats on the full flight. I'm always amazed by how I see the verse "What man intends for evil (or just screws up), God uses for good!" Amen.

More photos

In the bath. We have a good evening routine: eat, bath, eat, bed, milk, bed, sleep!



Nicholas loves yogurt, and luckily this word is the same in Russian as in English.



At the park in front of the city's largest mosque.



Writing. Thanks goodness, they've taught him quite a lot at the baby house. And he's a fast learner. His English has already grown exponentially. Some of his words/phrases are: I love you; kiss; counting 1-10 (we practice this on seven flight of stairs in our building); AMERICA (said holding his arms up punctuating the syllables with his fists; comb; socks; milk! and a few others. Oh yeah, he understands, though he doesn't say "wait!" "No" and "stop!"

Photos finally!

Saying goodbye to two of his caregivers. These women are so sweet and work so hard.
Nicholas' "grupa" gathering around him. Now that he has parents, he's like a movie star to them.
Sasha, the boy who was also "shown" to us on that first day when we had to "see" three children to abide by the law. He's so sweet. I hope we can see him in America one day.
This little cutie had fallen on her nose. She so sweet. It's tough tho. On the one hand, I want to tell all my friends to adopt. On the other hand, the agencies and governments make it so difficult, financially and emotionally. The time commitment is huge and sometimes you wonder if it really needs to be this long. After all, I've been basically waiting for a passport since I got here. Do I really need to be here?

I'm thankful for the time with Nicholas, but Isabelle is little too and this is just very, very hard on the whole family. And the "big" girls have gone to and come back from a week at sleep-away camp and I just hate not being there to see their faces all a-glow with the excitement.

Just an update

I can't wait to come home! Just for grins I went to the Air Astana office and made a reservation for Friday morning to get from here to Almaty. It probably won't happen--we're waiting for Nicholas Kazakhstani passport and I've been told it might arrive Thursday, but it could be as late as Monday. Ugh.

Nicholas and I are doing pretty well, tho I have no down time at all. He is very curious about everything and chatters away constantly, like another little someone I know, but I can't undertand most of what he's saying. Right now he's attempting to fold up a map of Kazakhstan, now he's pouring water out of his sippy cup. He can't stand t.v. unfortunately. I haven't been able to get any work done.

We do a lot of walking and just searching for basic things. Got him some fungal lotion for his little toes. The orphanage has them in shoes and socks all the time, and so at first he would start bawling "no spat" (don't want bed)whenever I took them off. He has started to eat more moderately, and is actually leaving food on his plate. This is another post-orphanage milestone. He has learned to pee standing up, like a good ol' American boy. He holds my hand everywhere we go, though today experimented walking for a few yards 'on his own.' He's really good with a ball, throwing especially. And light switches, the amazingness of lights on and off hasn't worn off yet.

I feel really drained tho. Not sure, maybe it's just the lack of a real goal each day. I have never had so little to do or had such a hard time just doing those little things that I do need to do.

He's out and about!

I have to make this a really quick post because Nicholas is doing the dishes--something that keeps him busy for a few moments before he plunges back into the next thing. I picked him up from the Baby House on Saturday. Things have been going really well--he is absolutley precious and precocious! He likes me to rock him to sleep--I'm indulging him since he may never have been rocked quite enough. My first thought this morning after I looked over and saw him sleeping sweetly next to me was about love and how it multiplies exponentially every time a child is added to a family. I just couldn't believe the feeling I had, the same I had at Katrina's birth. I had worried that I couldn't love the second child as much as the first, and then POW--she was born and it was amazing. Rather than having less for each, I had more. It happened again with Isabelle. But surely this miracle couldn't happen with an adopted three year old could it? It did--when I looked over this morning, it just overwhelmed me.

We are having a wonderful time--Nicholas is discovering so much. He's been really naughty twice. Once showing me his teeth with the evidence of the blue crayon he had just eaten, and the second time pouring the entire carton of milk into a small cup. He responded with adequate remorse after a little smack on the hand, so I'm not too worried about it. He's so cute when he's sorry that it's hard to stay mad at all!