We have a daughter (in 10 business days) :-)

Adoption granted – we have a daughter.  Alevtina will become Allison Morgan on June 22^rd, and we will pick her up from the orphanage very early the morning of June 23^rd.  

We just got back from court and are feeling very relieved, and happy.   We were a bit nervous before going, not only because we were going into a Russian court room, but our driver was a bit late in picking us up.  Then the other hearing was over a bit late and we were stilling outside in the car when our hearing was to begin.  We were rushed up four flights of stairs and the proceeding started within about 2 minutes.  Hardly time to catch our breath and get last minute instructions.  

 

There was  our interpreter, the court secretary, the prosecutor, the orphanage representative and the Ministry of Education representative.  The judge was a woman and walked in to the courtroom.  We all stood and introduced ourselves.  A few statements were read and we gave our speeches.  Each of the other members had speeches and a few questions.  The judge did not ask Thomas any questions, but asked me two.  One was if it upset me and our marriage that Thomas was not working, and the other was if I felt I could provide for the family.  She looked at the picture book we brought and each of the representative said that giving Ally to us was in the best interest.  The judge left for deliberation and we had about 5 minutes to relax.  We showed the pictures to the prosecutor (lady) and the court reporter.  They liked them.   Once the judge came back she granted us custody of Ally after ten business days have passed. 

 

So now we have lots of time to explore Ark and learn Russian.  We have only gone a few blocks so far to find a small grocery store.  The buildings we have seen are very different than home. They are run down and lots of apartment buildings.  The closest I can equate them too are ghetto like places of south Chicago or Detroit.  They look a bit nicer than Kotlas.  The hotel is definitely nicer.  We like it fairly well, although I am having a hard time getting used to being offered vegetables and meat for breakfast. 

 

The grocery store was different.  It as nice to buy things like bananas and Thomas found Lays potato chips and he bought bacon flavored as well as mushroom flavored ones.  I stuck to normal ones.  He is also experimenting with the local candies and Nesquick flavored cookies.   Soon we will go exploring other stores and such.  But overall feel fairly safe.