[russia06]

My husband and I accepted a referral of a 14 month old little boy from Moscow last week and its been a little hectic ever since. We ARE excited although you wouldn't know it, I think we are being reserved as this is the 3rd referral we got before accepting. And now all of a sudden its become real. A little scarier than I think I expected it to be. We are running around our house baby proofing the outlets and kitcchen drawers with knives in them.
We are waiting for our court date and asked if it could be pushed back to January on the account of my husband's job. So we are thinking maybe first or second week in January. Although I keep asking how that works with Russian Orthodox Christmas being January 7th and New Years Jan 14th. No one seems to be able to give me a straight answer on this. Anyone of you know how these holidays could effect our travels?
We are looking to stay at he Marriot Courtyard in Moscow - has anyone been there recently?
Fot those of you who have been there recently can you tell me what they feed the kids in the orphanages at 14months? I am trying to figure out if when we go for trip 2 we will need to take formula with us?
As you can see by my quesitons my mind is racing all over the place. My husband is trying to keep me on track for what has to be done for trip 1 and to not worry about trip 2 now.
Thanks again for everything you post here - it has all been very helpful. I'll let you know when our date is - hopefully soon. RB

[Kasey]

Congrats on your referral and best wishes for a speedy court date.
OUr little guy just came home at 13 months from Murmansk. He was eating alot in the orphanage, big bowls of stew (meat, potatos, carrots, onions), porridge, fruits, yogurt, juices, milk, he definitely ate alot, he is pretty heavy.
Our IA doc had us bring the Nestle Good Start 9-24 months formula, he refused it unless it was in milk. He did well with it.
We just had our home visit with the IA doc and since he is fairly hefty they had us switched to whole milk, multivitamins and cod liver oil.
I think alot will be depend on your kiddo, our first son was very skinny so he needed every drop and more of formula.
This little guy eats alot and of everything.
Talk with your ped or IA doc before you go.

[dlhall]

Congratulations! I know you're excited. Now, take a deep breath and concentrate on first things first. Do you have travel dates yet for trip one? As for January holidays, Russia will slow down a lot and many government offices are closed. I would be surprised if you traveled at the beginning of January. You may luck out and get a date at the end of January. Last year we traveled on our first trip right before Christmas and then returned for court the first week of February. We had hoped to go back in January, but ended up having to wait in February due to the holidays.

Once you meet your little boy, you'll be able to assess more of what you'll need for trip 2. My children came home at 11 and 12 months old, and both were on formula for the first few months home. My little boy wouldn't eat solid foods for at least 2 months (probably longer); my little girl ate everything in sight from day 1 but because she was so small (only 16 pounds) we kept her on formula for 6 months to boost up her weight.

Again congratulations!

Liz

[amyfk]

Congratulations! I am sure your news of your referral just made your holiday even sweeter. I hope others will start getting their referrals as well.
When we got to the orphanage, they wrote down our baby's current diet and schedule for us. Our coordinator in Russia took us to the supermarket to find foods for the baby. OUr baby was 11 mo. old when she came home and she was on whole milk, she didnt drink any formula.
Talk to your agency-you can probably buy any food for the child incountry, heaven knows you have to schlep enough stuff when you go on trip two.

Best,
Amy K, NJ

[Jim_in_PA]

Congratulations!

The Courtyard is a brand-new hotel and has been open not quite a year. Reports are very favorable. Had it been available, we would have stayed there last November.

[Annabell]

This is SUPER news! Congratulations! Sincerely hope you'll get to travel ASAP (but careful what you wish for -- we had only 10 days' notice -- called DD "the Sudden Toddler")

-- As to food, she was on solids at 2 years 3 months -- she LOVED pickled beet juice, very overly-cooked green cabbage, and sliced, peeled cucumbers. Bread also a big hit. As your DS is younger, he might still be on a formula, or milk of some description. Hard to say. We were not permitted to see DD's living or eating quarters but you might try to insist (the female doctor at DD's hospital was scary and weird and given to emotional blow-ups, so we did not DARE ask anything of the sort, but I understand this isn't the norm....) --

Again, many congratulations! Just think, you're going on the Travellers' list!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Amysue1112]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Don't worry, MANY of us found it a little scarier than we expected...just wait till you walk out of that baby home!
When we went to see Hannah for the first day on trip 2, I was like "OMG!..the next time we leave Russia we will have a baby in our arms!".
Have you had trip one yet? I don't think they can ask for a cout date until you meet the child and "officially" sign for him, but maybe I am wrong?
We were in a very fast region and had 4 weeks between trips..don't know many regions that go much faster than that.
As far as the Marriot Courtyard...do you have back issues? We stayed there (one night) and those were THE hardest beds I have ever felt! I swear there was no mattress but 2 boxsprings... we moved the the Marriot Grand the next day. It was only like 10 dollars more and soo much more comfortable. It is a very nice hotel though and close to Red Square.

Hannah was 11 months when we got her...our agency driver took us to a grocery store and we got rice cereral and baby food, juices and milk. We were told not to bring formula as it is so different in Russia and the kids might have trouble with it. Hannah ate a lot of "slop" (I called it) with meat and veggies in it. She ate anything we offered her. When we got home we went to toddler/table food in a week or so and she did great. Did NOT like any formula and wasn't too keen on milk until a few months.

GOOD LUCK!!!!! I know it is very exciting!!!!!

[trnews71]

congratulations!!

[Amysue1112]

Oh yes you may also want to consider renting and apt, especially for Trip 2. we were leary about it, but was very encouraged by those who did it, so we tried it on trip 2 and AMAZED at the difference. It was like 1000 sq ft, right at Red Square and only 180/night in May which is a very expensive month to travel to Russia. ALso it was GREAT that dd had her own room (and a crib and potty chair that was provided). It helped soo much to keep her the schedule she was used to, and also we could cook (only like frozen pizzas and stuff) but it was still wonderful not to have to go out for every meal. I was afraid it would be shabby, but our driver said those apts. go for 1-2million dollars!
PM if you want the info to the travel agency I rented it from, I got that reference here and they were top notch.
Lots of exciting things to come!!!!!!!

[Pinkie]

Congratulations, I'll move you to waiting for Trip 1 dates!!

[claricey]

Hi Russia 06!!

We just received a referral on 12/6 too!! I've been nervous about posting as we have not received travel dates yet either.

Please keep us updated and let us know when you get those dates and I will do the same!

[mikiment]

Congratulations and best wishes with this exciting news. We'll look forward to hearing all about your trip when the time comes. No worries, it will all fall into place though I remember thinking OMG how will I get it all done in time!

[lovestruck]

Congrats!! Wonderful news!

[Ktates]

congrats on your referral!
We brought home DD at 14 months - she was off formula and really didn't eat a ton once we took her from the orphanage. She had like 12 teeth by then but still wasn't great on chewing so we brought those gerber wheels and I think that helped her with chewing. We also fed her oatmeal, yogurt and fruit, soup, hamburger, we brought some of the Gerber jarred fruit - she loved that but wouldn't eat the meals, hamburger, potatoes (mashed) a lot of stew because everything was so tender...bread too

They gave us her schedule including her typical snacks and meals. I asked our pedi about formula and she said not to - we did give her pediasure to give her extra calories.


Claricey - congrats to you too!
Hope you both get quick dates

[proudmommyof 2]

Congratulations!! I'm a mom of 2 Muscovites myself. My boys were in #13 and #5. You needn't share which your little one is in, but I'd love to mail you pics if you'll be at one of those to give to my guys' caregivers!!

Moscow is beautiful, and you'll love it. The advantage of staying in Moscow is that you can get whatever you need there, before and after you have your new love in your arms.

Wonderful news!!