Took It Easy

4/21/2009

There are signs all over the place that look like something a toddler wrote! The yellow building is one of the most gorgeous government buildings ever! Nina loves playing in the dirt outside of the apartment, or anywhere for that matter. And, the children with the eggs... well, that's the Happy Easter from the president. These signs are everywhere!

Today, we took easy. We got up and slowly got ready for the day. We made our daily morning run to the local bakery for coffee and a blueberry muffin. We walked through the city and discovered it is NOT stroller friendly. We bought more minutes for the cell phone and some fruit. Finally, we made our way into the natural haven of the botanical gardens. It was lovely. Down in the deepest part of the gardens, you can not hear the noise of the city. You only hear wind in the trees and the birds singing happily. It was such an oasis in the midst of chaotic city life. We had a light lunch there and trekked down the street to the city center.

There is a very large maze of shops beneath the city. We ventured down into the "mall" and ate another light lunch in the "food court." Nina discovered that she likes gelato, the Italian ice cream! Apparently, she has expensive taste! She loved the water fountains and fish and the glass elevator. We left the underground and went to another little coffee shop, Chocolate. Our waiter was deemed, "Daddy" by Nina! He looked like Jordan did when he was in high school! It was so weird. Nina flirted with him during our stay. We finally concluded our day back at our apartment with some time playing in the dirt. Those who claim we do not get enough dirt in our diet have not met Nina. She loves to eat dirt, but I think the interest is fading!

I decided we needed a hot dinner out on the town. We went to the local Ukrainian restaurant, where Nina loves the food. She had meat balls (beef and onions with a light tomato sauce) and buckwheat (also now one of my favorites) and hard rolls (the tougher, the tastier in her book) and compote (a juice/water mix) and borsch and cabbage salad. American food will be a shock to her! I wanted to record this menu and one day show her what she "used to" eat! We stopped at a little treat place and bought 3 chocolates and a cookie. Nina actually calls them "cookies" now. They are no longer "pechenyas!" She counted our stairs today in English! We walked back to the apartment and found that there was no hot water. Nina was READY for bathtime. So, she was mad when I didn't put her in the water. I couldn't get hot water so I boiled it and added hot water to the cold bath water. Although she shivered some, she loved her bath! She was a jewel this evening... so happy and contented. Again, I dried her hair with the blow dryer and she liked it! She went to bed with little difficulty other than the typical toddler requests for potty, a drink, something to eat, potty, a drink, something to eat, etc...

I found out that Nina's paperwork was not ready to be sent on the train tonight so it will be sent on Wednesday night. Natalia (our attorney) told me we should be able to go to the US Embassy on Thursday and have the medical check-up and release done on Friday so that we can fly out on Saturday! We are booking our return flights for Saturday, April 25th and trying to determine whether to fly straight through the 20-hour trip or to stop and sleep in New York???

Nina and I still have a few more days of this "bondathon" as a friend deemed it. We will take in every moment. I miss the kids back home, and I am longing to be with them again. I even missed the dogs today. (Nina watched this huge white dog walk past us today and didn't say a word! I think she doesn't like their bark. This one was walking peacefully down the street with it owner.)

This has been a good bonding time for Nina and I. I am glad we have had it! Hot water is flowing again, and I'm off to take advantage of it while we have it...