We got to Moscow yesterday without any problems...Roman fell asleep before takeoff and slept until right before we landed!! Great plane ride :)

It took us 2.5 hours to get to where we are staying in Moscow from the airport...it is only about 30 miles. Traffic in this city is a nightmare...everyone turning when they want to, running red lights, blocking interesections. WAY worse than NYC or DC!!

Our first 3 days and 2 nights with Roman have been wonderful...he definitely knows us and loves to be with us. At night, he does not want to go in the portable crib...he wants to stay in bed with us. Which, of course, I love because I can snuggle him all night long. He has slept through the night both nights.

This morning, the doctor came at 6:15 a.m.!!! UGGGHH!! He pronounced Roman "healthy" with minor delays, weak muscles and bronchitis...which we knew. But then threw in that he might possibly be anemic...hmmmm...he also weighed him the old fashioned way by holding him in the air and saying he was about 20 lbs.

Then, Andrew (aka Andrei) went with Gregory to the US Embassy to pay our fees and get Roman's Visa applications turned in. We went back at 2:00 for our appointment and lo and behold there were 50 other families there with the same appointment. It was cool though because we got to meet so many other families that had adopted from all over Russia...they were all there for the same thing. And, because we are citizens, we got to skip the line :) HOORAY!! But, it was an hour and a half wait for the Visa...Roman was really good, he just wanted to be active...

So, as of 3:15 today (russian time)...Roman can now officially enter the United States as an immigrant. As soon as he touches American soil he will be a U.S. citizen!! So, Andrew says that we are now officially tourists and have no more official business to do...

Amazing...we are parents...to this wonderful boy...so full of smiles and laughter. We can't wait for everyone to meet him.

TOmorrow, our host and driver, Vidali will take us on a tour of Moscow...he and his wife, Natasha, have been taking good care of us. Natasha has offered to babysit Roman tomorrow so we can shop and sightsee, but we kind of want to take him along so that he will be in all of the photos.

We will be home soon...love too all...see you on Sunday :) ~ gaye, andrew & roman