We are here and together.

The plane trip over was uneventful but not exactly direct. We flew from DC to Detroit to Amersterdam to Warsaw. We landed around 5pm and decided to help Mason recuperate we would stay in Warsaw one night and then leave on the train the next day. It is a 7.5 hour train ride north to the baltic sea area and the orphanage Maya is at. For a few days we are staying in an apartment at the orphanage which is a great way to start the transition. Maya is with us the entire time and we can go and come as we want. The orphanage is providing Maya's food which is a great way to see what she is used to eating. We will probably be reducing the amount of chocolate and increasing her water and milk intake.

The orphanage did a great job preparing her for our return. She was excited to see us and seems to understand everything that is going on. The director said that the day we were coming she kept asking if her mom and dad had arrived yet. She is much more talkative this time and even sings to herself. Last time we were here we had a hard time counting maybe 15 words that she said. This time she is saying sentences, singing to herself, and talking up a storm. Either she just really started talking, or the orphanage prepared her enough that she isn't scared and is just being herself. Either way, it is great to hear her singing away as we walk down the road towards the park.

We have had a great time and she is doing very well. We haven't had many issues with bedtime or naptime and she is very happy and playful. She loves her clothes, fixing her hair, and playing dolly. Purses and backpacks are definitely her thing. We've been playing "red light, green light" (using stop and go instead) which has been a big hit as well as "ring around the rosey". We have some little wind up cars that she liked playing with. She loves attention and is starting to get used to having an older brother around that wants to help her. My guess is the older boys in the orphanage didn't have the same intentions when they "asked" for a toy.

For future travelers here is my review (so far) on things we brought. I'm glad we brought the sippy cup, itouch filled with kids english and polish songs, diaper bag/purse, an array of small toys, a backpack just for her, snacks (and pkgs of oatmeal, mac and cheese, peanut butter, etc), raincoats, AND tights. It has actually been pretty cold here, 50's in the evening and rainy. Without the tights and light sweaters that I added at the last minute she would be pretty cold. I had to look all over for the tights since they are considered "out of season", but they were worth the work. I wish I had gone ahead and brought a few plastic kids bowls, spoons, bib, and a larger package of wipes. I brought fishoil/DHA gummy vitamins for the kids. It took Mason awhile to get used to the fish oil ones, but Maya just eats them right up.

I'll upload a video later of our future gymnast who can flip herself over while we are holding her hands! It was taking a bit too long to upload right now!

Everything is going well. Thanks for checking in!