Look Mom, no cavities!

You blinked Mom...I win!

Sammy's class at the Babyhouse.  What a bunch of characters!

Sam's two caregivers, Nurgul & Aidana.

We're settling into a routine with our visits to the Baby House.  We visit from about 10:30 - 12:00, and then again from about 2:30 - 3:30 every day of the week.  One of the nurses told us that she has seen a change in Sergei since we've spent time with him on a regular basis.  He's moving around more, and seems to be expecting or anticipating something.  It seems as though he anticipates our return, as he greets us with a big smile each day.  We live for his beautiful gap-toothed grins.

All that we've heard about the Baby House is true.  It is immaculate and orderly. The love that the caregivers have for the babies is apparent in how healthy and content the babies are.  We've been fortunate to spend a bit of time with Sergei's "group" of approximately seven babies and all of them seem to be doing great.  Not all of them are available for adoption.  We found out that sometimes their parents will give them to the Baby House to care for, but they don't relinquish the rights so the child can be adopted. Sometimes these children will be in the system for 3-4 years before the parents sign over their rights, and by that time it is much more difficult for them to be adopted.

Fortunately, his caregivers seem to have a sense of humor.  They let me (Beth) change his diaper and dress him today.  I did fine with the diaper, but couldn't figure out how in the heck to dress him in the clothes they gave me... I was laughing, his caregiver was laughing, and I had an audience of seven babies who were all staring open-mouthed at my ineptitude.   Finally, one of the caregivers bailed me out and told Sergei in Russian something about being extra patient with his new mother...

We will be forever grateful to these women - for their tenderness, their concern, and most of all for the love that they have given to Sergei and all of the babies here.