IT'S OFFICIAL!!  At 11:32am Uralsk, KZ time on September, 22 2003 Sergei Alexseevich became

Samuel Sergei Marshall Christopher

The first official Christopher family photo (absent a few canines of course...)

The proud parents after the court approved the adoption...

Sam's Dr. and caregivers...it was a very teary departure on all sides...

The customary cake we gave to the baby house caregivers.  It says "Thank You...from Sergei"

Car seats...we don't need no stinking car seats!

Good job with that first feeding Mom...but I think I might be full...

Well, needless to say it was an amazing day but the details will have to wait until tomorrow.  We did get approved for immediate execution of the adoption which means we will be heading home in about a week.  Well, I have a sleepy head on my chest and it's time for bed.

Goodnight from Beth, Darrick and Sam Christopher...