Little Tank

I use this term affectionately but our sweet Sofia is a "little tank"! She is SUCH a big girl and I think that was part of what took me by surprise when I first met her a couple days ago. I was not expecting it! I never had chubby babies (love them...just never had one) and I just assumed that with orphanage living that Sofia would be on the smaller side due to the lack of food and the conditions.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm actually GLAD she is a little tank. That means she's been fed...maybe too much and not the best food...but she's not gone hungry and that gives me such peace of mind. Her basic needs have been met...food, clothes, shelter. Of course, being a bit chubby makes it harder for her to move her body and and sit up...and the 3 extra layers of clothes and ski gear doesn't help with her range of motion either. Poor baby!

Her cheeks are just adorable and always pink! She's a real doll baby. I can't wait to have her back at home...just in time for our hot Sacramento weather so she can wear her cute rompers and have bare feet! Oh the freedom!

This morning, we were greeted by Marina and Sofia in a cab on our way to the orphanage. We took Sofia to get her picture taken for her Visa immigration card, her medical exam with the embassy and her SDA file. What fun to have her for a short while outside of the orphanage grounds. We took her to the mall to have her picture taken and she was mesmerized by all the lights and action inside. She just babbled away at everything. This little girl is going to LOVE life! I think she'll find joy in so many things.

Sofia is called "Sonya" as a term of endearment by the staff. It's a nickname for Sofia here in Ukraine. She has a little cold right now so we went to the pharmacy to buy some saline drops for her nose and some ointment for her chapped cheeks and bum. She has a deep cough too but her spirits are good. She wanted to sleep for most of our two visits today and since she is on a STRICT schedule which only allows for one short nap, we decided to take her for a stroller ride out of site of the staff and let her sleep. It was a pleasure just to see her sleeping peacefully knowing her body just needed to rest. At our afternoon visit, she was still sleepy...loves to suck her index finger when she's tired...but the staff didn't want her outside so she had to stay awake but we just did some relaxing play on her blanket.

Unfortunately the prosecutor was out sick again today. Her child is sick so she has been out for some time. We are hoping she is back tomorrow so we can make sure our file is completely ready for the judge. Marina shipped off our documents to the SDA office today so our 7 day wait begins today. The EARLIEST we could possibly have court would be on Monday...but we still don't know yet. Tomorrow, Marina is hoping to talk to the head judge and find out who our assigned judge will be and then she will ask to speak with him/her and get a date set. PRAYING ALWAYS and until our baby girl is ours officially and at home with her new family. Her brothers (and her grandparents and so many others) are waiting patiently for her!