A Reminder.

Our morning walk to the orphanage was cold. Like - 25 degrees, cold.  But autumn put on it's best show for us as we walked.  The leaves were falling all around us, and for a minute - it almost felt like we were back home.

When we got to the orphanage, the nanny got Carter dressed for us - and while she did, a little love who is listed on Reece's Rainbow ran right over to me.  She put her hands up - I held them - and she laughed and laughed.  I can't wait to get home and start advocating for her.  She is a tiny little peanut of a girl...so dainty and petite.  

We took some hats that Jake's mom made and we typed up a note in Google translator, and then sent it to our iPad.  We explained that the hats were for the kids.  And then we asked if someone could unlock the stinkin' playroom downstairs!!  Luckily, she understood and sent someone to do it.  

We got to the playroom, and Carter pretty much froze.  He didn't want to play.  He didn't want to be tickled.  He just wanted to be held.  He was nervous. He was overwhelmed.  Total sensory-overload.  

We've been in this room once before, but it was on our last trip.  Carter was very sick that day, so we thought his strange behavior was attributed to that.  Now we realize that it's the room.  It's the different environment. It's the bright colors.  

We forgot that our boy has spent the last 3 years in the same 3 little rooms.  We have been so blessed to see Carter just laugh and giggle - he is such a happy little boy.  But we needed this reminder.  This reminder that he has some of the 'baggage' that comes with living in an orphanage.  

It was a good reminder.  Yes - he's doing great.  Really great.  But let's not forget where he came from.

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Since he was so cuddly for most of our visit, we decided to see what's underneath all those layers!  And we love what we found!  

Rolls!  A chubby belly!  

Carter loves this kids music app on our iPad.  It plays drums, a xylophone, and piano.
He likes that he can just gently touch it, and it makes music.

Just love this face.  He's concentrating so hard!

Towards the end of our visit, he started to become a little more comfortable.  He giggled a little bit, and was feeling a little more brave to crawl around.  I'm sure after a few visits in this room, he'll be fine.  

At one point, he was just relaxing on my lap.  Little legs crossed, just so content.  After some tickling, he started squeezing his little belly - look for it in this video...that's what we're laughing at, in case you don't catch it on your own :)

  

Because we were in a closed room with a rug, we had to take our shoes off - it's just a cultural thing.  So Jake had his shoes off, and Carter was trying to pull Jake's sock off, too.  We got a good laugh out of this....

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After our visit we stopped at the Billa to get a pineapple, bananas, more water, and some other little things (including MORE chocolate, for the 2 addicts that I'm living with...!).  We're not sure if we're going to our afternoon visit, or if we're going to do some sightseeing instead.  We all agreed that we need to go see a sight every few days - otherwise it will be the end of our trip, and we'll be hurrying around - looking at all the sights, but not really enjoying any of it.  

I'm starting to really love this city.  This is an emotion I never expected.  I love these people.  I love this place.  I love being mixed with the people, intertwined with the culture.  And while it will be really good to get home - I know it will be hard to leave.  

One Thing I Know For Sure: No - Jill - by 'sightseeing' I don't mean going to the other McDonalds, instead of the one we usually go to :)  Jesse & Lisa...Rachel's going to have her fill of Eastern European History by the time we're done!