Bye for now, Our Madi :-(

Our last visit with Madi :-(

She looks sad, doesn't she? Wonder if she knows we won't be here again for a few weeks. I hope the time goes by quickly for her and she doesn't miss us. We WILL miss her!

No words needed.
We will miss you Madi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Madi finds out she is OURS!!

This is Madi's reaction when we told her about the Judge's decision today...She is very happy that she is now officially our daughter!
She also told us that she can't wait to meet her sister, Alex!



This is our first picture together after the Court's decision! Madi with her mom and dad!

We have lots to do to get ready for our trip back home. Also, since it is Jose's birthday, we have 2 GREAT reasons to celebrate tonight! We are going out to dinner with our new friend, Marina to celebrate!!!
Then tomorrow we visit Madi for the last time at the babyhouse...next time we see Madi we will be picking her up for good!
After the babyhouse we head to the airport to go to Almaty, Kazakhstan. We will go around Almaty as we wait for our flight back home to Miami!!!

We may not be able to post tomorrow (don't worry, if it's possible I will post pictures of Madi on our last day) , so just in case we want to say:

Thank you all for all of your wonderful posts supporting our adoption of Madison! It has been a lifesaver for us to read your comments and emails. It also helped us feel connected to our home and our more than wonderful family and friends!
We are very lucky to have such special people in our lives...and now there will be one more!!!

See you in MIAMI!!!!!!

Proud Parents; It's official now!

It's official! We are legally the proud parents to Madison Reboredo Orozco!!!!!!
Court was scheduled for 9:30am. Jose did a great job on his speech! The Judge was nice and did ask us a few questions, which apparently we answered to her satisfaction because our adoption of Madi was granted. And yes, we both cried!


This is the Judge.


This is the social worker. Her job is to investigate our case and give a recommendation to the Court about whether or not the Court should grant the adoption. She was also very nice. She congratulated us while the Judge was out of the courtroom taking a break before announcing her decision. We thought that was a good sign!


This is the Courtroom. The table in the middle is where the Judge sits. On the right is a table for the secretary who takes notes during the proceeding. The notes he takes are the record of the Court. There is no court reporter present and no audio recording made during the proceeding. On the left is where the prosecutor sits.


We are so excited and relieved that this part of the process is over and that the Court has granted our Petition to adopt Madison!
Although we had every indication that the Court would grant the adoption, it is still nervewracking because "things happen" and I just never feel completely at ease until a decision has actually been made. We have heard of crazy and unexpected things happening. We are so happy and grateful that our adoption has been so smooth. I am sure that it is because Madison was meant to be part of our family!!
We can't wait to tell Madison that she is officially our daughter this afternoon when we visit her!

Day before Court!

Today is the day before Court. The next time we see Madi we will have the Judge's decision!
Today Madi was non-stop!
She wanted to play and move and get toys...
Have I mentioned before how active Madi is?

Madi seems to love Fish! She was very taken with a fish tank that is in the hallway of the babyhouse. We spent a lot of time in the hallway because the playroom is heated and we were soooooooooo hot there! It really was unbearable. But they will not allow you to open the window because babies are not to get any breeze whatesoever because they will get sick. You didn't know that??? Ughh, Americans! It's a miracle any of our babies survive at home!

Madi was having a fun time sitting on a couch (also in the hallway) filled with stuffed animals.

This is the sign that is by the doorway leading into the baby/bebek room where Madi lives for now. Not too much longer...maybe till the 2nd week in November????

Our last Tuesday in Astana

The end of the first trip is quickly approaching. This week is moving very quickly and we know that it will not be easy to say "paka paka" (bye-bye) to Madi on Friday. I was able to feed her again today. She let us all know when she had had enough by loudly and forcefully spitting out her last bite. That was when the caretakers said that she didn't want anymore and it was okay to stop feeding her. Personally, I would have stopped a few spoonfuls before that when she would close her mouth firmly...but in the past they have insisted that she finish ALL of her food. Go figure! I can't wait to get her home and be able to follow my own instincts on feeding and everything else! I keep having to remind myself that she is not technically ours, yet!
Jose says he is ready for Court. He has been practicing his speech since before the weekend. I wish we could have the whole thing videotaped. I haven't asked, but I doubt highly that will be allowed. Some Judges will not even allow pictures inside the Courthouse. The Judge we are supposed to have on Thursday does allow pictures after the hearing is concluded. I hope that doesn't change.
So, it was just another day inside the babyhouse today.
It's always fun to hang with our Madi!!!

Here Madi is once again looking at her "Who loves the Baby" book with our family pictures in there. She likes to look at it, although sometimes she just wants to put it in her mouth and chew on it!

Serious Madi

Today I decided to post only pictures where Madi is NOT smiling or laughing. Why? Because we don't want you guys to get the wrong impression of her...she IS serious some of the time! Plus, we think she looks just as cute when she is not smiling!

This first picture is of their communal playpen, which we have shown before. We had to leave Madi there today after our visit because they were not ready to put them down for their naps yet. She didn't fuss or anything when we put her in there, she seemed happy to be able to play a little longer, even if it was without us. I wonder if that is going to change once she is Miami...hmmmm. I think the other little one in the picture is adorable too! She is a little younger than Madi and has a lot more hair!

Madi is now getting in this crawling position! You can see her look of determnation here. She still struggles a bit in this position. Although when she wants to move forward she lets her belly go down to the ground before moving...she hasn't quite gotten the hang of moving forward in this position...but soon!

Sunday Sightseeing

Yes, I know everyone is disappointed, including us, about no Madi Sundays!!! The good news is that this is our last Sunday in Kaz for the first trip. On the second trip we will be able to pick up Madi on the day we arrive!
Today we went to see the Pyramid of Peace.
It was an interesting place. It is in the new area of Astana where all of the government buildings are. The ones we have posted about before.


Then we went to see the New Mosque. It is VERY impressive, especially in person. Women and men are not allowed in the same areas of the Mosque. Also, the women have to have their heads covered in order to enter the mosque. Sooooooo, Jose got to go inside and check it out. I forgot my head cover and was unable to enter.


The pictures below show Jose's new obscession while in Kaz...the police/military hats they wear. They are funny because they are very big.


Guess who had to get a hat for himself ?????

More interesting Kaz sites

These are homes that we pass every day on our way to visit Madi. They are old homes with outhouses...don't see those in Miami anymore! We have seen many people coming in and out of them, so yes, they are still operational!



Another typical street on our way to the babyhouse.


Something else that has caught our attention. Here in Kaz, small children walk around the streets all by themselves. We have asked and have found out that it is quite common for a child, say 6 years old, to walk by themselves...to school or the store or just around town. What is REALLY amazing to us about that is how dangerous the traffic is here! Every time you cross the street you are putting your life at risk. I am not even exaggerating! Even the locals have a hard time doing it and say how dangerous it is! I cannot imagine letting Alex now, at age 11, walk around town by herself...now imagine a 6 year old? Sorry, Madi, but that part of your Kaz culture is not going to fly in Miami and especially not with a Cuban family...no way! Overprotective? Maybe just a tad :-)
Did you notice how all of the kids are wearing hats?
Maybe Kaz parents are just as overprotective...but in different ways?

The not so nice side of Kaz

So far, most of the pictures we have posted have portrayed Astana as a modern, new and beautiful city. There are parts of Astana that are just that. However, there are MANY parts that are not so nice. In fact, a large part of the city is still very...rustic. There is LOTS of construction going on here. But, below you will see some pictures of the Astana that we see every day.

This, for instance, is the street (if you can call it that) where our apartment is situated. We walk down this street at least twice a day, if not more. Our favorite pizza place, Pizza City, is in this direction. So is Marina's apartment building. Imagine how beautiful and clean our shoes are right now :-)


This is the sidewalk on another street on the way to Pizza City. Makes for a VERY interesting walk!
Also, notice the dust? Lovely.


This building is more typical of the building you see here. Old soviet syle with shops below.

Check out the potholes. Another typical street.
Different from the government areas, isn't it?

Madi - Day 20

Saturday with Madi is always bittersweet. We are so happy to be with her, but when the 2 hours are over we get sad because we know we won't be able to see her tomorrow. I know, soon Sunday will be like every other day because Madi will be with us all of the time!!!
A week from today we will be back in Miami...without Madi. But, I am very excited to be able to spend time with my other little one, Alex! Alex is very much looking forward to meeting Madi in person!

I wonder if Madi will realize that we are not around for a couple of weeks. I hope that she is still too young and time is not something concrete for her yet. Will she recognize us when we return? I think so. I hope so.