Adventures in Dining.

So they told me that all The Geej had ever been given to eat at the orphanage were the following:

• (Non-fortified) formula
• Apple and apricot juice
• Rice cereal
• Apples
• Apricots

That's it. Her whole diet for 8 months. (And I'm skeptical about the "juice" thing too, because the first time I tried to give her juice (and yes, I diluted it 50% with water), she looked at me like I was a space alien.) Sucks, no? No wonder all of the babies are diagnosed with rickets and anemia...

So when I got her in my arms, I was bound and determined to improve her diet. The facilitators took us to the baby store in Vlad, and pointed out the items we should buy--the exact same crap she'd been getting at the orphanage. And when you tried to add anything different to the basket, they said, "NO. Baby is allergic." Oh, really? And you would know how, exactly? So we did as we were told, and just bought the formula (called "Bona"), cereal, apples, apricots, and juice.

Now, the conventional wisdom is that you should just keep them on thier same diet until you get them home (because of potential allergies and digestive issues). But I couldn't help myself. A day or so after that initial visit, I went back and bought some pumpkin, carrots and pears. Nothing too adventurous, but I had to give this baby some stuff BESIDES all the sweet stuff she'd been eating. (Every baby book under the sun will tell you to introduce vegetables to your baby first, and the sweet stuff later. Makes sense, no?) Also, I immediately began giving her a full dose of Poly-Vi-Sol infant vitamins with iron.

The first time I got The Geej fully undressed in the hotel, you could see her ribcage, and her legs were like sticks. Absolutely no baby fat anywhere (except her cheeks...on her face).
Well, Saturday will mark my 1 month anniversary of having this little baby in my care. She's beginning to get a little fat roll on the top of her legs, and so far we've had spinach, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, green beans, berries, bananas, pears, oatmeal, apple and pear juice and fortified (American) formula. And she's liked it all. The things she's turned her nose up at? Apples and apricots.

Why is it...?

That when we grow beyond childhood, all we want to do is sleep--Nap. Zone. Chill.--but when you're a baby, and get terribly sleepy, you fight it with every inch of your being?

The Geej and I are having sleep issues. That's a polite way of saying that she goes as crazy as a shithouse rat when it's even suggested to her that maybe it's time to get in the crib. She gives me all the signs: sleepy, red eyes that she's rubbimg, pulling on on of her ears, playing with her hair, chewing on her pajama sleeve, gazing at me with a semi-stoned look on her face...but when you head toward her room and start trying to wind her down for bed, she goes totally insane. I mean, inconsolable, heaving sobs. It's horrible.

Last night, for instance, she was wiped. She'd had a full day with only one decent nap (we had visitors during nap time #2). She'd been great all day. So around 9pm, I'm getting all of her sleep signals, and so we start our bedtime ritual. Suffice it to say that she didn't go to sleep until 10:20--after much crying and rocking and comforting. I don't know who it wears out more--me or her. I'm hoping this is a temporary thing, and like the 3-day ear-piercing squeal-fest that we had while we were in Vlad, this too shall pass. But in the meantime, I am beginning to hate bedtime as much as she does.

Other than that, things are going okay in mommyland. Tomorrow, we're going on our first car excursion together. Nothing big--to the bank and to drop off some film, safe drive-thru errands--but I'm wondering how she's going to do. She's not crazy about being strapped in to anything--her high chair, stroller, her swing--so I'm sure this is going to be tricky. Wish me luck...

Russian "Engrish"

One of the ways I amused myself during my 3 1/2 weeks in Vladivostok was by writing down all of the awful approximations of English I ran across. Usually the screwed up words were on menus (hence all of the food-related stuff), but I thought you'd enjoy.

Aggplants and Mashrooms
The filling of a "calzone" that, believe me, wasn't like any calzone you've ever had, and by that, I mean it sucked beyond comprehension.

Fresh Squid Juice
What they meant to say was "Fresh Squeezed Juice," such as orange, carrot, tomato, etc. Thank God.

Spitits
"Spirits." You know, al-kee-hawl.

Gas Drinks
Coke, Sprite, etc.

Vitamins Menu
A menu of fresh squid, I mean squeezed, juices.

"I am Ultraman. I am your best frend. i am here in your time of ned."
This phrase (spelled and punctuated just as I've written here) and a picture of a robot were on the front of a t-shirt in a children's store. I only wish I could've taken a photo of it without fear of being thrown in a Russian jail. And I would've bought it, but it was 540 rubles...roughly $25 dollars. And even though it's funny, it's not $25 worth of funny.

The Geej and one of her friends.

Recent things I've learned.

I'm back from 3 1/2 weeks in Vladivostok, Russia. I've got my BEAUTIFUL enchanting, amazing daughter, The Geej with me. Finally. I'm in full-on single mother mode now. It's a whole new world, folks. If nothing else, I've learned SO much in the past month. Let me now share some tidbits:

1. "Fashion" in Russia = 1989 Bon Jovi concert in Trenton, New Jersey.
2. More rare than an albino tiger? A Russian who smiles for the hell of it.
3. Pickles apparently CAN be served with spaghetti.
4. Apparently if there was a murder committed on a matress, it's okay to keep using it in a hotel.
5. Cat toys make great baby toys and vice versa.
6. There is no limit to the grossness and variety of baby poo.
7. Getting a 9-mo. old to laugh at you is a soul-stirring experience.
8. "Salad" in Russia means any available vegetables sliced up and topped with about a cup-and-a-half of mayonnaise.
9. Babies like cats. Cats don't like babies.
10. Being a mom is a wonderful, frustrating, magical, exhausting, rewarding, mysterious, scary adventure.

I'll write as I have time. There is much to tell. However, since I am barely finding time to take a shower, it's probably going to be sporadic.

Where in the world is Karla May?

Hey folks,

Sorry I've been so lax in posting. But I'm in Vladivostok, and have been wrapped up in the maelstrom that is getting my daughter from the orphanage, and setting up house for a couple of weeks in the hotel while I wait for all the paperwork to be completed. I only have limited internet access too, so posts from now until I get home will most likely be sporadic at best. But please don't forget about your little Pine Curtain Refuge. I promise to post again soon.

All I have to say now is a) wow and b) I wish I had a way to post photos. This experience has been so intense. My baby girl is finally with me and out of that orphanage. It's the best feeling in the world. Such a relief, but at the same time, such an enormous, stressful undertaking. My mom is here with me, thank God. She is helping out immensely, and falling head over heels in love with her BEAUTIFUL grand-daughter.

MUCH more to come. I can't wait to fill you in on this trip. It has been nuts, and I've still got a couple of weeks to go.

Pray for me, folks...