Nov 23rd: Kamilla Pic & Her Room Plans

Here's my sweetie with a wet ones packet. She likes to take new items and rub them on different things in the room to see how they sound. I miss her so much!

The next pictures are of the crib bedding and the wall mural/stickers I bought for her room. They haven't gotten here yet. I'm excited about having Kamilla here with me and how her room will look.

This mural was hand-painted and then printed on a special sticky fabric. Kids are able to move things around and there are all sorts of ways you can put them on the wall. They are coming from a New Zealand etsy.com merchant. :-) I'm excited.

Nov 21th: New Picture Sent from Kaz Today

Here's my sweet peanut. My friends Rich and Erin who are in Kazakhstan took this picture. I miss her so much. And, she always looks very serious and a little sad in these eating pictures. She was all lit up and the dickens when I was feeding her. All that personal attention really makes a difference with the children. Can't wait to get her sweet act -- and bring her HOME!

Nov 20th: Court Decision should be Final Today!

After my court date on November 5th, I had to wait 15 days until the decision was final, and they would officially change Kamilla's birth certificate to list me as the Mom!! Today it has been 15 days, so it should be official. Yippee. I don't really get updates from Kazakhstan on these types of things, so no news is good news -- I know things are moving along, as I heard Kamilla got her passport photo this week (to come home with her new Mommy!!)

These photos may look familiar -- but they are different. A lady had taken 7 or 8 photos and I posted 2 before -- and here is 4 more!! I truly adore Kamilla and can't wait to see her again.

This is actually us trying to pose for a picture.
The lady is standing there with the camera.

Well, I try to entice Kamilla with her chimes.
"Smile, look at the camera!" :-)

As you can see, one of us is smiling and looking at the camera.
Kamilla is playing with my face instead.

Finally, I give up on taking the perfect photo and just hold her!

11/19 Two Pics since I missed yesterday

Here's my gorgeous baby, hard-at-work, playing

I like this photo. She looks so small in such a big room.
She really loves music, so I hope to introduce her to more musical things here!

11/17 Kamilla on my first day with her...

This was from my first day with Kamilla. Very beautiful but serious little girl.
She definitely lighted up over time.

11/16 (15 mos old today) Look at all the Love she Gets!

This lady was crazy for Kamilla. I mean out-of-her-mind loving her up! I was walking the halls with Kamilla one day and the theatre-type room was open and some ladies were meeting there. And, they called us in and made a huge fuss over Kamilla.

After a few minutes, the first lady, sat Kamilla on the shoulders of the lady with the blue smock. She looked a little surprised. The lady in the front right corner sings so, so beautifully. She is a cleaning lady and just sings and sings the entire time. Everyone was so kind and loved up Kamilla whenever they saw her. And, they all knew her name and who she was.

This older lady was playing with Kamilla, too. The ladies would motion at
Kamilla's face and my face and say what a perfect match we were.

This is a young caregiver in Kamilla's room named Rosa. She speaks pretty good English and would tell me how much Kamilla loves me and how she is so lucky to have me -- as I will treat her like a total princess (true!)

November 15th Photo of Kamilla

This photo cracks me up. You can see Kamilla is deciding which of the little boy's things to go after. And he is looking at her through the corner of his eye -- waiting to see what she will do. Go Kamilla Go!

November 14th Photos of Kamilla (New from Kaz)

My friends Erin and Rich, who are in Kazakhstan now, snapped a couple more shots of my sweetie pie. They see her occasionally when they are feeding their son, and a caregiver brings out Kamilla to feed her. THANK YOU Rich and Erin for the new pictures!!

Look at Kamilla with the food hanging from her mouth! And she is still cute. They feed the babies very, very quickly with big tablespoons. Notice her outfit? All the kids wear the same oil cloth type jumpers that tie at the shoulders with a shirt. This is easy-on/easy-off and very durable.

They also DON'T wear diapers --- they wrap and tie blankets around them as diapers. The only time they wear "regular" clothes and use Pampers is when they are visiting with their potential parents -- then it is back into their Baby House-wear.

As one friend pointed out though, the kids never seem to get any sort of diaper rash in the soft blanket type/rag-type diapers -- but in the Pampers they do. A disadvantage to the oil cloth (it is some thicker material not soft/not hard) romber and blanket diaper is that it is really hard to carry, snuggle, play -- with the baby. One time the caregivers were running behind so I said it is fine for me to take Kamilla in that outfit and there was this huge ball of blanket between us (the diaper) and the romper was so rough that it was hard to really snuggle and hold her.

After a half hour I took her back to the caregiver and motioned for the Pampers/traditional baby clothes. They were fine with it as they had caught up with all the feedings and had the time to get her all set. She was so much happier and so was I.

They kind of waddle in those romper outfits because of all the blanket wrapped around them.

More soon!

November 13th Photo of Kamilla

Here is my little thinking Kamilla!

Every Day A New Photo of Kamilla

This was Kamilla when she was sick and in isolation.
She was feeling pretty good this day.
Good enough to go after Mommy's camera! (again)

My Adorable Kamilla!

I've decided to post a new picture of Kamilla every day -- to keep my spirits up and to feel closer to her. And, closer to all the people following my journey! I also may sprinkle in some other photos from my trip so you can get more of a feel for Semey, Kazakhstan.

I am missing Kamilla like crazy, but I still do have a lot to do to get ready for her homecoming -- including getting her room ready and child-proofing the house.

November 11th Photo of Kamilla

Kamilla without me....11/11/2009....I love her so much!!

Hey...I'm in the USA. How did I get a new photo of Kamilla...who is still in Kazakhstan. The answer....more friends. I swear I am so lucky!!!

The new family that is in Semey right now, bonding with their new son, took the photo for me since I was missing Kamilla so much.

The family is Rich, Erin, and their new son Alexander. Although Alexander (8-9 months old) is younger than Kamilla (almost 15 months) they are still close enough in age that they are in the same "room" at the Baby House. That means they hang out together every day.

I will post a photo of this family here as soon as I ask them if it is okay. They are the nicest people and I truly wish our time in Semey overlapped more than the 2 days that it did.

Back in the USA: Spoiled by my Kaz Friends along the Way!

My sweet, sweet friend Shauna -- who called me every single day in Semey, picked me up at the airport with the biggest happiest grin on her face, insisted on buying my first dinner back in the USA (Outback Steakhouse!), helped me carry all my luggage in....hugged me good-bye. And left. And, look what I found in the kitchen 2 DOZEN gorgeous roses for me with a note saying "Welcome to the Mommy Club - Love, Shauna" -- Now you can't get any more spoiled than that. She is unbelievable. Thank you, Shauna!!

She adopted her son Dalton from the same baby house about 1 year ago and I am so, so lucky to know them both. It was pure good fortune that I met her online, she lived 10 minutes from me, was one of the nicest people I had ever met -- and then we BOTH were assigned to the exact same Baby House in Kazakhstan to adopt our children. It is just so perfect. Kamilla is going to go to the same daycare as Dalton -- in the house next door to Shauna's.

One of the two adoptive families that greeted me in the lobby of the Almaty hotel to spend the day with me during my layover. Dave, Cindy, and Danara!

The second family to greet me: Tammy and Julia! I saw both Danara (the baby in the previous picture) and Julia (in this photo) all the time during my visits with Kamilla. They were both waiting for their parents to come back to get them (which of course they did as soon as possible! I got to see both of them picked up from the Baby House ;-))

Hi everyone! I'm home in the USA. My trip was unbelievably long and I honestly thought I'd never get here.

I left at 8:45 am Kaz time on Saturday and got home at 6:35am Kaz time on Monday!! 46 hours of travel. There were some long flights (i.e. two 9 hour ones) and some long layovers. I flew from Semey to Almaty to Astana to Frankfurt to Philadelphia to Cincinnati.

Spoiled by friends in Almaty: Two families who I met in Semey very briefly when they came to pick up their children were waiting to greet me when I got to Almaty. They had been in Almaty for about a week doing paperwork to bring the children home, and when they heard I was coming -- they planned to spend the day with me, including lunch, a long walking tour of Almaty, hanging out, and a delicious pasta dinner.

I'm missing Kamilla like crazy and have been finding myself sleeping a lot both because I'm a bit sad and from jet lag.

I have some big work projects that I neglected while over in Kazakhstan -- so they are keeping me busy. Boy do I love the USA!!!! I never felt this much gratitude for it before. Kazakhstan is a beautiful country -- but there is no place like home.

Hey...the next post will have a NEW PHOTO of Kamilla -- taken today 11/11/2009 --- how did I manage that.....;-)

Thursday November 5th SUCCESSFUL Court Date!

Well, almost ALL of you will have seen this already as I sent it out in an email. But I wanted to add it here to my blog, because I'm trying to keep all the information and pictures in one place. That way I can print it out and keep it for Kamilla.

Thank you all for your sweet emails and well wishes. It meant so much to me and I've kept them all!!

Email sent out 11/5

Subject: Introducing Kamilla Nicole Kuklinski

Hey friends -- I'm jumping out of my skin with happiness, I'm ending my 4th week in Kazakhstan, and went to court today to present my case regarding my desire to adopt 14-month-old Kamilla. And, I have been officially named her Mom! I had to memorize a lengthy speech, no notes, and honestly it was very intimidating. I was assigned a judge that is known for not smiling (she lived up to her reputation until the end when she gave me the nicest smile and warm well wishes), and with everyone speaking Russian, and being very official and serious...it was an experience. There is a 15 day waiting period until the decision is final....so I'll be counting down.

My sweetheart daughter is sick and is in "isolation" in the Baby House hospital. Here are some pictures of her from my visit today. She was feeling much, much better and we laughed and played. She even "really"

looked at the baby-friendly photo book of relatives I brought and would point to someone, listen to their name, and then kiss(lick) their face.

For those of you who are not reading the blog, Kamilla was her given name, spelled with a K, which I kept. And Nicole is a name I chose after my very special nephew Nathan. His middle name is Cole, so I chose a girl's version of that name.

Thank you all for your love and well wishes. I'm flying from Semey to Almaty Kazakhstan on Saturday 11/7. I'm flying the rest of the way home through Franfurt Germany & Philly on 11/8. And....then in about 6 weeks (hopefully less) I'll be back to Kazakhstan to pick up my daughter.

Karen

A Treat! Photos of my Nephews

Well I'm leaving Kazakhstan...packing up. I fly from Semey Kazakhstan to Almaty Kazakhstan on Saturday. Then will leave at 3am Sunday morning from Almaty to Frankfurt (9 hour flight) and then from Frankfurt to Philladelphia (9 hour flight, too). And, then on in to Cincinnati. My friend Shauna is going to pick me up at the airport and whisk me to the restaurant of my choice. Yummy!

I just found these sweet, adorable photos of my nephews Kyle and Nathan from their visit to Cincinnati about 1-1/2 years ago. Aren't they amazing? Boy do I miss them and plan to go to Chicago for Thanksgiving this year to spend some time with them and the rest of my family.

Here you go....enjoy!

Kyle and Nathan laughing! Could they be more precious? NO!

And, here they are acting goofy! ;-)

Love you all. Karen

Day Twenty (Part 2): A Variety of Photos....

My sister, Kristin, bought Kamilla this Christmas outfit. I was trying to take photos for my Christmas cards this year. Isn't she adorable? Size 18 months are too big on her now, and size 12 months "just" fit. So, she is kind of in between sizes....maybe they'll make a line of 14 month old clothes for her?

This was by far the strangest outfit they have put her in so far. It made me smile. I saw her with the pink sweater and orange bubble blower -- with the pink and orange buckets in the background -- and I just thought....this is a picture!

Here is Kamilla with EVERYTHING off the shelves. We start off with everything on the shelves, we are in the room alone, but she keeps pointing and needing everything down.

This was FUNNY! The German family laid the stuffed alligator down and told Kamilla to stay on the "other side" of it. She really listened to them. I think the directions they gave were for me to follow....but it is impossible to keep her from going over there.

Day Twenty: Chasing Kamilla

Kamilla Runs Off with My Cell Phone

Doesn't She Look Guilty?

She's Running and Laughing, "Catch me if you can!"

Here she offers me the cell phone, then takes it back! ;-)

She thinks that I am closing in so she wants to hurry and press a few buttons

Well, now she thinks, maybe I'll take the camera too!

And, here is her poor little sad face when I take the cell phone from her!
(Don't worry she was happy a minute later, I promise!)

Day Seventeen: Kamilla Goes Exploring

Today was a great day. I went to see a Kazakh Music concert in the evening with my interpreter. It was really amazing to see. She pointed out that we were the only "European" faces in the crowd. Which was true, Kazakh people tend to look more Asian, and although Semey seems to be about 1/2 Caucasian outside the concert -- at the concert it really attracted the people with a long Kazakh heritage.

I haven't been taking many pictures so I'm going through my archives. Since my time with Kamilla is the same time every day, in the same room every day, and they have her in the same outfits every day -- even though the picture may have been taken 3 days ago -- it "could have been" today! Honestly!

Kamilla wants to make sure she did not leave ANYTHING in my bag

Oops! It looks like she saw something else in there....

One of my most common views. I cannot get her to stay in the bonding room with me. She likes to bang around in the bathroom, since she knows I don't really like her in there. More hard surfaces to get hurt on, no toys, dirty rags, etc.

Here she is with the soap dish to pound on every surface. The louder....the better.

Oh! I dropped the soap dish in the tub, Mom. Can you get it for me?
I have more pounding to do with it! LOL

This is a little push toy that I bought for her. It is very cute and noisy.