First things first, Sam wanted to say "Happy Anniversary" to Uncle Aaron and Aunt Robbie. We all also wanted to say "Happy Passover" to everyone. We hope you enjoy your Seders and we will try to get Sam to start prepping for the Four Questions for next year.
Yesterday was relatively uneventful on an official basis, but this paragraph should only be read when you are not eating, and I would also avoid drinking anything that you do not want to give back while laughing. . . . We had our our first exploding diaper and as we were trying to get his pants off and onesie open, we started laughing as the oatmeal from breakfast oozed out from the sides of the diaper. It was likely breakfast and lunch that we were seeing. Even though it had to be uncomfortable, Sam still refused to sit or stand still and let us remove the messy diaper. He almost would have rathered keep it on dirty. We ended up getting the diaper off and wiping as much off as possible then taking him into the bathtub and showering off the rest. Sam got really scared in the shower and fussed but in the end he was laughing (almost as much as us) when Mommy spritzed his tummy and his hand.
We went to the American Bar and Grill for dinner. We had been there before we got custody of Sam, but this was a different type of Dinner. Sam seems to enjoy flirting with all the women in the restaurants and anywhere else we are in public. (Not that Daddy can blame him, but this could be a problem in 20 years or so.) A big restaurant also offers enough distractions to allow Sam to watch others, and therefore Mommy and Daddy have a chance to eat. The funny thing is that at this restaurant they have a woman that sweeps the floor all around the restaurant. The first time we were there, Mommy noticed her, but Daddy did not. This time however, she kept sweeping around our table. We wonder why?
Last night, Sam decided that despite his short nap, he still did not want to go to sleep. What makes it tough is that since we are in a small hotel room whenever he sees up move around the room he thinks he should be up too. After about 1/2 hour, we decided to lay him back down for the 15th time, and then went out in the hallway and ate the cheesecake we had ordered after dinner to-go. After about 10 minutes, Daddy checked on Sam, and he was out like a light. This approach will obviously work better at home, when we are not sleeping in the same room. What makes this hard, is we have stuff to do at night, after Sam goes to sleep. We use that time to repack the Baby bag, and clean up around the room from Sam's rearranging. Last night we also wanted to confirm that we had enough clothes for Sam to wear, which we found that we were short on pants.
This morning, we tried to change the routine a little, to allow us to really be ready before dealing with getting Sam up and out the door. We woke up around 6am, grabbed our showers (Mommy first), and then just as Daddy was finishing his shower and after Mommy was dressed, Sam woke up.
After a quick dressing for the little guy, we headed down to breakfast and then Daddy had to go with Vladamir to apply for Sam's Russian passport. The way it works is that Sam will leave Russia as a Russian citizen with a Visa from the US Embassy to go to the USA. He will also apply for US citizenship at the Embassy, and as soon as he steps foot (or Mommy steps foot with Sam in her arms) he will become a US citizen. Before we left, we gave Vladamir copies of Daddy's Passport, Visa, Registration Card (you have to register with Interior Ministry if you are in the country for more than 3 days), and the Customs Entry Card you get at the airport, along with $100 "present" (US new bill) for the woman at the passport office (so the paperwork gets done and not lost). Today's trip involved a short walk to the Kremlin Metro Station, one stop on the Metro (don't ask me which way), and then a short walk to another non-discrip government building. Once inside (after the standard Passport check by security), Vladamir had me sit on a sofa outside the office. After about 10 minutes, I went in, showed my original passport, and signed 3 forms (again I have no idea what I am signing), and off we went. Passport should be ready on Wednesday evening. Daddy then went to a Russian Baby Department store and bought 7 pairs of pants for Sam so we have enough clothes to get us through until we get home.
Meantime, back at the ranch (hotel), Mommy and Sam played in the room. After originally slightly favoring Daddy, Sam has become a Mama's boy, and runs to her and tries to climb up her whenever he gets a little upset.
When Daddy got back, we left the room for about 45 minutes, since housekeeping was supposed to be coming up, and Sam lead us around the lobby (lap after lap). Eventually, we figured we gave housekeeping enough time (we had called before we left the room), we went back to the room, for a little lunch, followed by nap time. Again Sam protested, this time standing up and trying to shake the crib. When he did that, Mommy and Daddy took turns getting up, and simply laying him down with a couple of firm "No"s and putting the blanket back over him. We also made sure the lights were out, and we laid down to (almost falling asleep ourselves). Eventually he went to sleep, and hopefully will stay that way until around 4 pm.
Since some have asked, here is Sam's basic schedule:
- 8AM - Wake-up followed by breakfast
- 9AM - Noon - Play time with a snack in the middle
- Noon - Lunch
- 12:30/1PM - 3:30/4PM - Nap
- 5PM - Dinner
- 6PM - Play time (quieter play)
- 7PM - Get ready for bed
- 8PM - Bedtime
Now since we have not been having dinner to close to the hotel, the 6PM Playtime has really been walking back to the hotel from dinner, but this is entertaining for him, as he is not used to all the sights, and gets him a little more relaxed (we hope) so we can get him down a little faster.
With him napping now, Daddy is using the time to clean the room (after filling everyone in with our day-to-day), and Mommy ran to the local "supermarket" (it is actually only slightly bigger then a nice size 7/11 or WaWa at home) to pick up some more food for Sam.
Our next day with official work is Wednesday. Sam has to be seen by a US approved doctor (at the American Clinic) for his "physical". We have heard it is nothing more than a strip, turn around, maybe listen to the heart, and then after the appropriate "present" signing of the paperwork, but it is part of the game we have to play.
Sorry no pictures today, we have been a little lazy in the picture taking, and spending more time with hugs, kisses (which Sam now gives), and lots of tickling.
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