Here comes the judge!

My court date is tomorrow (Wednesday)! Mark it in your calendar-- December 19, 2007 is the day I will officially become Noelle's mother! (Hmmm.. Anyone know how you go about getting a day designated as a national holiday?)

Noelle is well today. She is pretty mellow during the morning visit, limiting her activity to lying down and playing with random toys. When she does venture away, it is usually because she has spotted something she can put in her mouth-- today that included a Russian stacking doll (the littlest one), a videocamera, a candy wrapper and a puzzle piece. If she knows any English by now, it is the word "no"! Yesterday afternoon, she was a bundle of energy-- playing games and walking (assisted by me) around the room again and again. She is doing very well picking up things that I am showing her-- she has started putting the rings onto the holder instead of just taking them off and, yesterday, she had an orange as a snack which I broke into pieces and she fed the pieces to herself. I don't know if this is new for her or not-- I haven't seen her eat any food that she could actually pick up-- but it was new for me! What else? She is much more verbal these days, especially in the afternoon and the caretakers tell me that is officially spoiled. She cries after I leave. Today, I went to bring her back and the whole room was crying, so she started as soon as I put her down. I didn't know what to do :( The caregivers shoo you away if you try to console them too much, and my departure was inevitable so I gave her a quick kiss and ran! Amicoe & Joe-- Ravi was upset during this little incident as well, so I took a few seconds to comfort him.. In general though, he is good! He was all smiles this morning, and Natalya came in to see him too and was holding him.

By the way, I think the caregivers think I am some kind of baby stalker.. I tried to go see Foxx yesterday, and the woman in his room gave me a very dirty look, told me he was sleeping, and NO! I am going to head to room 3 this afternoon to see all the kids there, if I can--this afternoon, Noelle's caretakers and I will be having a little party to thank them for the time and love they have given her. It should be fun, and I want to have lots of pictures of them to share with her later.

More soon.