Just Imagine...

*A picture of the most adorable little boy HERE*

I am DYING to show off my beautiful son! But unfortunately, all I can post is various shots of the rest of the trip. But believe me, when all is "go", there will be pics'a plenty.
We arrived in Moscow on Monday, May 2 and traveled to the baby home to meet him on the 3rd. Before reaching the home, we had to stop by the Ministry of Education to officially receive our referral. The director, secretary, and deputy of the department handed us papers - written entirely in Russian - with a picture of a dark-haired newborn. Our translator read to us his information including is sparkling medical record and what little family history they knew. We were then asked by, who I can only describe as the most Russian person I had met, if we agreed to our referral. Once we had given our 110% affirmative, we (following the direction of our translator) jolted up out of our seats, into the car, and we sped away to the orphanage.
Upon entering the doors there, we were quickly whisked away through a labyrinth of hallways and into the 6x6 office of the social worker, fresh off her smoke break. After business was completed here, we zoomed through a few more halls (could have been the same ones, it is and was a literal blur) and into the office of the physicians. They informed us that he was one of the healthiest children they had ever seen in an orphanage. Factors I believe contributed to this were that he had been breastfed during the first crucial week of his life, he was with his biological mother for 3 months, and was given into the care of the home due to poverty rather than neglect or birth defect. After this brief and happy meeting, we - wait, can you guess?? YES. Ran the maize again and abruptly stopped at a door where we could hear the babbling of babies and the clanking of toys :-)
When the door swung open, I literally fell to my knees watching my baby, with his HUGE brown eyes and dark hair toddling toward me with the help of his caregiver. The woman picked him up and matter-of-factly sat him down on a changing table and walked away. This was the first and only sign of tears we ever witnessed during the 3 day visit and only for a minute. I picked him up and started counting his fingers in Russian. This seemed to calm him down. It was Greg's beaming smile that solidified a wonderful first 3 days. He had his son bouncing with giggles, a video that I can't wait to post! We ventured outside, played with the sheep pillow pet we brought him, and examined the baby-proof photo album we left with him with pictures of his new mama, daddy, and big sis. He actually looks a little like Greg! They definitely share ears and smiles!
We now are waiting for state records and FBI information to submit the final ream of paperwork in order to be granted a court date. After court, we return to the US to sit out our mandatory 10 day waiting period. Then, it's back to Russia one final time to bring him home! The best scenario is that we return sometime in early July, as his birthday is on the 8th. One year of age is the time the Moscow City region prefers for finalization of international adoption.

So keep your fingers crossed that all is speedy! We can't wait to have him home to stay, our sweet Luka Gilmore.

And now, a few shots from the trip: