{{ It's Official!! }}

Greg and I traveled to Russia this week for our court hearing as the biggest part of the final adoption process! Although tremendously intimidating, all things went well before the judge. Our case worker/interpreter, Olga, the representative from the Child Welfare Department, Svetlana, and the director/head physician of Luka's orphanage, also Svetlana, all had raving things to say about us and our encounters with our son. After hearing our case, the stoic judge took a 5 minute recess (ie: smoke break) and returned with an affirmative ruling! **Insert much rambling regarding the level of relief felt at this time**

Now that it is offical :-) I am able to post a few pics.

MEET LUKA



Once we left court, we took Luka on his first - slightly panicky - car ride to get his photo taken for his passport. Yes, that is him NOT in a carseat. Apparently not a big deal in Russia.


These are videos (YES, I finally learned to do this) taken during our trips. The first one was taken only minutes after we met him. He had actually started to cry when his caregiver left but with a flash of Greg's toothy grin, he was a happy kid.

These were taken with my phone so they are a tad choppy


Turn your head sideways, I have no idea how to rotate these videos.


He was not happy for us to leave. In fact, he dove back into Greg's arms and waived good-bye to his caregivers! Great moment for Mom and Dad. We will now return in 4 weeks to bring him home. I. Can't. Wait.