Our dream come true!

How do we start? We were introduced to four beautiful Kazakhstani children. Two were very scared and shy. The other two came toward us. We played with them for a while and made a decision.

Maksim is an amazing boy. When he first came in the room everything went into slow motion. It was so surreal. He is attached to his caregiver and you can tell that she really loves him and the other children. She brought him in and had him recite a winter poem. He said it by heart in a small strong voice and boy did we wish we understood Russian or thought to take out the camera. It happened suddenly. He was healthy, energetic, smart, alert, loving, and absolutely beautiful.

Daddy and Maksim started playing a game. Daddy held out his hands and Maksim put out his too. They played the hand game and both felt an instant connection. It was obvious. After holding hands for a few moments, Maksim reached toward his Dad and Daddy snapped him right up. Maks held on to his Daddy's neck in a tight hug for a long time. Long enough for mom to get out the camera and take a picture that didn't come out!!! But it was beautiful. We needed Maksim and Maksim needed us. What a perfect match. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.

We got the camera working a took a video of him with the dog. He learned how to make it bark by watching Jason do it once. Smart boy.

We got to play with him and get acquainted for about 10 more minutes in the orphanage director's office. He loved the animal book and told us the names of many animals in the book. He taught us koshka and sobaka (cat and dog) and said a few other animal names but it was hard to understand his excellent Russian. (of course)

Next we played with a little blue ball that when you squeeze it - it turns yellow. Daddy squeezed it first and the yellow part came gushing out of his hands to Mama and Maksim's surprise. It was very exciting. Then Maks grabbed the ball and squeezed his little heart out. Daddy helped him and we all clapped and laughed when the yellow part bulged out. Enough of the ball. "What else do you Americanyetz have in that straight edge style Jansport backpack?"

We found the magnetic board that was not a book. Boring. We found the life book that had no big cool pictures of animals. Boring. We found some clothes. Yuck! Then we found the toy cell phone. He loved it. LOL. He knew immediately what it was. He took it and pushed all the buttons. Mama showed him how to make a recording and he said, "Hulo". Then he pressed more buttons and voila - "Musica!". He loved that button. He kept saying "Musica!" and we kept saying it back! Then he'd say "Hulo" again. We said "Privyet" and he'd say "Privyet". We'd say "hulo". He'd say "hulo". Very good communication. Even Lena agreed.

Finally we brought out the "Machina Car". That's what he called it. Cute as a button. Smart as a whip. He recognized it immediately. Momma turned it on and showed him to shake it. "Shake it" and off it went and smashed directly into the nice wood furniture in the office. "Go physics. Oops. Izvinitcha (excuse me)" The orphange directors secretary was very nice and helped us find a long hallway to allow the car to run its course. Maks learned "shake it". Shake it we'd say and he'd shake it and let it go and then chase after it. This kept him busy for quite a while until sadly one of his caregivers said it was time to eat dinner.

Maksim got to take us and show us where he lived. Proudly he took Momma's hand and marched us up three flights of stairs never losing his stride. He took his new machina in and showed everyone that his Momma and Papa had come. Right on cue, he came toward us, put one arm around Mom and one arm around Dad and hugged us goodbye. He blew us a kiss as they tore us away and he completely melted our hearts. We finally met our son.

We are so happy! On the way to our apartment Lena told us that our emotions are like sunshine filling up the whole car. We are still beaming. Lena thought that our communication with Maks was remarkable and that he instantly started to bond with us. She left us to talk with him on our own and said she never does that on the first visit. She said, "Today is your payment for such a long wait." We think she meant reward.