First Day Alone with Anna

Yesterday I had my first chance to spend some time alone with Anna. We decided that I would go, and Jenny would stay home and get some work done. Then, probably tomorrow, Jenny will go to have time with Anna, and I will stay and work.

Right away when I got near the orphanage, I knew the day would be different. First, there was a sign that I eventually realized said that the bus stop by the orphanage would be closing down for the rest of the month in a couple days (probably some road work). Second, the person at the front gate wasn't the same guy as every other time we've gone (he recognizes us now). So, I had to explain to the woman, in Czech, why I was there, show my passport, and get signed in.

Walking up to the Nadia building where she lives ('nadia' means 'hope' in Czech), I saw her. She was outside with a young woman, who turned out to be a volunteer who comes just to be with Anna (each of the children has one of these volunteers). I introduced myself and explained that my wife and I were wanting to adopt Anna. She was very nice and helped Anna get ready to spend some time with me. Probably because I was alone and meeting her outside, Anna wasn't quite sure about me at first, but she warmed up quickly.

We ended up walking around for awhile. Well, mostly walking. Anna does not walk on her own yet, but by holding on to my finger, we walked quite a ways (with the occasional rest stop). I got her on the swing, which she really likes. She was fascinated by an older woman nearby who was singing to the child she was visiting. I've hummed or sang a few simple songs to her, and she really seems to like that. Sometimes she even hums along.

When it was getting on toward suppertime, I got her back in the stroller and wheeled her back up to the building. I was not quite sure how the caregivers would react to seeing me come back with her. Her volunteer had just left me with Anna and left the premises, so no one knew that I was there. I think they were a bit surprised, but at least one of them had met me before, so was able to explain me to the woman in with Anna's group that day.

We played outside for awhile, then it was time for supper. When the woman came in with supper and handed it to me so that I could feed Anna, I could barely believe it: supper was a jelly donut! Seriously, it was filled with apricot, I think. Czechs have this thing called 'sweet meal' that they served at the school where Jenny used to teach. There, it was cheese-filled dumplings with pudding poured over it. We really don't understand it, but there it was. This is what I was expected to feed to my hopefully-soon-to-be-daughter. Oh, my.

Anna wasn't too thrilled either, I could only get her to eat a few bites, before she started throwing it on the floor. On the other hand, she couldn't get enough to drink. Because she has a milk allergy, they give her 'caj' (tea). It's called tea, but it's really tea-flavored sugar water. So, basically dinner was a jelly donut and Kool-Aid. Augh! I was somewhat relieved that she wasn't so into the donut, but I was afraid that she would be really hungry later. Diet may be a bit of a shock to her (and us) when she gets to come home with us.

I got to play with her alone for awhile, then, while the caregiver took the rest of her group (4 other toddlers) off to do something. It was really nice. She was more willing to sit in my lap and play close to me than she has been in the past. Later, I helped get her ready for bed, including changing one stinky diaper! She played around with the other children, then they all got into bed, and I said my good byes for the night.