Day 16
It's amazing how a little time with Garrett melts away the troubles of the days. After a morning of attempting to solve issues at work from across the ocean, Tim and I were both a bit frazzled on the trip to Schuchinsk. The moment we saw Garrett, however, none of that seemed matter.
Our sweet baby was in fine spirits today and wanted to play with everything in sight. He is a mover and a shaker, just like his big brother. I think he is going to be crawling in no time at all. We have seen him reach and roll to try to get to toys that are out of his grasp. Today he took it a step further.
When we got into the "activity room" (the french couple is in the music room) he was obviously excited to see his favorite toy: the bowling pin bears, and he practically climbed over Tim's shoulder to get to them. 
Later he spotted a basket of balls in the corner of the room and, though I was holding him, he leaned with all his might towards them until I finally walked him over. He did that over and over today, leaning and reaching for toys he wanted to play with until we finally walked him over. He's putting Mommy and Daddy to work already. By the end of the day he had explored almost everything in the room, including the balls, the rings, the rocking horse, and the swing.
Later he spotted a basket of balls in the corner of the room and, though I was holding him, he leaned with all his might towards them until I finally walked him over. He did that over and over today, leaning and reaching for toys he wanted to play with until we finally walked him over. He's putting Mommy and Daddy to work already. By the end of the day he had explored almost everything in the room, including the balls, the rings, the rocking horse, and the swing. We got lots of great cuddles and happy noises and smiles. When we returned him at the end of our time together, he was worn out! It's funny, really, how easily we've adjusted to the routine at the babyhouse. What is mean is that when Garrett is with us, he feels totally and completely like our own. The rest of the world just sort of recedes and all that is important is this little moment with our baby. When we have to give him back, I have moment of wrenching sadness, but at the same time, giving him back to the caregivers seems natural enough too, because it's what we have to do. You know that you are in a strange moment of total limbo in your family life, when returning your child at the end of the day feels normal.
After we gave back Garrett for his nap, we waited outside the staff doctor's office for our appointment time. We have one meeting with him while we are here to address any questions we have. While we were waiting, the door to one of the older children groups opened and out came two of the little pumpkins wearing white puffy baker hats and ruffly aprons. 
It was Sasha (our favorite available cutie) and an absolute little pie named Keilier. They were helping the caregivers serve lunch to their group and were on their way down to the kitchen to pick up bread and salad. It was Keilier's first day helping and he was carrying an empty black kettle for the kid's hot compote drink. He didn't quite know where to go and the sudden presence of Giant Americans in the hallway had definately surprised him. 
He stood there for a moment in his floppy puffy hat looking cute and bewildered until the caregivers called him away. When he and Sasha returned a moment ago with their foodstuffs we clapped for them...and Keilien nearly fell over with surprise. Sasha straightened up and walked proudly into the playroom, where, relieved of his duty he did a little skipping dance around the room.
It was Sasha (our favorite available cutie) and an absolute little pie named Keilier. They were helping the caregivers serve lunch to their group and were on their way down to the kitchen to pick up bread and salad. It was Keilier's first day helping and he was carrying an empty black kettle for the kid's hot compote drink. He didn't quite know where to go and the sudden presence of Giant Americans in the hallway had definately surprised him. He stood there for a moment in his floppy puffy hat looking cute and bewildered until the caregivers called him away. When he and Sasha returned a moment ago with their foodstuffs we clapped for them...and Keilien nearly fell over with surprise. Sasha straightened up and walked proudly into the playroom, where, relieved of his duty he did a little skipping dance around the room. We were allowed to follow the kiddos into their playroom and we saw the other six cuties sitting in a row of chairs, each with a cloth napkin tucked under his chin waiting for the food. In the middle of the room, three small tables had been set. The rule at mealtime is that every child has to be present for anyone to eat, so the rest of the kiddos were waiting anxiously for Keilien and Sasha to return. All of the little ones were bewildered by our arrival and stared at us with undisguised curiousity... all except for the older Ruslan, who upon seeing Tim sunk as deep into his chair as he could. You might remember that we had happened upon Ruslan earlier in the week and Ruslan was absolutely terrified of Tim, so terrified in fact that he back up to the wall and couldn't stop crying even after we had left. Poor little pumpkin. Anyway, supressing an instinct to scoop them all up and kiss them, we left them to their meal. There are cute kids swarming all over this place. Cute. Cute. Cute.
Paka,
Becca
So we cuddled and rocked.
And rocked and cuddled.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Calvin has been charming the local women. He has two of the clerks at the local Viola market wrapped around his little finger. Everyday when he and mom head to the market, he marches straight up to the candy counter and chats with Zena and Ula. 
Ula (on the left) runs the cereal and grain counter, while Zena (on the right) runs the candy and alcohol counter. Every day Calvin marches right up to Zena and in his best Russian requests "Ajin tic-tac pajalooista" (one carton of tic tacs please). Although they always ignore this request, Calvin doesn't seem to mind and generally starts prattling away to them about anything and everything. Today he told them all about chasing the pigeons at the war memorial. They don't speak any English, but they think he is a doll so they happily nod along. 
Speaking of which... our littlest boy was a bundle of fun today. He shrieked and squealed and gurgled and smiled and did everything he could to tell Mama and Daddy that he was in the mood to play. Tim even found a little pink ball in the music room, left behind by the older kids, and we rolled and bounced it much to Garrett's delight. 
The babyhouse was a buzz today. Usually we are the only ones visiting and the halls are empty except for the occasional caregiver bustling from room to room. Today, however, there were two other cars in the muddy parking strip when we arrived. One of them, we found out, belonged to a couple from France who have just arrived to adopt two little sisters, ages 2 and 11 months. Throughout our visit, in the music room, we could hear voices in the hall. Caregivers kept peeking into our room, occasionally entering to 'tut' disapprovingly at Garrett's exposed ankle and tug on his pant leg before swishing back out of the room.
Earlier in the afternoon, when Cal was just starting to perk back up, he joined me for a quick walk to the local photo-lab. When we got home, Tim was having an adventure in Kazakh plumbing! Hooray! The kitchen sink, with almost no provocation, had backed up with horrid milky water. Armed only with a multi-purpose pocket knife (which a very crafty wife remembered to pack), it was up to Tim to do combat with the beast. He took apart the sink and I'm happy to say, that after a half hour of swearing, Tim is still with us but the plumbing-sludge-monster is not. Man are we good tenants. Tim was less good natured about the whole incident than those of us not covered in sludge. Then we reminded him of the alternative. Outdoor plumbing.
Tim says (in his best Borat impression) this is a "U.S.A. Number One American Hair Cut!" Naughty.
Not a black and white photo. This is just how the steppe looks in early spring.
This is my view of the road ahead of us every morning, over our driver Nursultan's shoulder.
The drive back to Kokshetau put me back in a funk. I finally realized that I am desperate to see something green and growing. Even a weed. Just something! So, when Makhabbat picked us up a couple hours later for our mandatory Kazakh cultural enlightenment (today she took us to a work out club/Kazakh sauna that just opened) we had her take us to a plant shop. It is really hard to keep plants alive through the Kazakh winter, so everything was soo expensive. We finally found a plant we could afford and very carefully took it home. Ridiculous as it sounds, I love this plant. It changes the whole look of our cottage to have something green and growing in it. It's like a breath of fresh air. 
Our translator Makhabbat collected us to go to the fair. She was accompanied by her daughter Arajaan (in light blue), and her nieces Edonna (in green) and Donna (in purple).
Here is the fair from a distance. I think all of Kokshetau was there! The fair was held on the streets surrounding Gorky Park, where ferris wheel is in operation all summer long. 
Here is the ferris wheel. This is the first day of the year that it is in operation. Calvin was SOOO excited... as it was an ancient soviet thing, a little bit rusty, and with no safety features, his mom and dad were not quite so enthusiastic.
A crowd gathers around a wresting match. Many of them are watching from the steps of the Tsum Store, the bazaar/grocery store where we do a lot of our shopping.
Many different companies erected yurts on the street. 
Here we are inside the yurt. The walls are lined with beautiful hanging carpets. The way the light filters into the yurt is really soft and beautiful.
Couple of yurt guys all dressed up. Don't ask me why he's carrying a pinwheel.
One of the street vendors selling whistles, mickey mouse kites, and pinwheels to excited kids. Calvin got a pinwheel. 
Having enjoyed more than "brunco vodkee" (a little vodka), these women laughed and danced to the music from the big stage. We never see the Kazakhs smile, let alone dance, so this was a sight to behold. 
Here are the performers that got the ladies on their feet.
Calvin on Tim's shoulders walking by a stand of festival flags.
Here we are with a couple of the performers in traditional Russian attire. They were about to go on stage and just before this picture was taken they had been giggling while applying lipstick on each other.
Here is Tim buying ride tickets for Calvin and Makhabbat's girls. 
Tim also got cotton candy for the kids.
Yup. We took Calvin up in the ferris wheel. It didn't stop for new passengers, so you had to hop on as it took off.
Here is a street scene from the top of the ferris wheel. Notice all the fur hats. Sorry PETA, but fur really is beautiful and practical in this weather
Traditional Kazakh tea steeping in pots. 
Kazakhs cuties enjoy another one of the rides at Gorky park. 
Just like at home, the EMTs were on hand. This ambulance is very typical and a good reminder that you don't want to get sick in Kazakhstan. 
A really beautiful Kazakh woman with her sleeping boy. She wasn't quite as fashionable as most of the woman we see, but I thought that she had a beautiful look. 
I sort of fell in love with this little pumpkin. I photographed her mother above. The kids here look so cute all bundled up.
Here she is with her brother. Aren't they darling? I wanted to get a shot of the whole family together, but with four kids under the age of five, mom didn't look to aminable. 
Calvin and Nana and burnt tasting cotton candy.
Here is another very Kazakhstan snap. Smartly dressed women and chainsmoking men in black caps. 
Here's another very typical street scene. More black cap men. 
This was our last ride of the day. I swear it was getting colder by the moment, but Calvin loved it. 
Mom walked home after Tim, Cal, and I left. On her way she saw these kids playing on the war memorial and snapped a picture. 
