A year ago.....back in our arms!

We received our travel dates for our 2nd trip on March 17, 2006. We were told to make preparations to travel to Krasnoyarsk for an April 25th court date. Normally, people would count themselves lucky to have 5 weeks to prepare before travel. Not us. We wanted to be able to leave that same day! We missed Alexander so much and really just needed to be back in Russia and able to hold him and begin bonding with him. And one year ago today, April 24th, we were able to do just that! It was one year ago today that we were finally reunited with Alexander after being apart from him for 3 ½ months. The feeling of holding him again after so long is still so fresh for me, and it was absolutely wonderful! We spent over 2 hours at the orphanage with him and just soaked him up! We were able to see that smile again that we had missed so much and we were able to give him all those kisses that we carried over with us! I remember the relief I felt as I watched the caregiver walk into the music room with him. He was safe, he was (for the most part!) healthy and he was very soon to be my son! Here are a few pictures from one year ago......

Ahhhh...back in mama's arms!!! It feels like it was just yesterday....not a year ago!

Hangin' out in the therapy room of the orphanage a year ago.

By this point in our trip we had already met some wonderful families and knew that these people would always hold a dear place in our hearts. The special and unique bond that is created between families in this kind of situation is unlike so many, and hard to explain, but it is there and it is strong. We are still in contact with all of the families and truly hope to be reunited with each of them at some point. We know they are also celebrating this joyous time in their lives as well!

Love,
The Froehlich's