Mama Now?

This is from yesterday, on Lisa's camera. 

It would happen to be a picture of a Mama, holding a document that states the name of Vi's new Mama.

And that happens to be me!

There are so many major milestones in this process.

Every one of them has me thinking "NOW I'm her Mama!"

Like the day we met and I was able to say "Lora...Mama."

Or when I walked out of court, I felt like "WOW! I'm her Mama!"

But then I had to wait ten days. And then it was like "Ok, so maybe I wasn't totally before but now REALLY and LEGALLY I am her Mama!"

And then I had to drive 2.5 hours to a small city and wait a few hours while praying for the cogs of bureaucracy to keep slowly moving forward.

Then I held this paper....and it took my breath away.

I AM her Mama.

I wonder what it will feel like to walk her out of those orphanage doors, wave goodbye, bundle her in the car, and drive away.....

Last night I got a glimpse. Taking her out for her passport photo. Sveta explained to her about her new "American" name. I got to hear her practice saying it, over and over again in her sweet little voice, trying to wrap her russian accent and missing front teeth around the slightly foreign sounds.

But she was oh-so-proud.

It was quite a moment.

Today in the orphanage, one of the nannies asked her name again. She stated her russian name. The nanny laughed and said "No, Engliski!" 

With a great big smile, she stated her full name and ran to give me a great big hug.

It's almost time for her new name with her new life to begin!