Last Post from Russia

This picture is of the three of us at Red Square with St. Basil's in the background.

What a day... what a trip! Do we look cold? It was so cold and Justin forgot his hat as did several other people on our trip. I guess when you’re going to get your baby, little things like the fact that you'll need a hat and gloves in Russia can be forgotten. The second picture is of all the families in front of St. Basil's as well.

Today walked through Red Square and also saw places like the Kremlin and Gorky Park from the car. After that we went shopping on Arbat Street and had lunch there. Chloe ate well, but then really wanted to just explore a little around the restaurant. Hmmmm, I wonder how the plane ride will be?

Chloe fell asleep for about 1/2 hour near the end of our trip and then continued her nap for a few hours after we got back to the hotel. Then we went out to American Grill for our last night in Russia. Funny, huh? There are no Russian restaurants near the hotel, only the American Grill, Japanese and Italian. We weren't that thrilled with the last Italian restaurant we tried in Russia, so we went American. It was pretty good! Chloe had eaten at the hotel but still ate some bread at the restaurant. After she ate half of a super hard baguette at lunch, we realized that she can chew just fine. But we're sticking to the bland baby food diet until we get off the plane in Chicago. I've heard stories of babies throwing up on planes and it doesn't sound fun, particularly when the trip home will be about 21 hours door to door. Chloe also was not that happy about sitting in the restaurant all that time. Again I wonder how's that plane ride going to be? Here's a picture of us at the American Grill.

After a little more dinner for Chloe and a shower (after a sobbing through one bath and a shower, she reached up and let me take her in the shower this time. She whimpered a couple times, but was much more comfortable) it was off to bed for her. When I was laying with her to get her to go to sleep, I rolled over and pretended to sleep and she started rubbing my back. What a sweetie pie!

We are being picked up at 9:00 in the morning (midnight at home) for our 1:20 flight. It can take awhile going through security I guess. Then we have about a 3 hour flight to Frankfurt and a 3-4 hour lay over there. Finally, we get on the big, long, 12+ hour flight home. We are supposed to have the bassinet seat, so hopefully Chloe's sleeping skills will allow her to sleep awhile on the plane. Then at 7:30 pm we arrive at the airport where the boys will be waiting for us. I can't wait.

I forgot to write yesterday that at the clinic Chloe weighed 20 pounds and was 29 inches. She's grown a half an inch and gained over a pound in the last 6 weeks. She had only gained a pound and grew an inch between 12 and 15 months, so that is good growth just in the last 6 weeks. Also, after reading the books several times and listening to me make the animal noises, she's saying, "Ooooo" for the cow and "Cack Cack" for the duck in one of our little board books.