Trip 3 Day Three With Artem

Playing with my daddy
I don't look like a baby today.


I love my books!

Today was a day of firsts; first bath in a tub, first car ride without barfing all over mom and dad, first time out at a restaurant, and first haircut. Today was a full day. We went to Artem’s medical visit for the Embassy. It was easy and fast. Our doctor, “Boris”, said he thinks the runny nose is due to the back molar and lower incisor Artem is cutting because he said his lungs are clear. I figured that was what was going on and it wasn’t “sinuses”. Artem screamed and screamed when the doctor was examining him and kept reaching his hands out to us. The doctor said it was a good sign of attachment and explained that the babies are very quiet in the baby home because they know no one will come get them but now he knows that his cries won’t go unanswered and we react when he cries. It was hard to see him lay there and cry to us and not be able to do anything for him but the news the doctor gave us about the attachments we are making was reassuring. Our car ride lasted about 15-20 minutes and did not involve any vomiting. Today Artem rode in the car seat and we took him to the appointment in his pajamas in case we had a repeat of Saturday. We put his molded plastic bib on that has the “tray” on the bottom, covered him from the waist down with a towel and put a very large plastic bag under his bib and covered his lap. We were very prepared this time. Luckily we didn’t have to employ our tactics. Whew!

After a nap we walked over to Mama’s Pasta by the US Embassy, our favorite Italian food in all of Russia and the USA. Artem loved the walk over and sat in the high chair for the first time. He flirted with the people sitting next to us, jabbered to the waitresses, and polished off two jars of food, spaghetti from grandma, ravioli from mama, and several pieces of bread; our bottomless pit!

Tonight we wanted to put Artem in the bathtub to get him used to having a bath as part of his bedtime routine. Randy put his swim trunks on and we provided Artem with some new tub toys in hopes of him enjoying the time. His first bath in the tub went over like a lead balloon! The neighbors probably heard him screaming through the cement walls. That’s going to take some work.

Bathtime fun??

After Artem’s bath I gave him a massage with his baby lotion and it really mellowed him out. After I stopped applying the lotion, I gave him the little bottle to hold onto and he started shaking it over his stomach like I did, like he was trying to get the lotion out like I did. Such a smart boy! I decided it was a good time to get rid of the Russian mullet he has been sporting and I gave him his first haircut. I only cut the back of his hair and it is by no means “professional” but it looks a lot better now and the hair won’t hang out the back of his hat. I brushed his hair, which he melts like butter when I do that, and then he tried to brush his own hair. We continue to be amazed by how much he copies us and how much he is learning and growing each day. We are very lucky!

Putting on my lotion

My mullet My new haircut

Tomorrow is an Embassy paperwork day and it will all be done at the apartment. We are hoping to meet up with Sally and Carlos and their new son to have some time for the boys to play. I’m looking forward to the boys seeing each other since Sally and Carlos were sitting next to us at the table the morning both of us received our referrals.

Boys will be boys!