The trip is winding down

My time is coming to an end here in Kazakhstan.  31 days down and 1 to go.  We went to the US Embassy today, had our exit interview and received Samuel's passport, new birth certificate, adoption documents, immigration papers...we are ready to fly home. Soon as we pass through immigration in Atlanta on Weds, he will be a US citizen!   It has been an amazing trip.  Just the development  I've seen in this little boy over the past week is enough to amaze you. Imagine going off in a van with me, a vitural stranger, one day and a mere 8-9 days later be connected as mother and son.   Samuel was thought of as 'weak' in the baby house...he did get lost of colds and coughs and was underweight and not very active.  In fact, I had to plead to the judge after the adoption that Samuel was sick and need medical attention back home.  Well...if the judge could see him now, she would see that he has blossomed and is quite healthy.  He has gained a couple of pounds in the last few weeks, perfected his crawling, pulled himself up on every imaginable apparatus, giggled his heart out, splashed in a bath, shown his first true signs of love for me, shown his first true signs of anger at me (I get that they are connected), and grows a bit feistier and loving everyday.   Tomorrow, we take a quick tour to the nearby mountains to see the splendor of the area, then head out on a 3:20AM flight (yes, A.M.), early Weds morning.  It only take 25 hours to fly home...isn't that special????   Thank you all for being on this journey with me.  I have really felt all the love and support through your comments and emails.  I am so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life, and Samuel is so lucky too.   Lots and lots of Love, Sharon & Samuel