Wednesday

Up on time again and Kev even got Bulgarian eggs, which he said taste different (insert eye roll)! Our translator and I think he’s a little crazy. It’s nice to have someone on my side of that argument at least for a week, haha!

We left the hotel by 8:30 and headed down the bumpy road to the orphanage. Once again, we parked in the back and walked past the sweet-smelling flowers to the front, passing the window with the little kiddos eating breakfast at tiny tables. When we got inside, they said Little B was ready to see us and go for his visa picture but we needed to wait on the caregiver to go with us. The second he saw us he showed us the biggest smile, and this kid does not give those out very easily. We went outside to the cement tile patio to wait and played with bubbles—Little B was not impressed. All those bubbles floating around, and the minute a car drives by he is entranced. Even the horse-drawn wagon that went by was ignored when a car drove by. 

Once the caregiver was ready we walked to the car and saw an older man with a dog at the house next door. Kev started saying “woof, woof” and everyone laughed because here they say “bow, wow.” We all loaded up in the car and drove to the center of town where there is a photo shop that takes visa photos. On the way Little B was amazed by the car. He sat on my lap gasping in excitement the entire time. 

When we got to the shop, I carried him in. We sat Little B on a stool for the picture—that did not go well. He wanted to be held. He threw his head back and wailed. We picked him up, and he stopped. We sat him down again, and he wailed again. The photographer figured out her camera wasn’t working so she needed a minute to fix it, and that gave us time to calm him down and figure out a new strategy. This time we stood Little B up on the stool and our translator and I held him from either side leaning out of the picture. He cried still and flailed, but not as much. So after multiple pictures, we got one semi-not-completely-terrified-and-unhappy picture of him for his visa. Success!!! 

We got back to the car and Little B touched the frame of the car door. Again, he gasped deeply in wonder and excitement—he wanted to hold on. After prying his hand off the door (he had a quite a grip) we got in and he had a blast riding and looking around. We even saw construction vehicles. The kid loves cars of any kind. 

Once we got back Kev carried Little B around to the front

and we waved to the kitties and doggie and nice man that lives next door. We decided to stay outside until snack time because the weather was beautiful. We played with a balloon for a while, but his tight grip made Kev nervous so the balloon “disappeared.” We tried to walk with Little B, but it did not last long as he wanted to crawl and explore the ground. He loves to be outside and seems to prefer it over being inside. He played in the bushes, laughing and hitting at the leaves. He crawled into the grass. He picked up the dirt and leaves and let them fall through his fingers. Then it was time for snack. Kevy fed him his mashed banana snack while I held him in the swing. Afterward, we decided to go inside and play so we wouldn’t mess up his clothes crawling in the dirt. 

We played inside for a little bit. He opened a little toy that made animal sounds and played songs. Mom found it before we left. He loved it. The caregiver came and got him so she could change him into his birthday outfit. Then they began preparation for his little party. They laid out a colorful plastic party tablecloth on the little table and brought a really pretty round cake with a little rose on it. Behind us was a multicolor sign on the wall that said “It’s Party Time” in English and under it another sign that said “Happy Birthday” in Bulgarian. They had Mickey and Minnie Mouse plates and napkins with roses on them. 

There were cheese puff snacks and yummy carrot and peach nectar to drink. Little B even had party guests, a little cutie girl and another cutie boy. They were almost three years old. We enjoyed celebrating, talking with the workers we have been with so far this week and seeing pictures of their families. They lit Little B’s number 2 candle and we all sang “Happy Birthday.” He never blew the candle out so I helped, and then they lit a little Roman candle-type thing on his cake. It shot up consistent streams of sparks and blazing colors. His eyes lit up as well. He loved it. I need to find some of those... They are awesome!

They cut him the first piece of cake with the rose on it. It was layers of white cake and a pudding type filling. He dug his right hand into the cake, but never put his fingers in his mouth to lick them off. So I fed him little bites with a fork and he still wanted more. His little friends got cake and cheese puffs and then had to say “Ciao” so they could go eat lunch. 

Soon the caregiver brought in his lunch, and once again he ate things I’m sure our girls would never touch! He ate cabbage soup, a chopped-up mixture of veal, veggies and cheese, mashed potatoes and bread. Even after the cake and cheese puffs, he still ate almost all his food. 

His eyes were getting heavy and he was leaning back on my chest—content and cozy. We exchanged Skype names with the psychologist so we could talk to him starting next week. They wanted to know which of the gifts we brought that we’d like to get back. Our special things are his blanket, his birthday outfit and his photo book. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter. They said we would get all the other stuff back too, but I’m not worried about it. We talked about ways we may be able to help the orphanage in the future when we come back, said our goodbyes and gave hugs to the sweet staff. We grabbed his photo book and will take it back to the orphanage tomorrow. We printed out two photos of Kev, him and me at a local shop and put it in the photo book.  

As we walked away, we passed by the sweet-smelling bushes. No more little bodies were in the room where they had been before. We could hear Little B crying through the open windows again as they put him to bed. They told us that every time he leaves us he cries. That is sweet to know and heart-breaking at the same time. I feel like his Mommy, but I can’t physically be his Mommy in person for such a long time. In the meantime he has a sweet group of ladies around him and his little blanket to hold on to. 

Tomorrow he and a nurse will go with us to Sofia for his appointment. He is going to enjoy the ride, ha! Then they will travel back to the orphanage tomorrow afternoon. That will be the last time we will get to hold him for 4-6 months. 

This is a wild ride and it’s not even close to over. I can’t believe these few days have gone so fast. I’m curious to hear what happens tomorrow and eager to hold him close again. When I hold him he melts into my chest like he has been there all along and takes deep breaths that I have determined are sighs of contentment. He has found his home, his place...with us. 

I’m thankful Little B seems to have such loving caregivers and attentive workers around him. I’m thankful we had such a sweet few days, even though the time was short. I’m thankful for sweet little girls waiting for us and him at home. They can’t wait to meet him and love him. I’m thankful for my husband who is and has been a solid rock through this process for me to cling to and to reassure me with confidence when I get scared or doubt and second guess myself. I’m thankful God is God and I am not. He will do what is best.

I am so thankful.