Day 8 - Hey, aren't you that guy? The one that skis?*

*This post was updated with photos and additional info after adoption

So it has come to my attention that I may have communicated an unintentional rumor in the baby house. One morning we were conversing with a care taker about ourselves and the life that we will be providing for our daughter. We mentioned that we lived where there is lots of skiing and where the 2002 Winter Olympic Games took place. I also mentioned that I teach skiing and that we went to the 2006 Winter Olympics to watch skiing. All of this was communicated without our interpreter present.

The next day, one of the younger caretakers was very excited to see us and really wanted to have her picture taken with me. I thought how sweet that she wants to be a part of these memories our daughter will have. She also asked for my autograph. Huh? Autograph?

Maybe it would be better to let our interpreter do all of our communication for us since I've let it slip that I was a famous Olympic athlete. They aren't sure if it was for downhill racing or a more technical event like the slalom or maybe even bobsledding. I am hoping someone figures out that it must be the Biathlon since I have a muscular physique just like those athletes possess. Thankfully no one is guessing curling.

Yeah, so I told our interpreter to feel free to make up any story she likes about me. It might be the only time someone will admire me for my physical prowess.

Jamie's turn:
Even without Steve's new found celebrity (clearly his favorite part of the day), we had a really nice day with our little girl. She's still testing our boundaries, but today each episode of boundary-pushing ended with tickles or hugs or cuddles, and it was really nice to find balance between all of the facets of toddlerdom.

Oh, and did I tell you that Sasha started saying my name?!? It's just the sweetest thing to hear her say, "Mama." And today she started turning my head to give me kisses on the cheek (well, face rubs on the cheek, I guess that the full pucker will come with time). Daddy's definitely the fun one, but I'm glad that I get to be the snuggly one :)

The social worker interview went... interestingly. I should say that it ended well, and that's what really matters in the end, but we found it very difficult to overcome the cultural stereotype that because we have children by birth we will be unable to love our daughter by adoption as much as our boys. And how can you prove to someone that you will love all of your children, each uniquely and each equally? Well, you just can't, it's not something that can be proven. But in the end they gave their permission for us to continue on through the judicial process, and that's what matters.

Prayer requests: Please start praying even now for the judge to agree with our abilities to parent and love this little one. We still probably have two weeksish until court, but there's nothing wrong with starting to pray now for the outcome that will bring our little one home!