To Do List While We Wait.......

Get travel vaccines

Review Russian child talk and work on learning as much of the language as we can

Research International Medical Specialist - Done!

Look at preferred contact while in Russia: contact numbers, scheduled times, how much service while in Russia, etc. - Done!

Talk to other families (optional) - In Process!

Get extra passport photos

Get Russian Travel books and do research about customs and what to expect while in country

Obtain new crisp dollar bills to bring to Russia to exchange to Ruble, bill must be crisp.

Find items to interact with our child. We will need an item for each day and will be expected to leave the item with the institution.

Research the effects of institutionalization on children and begin to prepare yourself for meeting a our child - In process!

Now would be a good time to speak with your doctor to confirm they will provide you with a copy of their doctor’s license (which will be required with the medical). Occasionally, a doctor will not provide this and the family will need to seek out another doctor who will. Done!

Read adoption literature:

Parenting your Internationally Adopted Child by Patty Cogen

Attaching in Adoption by Deborah Gray

Helping Children Cope with Separation and Loss by Claudia Jewett

Adoption Parenting by Jean MacLeod and Sheena Macrae

Have a family (extended family and friends) meeting to discuss adoption language.
Example: “Birth Mother” vs. “Real Mother”

Start working on a “Life Book” a baby/scrapbook for your child.
www.adoptionlifebooks.com/

http://www.adopting.org/adoptions/lifebooks-every-adopted-child-needs-one.html