Visa in hand, but we stay put for now

In less than two weeks we have completed our adoption here, Igor is our hero! He is efficiency personified and the fastest walker since Anatoly in Ukraine. They both leave we chubby Americans in their wake. Amanda is coming alive before my eyes, I do not think that it is because of anything I do, but that she is more comfortable with me and is acting more like her usual self.

I have been looking for something special to take home to my kids, these dolls are sweet, but not what I had in mind, anyone who adopted here have a good place we can walk to? We are in the Suur Karja region, taking the tram or bus will be OK if we know exactly where we are headed.
I just got off the phone with my family, looks like Amanda and I will stay here even though we have her Visa. Delta said the soonest they can get us on another flight is Tuesday and it will be $200 more in fees, not really worth it to me to come home two days sooner. We had not talked to Estonian Air yet either, so would have to add their charges on to that. I was prepared to stay another week, we will find plenty to do I am sure. There is so much here I want to see, I know Amanda will not remember, but I want to take photos for her.

She has had a good day today, played, laughed, came for hugs, let me kiss her a few times and smiled at me. We went to Mall again for groceries, Amanda had ran out of diapers, whew, they are expensive here! I pushed a stroller and a basket at the same time, it was so hard in the crowded store. I ran into so many people, very embarrassing. I said "Excuse me" and "I'm sorry" way too many times, it was a relief to check out, I could not believe our bill was almost $350.00 Kroon, it seemed like so much money to me yet it was really only $35.00.

I bought a can of Pringles, they were wonderful, so crisp and they tasted like America to me, I never eat Pringles, but they were familiar. I am sad to say I have not eaten anything distinctly Estonian, I cook dinner every night and have cheese and cured meats for breakfast. Of course there is also nice tea, Estonian rice and corn flakes, and orange juice. I give both yogurts to Amanda. I usually have an egg too, but it was not included this morning. I really love the brown bread they serve, I make a open-faced sandwich using it, the ham, cheese, and cucumbers.

I had a hard time getting Amanda to go to bed tonight, she usually goes down with no complaint, but today she rocked her playpen all the way across the floor, banging against the wall adjoining the apartment next door. Too bad it was so early, she could keep our neighbors up like they did me...OK, not nice, but they were terribly rude in the wee hours this morning.

Can you believe that tongue, I am amazed how long it is and yet she keeps it in her mouth most of the time.It comes out when she is happy and playing, so seeing it is a good sign. LOL She was trying to stand up, letting go of the furniture repeatedly and balancing a bit before she fell on her bottom. She is trying very hard, I was good to see she had good stamina for the exertion.