I Must Look Like a Native

When I left my apartment this morning to go to the baby house I was so surprised to find that it was sort of raining, sort of snowing, that miserable weather that's like freezing rain. To be blunt it wasn't a nice day. I was disappointed as I'd hoped to take MLM outside for a bit of our time together. MLM was very happy to see me today. His favourite caregiver was working today. She showed me that he was wearing the clothes I'd brought and purchased for him. MLM was wearing underpants. Yes, he is being toilet trained!!!! They start I think when they are around a year and a half. He only needs a diaper for sleeping and when he goes outside. He was very happy to see me and we went off to our little space to visit.   It is called bonding time, and this is the reason I chose to come to Kazakhstan. Everyday I get a specific amount of time to spend with him while the rest of his routine continues. It certainly isn't the easiest of methods of international adoption, but it does allow MLM and I to slowly get to know each other.   Can you guess what his favourite thing is that I bring each day? Oh, I bet anyone with a 2 year old can guess, it's my camera. Just before I left Canada I bought myself a new Samsung ST 600. This is the camera that has an LCD display on the front of the camera as well as on the back. I knew I'd be taking a lot of pictures by myself, so I thought this would be a great way to 'see' what I was actually photographing. To turn on the front display you just tap the display screen, well, MLM very quickly has learned to tap the camera, he's also learned how to turn the camera off, and how to scroll through the pictures. He's not that pleased that I won't let him actually have the camera. I only got the chance to take 1 photo today, as I had to keep putting the camera away.   After my visit, I was driven back to my apartment. My apartment is in a wonderful part of town with tons of little shops all around. And Stella, I did find a store that sells yarn. I have a dozen projects with me, but, well you know me, it won't be long before I'm over there checking it all out.   Today I decided to take a look at the stationary store (Staples like) that is one block off the main street. I'd been there on Sunday with L and A and M, but it isn't open on Sunday. Well today I got there just before noon and it wasn't open. I think they'd just changed their hours to the winter hours, (the sign with snowflakes was my biggest clue) but then again, I'm just guessing as I don't read Russian to well. Anyway, a man standing in front of the store started to speak to me. I just gave a shrug as if to say 'what can you do' and I walked away.   Next I went to the local grocery store where they sell the most delicous prepared food. Today I bought 5 litres of water, 2 cheese blinis, a stuffed chicken thigh and a dellicious sweet raisin/cheese mini-pie. All that came to about 5 dollars Canadian. (This is the same store that makes stuffed peppers and the mantee I had the other day, I might not do much cooking while I'm here.)   As I left the store, a woman on the sidewalk starting asking me questions. Again I gave my shrug and said "nyet" and off I went to cross the street. I guess I look like I belong here, or as Anna would say, I'm full of useless information and the man and woman could just sense it LOL.   Have a great day everyone, I hear that it is one of those icky rainy days at home too, so I'm totally not missing anything. It is already pitched black here and it is only 6:30. I'm having the hardest time not to go to sleep already. I think I'll go and see if I can find the Cake Boss on tv, CIAO