The Beatles said it best, "Back in the.....," well, you get it...

I'm not saying we've been here too much, but we are starting to recognize people on the street. No kidding! We saw a lady who works at our hotel get off the bus tonight, and instantly knew who she was! We've got to get out of this place!

As you can tell, we made it back for our third (and final) trip to St. Petersburg. It is Thursday evening, and we have settled back into the Andersen Hotel for one last time. This time our room looks a bit different. To my right, is a pack-and-play all set for Max to sleep in tomorrow night (at least we hope he sleeps). To my left, is a gigantic suitcase full of toys, diapers, clothes, food, more toys, shoes, more diapers, a stoller and a diaper bag, full of wipes, medicine, a blanket, more toys, snacks, and, of course, more diapers. WOW! Who knew a child needed so much stuff??? As a result, Shelly and I packed extremely light this trip. It appears that the tables have already turned. Max has become the priority, and us, secondary. Let me save you parents the energy of saying this, "We best get used to it!"

Tomorrow's plan is to pick Max up around noon, then it is off to the passport agency. There, we will apply to get his Russian passport. We will pick up the passport on Tuesday, and head for the train station bound for Moscow. While in Moscow, we will establish a US passport for him, in preparation for our departure on Friday.

So, tomorrow starts a new chapter in our lives. One that we have be anxiously awaiting for a long time now. I know, I know....our lives are going to be so drastically different from what they are today. What you don't realize is just how welcomed that change will be for the both of us. It is a change that we have been waiting for for many years now. It's just hard to believe that it is finally happening.

Of course, I'd be lying if I said we weren't a little nervous, but I know someday we will both look back and laugh about the butterflies we had today.

Time to get some rest. Do you think we can get 16 years worth tonight? Let's hope so!