Now that larger numbers of people are going to be traveling again, I thought I'd better circle back to the practical stuff. I've given you my tips for trip one and my thoughts on what to do when you meet your child for the first time. Your second trip will have its own challenges, though, so I thought it might help to pass on what I did then as well.

First up: How to pack for trip two. This is a big topic of discussion on the Russia Adoption forum right now, in no small part because it is so hard to do light and right. You have to pack everything you and your newly adopted child will need for a week or more (especially if the 10 days are not waived), you have to pack things to amuse on airplane rides and embassy visits, and you have to pack gifts for the orphanage caregivers. And you have to do it all within the limits allowed on not only international flights, but Russian domestic flights as well and those are generally less.

Pack the minimum of clothing for your and your spouse. You will be dressing for practical needs, not a fashion show, and nobody in Russia will talk if you wear the same thing three days in a row. One pair of dress pants or a long skirt in a neutral color. Then a casual version of the same. I found black wool and yoga pants to be much more useful than denim and more comfortable to sleep in on the long plane rides. One dark shirt or top and one light. One dressy jacket and a 3/4-length, rain-proof top coat for outside. One pair of comfortable shoes that slip off fast in airports (I live in Swedish clogs). A scarf covers up a multitude of sins, and your head on church visits. Underwear and one set of PJs. Hats, gloves and something Polartec if it is winter, and consider long underwear instead of PJs. That's it, and yes, you will not want to see any of these items for a long time when you get home.

Pack more heavily for your child. You are going to need two outfits a day for the little ones, at least. Pants that zip off at the knee are a godsend. But buy new shoes for him or her in Russia. Even if you measure feet on trip one, the size could have changed a lot by trip two. Pack lots of small toys that you can whip out of your pockets on a moment's notice, crayons and paper. Do not pack diapers or wipes. They are now easy enough to find in almost every Russian city.

Pack light, flat gifts for the caregivers. I brought silk scarves and CDs of local music groups on my first adoption, and those were definitely wiser choices than the perfume sample sets I brought on my second. Or think about buying your gifts in Russia. Yes, they will be local, but you have disposable income that the caregivers likely don't have.