Three Months

Today marks three months.  Three months of togetherness.  I sit in disbelief.  Not so much because it's gone so fast- but it honestly seems like she's just always been here.   It's more of a disbelief of 'only' three months. 

Little Miss has made her mark firmly on all our hearts.  

Three months Gotcha!

That little girl- so scared on her first day in our arms.   Skinny.  Pale.  Unsure of what was happening to her.   She's coming so far.  She's COME so far.  



Lots has happened since last month.  First- her language is exploding.   This little girl- who we were told 'had slow language development' in China- only knowing basic words, phrases.... well... this little girl is learning a completely NEW language- quick.  I said she probably knew 45-50 words last month.   Well I wrote out a list today to count words she uses frequently & correctly.  That list is over 180 words.  And I know I'm forgetting some..    

She's also putting together small sentences.  (2-3 words).   Yep.  She's getting this English thing down pack!     The biggest problem is (and will be) pronounciation.   She started Speech Therapy so we'll see if that helps.

Girl learned some shapes- in English.   She can quite easily (and very happily) identify Circles, Squares, Triangles, Rectangles, Hearts & Ovals.  She loves finding shapes in everything she explores. 

Her favorite things to do - baths remain top of list.  She just loves her 'splish splash'!  She loves to color and will get out her paper and crayons and 'color' every single day while the girls do their homework.  

Likes her dollies.  Likes her princesses.  Likes to collect 'treasures' in baggies.  Ziplocs are her favorite.  Girl finds & hoardes paper trash like there is no tomorrow.  We've had problems with disappearing doctor scripts, checks & homework.   Oh, and socks. 

She still enjoys 'chores' and will happily wash things and fold laundry.   She's a great helper. 

Could care less about TV (except for a few things- baby Einstien shape DVD and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse). 

Loves books and her favorite - that we read every night - is Pig Kahuna.  Yes.  It's about Pigs surfing.  Oh, she looooves it.  She pics it without fault every single night when given a choice.

That's a new thing this month too.  Choices.  Making them.  Choosing.   When we got her, she picked nothing.  Identified nothing.  Showed no preference.  Why would she?  She never had a say in anything.  She was expected to do what she was told with what she was given.   Choices don't exist in institutions.   So she didn't know how to make one. 

This month she's CHOOSING.  Everything!  She wants her say heard.  From what she eats, to what she wears, to what she reads, to what toys she plays with to what activity she chooses to do.   What a great step forward. 

And let's talk the biggie one.  Attachment.  Well, eye contact is still poor- very poor.  But there is (itty bitty tiny) progress  there.   But we have very far to go on this. 

But.  BUT... this month little girl FINALLY recognized that names belong to people.  And that my name is Mommy.  And Kurt's name is Daddy.  And Becca and Sarah have names.  She uses them.  Mostly to identify possesions.  "Sarah's book",  "Becca's socks",  "Mommy's paper".   She has not yet called out to make a request.   As in like.... Mommy, come help me.     But we are working on it. 

She has not recognized and does not understand what mommy and daddy's are there for.  And so we continue to walk that road of attachment.  But I don't expect that to be quick.  I expect it to more about a year till we see solid progress in this.

There are three small steps she did make that are signs that she's STARTING to form the beginnings of attachment.   THe first is she's gotten extremely picky with food (trusting more will come).   The second is whining. (trusting she has a voice/say in this world) and sparadiocally she has become upset when we leave her.   This has been a few occasions and we need to see this increase to indicate she's moving forward. 

Like I said, we are getting there.  One very small, slow step at a time.

Physically she's gaining weight and height.  Her hair is growing.  New hair is coming in thick and strong.

She's stopped closing one eye to see meaning she's adjusting to her glasses. 

Her bed is better.  We have a great routine at night.  And she falls alseep quickly.  Her night wakings are diminishing.

She still can eat pretty good.  But she's picky with what she will eat.  Mommy is getting creative with hiding brocolli in her favorites.  :)   Her favorites include noodles, cheese, muffins, juice, bananas & chips!  (Oh, and candy..thanks to Halloween!).

She's loving exploring her life.  Her surroundings.  She's starting to learn what a family means.   She's walking those first tentative steps of learning to trust.  And to love.    Every day, is a step forward (even if maybe we have a few steps back).

Her laugh is contagious.  She cracks us up with her expressions (tone especially).   She loves to dance.  She loves music. 

And we love all she's brought into our lives.  Happy three months little girl!