Eleven Months

One month away from a full year of being in our family.  My, how time flies.....

11 months ago.........

To spunk in messy pigtails.  Cute as ever in her beloved 'Rainbow shirt & skirt'

Today was hot & she was not into a lot of pictures after her long day at summer camp.   She told me on  the way to our fence (all 20 yards from our front door) "It too hot.  No Pictures Today.  Tomowwow.'  

Tough noogies girl - today is picture day for you. 

Eleven Months of Charlieness.   Eleven months of family.   Oh look, my belly button.......

Growing.  Height wise, hair wise, belly wise.   Growing personality wise.  Growing gross motor skill wise & cognitive wise... and small motor skills....  making up for those lost 4 years of sheer neglect.

Just this month she drew her first 'person' complete with large head, large eyes, smile & stick arms and legs attached to space and not the body.  Perfect in every way because 11 months ago, this girl didn't even KNOW what a crayon was, let alone how to draw or color with one.   I remember handing her a crayon in Beijing and watching her stare at it thinking 'what in the world is this?'.   Now she's drawing people......... and sun's........and doggies..........

11 months ago she didn't even speak Chinese.  Except a few random words.   Today, she never (like EVER) is quiet.  She went from no Chinese to attempting conversations (appropriately), answering questions, and speaking in 4-5 word sentences.    This month she learned the proper way to say Hi.  Before it was always "Hi Charlie" to everyone.  Now she put the right person in the exclamation.. .like "Hi Mama",  "Hi Becca"... etc..

 She sings now.   She shows preference for songs.  Just this month she'll hear a song on and exclaim "I like this song".     She also had us cracking up just this weekend when we were talking in the car about Sarah being in trouble.  Charlie piped up with "Sarah is in trouble, trouble' (in the tone of the Taylor Swift song "trouble") We laughed so hard.......

Oh, she likes to try to get her sister Sarah in trouble.  A lot.  Those two fight... a lot.  And Charlie is JUST as guilty as Sarah.    She doesn't fight with Becca- rather idolizes her biggest sister.   Loves her Becca......

We've read lots of "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" this month.  She reads it with me- the parts she's memorized.  She also checked out her first library book this month- a birthday cake book (she is SO excited about her birthday..so..so..so!!!) She had that memorized as well.

Her birthday is just around the corner- FINALLY.  She has waited so, so long.  She told me just tonight... "Charlie open presents.  Charlie get lots of Princess cards and envelopes".  I said yes.  And she added "And baggies".  For those of you coming, don't waste money on gifts.  Ziplocs, papers & envelopes are just fine!   Throw in princess stickers and she'll be happy as a clam.

This month, the little girl who was terrified of grass.... went tubing.  And loved it.  She also went fishing.  And loved it.  And picked out her very first 'yellow' (of course, FAVORITE color) 'bacation shirt'.  (that's vacation shirt).   Oh, and had her first fudge.  Yup- loved it!

Favorite summer activity is swimming.  She loves it.  Asks every day "I go swimmin' Ok? Yes."   "I go baby pool". 

Nights are getting better.   I think.  (I don't want to curse it).  I think she MAY be starting to feel secure enough even at night to be OK. 

We had a China reunion this past weekend.  She did OK.  I think it must have triggered a bit of unconscious memories as she kinda shut down & didn't really interact with anyone outside of sticking like glue to her sisters Becca & Sarah.   We also had some fits & whatnot in there.... not sure if that's it.. or it was just overtiredness...or what. 

Routine is important to her.  She tells me every day what we are to do next.  I go downstairs eat muffins and ju box.  (juice box).  Mama clean glasses.   Mama drive to school.  Mama go to work.  Eat munch.  (lunch).   After nap, daddy come get you.   We go through the narrative every day.

Girl loves to shop. Like loves.  Just today while making a return at Kohl's she informed me "I lub Princess shoes" as she stared at the pink light up Princess sneakers.   It's hard to resist it... folks.  I did on these (because they were clunky) but she still made it out with a new shirt & dress.  

Attachment- eh, I'd say we are about 70% still.  It varies day to day.   Somedays it's more.  Somedays it's not.   She's still learning.  And so are we.  We'll get there.  Maybe not today, or tomorrow.. or this month or next... but we will.  We've come so far from where we were just 11 months ago.  

She's got daddy wrapped around her fingers.  He's putty in her hands especially when she says "I lub you" and then giggles.   

We've come far, this girl & us.   11 months in.  She's amazing.  And we are lucky she's ours.  We lub you Char Char.