Two Months Ago

Hard to believe just two months ago we were in Beijing meeting Allie for the first time.  It's really hard to imagine our family without her now, but that day, she was so afraid of us that it scared me a little bit.  I was not quite sure how it would all play out.  Looking back at those pictures and videos from that day is hard to describe.  Just weird to process the life she had before that we weren't a part of.  She continues to be a little ray of sunshine in our house and it amazes me how enjoyable it's been adding her to our lives.  I thought going back to toddlerhood would be quite a challenge.

She's picking up more and more words and signs and it's funny- she goes through phases of which words she wants to use.  "Mommy?" is the thing now.  She is done with calling everyone by name constantly.  She doesn't tell me when she needs the potty anymore.  She doesn't constantly sign 'eat..more...please' now.  She gets a new word or sign and she practices it a lot for a short time, then moves on.  "Doggy" with the sign was a big one yesterday and this morning after our church prayed for her surgery and I said "Thank you", she repeated thank you with the sign a bunch of times as we walked back to the nursery.

Allie loves to go outside and to help me with anything.  She is different than our other kids with some of her behaviors.  She loves loves to eat, yet she will sit in her chair and wait for me to make the food without really complaining...just signing "eat" here and there.  She doesn't get super cranky if her schedule is off.  She survived a late night at KNO followed by an afternoon Easter egg hunt during naptime the next day and did not give us a bit of protest.  If I tell her not to do something, she just stares with this serious expression, then maybe scratches the thing she was told no about or scratches herself.  She scratches all over when she is nervous sometimes.  She laughs and smiles at anything.  She loves playing with her siblings, especially if I make myself scarce.  She will do things for a laugh--like fall down on purpose or make faces.  She loves imitation and repetition.  She cheers if you flush the toilet.  She asks to blow her nose and wash her hands upon every entry to the bathroom.  She wants to brush her teeth all day long.  Putting on lotion is a favorite activity.  She likes to pretend anything is a phone.  She loves little kid songs with motions.  Her blanket is her favorite.  She is never alone by choice.  She's starting to wave and say hi or bye bye to people, but she does not want people to hold her- especially to take her from my arms.  She loves playing with other kids her size.  She does not care about eating sweets or watching tv yet...though the tv part we may have to change at the hospital.  I absolutely love being her mommy and I'm so glad she warmed up to us after our rocky first meeting!

Pics/videos from this morning:

Exhibit A of why the kids will be on a bit of a break from holding Allie after her surgery..I think 'no lifting under the arms' doesn't quite cover all that she experiences in their care! :