February 15
After a rough time getting her to bed this 2nd night (Matt was on duty), I got up with her and played/read/sang for a couple hours and got a few almost smiles. We went to breakfast and she was looking around more and snuggling less. We went out to the garden and saw the fish after breakfast and she actually stood and sat in the grass a little, watching kids play. We then walked to Walmart and she was looking around a ton.
When we got back, she sat on the couch and ate a little, which was huge! We napped together and then went with Simon to apply for her passport, which was quick and easy. We tried to take her on a stroller ride and she did great. Then we tried to take her in the playroom and she was getting more cranky and withdrawn. We walked by the pool and then went to a dinner for adoptive families and hung out with the Steinrucks before they left for the States. There was a live band and lots of kids and parents dancing. Allie did pretty well at first, then got more snuggled into me for the rest. But she did feed herself from my hand.
To put her to bed, I sat with her on the couch and she screamed, pushed me away, looked for Matt to rescue her, just wanted to be walked around the room. But eventually she just laid her head down and slept. Didn't wake till 5am and I got up and played with her and she turned the pages of books, smiled once or twice, fed herself puffs from the table, and said something: "Nahn".
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Happy Adoption Day to us!
Allie woke this morning about 5:30 or 6 and fell back asleep in my arms for an hour while Matt went to work out. She cried a bit when she woke, every time I changed rooms or her diaper or clothes and then again when I handed her off to Matt. But as the morning went on, we were able to transfer her back and forth with little to no crying. We took her to breakfast and she was still and quiet the whole time, eating a bit of yogurt and congee and drinking part of a small bottle. We met a few adoptive families we had connected with online...we meaning me...which was neat. They encouraged us that a week makes a huge difference. They were all on their second week.
We then met Simon to go do official adoption papers at the same place as yesterday. A day made a big difference here. As we sat on the same purple couch and she snuggled in to Matt quietly, I remembered her inconsolable screams from the day prior. The first step was quick. We had to get our picture made and dum, dum, dummm....Allie had to sit in a chair between us. Of course she screamed.
Next was our first interview. A lady asked a few simple questions. Well she actually starred with a hard one- how old are you? I couldn't quite remember on too many days of little sleep! She asked if we were satisfied with the baby and I wanted to cry to think of her being evaluated like we were car shopping or something. We love her and this is not about her having to measure up.
Next we had a long wait for the other official. Our guide said he enjoys conversing for quite awhile on these interviews. We are the only ones in our agency or partner agencies that are on this schedule so we haven't been in a touring group or anything. There were the same families today as on gotcha day but all French folks so no shooting the breeze while we wait. Allie continued to wait solemnly and silently, a death grip on a book in one hand and a ball in the other. I think it makes her feel secure. We saw at the foster home that the kids carried around little chewy candies in the package and sometimes teethed on them. We gave her one yesterday from the hotel and it seemed to comfort her to just hold it. Our guide said she looks like a koala the way she snuggles up to us. Also that she looks like a farmer from Guangdong with her facial features. 😀
Finally it was our turn and our interviewer was hilarious. Big upturned grin on his face the whole time and he reminded me of a cartoon character. He was difficult to understand and had a stereotypical funny Asian accent, especially when he made a big production of trying to correctly pronounce Crabtree. Simon said he's so happy because he just came back from Chinese New Year holiday. He asked us a few questions like why do we want more kids and how will we care for Allie and why we adopted from China. All simple to answer and it went by quickly.
Then we walked to a toy market area and bought some pretty Chinese New Year lanterns for $7 total. Crazy. We looked around the toy market which is like a vendor show that is 5 or so stories tall and would take hours to go through. We might go back on our own on a free day.
We returned to the hotel and gave Allie some lunch. I think at the foster home they do all the feeding for them to save time. She doesn't really try to feed herself except yesterday afternoon slowly warmed up to getting puffs out of a snack container, which she wouldn't do today. She loved a squeeze thingy of fruit and vegetables. Sucked that thing down in about 2 minutes. So thankful she is eating because some kids won't at first. Then she fell asleep on me and has been snoozing for over two hours! (Which is why I have time to type this all out myself with one finger on my phone. Giving my secretary a little break. 😀 ) We were told she takes good naps so hope this keeps up.
We don't have anything scheduled till tomorrow afternoon when we apply for a visa and then attend a buffet dinner here at the hotel for adoptive families. Not sure what we will do. Just trying to read Allie and see what she's up for. She is not your typical toddler right now. We have laid her down on the bed at times and she will just lay there, either screaming or quiet, but won't sit herself up, crawl, etc. She can walk but I did see her go limp quite a bit at the foster home when she was upset and wanted to be held. I've heard that is a learned behavior typical of kids in institutions. So for now we just hold her. Her caregiver Sean said in a message today that she will feel our love and return it soon, he is confident. The last 24 hours have been kind of like with a newborn. Lots of tears but you can mostly make the baby content enough, sometimes you have no idea how to help, nights can be hard, and you cannot wait for that first smile--the encouragement that makes it feel like it will all be okay.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Gotcha Day!
February 12
We got up early and had breakfast, then a quick nap before meeting Flora and heading to the airport. We were sad to say bye to Flora and wished we could take her with us. We had an easy (but delayed again) flight and even successfully checked 3 bags and got them back!
Our new guide Simon met us at the airport and took us to the hotel. We noticed Guangzhou was very different- greener and warmer with lots of kinds of trees and flowers, but still a big and busy city. We were amazed by how nice our hotel was and after doing some papers, were able to go see the Steinrucks and go out to dinner.
We finished the night doing laundry in the bathtub and cluttering up our fancy room with wet clothes. Still couldn't believe we are in China.
February 13
We woke and did more tending to laundry, then headed to the breakfast buffet, which knocked our socks off! Matt declared he could live here at this hotel.:) The Steinrucks came and joined us so we got to catch up some more and hear more of their adventures with Maya. Then they were off to the zoo and we went to a grocery store nearby to get essentials- diapers, snacks for Allie, and a big beer for Matt.
We wandered around trying to find a lunch place after that, though I was too full from breakfast and nervous/excited to eat. We got back to the hotel and Simon was there so we headed to the adoption office. Simon is easy to talk to so that helped me feel pretty calm except on the elevator ride up.
But as soon as the doors opened, what did we see but Sean holding a sleeping Allie. Soon she woke and we were able to talk with him a little though he could not get Allie to go to us without crying. He said she will be fine and is pretty easy if you hold her all the time. I tried to give her a treat she likes but she would only take it from Sean.
He explained how to make her bottles and when she'd need to eat and said she did great on the flight. He gave us a card where each nanny had a message for her (in Chinese) for us to read when she's older. He also gave us a photo calendar of Living Waters kids and staff, some more medical papers, her bottles, and a few diapers. Then the orphanage director from Wuchuan arrived and they went off to do official stuff.
Then Sean gave Allie over to me and she screamed of course, and he told us goodbye. Matt hugged him and he left. That was hard not to cry to know that the last person left that she knew was leaving her and she may not ever see them again.
We asked a few questions of the orphanage Director about when Allie was found. We took a picture with the orphanage Director and then told her bye. Allie kept crying and we drove back to the hotel. She stopped a little off and on, but would really get going again if we changed who held her. I went to do papers and Matt bonded with her and then she didn't want me to come near. We switched off like that and just hung out in the room. Eventually she ate a banana and learned how to eat puffs from a toddler snack cup.
We went to a restaurant in the hotel for dinner and I sat with her wrapped in a baby sling and fed her congee. When we got back, we got her ready for bed and Matt made her bottle, but she fell asleep without really drinking it. We laid her in the crib for now... we'll see what the night holds!
I havent had time to really process my thoughts and feelings about today. It is still so surreal that we are here and that we have her. I'm so thankful but it's also so bittersweet in thinking of the relationship with her parents that she lost as an infant and the relationships with her caregivers she lost today.
We got up early and had breakfast, then a quick nap before meeting Flora and heading to the airport. We were sad to say bye to Flora and wished we could take her with us. We had an easy (but delayed again) flight and even successfully checked 3 bags and got them back!
Our new guide Simon met us at the airport and took us to the hotel. We noticed Guangzhou was very different- greener and warmer with lots of kinds of trees and flowers, but still a big and busy city. We were amazed by how nice our hotel was and after doing some papers, were able to go see the Steinrucks and go out to dinner.
We finished the night doing laundry in the bathtub and cluttering up our fancy room with wet clothes. Still couldn't believe we are in China.
February 13
We woke and did more tending to laundry, then headed to the breakfast buffet, which knocked our socks off! Matt declared he could live here at this hotel.:) The Steinrucks came and joined us so we got to catch up some more and hear more of their adventures with Maya. Then they were off to the zoo and we went to a grocery store nearby to get essentials- diapers, snacks for Allie, and a big beer for Matt.
We wandered around trying to find a lunch place after that, though I was too full from breakfast and nervous/excited to eat. We got back to the hotel and Simon was there so we headed to the adoption office. Simon is easy to talk to so that helped me feel pretty calm except on the elevator ride up.
But as soon as the doors opened, what did we see but Sean holding a sleeping Allie. Soon she woke and we were able to talk with him a little though he could not get Allie to go to us without crying. He said she will be fine and is pretty easy if you hold her all the time. I tried to give her a treat she likes but she would only take it from Sean.
He explained how to make her bottles and when she'd need to eat and said she did great on the flight. He gave us a card where each nanny had a message for her (in Chinese) for us to read when she's older. He also gave us a photo calendar of Living Waters kids and staff, some more medical papers, her bottles, and a few diapers. Then the orphanage director from Wuchuan arrived and they went off to do official stuff.
Then Sean gave Allie over to me and she screamed of course, and he told us goodbye. Matt hugged him and he left. That was hard not to cry to know that the last person left that she knew was leaving her and she may not ever see them again.
We asked a few questions of the orphanage Director about when Allie was found. We took a picture with the orphanage Director and then told her bye. Allie kept crying and we drove back to the hotel. She stopped a little off and on, but would really get going again if we changed who held her. I went to do papers and Matt bonded with her and then she didn't want me to come near. We switched off like that and just hung out in the room. Eventually she ate a banana and learned how to eat puffs from a toddler snack cup.
We went to a restaurant in the hotel for dinner and I sat with her wrapped in a baby sling and fed her congee. When we got back, we got her ready for bed and Matt made her bottle, but she fell asleep without really drinking it. We laid her in the crib for now... we'll see what the night holds!
I havent had time to really process my thoughts and feelings about today. It is still so surreal that we are here and that we have her. I'm so thankful but it's also so bittersweet in thinking of the relationship with her parents that she lost as an infant and the relationships with her caregivers she lost today.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
The Great Wall
February 11
Last night we were both up a bit and ended up sleeping in till after 8, so we rushed to get ready for meeting Flora at 9 for the Great Wall. The day was not nearly as cold so my 6 layers of clothing were a bit excessive. We had a 1 1/2 hour drive where we chatted with Flora about many things and watched the scenery on the outskirts of Beijing- some big business buildings, smaller but fancier apartments, and little towns- and also hoped to not wreck while our driver passed many cars on the 2 lane road and sometimes just hung out in the middle, 1/2 in each lane.
It was a beautiful blue sky day, which Flora attributes to the gov't and the wall was an amazing sight to see. We rode a ski lift up, which was cool and gave great views. At the wall, lots and lots of steps up and down and eventually we decided it was enough and got to ride an Alpine slide down the mountain. At the top, the worker was showing 2 guys in front of us all the American celebrities he had pictures with on his phone- Matt Damon, Joe Montana, etc. So funny. The slide was long and fun. Matt was in front of me and flew, disregarding all the slow down signs.
We drove back to the city and went into the mall by our hotel for another great meal. It is the Lantern Festival today and we can hear fireworks. We plan to go out later for dinner and just see what we can see.
Friday, February 10, 2017
Full day of Beijing Life
February 10
Amazing day today! We began with breakfast at the hotel, then headed to Tienanmen Square. It was freezing and super windy and there was a huge crowd waiting to go through security. Suddenly they opened a new line and the crowd started running. We got pushed along and crammed in with a thousand Chinese trying to funnel into single aisles from big groups. We just had to laugh as we got so close to people I had to turn my face to keep their hair out.
We got separated from Flora and then Matt got behind me a few people, too. We shuffled along for quite awhile. Someone burped right into my ear. My arms got squeezed on both sides so that they were in front of me touching. Towards the end there was a metal ramp that I was slipping down if not for the crowd behind me holding me up. At one point a woman beside me just looked at me and stared. I smiled and she just looked me up and down and kept starting. Awkward! It really was crazy and later Flora said all Chinese weren't like that, but these visitors were from smaller cities and not educated as well. They push because their parents push.
We eventually made it through to the square, which was huge (can hold 1 million people) and frigid. The wind was awful and I couldn't feel my toes for much of the day. I wore 4 shirts, a sweater, a jacket, 2 pairs of pants and socks, boots, 2 scarves (thanks to Flora bringing me one extra), a hat, and gloves. Still froze!
We walked through the square pretty quickly to the Forbidden City. Flora told us lots of its history and we walked though to see some things inside but mostly out. It was such a clear day that she thought we should go up to this tower outside of the walls where you could see the whole Forbidden City. It was so many setps, but a really awesome view. Then we got in the van to ride a little ways for rickshaw bicycle tour of the Hutong, which looks to be a large, old, plain neighborhood with small alleys.
We stopped at one home and went in for a talk. A young guy "Ben" told us all about the Hutong area and how it used to be the Beverly Hills of Beijing and though it looks poor, even now people want to live or own land there because the schools are better. He was a ham- so personable and entertaining. We talked about things like our family size, sports, adoptions, what zodiak signs mean. He told us we must tell Gray he will be the next Bill Gates because he was born in the year of the pig.:) He talked about family culture in China and how grandparents often raise the kids and spoil them and how parents usually crush the boys and spoil the girls, because boys must grow up to be the provider and fend for themselves. He told us Joshua and Gray are a strong team and they will be unbeatable when they get older because they have each other. He told us Chinese don't think adopting is acceptable but he can understand it. He asked Matt how he got a trophy wife:)
We picked out 2 little glass bottles- his aunt is one of the few artists that paints these detailed pieces on the inside. He said we might choose the lotus because we are a nice family and pure. He said the panda means family so we got both. Then he took our picture under a piece of artwork that he said meant happy long life together. We really enjoyed meeting him.
Next we had a little extra time and went to another delicious lunch out. We had some kind of fried green beans and a dish with "black fungus," meaning mushrooms. So good! And we just enjoy chatting with Flora. After that she took us down an alley with lots of souvenir shops. So many cool things and most were cheap. We also heard people setting off firecrackers very close by, which gave me a little fright and saw a movie being filmed. A young guy was helping up a girl and Flora said he was teasing her that she had to pay for running into him, which is a real thing in China, apparently, that if someone steps out in front of a car and gets hit, the driver may say the person ran into him and needs to pay. Crossing streets continues to be very scary for me and our driver has kept us safe on van rides, but it is absolute craziness the way people drive here.
Our last stop with Flora was the acrobat show. It was the most incredible thing I've ever seen and in some parts moved me to tears as I watched the beautiful, amazing performers and thought about what an awesome country is Allie's China. I'm so glad we go to experience this city so I can tell her all about what it's like. In the acrobat show, they started each act with really cool feats of balance and strength and then kept taking it to the next level until it was shocking. And as the intro video pointed out, it was all with "no insurance", i.e. no nets or safety harnesses. Sometimes a guy would come out during a particularly terrifying part and I'd think he was going to try to help in case someone fell, but no- he was there to toss up an additional prop.
We saw a girl stand on one pointe shoe on a guy's head, a girl lay across a guy's feet who was swinging from a rope with one arm holding on, 12 girls ride in a pyramid on one bike, a group of girls on rollerskates skate around in a circle on a platform barely big enough to hold them, with every other girl spinning horizontally in the air by their necks, a guy balance on his hand on a crooked chair at the top of a stack of chairs 30 feet high, 8 guys on motorbikes ride like crazy people in circles inside a metal cage, and more and more. It was truly amazing.
After this, Flora took us back to the hotel and we went back out to eat. Matt wanted to try McDonalds and I decided to order an ice cream from a touch screen on the wall. Matt thought he was ordering a large size when he chose "2nd sundae", but we got 2 instead, at a discount:) We also walked around the mall, but the clothes were too expensive to buy anything. Then we got Matt coffee at Starbucks and called it a day.
I thought about Allie a lot today. I had woken to a message in broken English from Cai that I thought was telling us to visit again, but turns out she was saying that Allie's nanny was off for that day, but would be back today. She sent some really cute pictures of the two of them. I wanted to go back and meet her but our schedule is so packed and Matt didn't think we should try to squeeze it in.
Today I kept thinking how I am getting to experience now how adoption is a picture of the gospel. Just as people turn away from God and don't understand that he loves us and has our best interests in mind, Allie is going to go into this adoption kicking and screaming and wanting us to leave her alone. She doesn't know she needs a family or understand what life could be like outside of that apartment in our loving care. But we will love her and adopt her anyway and one day she will understand.
Things I love about China so far
1. The funny way they translate into English. Tomorrow my goal is to take pics of some of this. Just cracks me up but I can't think of the examples right now.
2. The people are so beautiful.
3. The plays on words--a lot of words they like or don't like based on how they sound like similar words. So interesting.
4. The food is so good. And the food that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole is entertaining to read the English description.
5. The sights- such history that is preserved and protected so well.
6. The acrobat show. It was just unbelievable.
7. Shopping--(not the mall). The have so many cute things for cheap.
MEETING HER!!!
February 9th
We woke and had breakfast at the hotel and then decided to wander around for a little bit before we had to be back to meet Flora. It is cold and windy here, but blue skies. Flora says the wind blows away the pollution, so it's either freezing or hazy. Guess we'll take freezing!
Lots of people here and crossing the street makes me nervous because it's kind of an every man for himself philosophy. But actually walking on the sidewalk can be worse because mopeds are not regulated so they will plow through anywhere! We didn't go far and when we came back, Flora was waiting in the lobby so we headed off to the foster home.
I was not very nervous or tearful which surprised me. We talked to Flora about China and our mutual friends the Steinrucks and the Bakers. We got to the foster home- an apartment at the top (19th floor) of a big building. I recognized the bars on the windows and the playground outside from pictures and videos. As we went up the elevator, I did begin to get nervous but then we were suddenly there, seeing faces I knew from pictures and the familiar beige couch that Allie was often sitting on. Didn't feel real!
The babies were still napping, but one nanny Cai motioned me to come in a room where I saw a sweaty (it was really hot in the apartment) Allie waking up from her nap. Cai took her and kept telling her "Mama, Baba" and she looked very fearful and shy.
We went to the play area and a few of the boys began coming over and playing while Allie sat with Cai, who tried unsuccessfully to get her to warm up to us. She's so little and looks like her pictures- I knew her right away. She had a pretty bad rash all over and they tell me it is allergies to egg, beef, and lamb, though on her file it was listed as something to do with a reaction to insect bites that is common in Asian kids. We are going to need to figure that out.
A few times she let out big cries and I was reminded that in spite of her big smiles in all her pictures, they did describe her as an "easy cry girl" and wanting to be held all the time. I think my emotions then were both a feeling of delight in finally being with her and a bit of worry that we may be spending lots of time with a screaming baby on this trip, till she gets closer to us... and even then, maybe she's still going to cry all the time?
They wanted to try putting us in a room with her and no nannies, so Sean, the male caretaker took us into her bedroom and then left. I think she cried at first, but she had about 5-10 minutes of just sitting in my lap quietly. It was so good to hold her, yet I was nervous for when the spell would be broken. Matt was jealous and wanted to hold her too and that broke her silence. She clung to me but still screamed so we went back in the other room.
We stayed several hours and saw her eat lunch and snack. She took a few bites from me but mostly only when Cai put her hand over mine! Otherwise she refused. They asked her to show them Mama and Baba and said she usually points to the photo book we gave her and that she's very smart and learns really easily. But she would not look at us when asked and even hid her face sometimes:) She knew exactly what they were asking her.
We saw that they do lots of music and little dancing games. We went around in a circle holding hands to "The More We Get Together" and she would hold a little boy's hand but not ours. They had a weird mix of songs playing on a cd. When I held her and she was quiet, Shania Twain was playing: "I'm gonna getcha, in a matter of time you're gonna be mine," which I found hilarious in China, but weirdly appropriate. We also heard some Chinese songs, some older pop songs, and little kid songs.
The nannies also read books with the kids and Allie seemed to like Winnie the Pooh, so I was glad I bought some of our kids' Winnie the Pooh board books. They kept reassuring me that she will be fine with time and if she cries just hold her and have "close relationship" and she'll be okay.
There were about 10 kids with various special needs and one 3 month old. The nannies have a hard job, as the babies are all over the place, all over each other, and crying a lot, stuck in this overheated small apartment. Some of the toddlers are pretty rough. Matt witnessed one very personable little boy bite another on the cheek! They often took each other's toys, or the pieces of wrapped candy they fiercely held in their hands or bit on for teething.
The nannies clearly love the kids and Allie loves them. One was pretty stoic towards us, but lit up when Allie came to sit with her. I was struck by the feeling that, though Allie's home is a best-case scenario for an orphan, she is not getting nearly the attention and devotion that she will get with us caring for her. Though she is going to have a hard time, she needs us and I am hopeful she will really grow and blossom being in the care of a family. I love her already and cant image how wonderful it will be to one day get her love in return.
We woke and had breakfast at the hotel and then decided to wander around for a little bit before we had to be back to meet Flora. It is cold and windy here, but blue skies. Flora says the wind blows away the pollution, so it's either freezing or hazy. Guess we'll take freezing!
Lots of people here and crossing the street makes me nervous because it's kind of an every man for himself philosophy. But actually walking on the sidewalk can be worse because mopeds are not regulated so they will plow through anywhere! We didn't go far and when we came back, Flora was waiting in the lobby so we headed off to the foster home.
I was not very nervous or tearful which surprised me. We talked to Flora about China and our mutual friends the Steinrucks and the Bakers. We got to the foster home- an apartment at the top (19th floor) of a big building. I recognized the bars on the windows and the playground outside from pictures and videos. As we went up the elevator, I did begin to get nervous but then we were suddenly there, seeing faces I knew from pictures and the familiar beige couch that Allie was often sitting on. Didn't feel real!
The babies were still napping, but one nanny Cai motioned me to come in a room where I saw a sweaty (it was really hot in the apartment) Allie waking up from her nap. Cai took her and kept telling her "Mama, Baba" and she looked very fearful and shy.
We went to the play area and a few of the boys began coming over and playing while Allie sat with Cai, who tried unsuccessfully to get her to warm up to us. She's so little and looks like her pictures- I knew her right away. She had a pretty bad rash all over and they tell me it is allergies to egg, beef, and lamb, though on her file it was listed as something to do with a reaction to insect bites that is common in Asian kids. We are going to need to figure that out.
A few times she let out big cries and I was reminded that in spite of her big smiles in all her pictures, they did describe her as an "easy cry girl" and wanting to be held all the time. I think my emotions then were both a feeling of delight in finally being with her and a bit of worry that we may be spending lots of time with a screaming baby on this trip, till she gets closer to us... and even then, maybe she's still going to cry all the time?
They wanted to try putting us in a room with her and no nannies, so Sean, the male caretaker took us into her bedroom and then left. I think she cried at first, but she had about 5-10 minutes of just sitting in my lap quietly. It was so good to hold her, yet I was nervous for when the spell would be broken. Matt was jealous and wanted to hold her too and that broke her silence. She clung to me but still screamed so we went back in the other room.
We stayed several hours and saw her eat lunch and snack. She took a few bites from me but mostly only when Cai put her hand over mine! Otherwise she refused. They asked her to show them Mama and Baba and said she usually points to the photo book we gave her and that she's very smart and learns really easily. But she would not look at us when asked and even hid her face sometimes:) She knew exactly what they were asking her.
We saw that they do lots of music and little dancing games. We went around in a circle holding hands to "The More We Get Together" and she would hold a little boy's hand but not ours. They had a weird mix of songs playing on a cd. When I held her and she was quiet, Shania Twain was playing: "I'm gonna getcha, in a matter of time you're gonna be mine," which I found hilarious in China, but weirdly appropriate. We also heard some Chinese songs, some older pop songs, and little kid songs.
The nannies also read books with the kids and Allie seemed to like Winnie the Pooh, so I was glad I bought some of our kids' Winnie the Pooh board books. They kept reassuring me that she will be fine with time and if she cries just hold her and have "close relationship" and she'll be okay.
There were about 10 kids with various special needs and one 3 month old. The nannies have a hard job, as the babies are all over the place, all over each other, and crying a lot, stuck in this overheated small apartment. Some of the toddlers are pretty rough. Matt witnessed one very personable little boy bite another on the cheek! They often took each other's toys, or the pieces of wrapped candy they fiercely held in their hands or bit on for teething.
The nannies clearly love the kids and Allie loves them. One was pretty stoic towards us, but lit up when Allie came to sit with her. I was struck by the feeling that, though Allie's home is a best-case scenario for an orphan, she is not getting nearly the attention and devotion that she will get with us caring for her. Though she is going to have a hard time, she needs us and I am hopeful she will really grow and blossom being in the care of a family. I love her already and cant image how wonderful it will be to one day get her love in return.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)