Six month update

This past Sunday we reached a milestone of sorts, it has been 6 months since our “Gotcha Day!”  It is hard to believe that we have had this amazing little girl in our lives for 6 months now.  It has been an incredible journey so far and so much has happened in this time frame. 

Gotcha Day (Jan. 13, 2014) after a bath.

Six months later, post surgery (July 13, 2014)

On Jan 13^th a little girl was handed to us in the crowded Adoption Registry Center and cried for approximately 10 seconds.  As she spent the rest of that day trying to figure out what was going on, we had no idea what to expect.  

The "hand-off" on Gotcha Day

In the days that followed in China, she slowly warmed up to us and all the hugs and kisses.  It has been neat to reflect upon our trip over the past few days as this milestone approached.  It is neat to see that this little girl who spent every day in an orphanage from 2 days old until she was placed in our arms, who did not fully understand love and affection, has become very affectionate.  Before night-night, she will give me hugs and kisses and immediately say, “Sissie’s turn.”  She absolutely loves it.  In the middle of eating she will look at either her mother or me and pucker up wanting sugar.  It is the sweetest thing.  Oh yeah, she also loves to give herself kisses on my phone.

She has grown to enjoy being around other family members.  She was apprehensive at first, which was expected, but now she sees all of them as family and loves to talk to them on the phone.

 

We’ve come a long way from the days of her hanging out by the mirror in the hotel room trying to figure us out.  Every day is a new adventure and we are still learning much about one another.  A few weeks ago we had a poignant moment take place out to the blue.  Belle has a dog grooming toy set and Primrose brought me the clippers.  

 When she was standing in front of me she said, “Daddy look!” and proceeded to run the clippers through her hair a few times.  She then looked up at me and smiled and showed me the clippers again.  I was floored by this action.  How did she know what clippers were and what they were used for?  Then it hit me… they usually shave their heads in the orphanages.  It was one of those moments where the reality of “life in the orphanage” resurfaced (of course it made me misty eyed).  We have had a few of these moments in the past 6 months, and I expect there to be more.

It has definitely been an incredible journey and I cannot wait to watch the rest of this unfold.  I am grateful for those of you who have been walking with us through this whether it is from a far or just down the road.  Remember, there is still a tremendous need out there.  You can help be a voice to the fatherless though child sponsorship, donating to orphanages, fostering, fostering to adopt, or by jumping in with both feet and adopt.  Do your part to help the helpless.