A weekend of firsts

We have had quite the big weekend here at the Foster home. Just so we're on the same page, you all have met my sensory child, right. The one who will only wear knit clothes. The one who refuses to wear any material with a seam and/or tag. The one who requires me to carry foam hand sanitizer in my purse because she can't wash her hands with "slimy soap" so if a bathroom only has that I have to have foam hand cleaner on me at all times. The one who was in therapy at the young age of 1 because she refused to touch anything with her hands. The one who literally screamed in agony when we put her halloween costume on because the seam around the belly was so unbearable. Yeah, that one. She has never ever had her face painted. We have been to countless parties where this was an option and you can actually see her have a physical reaction when the idea is even suggested to her. She wanted her face painted for halloween. How do you paint a face to look like a ladybug? It's not like there are a lot of ladybug models to look at. So we bought her the paint and told her to paint it how she thought a lady bug would look and look what she did:

Yes the physical reaction soon followed and she cried when I washed her face because it hurt but it was still a MONUMENTAL moment. And then I totally dropped the ball and forgot the face paint on halloween night. So she got red dots and a black nose with Crayola marker. I think she forgave me because she had an awesome night. She led the pack trick-or-treating. Every other year she is glued to my leg, wouldn't make eye contact, and heaven forbid she say the required phrase or a "thank you" at the end.

In other news, my littlest ladybug made a huge step this weekend:

SHE SITS! This is huge. Up until now she had no desire to sit and would only stand. When she did sit she would tip over. None of that reflex reaction that most babies have where they catch themselves. Nope. Just the 90%ile head smacking into the ground. Her whole little world has opened up. I pulled out all of the "sitting" toys today. She also cries now. Which sounds like a strange thing and what parent is happy when their child cries. We are. Because up until now she didn't. No tears, just what we call "revving" which is the most obnoxious noise you have ever heard. I'll try to record it so that everyone can enjoy it's splendor. So now she cries, with tears and it is so nice. We're actually teaching it. You know how when kids fall or get a little boo boo every adult in the room stops breathing for a second and watches them and waits. Cuz if you point it out they will freak out. Then they just cheer. "Yay, you fell off your bike. Get back on. Hurray!!!" We do the opposite. We make a big deal over every single not so big owie. Because we have to teach her to come to us for comfort. That emotions are a good thing. And she's learning. I honestly think that when she was at the orphanage she tried out the crying thing and it didn't really get her anywhere so she stopped. Now we're showing her that it gets her somewhere. So if you see us acting like we're teaching drama 101....that's why.

So, that's our big weekend. Here is the first actual photo of our family together. Well other than the one at the San Francisco airport right after we landed and we all look totally trashed. That one doesn't count.

P.S. Any bloggers out there know how to make the image open larger in a new window?

xoxo

Learning to Wave

We're still here. We've been home for 6 weeks and are really starting to get into a groove. The baby is doing great. I feel like the attachment thing is really coming along. She definitely knows we're her family. The other day a woman talked to her at the park and she turned and buried her face into my shoulder. Good sign. 3 weeks ago she would have reached for her with a big smile. Like "Heeeey. You look fun. Wanna hold me?" She cries if I leave the room and somedays I can't put her down. Makenna is also doing great. She is so loving and gentle with her. Yes, sometimes I catch her swinging a shoe just close enough to not hit the baby but still close enough to get a reaction. I honestly don't think she's trying to hurt her. I think she's conducting an experiment in sisterly love.

Because of the malnutrition, Safiya hasn't been able to tolerate solid food. She throws it right back up. It's kind of like feeding solids to a 6 week old, really. So, we're holding off for a few months but I wanted to make sure she didn't develop an adverse reaction to food (bad speech therapist mommy) so we decided to do some food play. It also increases the chance that some food just might happen to make its way into her mouth. Here is the photo post banana paint:

We were also sitting at dinner the other day and I looked over. Safiya is looking at the ceiling and waving. So, we all look a the ceiling and look at each other and look back at the ceiling. And you don't want to say anything because she is obviously very serious about her activities. So we watch. And I decided she was practicing waving. To what, not so sure. But so far this is the only place she will wave. I got a little bit on video but I couldn't find the good camera. Sorry it is so grainy. I also took the audio out because in the background was Benjy explaining to Makenna what a stink bug is. No one wants to hear that.

Benjy fixed my internet so hopefully I can post more frequently.

xoxo

I love my girls.

I don't have internet access most days and tonight I do. Don't know why. Not gonna ask. Just going to update the blog/facebook.

We are still doing well. The attachment piece is such a big one with little miss. I spend so much time scrutinizing every movement. Is this what a 6 month old does? Is this attachment? Is this some sort of weird delay? Her latest thing is to wake up whilst napping (listen to me...whilst) in a fit of screaming. Her appendages going stiff as can be and a look of utter fear on her face. I mean fear. And she can't catch her breath. And she grasps for me. It's heartbreaking. Apparently she does not do this for Benjy. After I "shhhh", rock, remind her that I'm there, she goes back to sleep. She'll only do naps while we hold her. And honestly, that doesn't suck. Rocking and hugging and taking 60 minutes to just sit. Bedtime has gotten a little rough. Last night she was up at 10, 1, 4, 6, 7. I believe my words at 4 am were something like "girl you do NOT want to mess with me right now" as she giggled and grabbed at my nose.

Makenna is hanging in there. We have rocked her world to the very core. She's missing about 2 hours a day of sleep thanks to little miss scream a lot. That causes melt into a puddle on the floor fits a couple of times a day. About stuff that makes you go "really. THIS. This is causing the fit." Like we had a complete conversation about how Kiva (the DOG) did not step on her foot on purpose. Makenna was convinced that the dog who licks the door made up her mind to walk over and step on Makenna's foot just because.

I start back to work on Wednesdays this week. We'll see how that goes.

Well, until I have internet again...

xoxo

New Life, New Blog

Well, we are home, we are learning each other, we are laughing, we are crying, we are growing, and we are loving every minute of it. Well, OK maybe not every minute but most of them. I need to move a little past the adoption portion of my life. I need to move past the worrying if she is OK, worrying if the paperwork is in order, worrying about traveling, worrying, worrying worrying. I need a clean slate. Adoption is forever a part of me and my family. But now it isn't going to define my very existence. What will define it now is being the best mama to 2 unbelievably marvelous little girls. Please join me as I do the best I can to make my way in this uncharted territory. Well, uncharted for me at least.
xoxo