End of October update…

 How are we?

Great!  We are tired, very busy, but so happy!  Gracie fits in our family so well.  She is very affectionate, active, loud, and so very sweet! We just love being her parents.

She is eating very well (and doesn't mind trying new foods) She is sleeping better, although at times still wakes up crying (but goes right back to sleep after we comfort her)

She is a smart little cookie! It is so much fun watching her as she learn new things, everything is new and exciting for her… there’s so much to discover and learn!

Attachment is going well, although we feel it is at this point insecure attachment. If she doesn't see one of us, she gets a little freaked out.

We are finally on a schedule and things are starting to go more smoothly!

She finally had her post-adoption assessment and is doing better that we could have imagined. She scored high on the assessment and ages/stages with the exception of gross motor skills, she is still a little wobbly when she walks… we will be working on it soon enough, for now we will continue to enjoy holding our girl as long as we can for as long as she allow us to do so (she always wants to GO!)

There was a Mandarin speaking translator present during the appointment. I must admit, when I found out she was going to be there I was concerned that our girl was going to want to be with the Chinese lady and not want Mommy any more. I was worried she was going to be “Mommy shopping” :0(

Well let me tell you, as soon as the pretty Chinese lady started to talk Mandarin to our girl, her eyes got teary and she promptly climbed on my lap and did not want to move from there! Every time the lady spoke to our girl, she looked down or would hide her face.  We were surprised about her reaction. We wondered what was going through her little mind; she seemed so confused and nervous. We wondered if she thought we were going to send her back to China?

The appointment lasted approximately 4 hours, we were all in a big room and the team consisted of the translator, a doctor, a social worker and an occupational therapist.

Our girl was shy as it was expected but was able to do the activities, always checking back with Mommy and Daddy to make sure we were by her side. The team was very impressed with how much she has learned in such a short period of time.

More about our girl…

     She is starting to ask for specifics such as milk, water, juice, cookies, crayons etc.  We are so glad because when she wanted something she would say “pleasee” and expected us to guess what she wanted while getting upset because we were not giving her what she wanted (so frustrating!) We continue to encourage her to use her words when asking for things.

    She says: please, thank you and excuse me (polite little lady :0)

    

    She is not potty trained but let us know when she has a “poopie diaper” (after the fact of course, never before, but that’s a start...)

    She is really good about her routine and will remind us about what’s coming next such as brush teeth, snack or story time! If we skip a page of her favorite story she will “remind” us about the missing page. She is definitely on top of things.

   She asks for the TV shows she wants to watch, so now we have to use our TiVo just in case Miss Gracie is in the mood to watch a specific show.

    Favorite shows: Dora the explorer, Ni Hao Kai-Lan, Peppa Pig, Mickey’s Club House and Yo Gabba Gabba, sometimes Blue’s Clues. Note that our Lil’ Cupcake doesn’t watch TV by herself, so we have to stop what we are doing so that we can join the fun with her, sing/dance etc. yeah, imagine that!

    She loves anything artsy from coloring with crayons, finger-painting, doodling with markers or scribbling with pens (thanks Daddy!)

   

    She loves singing and memorizes songs with ease

    She doesn't like taking pictures but love to see them once they are taken

   Our Favorite word: “I-bo-bi-who” (I love you)

    New game hiding and then saying”I see you”

   Still loves to have “tea” with Minnie

   Hates blankets even if she is cold, doesn't like to keep socks or hats on

    Loves clothes and shoes :0) when we go shopping she wants to hold her clothes and carry her own bags… too cute! What’s even cuter?  Hearing her say “so pretty” or “so cute” when we show her clothes, shoes or accessories at the stores.Daddy is not going to think it’s so cute once she gets a little older :0)

    

    She must go to bed with her Winnie the Pooh (she calls him “Wee-Poohee” :0)

We bought this costume a month before Halloween,

 but she wanted her red one... Kids!

 More pictures...

First hair cut

Waiting for her post-adoption assessment 

Gracie, You are our greatest adventure!