"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." -----Martin Luther King, Jr.
"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet,regardless of time, place, or circumstance.The thread may stretch or tangle,but it will never break."
- ancient Chinese belief

Thursday, August 5, 2010

A Big Day

Anothe iphone entry, so please excuse grammar, no caps, etc! After a very rough day yesterday, little miss June meili had a big day today!

*. Did peekaboo with Paul page and put your finger thru momma's ring page of pat the bunny.
*. She's become attached to a tiny stuffed bear; has been holding "bear bear" since gotcha day. This am, she rubbed it's paw on her forehead .. Then, she rubbed it on me! It was so sweet. Later in day, as I was snuggling her in my lap, she alternated rubbing the bear's paw on her, mine, and david's hand.
*. She has refused each of the three types of bottles with various types of beverages. She had also refused all solid foods ... Until today! This am, she ate lots of scrambled eggs and mashed watermelon (along with yogurt and some oatmeal!).
After her three hour nap today, she reached into a container of gerber puffs, pulled one out and, much to my surprise, ATE IT!! This was HUGE as she hadn't reached for anything to that point. She ate many more puffs.
*. She took a quick bath (with mama) -- without crying!!
*. Another concern was that she hadn't pooped. She was crying at one point today and (having read about other adoptive parents discovering this) had a hunch and sat her on the toilet. Lo and behold, that tiny baby pooped on the potty!
*. She has started to show a mommy attachment She's leaned to me, held arms out to me and today after I scooted away from her (I'm almost never too far away and usually holding her), we got a glimpse of something resembling a crawl!
*. Had some bites of a gerber biter biscuit.
*. She ate two entire jars of baby food before bed.
*. Still no semblance of a smile at us but much more "aware" today. Lot's of touching and looking around, etc. David disagees that it was a real or voluntary show of happiness, but I swear that I saw her smile for a split second at a stuffed animal in TrustMart.

Other miscellaneous:

*. She fell over from sitting. She has almost no core strength.
•. She is super-skinny, a new phemenon for a Gruskin baby.
•. A little levity helps us get through the days: when she eats yogurt or smushed food, it sometimes comes through her palate and out her nose. So, we've referred to her as "The Human Neti Pot". ( David says The boys are going to be jealous of that trick!)
*. We have no concept of time here. Days are so long; things that happened this morning feel like a week ago. We never have a sense of time of day or what meal (lunch, dinner) is next. It's quite bizarre.

Thank you for your comments, words of encouragement and prayers. We appreciate more than you know.

5 comments:

  1. This post does my heart more good than if we get TA today!!! I am SO thankful she is coming out of her shell and showing you her little self. What a precious baby!!! And you all are doing great too!!! Bless you all and praying it gets better and better!
    XO!
    Sharon

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  2. So glad to hear that your little one is starting to open up. I hope she continues to blossom right before your eyes in the days to come.

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  3. I was so happy when I read your post!! I pray that everyday is better than the last..she is so beautiful!!! I am so happy for all of you!!!

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  4. It sounds like everything she is doing is completely normal and expected for the change that she is going through. I have been reading LOTS of blogs of folks in China the last few weeks and many have described the same kind of shut down and recovery. Keep up the loving good work and in another few days she will be a different baby.

    Good luck!!

    Linda G. From BAAS

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  5. This post made by day as well as that of many blog followers. Every day, all the family members talk, compare thoughts and today, rejoyce at the very positive news! What sweet steps she's making to connect with you! She's obvoiusly GOING to be a nice big Gruskin eater as time goes by.
    I know your posts are such an effort, but we are all hanging on every word! Thanks you, dear ones. All great here!
    Mom

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