We've been home one week now..

I just can't believe we've been home one week now. It just doesn't seem possible that only a week ago yesterday we were being picked up at the airport. I think the three of us are feeling normal again, sleeping regularly and through the night. Yes, all three of us. Ric and I feel so blessed that Anna Lin sleeps through the night. She even lays in her bed in the morning quietly until we get up. Amazing! No one got up earlier than 9 am this weekend, which I certainly didn't expect from this little girl. Now things may change in the future, but it sure was nice getting all those Zzzz's.

Anna Lin is doing great. She is at about the same point as far as English is concerned. She is repeating words and phrases, but not to the point of having a conversation or verbal interaction. It takes time and it's only been 1 week in the US. Yes, we were with her almost two weeks in China, but it wasn't until we came to The States that English took a priority in communicating with people. Language acquisition takes time, but the more she hears it the better.

She is doing somewhat better around people. She is fine when we go out to eat (which has been quite a lot lately!). However, when we get around other people that try to interact with her she clams up and is almost at the point of tears if people try to touch her. If you just give her some space she is fine, but don't try to push some interaction or touching. You have to leave that up to her and if she doesn't want it, then it isn't going to happen. We decided to wait on going to church and I am glad. We know many people will notice and ask about her, and say hello. We just didn't feel ready for that challenge yet. I think this was a good choice since we stopped by my brother's house earlier today and that turned out to be quite difficult which I really didn't expect. Anna Lin clinged to Ric with all her might and didn't want a thing to do with anyone. (This is what she does when we visit Miss Debbie. I just figured this was isolated to Miss Debbie's house because of the kids she watches, etc.) It took almost an hour for Anna Lin to loosen up and finally drank some yogurt drink that Aunt Kelly gave her. When we said it was time to leave, she hopped up saying "Goodbye" with big waves and big smiles. Sarah Ann opened her arms and asked for a hug. Anna Lin went over and gave her one. She loves these girls, but it will still take some time for her to get an understanding of this whole new world. In China she just didn't go visiting one friend's house then go off to another. She probably rarely left the orphanage.

She has taken an interest in books just recently, which thrills me (...as an educator and librarian of course!). I think seeing the boys with their books helped. She began reaching for the books Zak was reading in the car. If she could read it then she would know how to play several card games by now. :-) So next ride we took I had a couple board books on hand for her. Anna Lin loved these, and later at home explored the books in her room with more interest. One was a counting book, which she likes. She can count to five in English very clearly, then repeats the other numbers. There are five ducks in the story and you can move a wheel to make the ducks move on the last page. Anna Lin likes to change the number of ducks so Mom will ask, "One duck! Only one duck! Where are the other ducks?" ...and so on and so on. She loves to play 'Where is it?" games. At the hotel in China she would hide something and I would walk around with my hands up in the air saying, 'Where is it? Is it here? Nooooo. Is it here? Noooo", etc.

The boys are doing well with her, and doing well in general. She loves Noah since he plays with her the most, but has also grown fond of Spencer & Zak. I believe these two big boys have grown fond of her too. They smile and laugh at her and her four-year old antics. Many people have told us what a good thing we have done for her, adopting her, etc. We just don't think of it that way at all. We were a family wanting a little girl, and saw her as a little girl wanting a family. I can't help but think of how blessed we are that she has come into our lives. I've seen more smiles on our boys faces in the past seven days than I've seen in a good while. Not that they were unhappy. They are just teenage boys totally engrossed in their own lives and you know that us parents know nothing whatsoever and are only put here on earth to torture them. :-)

Tonight Zak played soccer with Anna Lin. She was chasing him throughout the house. It was adorable. And I never realized how good Zak could control a soccer ball. AL giggled, squealed, and staggered, giggled and staggered some more in an effort to try to get the ball. She was so tired that she just seemed to fall down every other minute. Noah got into the game, then I did (more as referee and safety person for AL as she seems to fall into everything!).

Well, I know there is so much more I planned on sharing, but time is ticking and the alarm will go off at 6 am. I'm amazing at how much a four-year old can wear me out. Both Ric and I have noticed that our legs seem more fatigued than ever! But she is worth it!

Angi