The lack of posting equates to the lack of free time. We have been doing the day-to-day stuff and fun stuff, too. Trips to the zoo and SeaWorld this past week. The adjusting for Harper continues but I think going all in the right direction. She has a couple more weeks before the transition to full-time daycare and I hope it will be more traumatic for me than her! She is saying many words and very pleased with herself; it would be great if her comprehension and speaking of English would all click soon. When we go to get her noodles (still her favorite thing by far!), the people in the restaurants will often speak Mandarin to her, and she always looks distressed. Triggers memories?
One "issue" we are having is with Harper waking up 1-3 times/night, most nights, but thankfully not all. She just needs to see me and she will lie down again and often be asleep in minutes. Me, not so quickly, and this has been a lot physically harder on me than traveling solo to China - much harder! I figure she must have had a co-sleep arrangement with her foster mother and so waking up alone in her room is alarming. But the frequency of her wee hour calls is slowing down and she is not as distressed when she calls out, so I just have to be patient and see how it goes. In all other ways, she is wonderful and I know to be thankful for that!
Another "issue" is Harper's adoration of Jaden. The honeymoon period for Jaden is over. She declares often that her baby sister is "annoying" as Harper climbs on her, insists she puts on her shoes, grabs her stuff, etc. There is still an underpinning of care and concern, however, so I think this is normal and will hopefully transform into a mutually enjoyable sibling relationship. How hard it must be for Jaden to share her world with a head-strong toddler, albeit sweet and funny? I need to be mindful to carve out time for just Jaden, but for now it is that 30-45 min between when the girls go to bed.
Enjoy the pictures! Thanks again to friend Kim for so many cute ones!
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| Miss Harper (pre-haircut). |
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| The sisters after a trip to the mall's candy store. |
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First haircut, complete with bow (lasted about 10 min);
note me in the reflection working the camera. |
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| As I said, the honeymoon is over! |
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| Harper's love of the water has increased in recent weeks. |
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| Trip to the San Diego zoo on 4th of July. |
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Thanks to friend Nora for coming with us to the zoo and accommodating
Harper's requests for up-down-up-down... (and sorry I cut off your head!). |
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The girls in Poppa's chair at G'ma's house. He would have enjoyed them so
much if he were still with us. |
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| Finishing off our trip to SeaWorld last weekend with Shamu ice creams! |
