Karina has been home for two months now!
In some ways it feels like she has always been here. It's strange how much changes but you are so tired and so in the middle of it that sometimes it's not easy to notice the small things. But she has changed so much, and we have all adjusted so much. Two months really isn't that long - I really am amazed at how far we've all come in that amount of time.
Here are some of the changes we've seen:
Karina doesn't eat everything you put in front of her anymore. A few weeks home and one day she offered me her last cheerio - that was such a big step! Once she realized that I ate it and she couldn't get it back she wasn't so sure she'd made the right choice, but that small gesture spoke volumes about how she was adjusting! Learning to trust us and trust that there was plenty of food. Now she is forming definite opinions about what she would like to eat and figuring out how to communicate those emotions. But she still is a good eater and likes to eat. Some of her favorite things to eat right now are bread (in true Russian fashion), strawberries, jello, and applesauce.
Sleep is going much better. Initially you could tell how she was dealing with the day's events by how she slept at night - usually not well. But she has been less scared at night and pretty much sleeping through the night. And now she lets us know if she's stressed out or scared in the normal ways - being clingy, crying, etc. She's getting used to sleeping through Addyson and Braden's noises too and they are used to hers. Those are good things!
She is growing!!! She gained something like 3 pounds in the first month we were home. Filling out and making those squishy cheeks even cuter!!! And she's healthy and on target for development; we finished all the initial appointments to figure out where we are on everything. Only thing we are a little behind in is communication (you know, learning a new language and trying to speak it to people you've only known a few weeks!). That really is amazing and a gift from God.
Standing and . . . taking steps!!! On my birthday Karina took her very first steps!! And now she refuses to walk when prompted, but I've seen her go 10 steps and turn directions even. She can do it but she just doesn't want to much yet, especially if you try to make her. She's starting to show us her opinions and figure out how to express herself. And we're trying to show her the correct way to do that. Girl has some spunk and knows how to get her point across :O)
Being noisy! She sings, yells, makes animal noises, and has the cutest voice all her own. She says mama, da (for daddy), and bye-bye and understands a whole lot more. Sometimes Ryan and I just giggle thinking that God knew she could handle our noisy family. Braden's loud animal noises and miscellaneous boy loudness and Addyson's constant chatting and screaming don't phase her a bit. They really never much did thankfully!! She just joins right in with her own joyful noises. She loves to clap and sing (or yell) along.
Getting into everything. Oh my goodness - Karina is so much more adventuresome than her older siblings. She has opened all the drawers and bothered things they never noticed. She loves the dishwasher just like they did though. The childproof locks on the cabinets only partly deter her. She still gets one arm in as far as she can and attempts to pull out anything that she can. Electrical outlets, even though covered, still intrigue her. And we have already pulled more things out of her mouth than I remember doing with Addyson and Braden. Thankfully, I have two helpers to spot unsafe objects going in her mouth. Unfortunately, those two "helpers" are usually the culprits that left the unsafe object where little sister could find it. Boy, it was easier when the littles were the same age so the same things were unsafe for both. This is a new challenge!!!
Learning how to be a sister. These two have had some bumps in the road learning how to love each other. They weren't very patient in the beginning. I never had a sister, but they seem to act like sisters to me lately. They relate totally different to each other than to Braden. Hair pulling, sassing, competitiveness. I'm sure it's only the beginning, but it's also fun to watch their relationship blossom. They are putting up with a lot more from each other and think it's fun to dress alike. They like brushing hair and other girly stuff. So glad they get to be sisters.
Karina and Braden can play together pretty well at times. Fun to see them together. Braden can be so sweet with her. He's also taught her a few things - how to spit and make loud animal noises and lots of other important things that he is sure she must know. Addyson and Braden are both doing much better adjusting. They share with her and understand how to show her their love more each day. That has been a battle some days; I thought Addyson and Braden were used to sharing mommy and daddy since they have always had to share us with each other, but that extra little sister to steal mommy and daddy was a tough change for everyone.
Braden and Addyson found ways to play. On the stairs where they can shut Karina out. It keeps their toys safe from being stolen.
Karina is starting to play by herself some and not need mama all the time. She likes to be around us but she's more ok with not being right next to me always. She comes and checks in and still likes to be close but she just seems more comfortable every day. One of her newest things to play lately is reading books. Pretty hard to resist when she brings me a book and asks to be in my lap.
We have started venturing out. She is doing wonderful at church. She loves to go anywhere really; she gets excited when she realizes we are putting on shoes and coats to get in the car and go somewhere. She likes to eat out and to go to the grocery store. She doesn't mind seeing people when we're out and about. She's still not so sure when people come to our house. I think it feels like they are invading her turf and she's not sure about what might change. She's much more ok with being out and knowing that when she comes home life will be normal. She has never had too much trouble with being overstimulated. The other part of the adjustment to life outside the orphanage is attachment. She is attaching. She loves mama and dada too. I know that; but when I think that it's only been a few weeks that we've gotten to take care of her it still worries me to make sure we're doing all we should to keep working on that. So we're still trying to balance meeting new people and staying close to mama. That may be harder on mama than anyone. Especially lately when mama has to be the one to say no to Karina sometimes too. Karina has had some sad moments - it's like she can't figure out how these people that love her so much can also tell her no and make rules and boundaries too. Sort of like this maybe wasn't quite as awesome as she initially thought. And just realizing that this is life now and trying to figure this whole family thing out - it has to be so frustrating for her at times but she is doing really, really well.
She's also gotten to see the biggest snow storm I've ever seen in Kansas. I thought I would get one of those cute screaming kid all bundled up pictures and we'd head back inside. But nope, she loved it!! I should have known.
These two thought it was pretty awesome too - for the first time. Usually they are done really quick but they played outside several times!! With only minimal crying.
I know Braden is much bigger than Addyson, but goodness this picture makes her look tiny!!
They did a little sledding.
And Braden's favorite part was digging.
Addyson got pretty feisty throwing snowballs.
Karina mostly crawled around to see what was going on.
They are all three so different, and so perfectly made. So thankful for this wonderful family and for the way God is molding us together.
