AnnaBelle is adjusting and is full of life. We are working through some sleep disturbance and the ability to put herself back to sleep. Jet lag for me continues. But its going to take time. Children really are such a delight from the Lord. It melts my heart to see the girls play together. Joy shared her bath last night with AnnaBelle. I asked her if she enjoyed sharing her bathtime and she said "oh yes". She tickled AnnaBelles toes during the bath and enjoyed making her giggle. There are moments of needing a referee while everyone learns to share toys and space. Joy has been so grownup and AnnaBelle motors around and talks babble we cannot understand. I am so glad to hear her babble and watch her toddle around. She has alot of personality and has moments of showing that she is infact a 2 year old. Yes, temper fits are present.
Yesterday she rode in the carseat for the second time. And fell asleep before Hartley. She didnt cry but looked around and started dreaming. The ride home from the airport in the dark and the first carride was much different and less peaceful.
Natasha, my travel companion of all time went back to Denver on Saturday. I have missed her already. We had such a good time together. She is going to be a great mom and I hope somewhere in her spreadsheet includes a return to China for a baby girl.
Easter was a beautiful day and Joy soaked up dying Easter eggs in the front yard. AnnaBelle loves to eat eggs and kept trying to peel the hard exterior. Joy was a bit distraught over the eggs that were partially peeled and picked at. The girls were so pretty in their Easter dresses! AnnaBelle has such tiny feet and wore these sparkly 9-12mos shoes Aunt B got her at Christmas. Joy on the other hand has large feet and longer legs than a month ago. She grew while I was away for two weeks.
I am so thankful for my two girls and thoughtful husband, Milton. I am thankful to be home again and live in this small town with no rush hour traffic or public transportation. Im thankful for the sunshine that I can see and feel on my face. The Lord has such a sweet plan for our lives, if we can let go and trust Him. He is trustworthy. I didnt think I would survive being away from Joy for two weeks. I cried taking off in Denver and in San Fransisco. But when we held AnnaBelle for the first time 2 weeks ago in the Cival Affairs office in Zhengzhou, I was certain we were right in the bullseye of where the Lord wanted us to be. Holding this small and afraid two year old who cried like an infant, I knew why we had traveled so far. What if we had not come? For days she slept with one eye open making sure we were still present. Making sure I had not laid her down. In addition AnnaBelle was not well, she was sick with more going on than we realized intially. She cried and I cried. I felt guilty that we had no come sooner which was out of our control. A child should always be held. Always have a family. Always feel loved. Always kissed and hugged. Every orphan needs a family and love. Slowly each day she began to come out of her timid shell and trust us a little more for her care and constant love and affection. After a few days she began calling me "Ni ni" meaning Nanny. Then the next day she called me "momma". The greatest words to hear! We learned that her orphanage was one of the largest in that providence. It holds 600 children minus our 1 and another Violet, who was matched with a forever family on our travel group. There are so many children and not enough caretakers. We were told the children from her floor of 100 often shut down for 3-4 days crying alot. It was a reliable report. We chose not to visit but could have as both girls were having a difficult transition. I had planned to visit but on that day- it was obvious AnnaBelle was not up for the return to her orphanage. In 16 years I may regret that decision but it was the best one for that day and her emotional ability to cope. We had a couple adopting in our group that were both Pediatricians. I was so thankful when AnnaBelle was sick that they were willing to come to our room to see her. I had prayed for a Dr on our trip and he gave us 2 wonderful Christian people. Milton and I learned to know and very much enjoyed being with and respecting. Milton and I began praying over AnnaBelle daily for her health and emotional restoration. She was so timid and dependant but withdrawn. Like watching a flower grow and bloom, so has AnnaBelle. I see her motoring around the house making a big mess of the refrigerator magnets and she is a miracle! She has evolved and is fully alive! She is loved, she is our daughter, she is a sister, she is a cousin, she is a granddaughter and she is home!
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