High Fives, Knuckles & Giggles

That's My Girl!

I really don't think Ya Ya could be any cuter! Did you notice the little curl in the first picture?

Our baby Ya Ya has come so far, we have to remind ourselves daily of her progress when she begins to drive us nuts. I think there's light at the end of the tunnel. But then I remember that these babes turn into teenagers!

Seriously though, Ya Ya was so incredibly hard the first few months, it was so miserable for the entire family. We were very stressed out with our forever screaming, constantly hungry, demanding girl. There was no break from it. It felt like a nightmare at times. I prayed for patience and guidance, and slowly she started to come around. She calmed down about the food, she learned to relax, she learned to sleep peacefully, she learned to keep her hands out of her poo by holding her hands above her head (thanks to daddy for teaching her this one), she learned to kiss, she learned to laugh (though she has only belly laughed one time:( she has had to learn a lot this wee one. I think the food issues have been the most difficult for her to overcome, and the second hardest is having her allow us to comfort and hold her. Holding Ya Ya in China and the first few months home was like trying to hold and love on a log. She liked to be physical with us, but it was the kind of physical where we throw her up in the air or twirl her around. When I was finally able to hold her more than three seconds it was never face to face. She would only sit in my lap away from me, and it's only been recent that she will lay back in my arms. She appeared happy to outsiders and ran around the house like a whirlwind, but how happy can a child be who can't give or receive love. I do know that this hard work has deepened our love, and watching her progress is the greatest of all.

It was so easy to love Jie Ling when she came home. She loved all the attention and affection once she settled in with her family. She giggled once and had us all wrapped around her little finger the day we met her (I take that back, she did slap me across the face in China while the rest of the family got kisses:) But within weeks was a total momma's girl. It's hard to believe how opposite our experiences have been, but I suppose no different in how different all our kids are. Although Jie Ling and Brianna the 19 yr old, are freakishly a lot alike which has Mike and I worried...

Anyways, life in good.