Post-nap Photo Shoot

I tried to take a photo of Sarah hugging her panda bear right after she woke from her nap a bit ago.  My camera is so slow, that I kept missing the shot.  The sequence I got is pretty fun, though.  In the second one, she's giving her "surprised" look that she learned in her Baby Faces book.

Down with Doctors

Sarah had her 15-month Well-Child visit today.  Well, this child is still not keen on medical personnel.  Maybe every baby screams the way she does and I'm just overly sensitive to it because she's my daughter, but it breaks my heart. 

I decided we could go along with the protocol this time and get her undressed for her measurements.  That threw her into a panic, and she lunged for Daddy to save her.  The nurse managed to get some readings despite her protests.  She's up to 24 lbs., 4 oz. (71st percentile); 32" long (85th); and 46.5 cm head circumference (68th).  She's a big, healthy girl.

Once we were in the examining room and she had calmed down, she sat on my lap for the exam.  The instant the stethoscope touched her chest, she erupted again.  This didn't bode well for the vaccinations that were coming up. 

Being the cagey mom, I got Dad to hold her for the shots so I could be the rescuer.  The poor little thing endured two in each thigh and two more in her arm.  She got high grades from the nurse for her strength -- she's a sturdy farm girl.

On the way home, she sat in stunned silence, clutching a Fig Newton but refusing to eat it.  To make things worse, she started to doze about five minutes from the house, and I started hassling her to keep her awake (falling asleep in the car seat has doomed many naps).  She's now snoozing peacefully, dreaming of a land without doctors, no doubt. 

Thanks, Mom and Heather!

My mom and sister left on Wednesday, and we're back to our nuclear threesome.  We all enjoyed their visit.  Sarah really warmed up to Grammy by the last couple of days and let Grammy hold her hands while she stood.  I think she might have let Grammy hold her, if we had allowed it.  We're being careful to follow the advice of the doctor at the International Adoption Clinic in Minneapolis and not let anyone but Don and me hold her for four-six months to promote attachment.  I know it's hard on the grandmothers.  I'm considering compromising just a bit and letting Mom hold her when we visit at Thanksgiving, since it will have been almost four months. 

Sarah was a little tougher on Auntie Heather and made her keep her distance.  She was fascinated and entertained by Heather but wouldn't let her touch her.  She enjoyed Heather's renditions of goofy '40s tunes and Elvis classics when they were riding in the backseat together, but she was happier when I sat between them. 

Mom, Heather, and I ventured to Winona while Sarah napped on Tuesday.  Mom had lunch with an old friend, and Heather and I ate a block away.  It was fun to spend time alone with Heather, which rarely happens.  It was also wonderful to be able to talk with her "mother-to-mother" (finally!).  We agreed that we wouldn't want to be anything else and are fortunate to be home full-time with our kids.  We enjoy the challenges of keeping a home together and tending to the needs of little ones.  There's nothing more meaningful for us.

I know it was a big sacrifice for both of them to travel all the way to see us, and I'm grateful that they made the effort to meet Sarah.  I think it will make our visit to Massachusetts much easier for her now that she knows them.  Meeting her three crazy cousins and two uncles for the first time will be enough excitement, I think.  :)

Note:  For those wondering how I've found time to write three posts today, I'll explain.  The first, of course, was with Sarah asleep in the carrier.  The last two have been while Don has taken Sarah for a ride to try to cheer her up.  They've been scoping out waterfowl hunting spots, I think.  It's the first time I've been alone in the house since we got back from China, and it's been VERY quiet.  Fortunately, they just pulled into the garage.  :)

My Beautiful Daughter

A few weeks ago, our minister asked us to pose for a photo to be used on the cover of our church's stewardship brochure.  A church member who is a professional photographer took the shot of Don and me holding Sarah with the minister appearing to baptize her.  While we were there, I asked if he'd take a few shots of Sarah alone.  She was less than pleased with the whole situation, but he managed to get this adorable portrait.  Oh, and we're now "the faces" of our church.  Wouldn't Nana be proud?

Rainy Day, Inside and Out

It's a cold, rainy, fall day -- miserable outside and not  much sunnier inside.  Sarah is uncharacteristically crabby.  Although she's had a few good nights of sleeping, last night was bumpy again.  She couldn't seem to get comfortable and ended up crying uncontrollably around midnight. 

This morning, she was whiny and wanted to be held.  So, I strapped on the Ergo carrier, put on Jack Johnson's CD of songs from the Curious George movie (which I LOVE -- thank you, Cindy!), and danced with her while feeding her Bunny Grahams.  She lasted about 15 minutes then fell asleep before she could deliver the next bunny to her mouth.  She's now snoozing away on my chest.  It's enough to break your heart.  :)  It reminds me of our time in China.

I'm feeling blessed to be able to adjust my day to accommodate Sarah's needs.  What a gift to just stop what I was doing and tend to her.  I find comforting her immensely soothing.  I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

A Visit from Grammy and Auntie Heather

My mom and sister arrived from Massachusetts on Friday for a five-day visit.  Sarah has been enjoying her new audience and regaling them with her antics.  She's happy to entertain them as long as Don or I is close by but doesn't want to be left alone with them or have them touch her...a good sign in terms of attachment.  Although we felt she was attaching well to us, it's good to have this confirmation, since we haven't had many people around to see what her response would be.

Yesterday, we set out to find pumpkins for the yard (since our efforts at growing our own this year produced about five, all of which quickly rotted).  We visited a pick-your-own operation, and Sarah thoroughly enjoyed sharing the wheel barrow with our pickings.  As you can see, she's taken fashion cues from both Dad and Mom, opting for a hooded sweatshirt and LLBean field coat....

This morning, she enjoyed seeing photos of her cousins on Auntie Heather's camera....

She put on quite a show rolling around in the papasan chair before dinner this evening.  I'm hoping she wore herself out and will sleep soundly (in contrast to last night, when she was awake six times).  She almost slept through the night the night before Mom and Heather arrived.  I'm afraid all the excitement has derailed her once again.  Oh, well, at least we know a restful night is within the realm of possibilities.  Maybe once they've left, she'll be able to slay her sleep demons.

The Remarkable Red Thread

More than three years ago, soon after our paperwork went to China, a woman tried to create a network of families with children from China in our area.  There were about 10 families who either had children or were waiting to adopt, and they got together for a picnic.  We had another engagement and couldn't go, but I was excited that there would be an opportunity for Sarah to socialize with other Chinese girls when she arrived.

That was the last I heard from the group.  Apparently, people were too busy or weren't motivated to continue.  Sunday, I decided to send an email to the list of folks who had been involved to see if anyone has a daughter around Sarah's age.  That evening, I got a message back from a woman who lives about 15 miles from us.  She and her husband are in China right now getting their one-year-old daughter, who happens to be from the same province as Sarah!  What wonderful luck (or is it the Red Thread that Chinese lore says binds all those who are meant to be together?). 

Of course, it will probably be after Christmas before this family is ready to get together, but it warms my heart to know that Sarah will have a little friend who has experienced the same thing she has.  There is such comfort in knowing someone who understands what you're going through, and I really hope for that for her.