Soccer Star & Biker Boy

Growing Together

It's been a while since my last post and I have so much to talk about. First, if you have emailed me asked how things are going and I haven't gotten back to you-please forgive me!! My email time these days is down to about ten minutes if I'm lucky. Thanks to everyone who continually check up on us to see how things are going.
And how are things? you may ask...I would say on a scale of 1 to 10 they are about a 7. After less than two months home I consider that a huge victory. Our night times still leave us scratching our heads. Maybe one night out of ten Prim sleeps quietly and soundly and then the rest of the time she is waking often with night terrors or wanting to be held. It's par for the course but we hope that she finds some peace soon. There are days when you can really tell the interrupted sleep gets to her and she is cranky and ornery.
Prim is really a social butterfly. We have not allowed anyone else to hold her-not even once-but she would probably welcome it. She loves people and to be around a group of people does not bother her one bit. She loves the activity and commotion and really makes herself at home where ever she goes. She is a whirlwind of activity and motion and most times I find myself spinning in circles to keep up with her.
Her and G are getting along much better and trying to find some common ground. He is being much more loving and helpful towards her and has really changed in his attitude. Not to say that it is all roses but the improvement has changed the energy in the house and H and I are extremely thankful for that!
There are some things that H and I still can't figure out and we are actively seeking an attachment therapist in our area. I think one of the hindrances of the adoption process is really not knowing your child from their early developmental stages. Sometimes Prim is very whiny and wants to be held at the worst times (she must have radar b/c she always wants to be held when I'm in the kitchen over a hot stove). I know you're probably thinking "ah, duh, you just brought her home!!" but sometimes I wonder if this is just her personality? We don't know. She can be manipulative just like any toddler but we always have to ask ourselves is this b/c of the transition or is it just a part of the process? Sometimes it feels like a disadvantage b/c with G we could say he's going through a phase or that's just the way he is right now. With Prim we're scratching our heads worrying if it's attachment issues or she's just being an almost two year old. Do you know how utterly guilty I feel when I have to tell her "honey, mommy can't hold you right now I'm cooking dinner" and she just cries and cries. It's really awful and I'm convinced she'll be telling this this to her therapist one day.....
G has learned to ride a two wheel bike so our family is in a new phase of out door enjoyment. We've all gotten bikes and are borrowing a trailer from a friend and I can't tell you how fun it is to go for family bike rides. We all look forward to them and it's so great to have one more thing we can do together. Prim loves to go in the bike trailer and there is nothing cuter than hearing her go "bonk, bonk, bonk" every time we go over a bump. She is really so adorable and sometimes we look at her and just laugh at her precocious nature!
My hubby is waiting for me to watch a movie so I must sign off. More coming this week hopefully...ta ta for now.

What Do You Do When...

...your almost five year old pees his pants three times in one week. G has never had accidents once he was fully potty trained. In fact, he's been potty trained since he was 2 1/2 almost 3 so it's hard to remember him in diapers. He doesn't seem very remorseful and not very embarrassed. I honestly think it's for attention and that both makes me mad and very sad altogether. Now is the time when I feel like I should rattle off my laundry list of complaints for the past month and how difficult things have been at times as we are adjusting. But then I remember how tonight I was able to spend almost an hour with G at bedtime reading him stories from the new Beatrix Potter book my in-laws sent and how I told him funny stories about when he was in my tummy. He laughed and laughed when I told him how he would get the hiccups almost every single day, sometimes two or three times a day, or how he was a good sleeper even before we met. His eyes became as big as saucers when I told him that I used to ask him (while he was in my belly) to give me one kick for this (cake) or two kicks for that (ice cream) or how I knew exactly where his bum was right before he was born and would rub that spot and sing him songs.
And then he told me, "Mommy, I'm so happy that we are a family" and I realize that there is nothing at all to complain about. The regressing will stop in time, the nights will get better and eventually their friendship will not be one sided.

Pictures

Some pics of our visit with my cousin and his family!