Now and then: Two months together

So, I want to copy a few of you and put side-by-side the photos of day one, one month later and two months later, to see how she has changed. E was adopted on May 22 (it pains me to put this one in as she looks so unhappy, but there are no happy ones):Here she is one month later, on June 22:

And July 22:

Well, that first one is from the 24th, as the others were not close-ups. I am SO proud of her. She still almost never cries, but she is happy and confident in her world. She has really come into her own. Physically, she is all caught up. We love her smile and her giggle. As long as she can see big sis or me, she feels safe. I need to watch her carefully because she is getting into things these days. She smiles when I say 'nono' and then tries it again!

Happy (11 month) Birthday Mele!

Well, we are doing fabulously as a family of three. Hopefully we will have another great day today, as E is now 11 months old.

Some things she has learned:

To crawl

Downward facing dog pose

To stand with support of mom's legs behind

To listen (somewhat) at story hour

To eat a variety of foods

To wave

To clap

To wiggle to music

To make my needs known

To say 'mama' not sure it means mom - more "I want something badly" or "something is troubling me"

Some daily routines:

Cuddle in bed around 6am with mom and sissy

Big Sis usually gets the first smile of the morning

Wiggle with joy

Mom gets breakfast - steamed egg is E's favorite

Have a bottle

Drop A. off at camp - kids love to see and say hi to E

Do errands with mom or have playtime at home

Nap

Lunch at the kitchen table - refried beans are my favorite

Playtime

Bottle

Pick up big sis

More play or errands

Go to the pool for A's lesson

Dinner

Bath (esp. if potatoes are rubbed in the hair!)

PJs, Story

Bottle

Night-night!

Home for one month today

Note the hand on big sister's leg as they watch a show. I can't believe it is true, but we have been home one month today! My daughter is with us! It seems so completely right, and yet, it also seems like I am used to waiting to go and I can't believe we are already back (I thought today that my elder daughter should not wreck a certain shirt, as I planned for her to wear it in China! OOPs - I do have a cold, but we have ALREADY BEEN to CHINA).
Ellen has made so much progress - she can sit, crawl, get from a lying down position to a sit, she can feed herself, has a reperatoire of quite a few foods she will eat (loves refried beans!). She laughs and squirms with joy when she sees my big girl frolic and she has a certain cry for when she get hurt (MMMMMMMMMA OOOOOOUUUUU MMMMMMMAAA!) Her hair is growing, she has recovered from Giardia and a Staph infection. She has gained a pound, but looks thinner, perhaps due to better muscle tone, and some sun maybe. She has had a visit from her nana, and a three day trip to Grandy's. She can turn on the stereo. She wants to be taken everywhere and has an eager look when I open the door to go out.

I love being home, but feel I left a bit of my heart there in China -if funds and time permitted, I would hop back on the plane for Chongqing again next year! I am also fantasizing about working abroad for a year sometime, perhaps sooner rather than later!