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Published: August 25th 2005
Status Quo
This has been the look more often than not, unfortunately, but it's been getting better. This pose of sitting on the bed by herself is really unusual!On just the third day, Sarah has already earned a nickname. As if she isn’t already confused enough with the new language and new names (Sarah Michelle, Lai Jing - her new Chinese name), now we’ve gotten to calling her “Ah-boo-boo”! She’s got this incredibly cute manner of bubbling with her lips when she’s pouting. I suppose it’s our way of finding faces in the clouds during a thunderstorm, and this girl sure does rain tears a lot.
Sarah’s still very needy and clingy, and will rarely sit or walk on her own. So, when mama or baba are tired and/or busy, and can’t hold her…she starts to cry. I think it must have been a baby like Sarah who was the object when the term “cry-baby” was first coined! Stacey and I both agree that this little princess has us wrapped around her fingers…or, more accurately, she has us wrapping her up in our arms around the clock!
We know it won’t be this way forever, but since she is still learning to trust us, we’ve got to make sure she knows we’re there for her. We knew going into this that we would be giving her
Caged like an animal
The look from the back seat of a taxi in Changsha. Riding a taxi in China is more scary than any roller coaster. Traffic lights and painted lines are only suggestions in China. an extraordinary amount of attention, and that is exactly what she is getting. Has any other baby in history been smothered this much in cuddles and kisses? Yes, I know, yours was/is!
But beyond the pouting and crying, we’re slowly seeing a side of Sarah that we’ve been longing to see. She loves being outside of the hotel room, and shows a bright and happy side when we’re taking walks, whether it’s down the dark hotel hallway, or among the throngs at Wal-Mart in Changsha. She’s beginning to crack an occasional smile, and showing interest in things (like wallpaper, light switches, decorator rocks and elevator buttons). What’s more, she’s real comfortable around strangers (well, at least around women) and willingly allows herself to be held by them. This is good; mama and baba will need a lot of help when we get back home!
We’ve been listening to Steven Curtis Chapman tonight in the room, and we’ve been reminded of what a precious gift Sarah is, and what a beautiful thing adoption is. There are so many children in this world who need to be held and loved, who’ve been orphaned for one reason or another. We thank
WalMart mommies
Stacey and fellow adoptive mommy Karri. The other woman on the right...I think she just wanted to get in the photo. G for SCC and his mnstry in uniting more parents and kids. If you’re thinking about this…check out his mnstry’s website at www.shaohannahshope.org.
Every day we’re growing wiser as parents, and we’re pretty sure that Sarah is attaching to us more. Every day, we’re seeing progress. Every day we’re thanking the L for little breakthroughs and small successes, like allowing baba to holding her when mama would be so much better. Every day we’re thankful for the strength to go through the day on 5 hours of total sleep. Many thanks to all of you for your comments, emails and suggestions, especially from you parents, medical personnel and children’s specialists! We’re learning, slowly, and we love this journey called parenthood.
Tomorrow morning, we depart very early for Guangzhou, our families’ hometown and home to China’s newest (if not largest) airport. We’ll spend 5 days there (our longest stretch) and complete paperwork at the U.S. consulate. We’re staying at the China Hotel by Marriott, and we hear it’s another great hotel. We hope they have a hot water pot like we have here at the Hua Tian…whoever thought hot water would be such an important thing? We’ve learned to appreciate it as new parents, especially when there’s no microwave.
Blssings to you all, and thanks again for your love and pryrs.
Godfrey & Stacey
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chengs
non-member comment
What a cute pic!
Sarah is so adorable sitting on the bed playing with her toys! Yes, there will be more moments like that, where she will play by herself. But, as you have noted, she just needs to know you love her and will not leave her! We will pr for strength for you and for continuing bonding! Praise Father for small improvements every day! Our family is available when you need help ... just call us!