Creeping up on a month home.......

We bypassed our adoption one-month anniversary.... too chaotic to really mark the event, but as we inch ever closer to our one month is the USA  mark.. I see signs of improvement and wonder if my personally dire prediction of issues was premature. So far the tantrums have decreased substantially.. and now we have gone a bunch of days in a row with no really big tantrums. Still a lot of work to do.. tears everyday (except today!) but more recently easily taken care of. I am still running at the end of the popularity contest.. but I am getting better at dealing with it - portraying a confidence that soon things will turn around - I don't always feel.. but must show.


It is hard at times... wanting to help, to mother, to  nurture and make up for the years I wasn't there.. and to be continually rejected. This too shall pass.. I say to myself. It did with the Emperor - and he couldn't be a sweeter or more loving boy.. so I have hope that this will turn out the same.  Here are some fun pics of the kiddos!

Happiness is 3 smiling chillies!

Some holiday silliness with my DH - The Imperial Daddy - and the chillies. I don't think I need to explain much.. they are doing well, happy together and there is plenty of silliness to be had around here these days!!

Slowly but surely trying to get back in the swing of things.. still sort of tired and out of sorts.. but I know reality is quickly approaching (that is I must go back to work soon!) and my usual hectic schedule is about to hit full tilt! I hope I can manage. I love these kiddos.. they are the best thing that ever happened to this family!!

Scenes from our lived life

The kids, as expected, are getting along pretty well. There are the usual bumps along the way.. misunderstandings, toy squabbles, requests for return trips, and in general the noise of siblings, but all in all the kids get along and seem to accept their new sibling with amazing grace. We have some issues to work on - but I still firmly believe that all will be well - though I foresee a few problems... one being the thumbsucking and two being ESP's unwillingness to try to explain her frustrations before she goes full tilt into tantrum. I am trying to give her a vocabulary - and of course she is smart so she knows more than she lets on, but it is coming. She has been somewhat more accepting of me as her mama - but is still definitely a Baba's girl for now. The tantrums HAVE cooled a bit in intensity and frequency - as she understands more and more of her new life. She adores her brother and sister but has learned none of the lessons we have tried so hard to instill in them.. sharing, caring, asking to borrow toys, saying sorry, being polite, etc. But her brother and sister are attempting to teach her (in high pitched squeals if nothing else works!) the basics of getting along and frankly their methods are more effective than my Mom's rationale! She does understand kid-speak!  Anyway some photos of  the new addition in her new habitat!

Home Sweeeeeeeeeet HOME!!!

Well - it was a long and arduous journey home.... made better with friends. I got a bad case of food poisoning.. thank you! Up all night sick as a dog, and who wants to be sick on a long airplane ride? Not me. Vicky took care of Empress Sassy Pants so I could get some rest - that worked out.  Only tantrum in JFK when she had to walk with me through immigration. Rude immigration officer asked ALL the obnoxious questions - how much did you pay, hear they hate boys.. yadda yadda.. but I was so out of it.. I just answered with much less attitude than I might have otherwise. Probably a mixed blessing to be sure.

Once we cleared customs and baggage (1 bag out of 7 lost) we were met with a GANG of friends... it was so welcome at this point. My two chillies ran under the barricade to get some hugs and kisses and never was I so happy to see my chillies. I missed them so much. ESP was happy to see them too. So far we are doing ok - limited tantrums.. thank goodness - but I do not think she is warming up to me much. The next few days are going to be insane!!   Between the holidays (totally NOT prepared!) and getting Miss Sassy prepared for everything.. .well, I have my work cut out for me. And my tummy is NOT behaving very well!!  I am so grateful to have such amazing friends and family!! I am sure things will get better and more settled soon!!

A mostly good day........

I am exhausted so I won't post a lot of words... but we had some issues this morning but then a really good day wandering around the Island... she had a few bad moments but recovered quickly. I am not sure what set her off.. because she has been nagging me about not dressing her in adequate layers.. so I wanted to buy her a coat and she flipped out. It has been 5 Celsius here in Guangzhou  so we really needed much warmer clothes than I prepared.  After she got the coat she was better.. and we went on to have a delightful day Me, the Empress, Vicky, Lauren and Luke!! So here are a few shots of two very cheeky monkeys! By the way - anybody see a love connection happening here?