HOME - 3 months

This last few weeks has been very challenging, but we are seeing some positive progress and the majority of the days are "good" now.  The kids are all getting along better and tolerating each other better.  Gianna is finally on our dental insurance! The school is being so accommodating with Gianna's special circumstances and needs.  We're in a really good place right now.  Our next hurdle is getting school started.  Then we can start getting into the school groove and figuring out how that will work.  Gianna is very excited to go and has seen the building already.  After much deliberation and conversations, she will be in 1st grade.  We are going to work hard to ensure that first of all, it's a positive experience, and second, that she can get the academic help she needs to fill in gaps.  Kian will start preschool a week or so later, and he is very excited as well!  He's excited to have little friends who don't mind him roaring at them!

Some pictures of our summer:

Playing together at the park

looking at the dead moth that Gianna found

swimming!

my adorable Viking children

Gianna found this baby gym in the give-away pile and she played in it for a few days, even slept in it for a few nights!

She had her first dental visit and was so brave.  I told her beforehand that no matter how it went, she would get Anna and Elsa dolls.  She did great and let the dentist poke around her teeth like a champ.

playing hospital

brrrrr

Gianna on a carousel!  I think she even loved it!

A little nervous to ride the horses but did great

We spend a lot of time in the van going to appointments.

releasing her little tree frog friend

this girl is my shining star

another hospital patient. this hospital really cares about creating a pleasantly decorated environment for their patients :)

She went to her developmental appointment dressed as Belle per her request.  I think she actually had less anxiety because of it!

She watched some baby birds in our hanging basket for a couple days, until they flew away.  She brought them little nuts and grasses as gifts.

HOME - excuse the absence!!!

So, we moved!  Turns out, it's a difficulty to get internet to our house.  They had to run a new line, and it's delayed in getting us internet.  Hence, the silence on this blog.  But worry not!  I have not forgotten about this blog, nor do I intend to quit posting.  I have a few minutes at my parent's house after an hour-long email checking session.  So... in the meantime... some pictures!  We are six weeks in and can I just say - what a journey it's been!  Gianna is adjusting remarkably considering all the changes she is experiencing.  There have been bumps and trials, but all are manageable with some late-night ice cream eating, some mommy time-outs, a few bubble baths, and only a pinch of crying in the bathroom.  It's really been good overall.  Our move was smooth and didn't phase the kids any more than the adoption did - maybe just prolonged the transition phase. :)

each "kitty" had their own box

HOME - the first week

So here we are, one week in!  What a week it's been!  Our first few days were chaos but we managed, then the days got easier for a little where everyone played a little better, then it got hard again with everyone feeling the stress.  It wasn't "fun" anymore, and the last few days have been more difficult with whining and tantrums and grumpiness and sadness.  Gianna has had only a few outbursts, mostly just attitude.  She is generally sunny and compliant.  Logan has been the most vocal with lots of crying at night and temper tantrums.  Kian has been sad and felt ignored a lot.  We are honeymooning but everyone is adjusting in their own ways, too.  It's a strange vortex phase.  One huge praise - we hardly had ANY problems with jet lag.  It seriously was a non-deal.  The language barrier is obvious and difficult.  She is already picking up words like; stand, sit, please, hey wait, Logan/Kian don't, blue, kitty, puppy, "come here".  Those are the ones I can think of now.  Those are the ones she uses unprompted from memory.  She repeats a lot of words we say.  I'll be perfectly honest, I can't wait for her to speak English.  I ache so often to communicate with her.  There are times that she is telling me about her previous life with wide eyes and I just have to stare and pray that she tells me again later when I have a video recorder running.  Someday we'll be able to talk and think through things together and I can tell her about how God loves her - all of her, her difficult parts and her lovely parts.  Someday.  Sooner rather than later from what I'm hearing!  We're managing, learning, getting to know one another, figuring this whole thing out.  Day by day, little by little.  Next on the agenda - move to the new house!

the first morning - toys!

my bed!

this bunny!

shoes!

whatever this is!

the first breakfast

the first day.  it felt like babysitting.  "let's get every toy and every costume out and take it back and forth inside and outside and inside and outside!"

our schedule, helps me relay what the plan is for the day

finding things she likes to do

"quiet time".  lol.  welcome to America kiddo!

"Masha and the Bear" is a Russian cartoon and it has given her a welcome break from all the English.  I think it makes her feel comfort in stressful days.

helping Daddy cut strawberries

umbrellas are like the coolest thing apparently, even when it's not raining

learning to play together

"cupatzya"

balloons!