Peace Out!

The boys couldn't help pointing out that Lucy may not be talking yet but the girl already knows her "gang signs." Too funny! We are all so in love with this little girl. She has no idea but she will soon. We have such a loving community of family and friends who are counting down the days to meet her.

We want her to settle in first and get to know her new family and her new house before she meets the masses. Her surroundings over the last year have been very clean and sparse and the people she has been in contact with very few compared to what a baby who is not institutionalized sees daily. It will take some time for her to adjust to all the new in her life so we want to do what we can to make that transition as easy as we can for her.

The first thing adoptive parents are advised to do is make sure the child bonds and attaches to us. This is through meeting all of her basic needs when she needs them - indulging and spoiling with lots of attention, food and love is not an issue with a toddler adoption, it is a necessity. That means that until she shows signs of good attachment, only J. or I will hold , feed and diaper her. I'm sure ya'll are bummed you won't get to jump in to help with that last one! She will have no idea who we are and to show her that we are the parents we have to be the ones to do all the main care taking until we gain her trust and she learns who we are. She may be sad and grieving for her sweet ayi (aunt- caretaker in China) and even though that will be difficult to see her go through, it is a good sign. It means she was attached to her caretaker and can transfer that attachment to us when she is ready. It's a process. And we will help her through it as best we can. We are ready!

Oh, and grandparents, friends and aunties don't worry you will get your turn. We know from her caretakers that Miss Lucy loves to be held and is "very smiley." My mother says she can tell from the pictures that she is quite the flirt. We know she does not liked to be put down to walk! So your time will come.