Peru's Place

Baba and Jingju

2011-11-21T23:54:00.001-05:00

2011-10-05T21:58:00.000-04:00

Freakonomics Prof Talks About Half the Sky

magic foundation for children's growth : Children's Growth Awareness Day

2011-09-29T14:47:00.000-04:00

magic foundation for children's growth : Children's Growth Awareness Day

2011-09-19T22:57:00.001-04:00

From Beihai to Central Park

2011-06-26T09:43:00.001-04:00

We spent the entire day in Central Park so that the girls would have space to play and just be together. They had gotten together the night before in a hotel room. First Jingju and Taylor met. They were a little shy with each other at first. Then Maylea arrived, followed by Yanni and Tessa. Once all five girls were together they completely became themselves and it was total mayhem and silliness. In the small hotel room, they ran, they hid under beds and in closets, they wrestled, and laughed, and got to be friends again.

Central Park is a world all its own within New York City. It was the perfect place for the girls to wander and explore. It was lovely to see them together and to watch my own daughter, the youngest of the five, with her first family again. Every day I feel thankful and lucky to have Jingju in my life. I think over my own history and years of struggle and learning to love myself that led me eventually to Jingju, and the way her path to me began with the day she was found. In the adoption world we talk a lot about the losses our children have had. On this day in the park, my thoughts turned to the other side of loss... of finding. I find myself everyday in loving Jingju.

Left to right: Jingju, Tessa, Yanni

Tessa and Yanni

Left to right: Taylor, Yanni, Mayleea

Left to right: Sandra, Jingju, Tessa

Mayleea and Taylor

Tessa and Jingju

Beihai Little Sisters Reunion

2011-06-24T10:05:00.001-04:00

Jingju and I are in New York City for a reunion with her "Little Sisters" from her orphanage in Beihai. Tessa (Jinghuan) and Yanni (Yanlan) are coming again, but Jingju will also be seeing two other friends, Mayleea (Yonghua) and Taylor (Caihong), who she hasn't seen since she left China two years ago. The girls will be getting together tonight at their hotel to get reacquainted. Pictures to come...

Picture from SWI of Wuzhou where the girls were prior to Beihai.
Front row far right is Taylor (Caihong), Middle row 2nd from right is Jingju, 4th from right is Mayleea (Yonghua), 6th from right is Tessa (Jinghuan), and 5th from right is Yanni (Yanlan) I think this is correct.

2011-05-01T23:22:00.000-04:00

Together But Apart

2011-02-21T23:00:00.006-05:00

When we planned our adoption of Jingju we thought long and hard about how she might be effected by her father having multiple sclerosis. For many reasons, we came to the conclusion that we should go ahead. We were perhaps a bit pollyannaish in our outlook, but when we considered the life Jingju might have in China and the possibility she might never have a family, we felt that all the things we could provide; family, love, safety, our guidance, an education, outweighed the challenges of Kevin's illness.

We knew that Kevin would become more disabled, but we never imagined his MS would progress so quickly. Just before Christmas, Kevin got sick with what for most would have been a minor infection. For him, it landed him in the hospital because it doesn't take much to exacerbate his MS symptoms. He got better medically, but as with all his hospitalizations, he needed rehab to regain his strength. Kevin has been at a rehab facility since New Years, but he has not made the progress he needs to make in order to live safely at home. Our insurance company has refused to cover more rehab at this point. The outpatient coverage we get for visiting home care services is not adequate to keep Kevin safe or comfortable while I am away at work all day. Kevin and I met with his care team last Friday, and we all agreed that it is time for Kevin to go into long term care. This is a very sad time for us, but especially for Kevin. It's so hard for him to be away from Jingju.

So how is Jingju? As I've said before about her, it's difficult to always tell how Jingju is feeling on the inside. On the outside, she is almost always happy, inquisitive, and fearless. A few weeks ago as we were walking down the hall to visit Kevin, Jingju spontaneously said, "I don't think Daddy should come home." I asked her why, and she said "because he's safe here." All these months I've had to collect myself before opening the door when I'd get home, bracing myself for what I might find; Kevin slumped over asleep in some precarious position on the couch, or worse, on the floor among broken bits of glass from a plate he dropped. I've assumed that Jingju has had the same anxieties, but it was hard to tell. When Kevin did fall, she was always there being sweet and sometimes humorous, for example taking advantage of his compromised position to use him as a chair or pony. I suppose we both hid our fear to be strong for each other.

Jingju does voice that she misses her daddy, and I think as is typical of a seven year old, she's concerned about what this all is going to mean for her? The questions she asks are about where are we going to live (with my parents for a awhile), and where will my bed go, and can I bring my Teddy bear? I am more than ever now trying to create a sense of safety for Jingju by keeping her routine going, and communicating our plans in advance so she knows what to expect each day, and in the near future. We talk with Kevin every morning on our drive to school, and at night he calls in (soon Skyping) to listen in on bedtime stories and to say goodnight. We visit about 3 days a week, and usually have a meal together. Sometimes we take Kevin out to eat at a restaurant or we go to a movie. Jingju also gets some father/daughter time because I can now leave Kevin alone with her knowing that she is safe. The nursing home has a rec room with air hockey and a pool table, so Jingju loves to hang out there. A few weeks ago I started keeping some books, games, and art supplies in Kevin's room so he can have activities to do with Jingju when we visit. And Miss Jingju has made herself a friend of everyone in the place, beginning with the receptionist with whom she practices telling time as she enters our names in the visitor's log. She has a fan in Kevin's roommate who calls her "Bright Eyes," and she rides around the place on Kevin's lap waving to everyone. They have a rule at the nursing home that children are not allowed to be quiet. So it's a very welcoming place for Jingju, and she is very comfortable in the setting.

I am reinforcing all the time to Jingju that we are still a family and that her father isn't dying. I'm trying whenever possible to defer to Kevin when opportunities to discipline Jingju arise to emphasize that he is still involved in her parenting. There are some positive aspects to our new situation, which is that since Kevin has been getting more support in his personal care, he's more alert and has more energy when we spend time with him. I am less stressed and therefore have more energy as well. I am looking forward to being able to be more of a wife and less of a caregiver, and a better parent to Jingju.

Our work now is to establish a new normal family life.

Proud New Citizen

2011-02-17T21:18:00.000-05:00

A Snowy Day

2011-01-13T00:20:00.000-05:00

To Be By Your Side

2010-12-27T23:15:00.017-05:00

Here we go again...

Halloween

2010-11-01T02:52:00.000-04:00


Zebras are African equids best known for their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals and can be seen in small harems to large herds. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and asses, zebras have never been truly domesticated. It's our second halloween with Jingju. This year she chose to be a zebra. Well, she had really wanted to be a snow leopard so she could wear a mask that we'd gotten her at the Bronx Zoo, however, snow leopard pajamas were no where to be found... well, not until after I'd found zebra leggings and had commited to buying a zebra tail online. In the end, she was quite happy.

Ups and Downs

2010-09-24T23:07:00.001-04:00

It's hard for me to believe that Jingju has been with us for only 18 months. It's as if at the last moment I slipped under the wire to become a mother--grabbed my last chance, and somehow was given this incredible child to love. My life has changed immeasurably, with a consequent shifting of priorities, with attention turned outside myself, with a daunting sense of responsibility to provide for Jingju on so many levels, and the hope that I don't mess it up too badly. I've noticed time is also changing, moving more quickly, reminding me to live as well and thoughtfully as I can. I find myself thinking about mortality and catch myself doing math on my fingers...I'll be 60 when Jingju is 18... or, yes, I could live to see Jingju turn 30... and running down the list in my head of people who will be there for her to support her after I'm gone. My husband's Multiple Sclerosis refuses to take a holiday, and he's had two surgeries in the last month. So, the role I play of Mother is always sharing the spot light with my other role as a well spouse. Of the latter role, I could devote a whole other blog to the subject, and perhaps I will at some point. But this is about Jingju, and I bring it up now to reassure readers here, and more importantly myself, that I am mindful of the impact Kevin's illness has on Jingju, in the now and months and years to come.

Last weekend we went to a festival at a local park. On this day, this family outing felt like something of a small victory. That we got to the park at all, and that Kevin was able to come with us was no simple feat. But we made it, and seeing Jingju having so much fun was worth the strain and stress it took to get us there.

I like this video because it shows how fearless and strong Jingju is. She has already had to cope with so much in her young life, and yet, she has such a resilient and brave spirit. I have no doubt she will get herself through her life no matter what the challenges.

Little Sisters

2010-08-15T02:22:00.005-04:00

Yanni, one of Jingju's little sisters from her orphanage, came to visit with her mother this weekend. Yanni has been home just a year and hasn't seen Jingju since last December when Jingju, Yanni, and Tessa had a reunion in New York City. These photos are of Jingju and Yanni building boats and then launching them at the museum where Jingju has been going to camp this summer. I've never seen Jingju so relaxed and natural playing with another child. There it was, the bond of sisterhood that held these girls together and defined their first family. How hard it must have been for them to say goodbye in China--to leave a family of sisters to follow a wish to have a family in which they would be daughters.

What joy, to see them today, sisters still, daughters now.

Maintaining

2010-08-07T12:45:00.002-04:00

Kevin was in the hospital again. He's OK, and now he's recuperating at an inpatient rehab facility getting physical therapy. We thought he'd be there only a week, thinking our insurance wouldn't cover a longer stay, but surprisingly, he's getting more time, which he needs. It was hard for Kevin to make the decision to stay and work on building his strength back. He so wants to be home for Jingju's birthday celebration tomorrow and our anniversary today. But if he doesn't return to his previous level of ability through physical therapy, we will then be living with a new level of disability.

Jingju seems to be holding up pretty well. And of course now she's completely focused on her birthday. Her behavior has been a little regressed... baby talk mostly. Jingju has never really liked to play with dolls, but ever since baba went into the hospital, she's been carrying her American Girl doll with her everywhere we go and my bed has been taken over by Jingju, an owl, 2 bears, and one of the Pleasant Goats. I'm trying to keep us to a schedule, but with visits to the hospital, karate classes, camp, my work schedule, not to mention grocery and birthday shopping, and general household maintenance, it's been a challenge. If I've learned anything in the 16 months since I became a parent, it's the importance of a routine. I think both Jingju and I are running on empty right now. I have also renewed my vow to limit Jingju's sugar intake!

Jingju has been able to get some quality time alone with her baba because he's staying on a hospital floor of a hotel that's linked to a medical center. I was able to leave her with him for a few hours the other night so I could go off and order the birthday cake. They had dinner together, read some stories, and watched a movie. She'll do the same with him today so I can get more secret errands done, and on Sunday after Jingju's party, we'll bring mama and baba's presents to the hotel so Kevin can be a part of the celebration. Right now, I'm plotting to figure a way to sneak her big surprise present into his hotel room. Stay tuned...

And I want to say thank you to Wanda, Jingju's camp counselor, who basically planned Jingju's party for me. Last week I had only told Jingju that we were celebrating her birthday on Sunday, August 8th (her b-day is Aug 10th). I had no idea at the time what I was going to do. I picked her up from camp on Monday, and Wanda asked me what time the party was. Party? What party? Yeah, she says, "Jingju invited me, and she invited Josh and Anthony too." With that, a party at a local bowling alley was conceived, with Wanda guiding me on all the finer points of planning a party for 6-8 year-olds. The next day when I picked Jingju up from camp, she handed me invitations that she and Jingju and other staff had hand made. "And you'll need grab bags, go to the dollar store," says Wanda. Now, I have always been a party thrower extraordinaire, but the current amount of multi-tasking I have on my plate has really got me beat. So Wanda, thank you, thank you, I think Jingju will have a great birthday. Thank you too, to my friends and family, for caring about me and checking in with me. I woke up today thinking for the first time in weeks, I can get through this, and I can get Jingju through this too.

2010-07-31T20:12:00.001-04:00

Goodbye Peru

2010-06-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

We had to make the very difficult decision to end Peru's life yesterday. He'd battled Chronic Renal Failure for six years, and yesterday, he survived a very violent seizure. We didn't want him to ever go through another one. Kevin and I were with him as he went very gently and peacefully out of this life. He was my sweet and constant friend for 20 years. He was my katze, my Peru. I miss him terribly.

January 21, 1990 -- June 25, 2010

Art-a-Thon for Half the Sky

2010-06-18T18:12:00.006-04:00

Jingju and I are participating in an Art-a-Thon for Half the Sky. Jingju will be drawing a picture to raise money for the children still waiting in welfare institutions in China.

You know how much I care about Half the Sky. I've been involved with Half the Sky now for some time and together we are enriching the lives and enhancing the prospects for orphaned children in China. Half the Sky establishes and operates infant nurture and preschool programs, provides personalized learning for older children and establishes loving permanent foster care, medical care and guidance for children with disabilities.

I believe that every orphaned child must have a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future. I know this is something you care about too.

In celebration of International Children's Day, I am participating in the Art in our heARTs: Art-a-Thon for Half the Sky. This month, Jingju will be creating an art masterpiece to raise money for the children still waiting in China's welfare institutions for their forever families.

I have set a personal goal to raise $600.00 in donations. I need your help in order to reach my goal! Please join me in supporting this very important cause by sponsoring Jingju's unique artistic efforts. You can sponsor her in just a few minutes on my personal fundraising page. It's easy and secure and you can see my progress towards achieving my goal.

Please follow this link to make a contribution to Half The Sky

Here's a slide show I posted over a year ago when we were waiting for Jingju

We are forever grateful to Half The Sky for the quality care and education that Jingu
received. Please follow this link and give to this organization that is making an incredible
contribution to the lives of waiting children. Thank you.

Post Shrek III

2010-06-07T23:56:00.000-04:00

Baby, Baby, Baby, Ohhhhhhhh

2010-06-03T01:22:00.002-04:00

It all started when Jingju asked me if she could go to his house.

My World 2.0

Skateboard Girl

2010-05-06T00:02:00.012-04:00

Well, it was love at first sight. Jingju met an older girl with a skateboard at CASPY a few weeks ago and fell in love with skateboarding. I'm learning that Jingju has no fear, and is probably going to give me years of worry. When I found out that Jingju's new friend was coming again for a visit and wanted to see Jingju and give her one of her old skateboards, I immediately went out and bought enough padding to cover every vulnerable inch of her body. She now has the skateboard, and couldn't be happier.

Jingju at CASPY with her new friend on a skateboard for the first time.

Jingju with her new friend and her big sibling (right) at CASPY

Jingju & Co.

Last weekend, flying solo.
I did ask Jingju's friend to teach her how to stop the next time she visits.

Dumplings Play Group

2010-05-05T16:51:00.009-04:00

Jingju had a wonderful experience this year going to her Dumplings play group. Dumplings was developed by China Care for adopted Chinese children and their families. It's run by a wonderful group of student volunteers who put together activities to raise our children's awareness and appreciation for their Chinese language and cultural heritage.

This is Maylene, playing the Chinese lute with Jingju and her little friend. Jingju is so good with younger children. Maylene has also been Jingju's big sibling at the Chinese Adopted Siblings Program For Youth-- CASPY,
which is a biannual cultural day for families with Chinese adopted children.

The students cooked a delicious goodbye dinner and hosted a banquet for us in the dining hall of their dorm to end out the year. After dinner, Jingju wandered outside to the court yard where some students were playing volley ball. Leave it to Jingju to put herself right into the middle of the game. The students were so generous and kind to her.

Half The Sky (again)

2010-05-04T16:39:00.016-04:00

In April, we received the completed translation from Chinese to English of Jingju's Half The Sky Memory book. We are so, so thankful that Jingju was in an orphanage with a Half The Sky program. For those who don't know about Half the Sky, here's a program description from their website:

In the Little Sisters Preschools, Half the Sky-trained teachers use a unique and progressive curriculum that blends principles of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education with contemporary Chinese teaching methods. The program is designed not only to prepare the children (2-7years) to succeed in Chinese schools, but also to help develop the “whole child”, to help her attain the positive sense of self so often missing in institutionalized children.

Special areas are designed for art projects, music, reading, imaginary play and developing motor skills. Teachers build on the approach fostered in the infant nurture program by getting to know each child’s individual interests and developing curriculum and projects based on those interests.

All Half the Sky preschool teachers are university or normal school (teacher’s college)-educated in China and also undergo Half the Sky training which includes an emphasis on documenting each child’s progress – creating a personal history and permanent record for children who do not have a family to mark their milestones and achievements.

Here are some examples of pages from Jingju's book:

November 24, 2005
The walls of the classroom are plastered with many pictures of the children doing activities. Jingju really likes to look at them. Every time we put new pictures up, she would excitedly look at all of them and talk about them. She can name all the people in the pictures. But she still lacks the ability to express and communicate what people are doing in the pictures. One day, Minqin and Jingju were looking at pictures together. Jingju named all the people in the pictures.
Minqin: “Here. Juju is in the picture. Look, what were you doing here?” (She couldn’tsee the picture too clearly)
Ju: “Shi de. Juju ah! Juju.”35 (She pointed at herself in the picture and repeated her name, but couldn’t say anything else).

35 “Yes. Juju Ah! Juju.”

November 16, 2007
Today was Ju’s first time playing in the inflatable palace. She was very excited as she quickly took off her shoes and climbed into the palace. She bounced happily inside, and played with all the different stuffed animals. Ju took great advantage of every corner, and had a blast. In the end she made herself collapse onto the cushioned floor of the palace,which made her bounce back up. She laughed out loud and continued playing. She was in such good spirits.

Here's a great story from Half The Sky about one of Jingju's teachers.

Can you pick Jingju, Yanni, and Tessa out in the picture?

Gotcha Day

2010-03-31T02:05:00.017-04:00

03/30/2010

A year ago today, I woke up in a hotel room in China, thinking about how in a few hours my life would be profoundly changed. I remember wondering, where is Jingju right now? Is she scared? Does she understand what's happening? How will we understand each other? What if she doesn't like me? I had until 3 o'clock to wonder and worry about this decision I'd made to adopt, become a parent, be responsible for another human being in such an irrevocable way. I spent the morning wandering around the People's Park with butterflies in my stomach.

In the afternoon, we drove to another hotel to meet Jingju. I walked into the lobby, and right away spotted two young women with a scared looking little girl in clothes I vaguely recognized because I had sent them in a care package weeks earlier. Hannah, my guide, kept walking and I followed her into the elevator. I didn't look back at the little girl and I wasn't sure if she had realized that I was the woman she was coming to meet. I had to wait in a room with Hannah and my travel companion for only a few minutes when Jingju walked in with her nanny. I've decided to show the video of our meeting because I remember how helpful it was to follow the experiences of other families while I was waiting for Jingju. I had so many questions and fears about adopting an older child. Jingju was 5 1/2 years old and had lived in an orphanage her whole life. I couldn't fathom the changes and losses she was about to face. As the video shows, Jingju seemed dazed and unsure. Yet she seemed to be surrendering herself to her future. She was so brave. The moment when her nanny said goodbye and left was heartbreaking. At the same time, I was relieved to see Jingju cry because it meant she'd had an attachment with her nanny, which meant she was likely to be able to make an attachment with us, her new family. I was also relieved to see that she had clearly been loved.

My bonding with Jingju was a slow and gradual process. It felt so odd to me each time my guide instructed Jingju not to refer to me as "her" in Chinese, but to call me "mama." I understood why Hannah was working on this with Jingju and I appreciated that she enabled Jingju's understanding that I was her caregiver. Still, I kept thinking, "why should she call me "mother?" We soon started to laugh and play together, and after the first few days, Jingju started to make a real effort at learning English. We had our routines like having breakfast together and washing up for bed, and games, like counting the elevator buttons. Jingju was the keeper of the room key card and she loved to run ahead to open the door. Little by little, I think these activities helped us to form the beginnings of a connection between us.

Jingju's baba and I had had some worries about her bonding with him because he was unable to come with me to China. Kevin has multiple sclerosis and he uses a power wheelchair. Jingju and I Skyped with him daily, which helped her to begin to make a relationship with him. We also had concerns about how Jingju would react to his disability and seeing him in his wheelchair. I had our guide in Guangzhou explain to Jingju a little bit about her father's condition. Kevin was at the airport to meet us upon our return home. When Jingju approached him, Kevin asked her, "can I have a hug?' and she climbed into his lap and hugged him. My first hug from Jingju didn't come until a few weeks later at Easter, but boy was it worth waiting for! Jingju and Kevin have a lovely relationship now and she is so funny and sweet with him.

When I think back now to those first days, I think how incredible and mysterious it was, the mutual unfolding of our trust, and love for each other. We are still in that process, but now we have the ability to know to some degree what Jingju is thinking and feeling. She is starting to have conversations with us about her adoption. She still has night terrors from time to time, and moments of regressed or testing behaviors. Overall, she is doing beautifully. She's in Kindergarten and loves learning and does very well. She's making friends, and she seems genuinely happy most of the time. I am grateful for her every day.
Happy Gotcha Day, darling daughter.

I will never forget the muffin. Hannah brought Jingju this banana nut bread muffin. I don't know if Hannah knew it would be soothing for Jingju to have something to eat, but it was genius. The muffin was quite large, and Jingju held it in her little hand, and nibbled it for hours.

Easy Rider

2010-03-07T22:37:00.014-05:00

I woke up this morning with the idea to take Jingju to the park to try riding her bike without the training wheels. The sun was finally out and we'd all been cooped up indoors for far too long. Jingju wasn't sure at first if she was ready, but brave girl that she is, she agreed to give it a try. I removed the wheels and we practiced for about fifteen minutes with me running along side her holding her at the waist to keep her from tipping. She was giggling a lot and struggling with staying balanced, and I was beginning to think that she wasn't going to be able to collect herself to pedal on her own. Then at once, she seemed to be leaning less on me and I lightened my hold on her. "OK mom, let go" she said, and so I did, and so she went... and went... and went. It was really quite a magical moment when I realized she wasn't going to stop and she wasn't going to fall. There had been an elderly couple watching us from a park bench and I could hear them cheering and clapping, and Jingju was squeaking with laughter. I stopped running after her and just watched her knowing that she was going to be OK. I had a fleeting moment of the awareness of the thought, "she doesn't need me," a thought I know I shall experience again and again as my amazing girl takes on her life.

I've been struggling in recent months with a kind of low grade melancholy. I think with Jingju's arrival I've been brought back through an accounting of my own childhood and am grieving time lost. I've come a bit late in life into the role I've always wanted most for myself. To be a mother. It almost didn't happen at all. And now, here's this child, who thankfully, radiates with self-confidence and courage, and I am so relieved for her. And then there's another awareness I have--that for the first 5 1/2 years of her life, Jingju had no mother or father to applaud her or encourage her or console her. When Jingju first came home and I would say, "Wo ai ni" (I love you), I was speaking her native language, but I had the sense that the meaning of the words was foreign to her. When I kissed her goodnight tonight, I told her how amazed I was that she was able to ride her bike so well today. She responded with, "I love you mommy," which I interpreted as "I love you for loving me," and that seems just right.

I don't know why my videos are showing up black, but click on them, they do work.

Kitchen Dance

2010-02-19T23:25:00.004-05:00

Home 10 Months

2010-01-28T13:45:00.011-05:00

Jingju has been home ten months now, and in that time, she's grown almost 4 inches and 3 shoe sizes. She's lost 4 baby teeth. She can count to 100 by ones, fives, and tens. She's learned how to interact with dogs and cats. She's made friends. Every now and then I find myself just marveling at Jingju's progress adapting to her new life; the subtle ways she's caught on to American culture, claimed her environment, and to my relief, she's making attachments with me, her baba, and her family.

Happy Birthday Peru!

2010-01-21T22:44:00.018-05:00

Peru is 20 today. In human years that's 97. It's really incredible because he's had chronic renal failure for years. He's had several episodes when we thought we'd lost him, but he keeps bouncing back. He still seems to enjoy his life, wants to be in our laps all the time, and now we think he's made it his business to be a nanny to Jingju.

Here Jingju is quoting two of her favorite movies;
Wall-e, and well, the other is obvious.

Whispers.

Jingju is referring to a birthday card Peru received from his doctor,
and all the other doctors and staff at our veterinary hospital. They
are as amazed as we are that he's still with us!

Ant Farm

2010-01-18T22:21:00.010-05:00

This is the coolest ant farm. We got it for Jingju for Christmas, but just set it up yesterday. It's based upon a 2003 NASA Space Shuttle experiment to study animal life in space and test how insects-ants, successfully tunnel in microgravity. It's filled with a gel that's complete with nutrients to promote healthy growth in the ant colony, and means you never have to give the ants food or water. It also lights up! It's available at Amazon.

Saying Goodbye Again

2009-12-31T22:54:00.016-05:00

We all walked to Grand Central where the girls said there goodbyes and Jingju and I got on a train to go back to Connecticut. Tessa and Yanni and their moms flew back to Florida later in the day. But first, we stopped for a last lunch together.

Jingju

Jingju and Yanni

Jingju, Yanni, Tessa

Yanni and Tessa

Our three days in New York went by so fast. We didn't get to all the activities we had planned. It seemed more important for the girls to just have time to be together. Jingju got to see some of NYC and went to her first Broadway musical (The Lion King). Mostly she laughed and giggled, and sang, and danced with her friends. Every time I looked at her, she was just beaming. Jingju and I were the first to leave and everyone walked us to Grand Central to say goodbye. The girls said their goodbyes on the train, and so ended Jingju's very special reunion with her Beihai sisters.

Jingju

Sandra, Allison, Tessa, Jingju, Yanni

It's hard to say goodbye

Getting Ready To Say Goodbye Again

2009-12-31T22:27:00.050-05:00

Jingju, Tessa, Yanni

Tessa and Jingju

Jingju

Yanni

Yanni and Jingju

Yanni


Tessa, Jingju, Sandra

Jingju and Tessa

Jingju


Sandra, Tessa, Lisa, Jingju, Allison, Yanni

Playing At The Plaza Hotel

2009-12-31T21:15:00.003-05:00

Tea at the Plaza

Grand Central Station

2009-12-31T21:03:00.003-05:00

Santa and her reindeer.

5th Avenue

2009-12-31T20:36:00.006-05:00

A walk along 5th Avenue and a visit to Rockefeller Plaza.

Getting Reacquainted

2009-12-31T20:13:00.005-05:00

All Together Now

2009-12-31T19:15:00.004-05:00

And Yanni makes three!

Surprise!

2009-12-31T15:35:00.005-05:00

First Jingju and Tessa met in the hotel lobby. Jingju decided to hide under a pile of pillows to surprise Tessa.

Jingju and her baba with Tessa

Jingju hanging out in the hotel room

Tessa and Jingju

Together again!!!

2009-12-31T14:27:00.006-05:00


From Jingju's Half The Sky Memory Book

Jingju, Tessa (Jing Huan or Huan Huan), and Yanni finally got to see each other again in New York City. For those of you who don't know, the girls all lived in the same orphanage and were best friends. They even shared a bed together. I've been having Jingju's memory book from Half The Sky translated and Tessa is mentioned often. Here's an excerpt that explains the picture above:

5.07.06

During freeplay, Jingju took a doll out of the doll’s crib and climbed into it herself. Jinghuan saw her and wanted to climb in with her. Jingju objected, however, and continuously pushed Jinghuan away. Huanhuan thought about it and then decided not to push the matter. She found a little chair and placed it next to Jingju, bringing along some other toys as well. Jingju used a toy shovel and pretended to feed Jinghuan from a toy bucket. Huanhuan’s banana accidentally fell underneath her chair. Jingju worried shouts, “Sister! Huan a! Huan a!” Huanhuan lay on the chair and tried to retrieve her banana but because she couldn’t reach it because her arms were too short, she also started shouting “ah! Ah!” The teacher helped Huanhuan retrieve her banana but Huanhuan was already inconsolable and in tears. Jingju immediately stood up and patted the doll bed with her hand, meaning to let Huanhuan sit in the doll bed and play. When Huanhuan understood Jingju’s intentions, she sat in the doll bed, calmed down, and started playing with Jingju again.

Christmas Morning

2009-12-31T11:59:00.004-05:00

Jingju had a lovely first Christmas. On Christmas eve we set out a plate of cookies for Santa. Jingju added a Snickers bar (left over from Halloween) and a gift wrapped picture she had colored. I was tracking Santa's whereabouts on my iphone, and when the estimated time of arrival read "Soon, go to bed now!", I had no trouble getting Jingju into bed. It was a wonderful next day, with Jingju's Waipo (maternal grandmother, her uncle, and great aunt visiting. Jingju loved her gifts. I think her favorite, was a guitar. My gift, this year, and every year to come, is Jingju. I will never understand the mystical energies of the universe that brought this incredible child to me. To quote Maria from the Sound of Music, "Somewhere in my youth, or childhood, I must have done something good."

First Snow

2009-12-19T23:39:00.003-05:00

We waited all day for the snow- Jingju's first snow. It was supposed to come at noon. We had canceled plans to travel to a family event, and prepared to be snowed in for the day. The doplar maps showed heavy snow throughout our State, but it was nowhere to be seen. The weather man explained that the air was so dry, the snow was evaporating before it came into sight. Once enough snow was in the atmosphere to make enough moisture, the snow began to fall to the ground. We had promised Jingju that we'd let her go out to see the snow no matter what time it came. It came at 10pm. So here is Jingju in her Tinkerbell pajamas in the middle of the night experiencing her first snow.

Art Show

2009-12-13T11:19:00.006-05:00

Jingju has been drawing much more since she started kindergarten.

Our House

Boy King

Snowman

Green Hair Boy

Queen With Ghost Tee Shirt

Queen With Ghost Tee Shirt And Glasses

3 Bump Girl

Star Face

Spirited Away

2009-12-12T01:05:00.004-05:00

I'm so in love with this film. We've been having a Hayao Miyazaki film fest lately. Jingju was a little scared by Spirited Away, but loved Ponyo and Kiki's Delivery Service.

On Ice

2009-12-12T00:24:00.003-05:00

In the last week Jingju saw snow,

went ice skating, met Santa,

decorated our Christmas Tree,

and sang Jingle Bells all for the very first time.

Thanks CASPY!

2009-11-15T22:30:00.001-05:00

Dumplings

2009-11-07T22:19:00.018-05:00

Jingju recently started going to a playgroup called Dumplings run by Yale China Care and a wonderful group of Yale students.

From their website:
"China Care is an organization that supports children living in Chinese orphanages as well as families living in the U.S. who have adopted children from China. Through its various programs, the group takes a proactive approach to providing greater opportunities for Chinese orphans, primarily through care, interaction, and education. China Care advocates for children in Chinese orphanages, assisting where possible in matching them with families in the United States. Furthermore, the group fundraises to help meet the cost of surgeries and medical care for orphaned Chinese children with disabilities. For more information regarding the organization, please visit their website."

Jingju has attended three Dumplings playgroups so far. At her first playgroup she played Chinese jump rope and learned to write Chinese characters. At another, the focus was on Chinese hair styles. Today Jingju learned how to make Dumplings. More and more I'm discovering how adept Jingju is with her hands. She watched a demonstration of how to fill and fold the dumpling wrappers, and then duplicated them beautifully as pictured above.

Dumplings Staff

Pixie Hollow

2009-11-02T21:48:00.009-05:00

Introducing Tinkerbell and Her First Halloween

2009-11-01T08:49:00.012-05:00

It couldn't have been a better Halloween for Jingju. First she had a wonderful day at school on Friday. She participated in a school performance with her kindergarten class and sang a pumpkin song. Then all the lower grades paraded in costume down the sidewalk around the school. On Halloween, we went to a town that hosts a wonderful children's event. Main Street gets closed off to traffic and all the residents come out in costume for a big parade. Afterwards, there's lots of milling about, free popcorn and cider, and music from the Fife and Drum Corps. We got to town early so that Jingju could do her trick or treating and we walked along a beautiful street with grand houses overlooking the river. Jingju got the hang of things quickly after a little initial shyness. She yelled "Trick or Treat" and remembered her "Thank Yous," and delighted as her green pumpkin pail filled with candies. It was a long day and a bit of a long drive home, with Tinkerbell fast asleep in her car seat. Once home, I placed the sleeping pixie on her father's lap, and up she rode in the elevator and into our apartment. I helped her into bed and tucked her in. When I kissed her goodnight she said, "Mom, thank you for my Halloween."

Kung Fu

2009-10-18T09:01:00.010-04:00

Jingju is taking a martial arts class at her Chinese school on Sundays. She's a little lukewarm to it, but goes willingly. They got their uniforms last week and I had hoped that might get her more excited.

Then I found out the Shaolin Warriors were in town:

After the performance, Jingju did Kung Fu moves all
the way back to the car. She has her class later today, so
I'm curious to see if she enjoys it more now. I was so sure
when I signed her up that she would love it. So we'll see.
If not, we'll try another sport or maybe dance. I'm crossing
my fingers for Kung Fu, however. I think Jingju would
make a fierce Shaolin Warrior. I wonder if the monks will
accept girls?

Future Shaolin Warrior

2009-10-05T22:37:00.006-04:00

In Which
We Are Introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and Some Bees,
and the Stories Begin

Jingju was a bit not well tonight with a touch of a fever. I put her to bed early, and because she was a not too bouncy sort of girl (she often is at bedtime), I thought to read her Winnie-the-Pooh for the first time. I wasn't sure if she'd love the silly old bear, since you never can tell with little girls. Well, she lay very, very still and listened very carefully. She was properly giggly at the at the giggly parts and nicely sleepy at the ending part. I would have liked to have read on to Pooh Goes Visiting and Gets Into a Tight Spot, but little girls with colds need to get their sleep. So, tomorrow we will visit the 100 Aker Wood again and meet the rest of Pooh's friends. I think she'll like that. I think she's that sort of girl...a girl who like bears and humming hums, and reciting tiddely poms.

Grace and Hope for Children

2009-10-04T10:24:00.005-04:00

Jingju walked past the stores filmed in this video on her way to school every day.

Visit Grace and Hope for Children.

Candied Apples

2009-09-27T00:17:00.006-04:00

We took Jingju to her first agricultural fair.

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A Flying Wilenda

Language Loss

2009-09-20T07:32:00.015-04:00

I have been a little sad this week for Jingju, who can't communicate very well with her two good friends from her orphanage. I want to recommend an article, Abrupt Language Loss in International Adoptees, to any parents waiting to adopt or recently home. I'm not sure what more we could have done at the time to help Jingju retain her Chinese; she stopped speaking it almost immediately. In China, I tried to speak Chinese to her, and she would understand me, but reply by nodding or using what little English she had learned. She spoke brief sentences and mostly one word answers to our guides when they tried to talk with her. When we got home, we took her to Chinese restaurants and Asian groceries weekly, so she could talk with people, but again, she didn't speak much, and didn't always seem to understand people speaking to her. I purchased Chinese CDs and DVDs while in China, and Jingju watched and listened to them frequently for weeks after coming home. She even sang along with the Chinese children's songs I regularly played, and still play, when driving in the car. I also would try to get Jingju to teach me words in Chinese and she would refuse. She just seemed to want nothing to do with speaking Chinese. We think Jingju was mostly speaking a Cantonese dialect even though Mandarin is what's spoken in the schools. This may have been a big part of the problem. Her dialect is a completely different language from Mandarin.

At the same time, Jingju was learning English quite rapidly. The article talks about cumulative cognitive deficits that can worsen when language development in the native language was already weak. Fortunately, we don't think Jingju is having any problem of this kind. The article makes recommendations about how to foster new language learning and points out the responsibility schools have to provide special education services besides ESL alone. We have enrolled Jingju in Chinese school and she started last week. She now seems to very much want to speak Chinese. Perhaps she's motivated by finding her old friends from her orphanage. I'm hoping she can relearn her Chinese as quickly as she's learned English. It may even be like learning a new language, since she's taking Mandarin Chinese, and we're really not sure how much Mandarin she was speaking in China. Kevin and I are sitting in on classes with Jingju so we can reinforce speaking at home. The article doesn't talk about how to reacquire language once it's lost.

Textbook For Chinese School


Characters Jingju wrote in China. Her name is repeated bottom left.

More characters.

Social Welfare Institute Of Beihai City

2009-09-19T11:24:00.008-04:00

A few more pictures of Jingju, Tessa, and Yan Lan in China.

Top Picture: Left Yan Lan, right Jingju.

Middle Picture: Jingju in pink, Yan Lan opposite Jingju leaning on the cart. Tessa bringing up the rear looking at the shelves.

Bottom Picture: Left to right, Yan Lan, Tessa, unknown child, Jingju. The woman is Jingju's ayi (nanny).

Another Friend Found!

2009-09-19T08:43:00.008-04:00

Another friend from Jingju's orphanage has been found! Last week, my friend, Sandra, who adopted Tessa (Jing Huan) from Jingju's SWI contacted me with information about a little girl recently adopted through her adoption agency. The little girl, Yan Lan, was missing her friends who were adopted before her
terribly and asked her mother, "how can we ever find them? We don't have their addresses." Through the power of the internet, and in a matter of hours, Yan Lan has been reunited with her good friend Tessa who lives just 2 hours away from her in Florida. In December, both Yan Lan and Tessa will come to New York City to meet up with Jingju. Jingju was very excited to speak with Yan Lan on the telephone. Jingju is really unable to speak any Chinese after 6 months in America, and Yan Lan, who has only been in the US a month, is still speaking mostly Chinese. Even though they couldn't really understand each other, Jingju was happy to hear her old friend's voice. Jingju started Chinese school last Sunday and we're hoping that with time, she'll be able to recover her original language.

These pictures are from the Half The Sky memory books of all three girls.

1st Day Of Kindergarten

2009-09-05T10:58:00.006-04:00

Jingju had her first day of school yesterday. She had been a little apprehensive the week leading up to school starting, but she got up nicely in the morning and put her school uniform on without a fuss. That was a little hurdle as Jingju doesn't like to wear skirts or dresses and she didn't much like the uniform in general. I was allowed to walk with her to her classroom, but parents were quickly dismissed by her teacher. When I last looked at her, Jingju had a bit of a shell shocked look on her face, much like the look I saw when she first walked into the room to meet me on Gotcha Day. When I picked her up, Jingju was a much happier girl. She came running out of the classroom with a big smile and almost knocked me over with a hug. I think she was very relieved to have this day behind her. Later that night, we went to a friend's house for dinner, and Jingju insisted on wearing her uniform!

Sailing Softly

2009-09-02T22:24:00.004-04:00

One of my oldest and closest friends invited Jingju and I out for a boat ride today. The weather was sunny and clear, perfect for an afternoon on the river. Jingju just loved it; waving to all the boats passing by, bouncing over waves, and swimming in the cove. Jingju doesn't yet know how to swim, but does that stop her? Of course not. Give her a life preserver and a noodle, and she's all set. A funny side note, my friend had made a joke about swimming to China, and by shear accident we moored at a buoy labeled "China," which Jingju then swam to. My friend's with Jingju in the slides below.

Clam Cakes And Chowder

2009-08-27T00:12:00.003-04:00

Kevin needed to satisfy his yearly craving for clam cakes and chowder, so we drove to Rhode Island and had lunch with Nai Nai. I couldn't help myself taking pictures of Jingju today.

Jumping Rope

2009-08-24T10:22:00.003-04:00

"Happiness" by Goldfrapp

Last Day Of Summer Camp

2009-08-22T14:05:00.009-04:00

Yesterday was Jingju's last day of summer camp. We so want to thank our friends, Sally and Bill, who run the museum camp, for their incredible gift of a scholarship to Jingju to attend all summer long. Jingju just blossomed there in so many ways. We were worried about her shyness with other children, and by the end of camp she had made many friends. Her vocabulary has expanded to include such words as, menagerie, magnet, musical instruments, sandpaper, curiousities, crocodile, colorful, castle, electric, insect, and pottery. Each week she built a different project around a different theme or concept from building a cabinet and filling it with treasures, to creating a circus or learning about how to make electricity. My favorite parts of my day for the last 8 weeks has been dropping Jingju off at camp and picking her up. Jingju was in the camp's before and after care, which she really enjoyed. Basically it involved playing at the museum's outdoor water lab, hanging out with her friends and counselors and playing endless games of Uno. Every afternoon I'd pick Jingju up and find her either caked with sand, dappled with paint and/or soaking wet from her head to her shoes.

This child, once she feels safe, hits the ground running with arms open, eyes wide, with a desire to do, to touch, to try...everything, while laughing hard, smiling big, and as Jingju says, holding on "really really tight!" This experience at camp plugged Jingju into a world of play and learning, creativity and ingenuity, as well as a community of wonderfully talented and giving people...and with Sally and Bill around, lots and lots of humor always.

So... thanks Sally, Bill, Wanda, Melissa, and all the other counselors at the E.W. M. for helping Jingju to adjust and acclimate to her new American life. It was the right experience at the right time and we are forever grateful.

Sally

Pleasant Summer Evening With Friends

2009-08-15T21:46:00.003-04:00

Last night we had dinner with friends and their two daughters. After dinner, one of the girls read to Jingju on the steps of the restaurant.

Jingju Plays Tennis

2009-08-15T21:28:00.014-04:00

Jingju has a wonderful new babysitter, Fani, who took these pictures of Jingju while teaching her to play tennis.

Jingju and Fani.

Celebration!

2009-08-15T17:48:00.002-04:00

Jingju, getting in the birthday spirit.

Happy Birthday, Jingju

2009-08-15T17:07:00.006-04:00

Jingju turned 6 on August 10th. As far as we know, and
from what she tells us, she has never had a birthday party. We had a small party for her with family and a few friends at home. In the morning, she opened her presents with Baba and I, and then later in the day her company came over. Tessa (Jing Xin), Jingju's SWI sister, sent Jingju some Chinese DVDs, CDs, and books, and so they Skyped in the morning so Jingju could open her presents with Tessa. It was a lovely day. Jingju made these videos, and of course, is heard singing.

Best Friends

2009-08-03T22:08:00.004-04:00

With my friend Sandra finally coming home from China with her daughter Tessa (Jing Xin), I was motivated to scan the pictures in Jingju's Half The Sky life book, so that Sandra and I could share pictures of our girls. As Jingju's English improves, I am learning more about her life in China, and about her friendship with Jing Xin. They were best friends and slept side-by-side in a bed for four. We are planning for the girls to see each other in the next month or so. I can't wait to see them together.

The Dentist

2009-07-29T22:36:00.003-04:00

I was trying to get Jingju out of the house on time for camp this morning. When I reminded her she had a dentist appointment this afternoon, she perked up and said, "hurry mom, I like to go to the dentist now." We have a wonderful dentist, and Jingju has no fear. The last time we went, she had to have a couple of fillings, and she was really intrigued by the numbing sensation of the novicane. Today she had to have more fillings done. At the dentist, she is most cooperative, and as always, curious and inquisitive. At one point, she actually got hold of some of the instruments and used them on herself. In one hand, she had the little water dispenser, and in the other, the suction thingy that sucks all the water out of your mouth.


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Watching Moon Bears At The Zoo

2009-07-27T23:43:00.005-04:00

First Swim

2009-07-25T23:45:00.005-04:00

Jingju had never gone swimming before today. Thanks Shirley, for having us to your pool. Jingju loved swimming, and I did too.

Jingju Skypes With Jing Xin

2009-07-16T00:29:00.005-04:00

My friend Sandra, is in China now with her newly adopted daughter, Jing Xin. Sandra and I met online through an adoption website and found that we were both adopting girls of the same age from the Social Welfare Institute of Beihai City. When we were in China, I asked Jingju if she and Jing Xin were friends and she said they weren't. When I received pictures and reports from Jingju's Half The Sky program, she was pictured very often playing with a girl named Jing Huan. The reports also said that Jing Huan was Jingju's best friend. When my friend Sandra created a blog of her adoption journey, I showed Jingju pictures of Jing Xin and she started to get excited about her coming to America. She would talk about her friend, Jing Xin, and I just figured she had created a story in her own mind that they had been friends. Sandra received her daughter in China a few days ago and the nannies told her that they don't use Jing Xin's given name, but they call her Jing Huan! Now it all makes sense that Jingju didn't know who I was talking about and why she responded positively to Jing Xin's pictures. The girls were able to Skype with each other for the first time last night. It was wonderful to see the girls reunited. Sadly however, Jingju has lost her Chinese almost completely in the 3 months that we've been home. We plan to get her a Chinese tutor ASAP and hope we can help her recover her language. Seeing Sandra with her daughter brings back so many memories of my time in China with Jingju. She has adapted so quickly to her American life. A part of me is grieving for the little girl I first met with her language and culture wholly intact.

I am so happy to have met Sandra and so excited now that it is finally her turn to hold her beautiful new daughter. And how wonderful that our girls have the opportunity to stay connected.

Making Music

2009-07-04T09:51:00.002-04:00

Parading

2009-07-04T08:06:00.002-04:00

Jingju started camp this week, which means the end of our concentrated mother-daughter time together. I go back to full-time work on Monday, and Jingju will be at camp through August and start Kindergarten in September. This time together has been so wonderful, and how sad I am to have it end. Jingju on the other hand, is flying high out of the nest. I had planned to be at camp with her for the first few days to help her acclimate, but it was clear after just 30 minutes that she didn’t need her mama there at all. She has a kind of confidence and self-assurance that amazes me. This parade is the conclusion to a week of making musical instruments out of found objects.

Snow Leopard

2009-07-04T00:45:00.002-04:00

Thimble Islands

2009-06-28T01:04:00.003-04:00

Bronx Zoo

2009-06-24T01:30:00.006-04:00

I've always loved the Lowland Gorillas at the Bronx Zoo.

Here's Jingju making a friend.

Another Rainy Day

2009-06-21T22:59:00.005-04:00

It's been raining for days and I've been running out of indoor activities for Jingju. Today was also Father's Day, so what better way to spend it? Bowling, of course. We played two games. Jingju bowled gutter balls the entire first game and was beginning to feel a bit discouraged. Then one of the staff came over to me and asked if I wanted him to put up the bumper rails. I never knew there was such a thing. Well apparently these rails go up and it's practically impossible not to hit something. Jingju suddenly started knocking some pins down, and her interest in the game, restored.

They Might Be Giants Concert

2009-06-14T22:56:00.002-04:00

Hula Hoops and Jump Ropes

2009-06-14T01:47:00.004-04:00

Aquarium

2009-06-14T01:06:00.007-04:00

Fun day with Nai Nai and Baba.

Tolerance

2009-06-14T00:56:00.003-04:00

Peru is a most gracious gentleman.

Bubble Master

2009-06-08T10:11:00.005-04:00

Just A Pleasant Day (Thanks Maureen)

2009-06-08T09:25:00.004-04:00

What a relaxing and yummy breakfast we had outdoors in Maureen's yard .

Pony Rides And New Wheels

2009-06-07T00:44:00.012-04:00

We finally got our new wheelchair ramp van. It is so wonderful to be able to have Kevin ride his power chair into the van. Now we can go anywhere and Kevin can be more independent. We all went to the Little Folks Fair today and Kevin was able to see Jingju on her first pony ride. It's hard to believe it was 1967 when I rode the ponies at the same fair.

Back Pack, Back Pack!

2009-05-31T22:49:00.003-04:00

Jingju loves, loves, loves her new back pack. It goes with her everywhere. I think we have "Dora the Explorer" to thank. Yesterday she really wanted a pencil case to put in her back pack, so I gave in for one with Charlie and Lola on it from one of her favorite books. It was like looking at myself tonight, to watch her carefully organizing and packing her bag.

Up

2009-05-29T23:44:00.004-04:00

We took Jingju to see "Up," which just opened in theaters today. She loved it. She seemed to follow the story fairly well and was alert and interested from beginning to end.

Baba's Home!

2009-05-28T23:30:00.007-04:00

Baba came home today and he seems in better shape than before he went into the hospital. Physical therapy has helped him quite a bit and now he'll have PT and OT at home for a while. Shortly after I brought baba home, I had to go out for little while to see a client. When I returned, the above is the scene I came home to. I love that baba is home less than an hour and he's been stickered and braceleted!

Peanut Butter Cookies

2009-05-23T21:27:00.003-04:00

Another lovely day with my daughter. Baba has been moved from the hospital to a rehab center for physical therapy and so Jingju and I are still on our own. I can't get over how Jingju's English is improving and how well we're communicating. On our way to visit baba today, I passed a convenience store where the day before I'd picked up a newspaper for him. As I drove by, Jingju said, "Baba's newspaper!" I turned around to go back for a paper and she said, "Jingju remember," while pointing to her head. She doesn't miss a thing. I have to be careful now what I say as it all gets repeated back to me. All day today, Jingu asked me, "mama, you OK?" And her other favorite, "What are you doooooooing?" Tonight we made cookies for a party we're going to tomorrow. They didn't come out very well, but we had lots of fun anyway.

Hello Goodbye

2009-05-20T00:21:00.002-04:00

Children's Museum

2009-05-18T09:20:00.003-04:00

Jingju's baba is in the hospital with pneumonia, so I took her to the Children's Museum to keep her busy. She seems to be doing OK with her father being sick. When we drove home from visiting her father, she was in the back seat repeating, "Baba sick, baba OK," which is how I've explained it to her. And he should be OK. When he gets sick, his MS symptoms get exacerbated, but he usually bounces back. We're hoping he'll be transferred for some inpatient physical therapy before he comes home.
I'm getting some nice time alone with Jingju, and a little respite from caregiving (it was a little exhausting leading up to baba's hospitalization), but I don't like Jingju and her father being apart for too long. They haven't had as much time to bond. Fortunately, Jingju and her baba are both very resilient!

On a side note, the goggles Jingju is wearing are her work goggles for summer camp at a museum she'll be attending in June. When I took her to visit the museum to try out a sample building project, she refused to put them on. We brought a pair home to encourage her to wear them and now she never takes them off! She calls them her "sun galasses," and wears them whenever we go out.

Jingju Gives In And Wears A Dress

2009-05-09T23:32:00.005-04:00

Jingju has been unwilling to wear a dress until today. I think the matching dress for her American Doll made the idea more appealing to her, and she finally consented.

2009-05-09T23:09:00.004-04:00

Jingju Says, "Not Sleepy."

2009-05-07T04:04:00.011-04:00

Oh, but she is sleeping. These photos were taken during Jingju's first 2 hours of sleep one night. She is a very restless, but very sound sleeper.

Have Wheels, Will Travel

2009-05-01T23:53:00.005-04:00

Jingju and her baba, headed for the park.

A Day At The Park And Another New Friend

2009-04-26T16:04:00.009-04:00

It was finally a beautiful sunny day, so I took Jingju to a park to have lunch with a friend and her daughter (also adopted from China and now almost 12). I was pleased to see Jingju able to be apart from me. She took my friend's daughter's hand and went off to the playground with her. My friend's daughter also taught Jingju how to play the game, G0 Fish. She was very patient and kind to Jingju and took a great interest in teaching and entertaining her at the park.

New Friends

2009-04-18T08:10:00.002-04:00

Goldfish and Grapes

2009-04-18T08:06:00.000-04:00

First Play Date

2009-04-18T07:52:00.001-04:00

Taking A Break

2009-04-18T07:47:00.000-04:00