A Walk in the Park and the Likes of Hadley

We went to the botanical gardens today. It was a beautiful place. Full of amazing flowers and plants and manicured lawns and trees.

We thought our kids would enjoy hearing about the foods we have found so far that Hadley likes to eat. She is not a picky eater. She eats great and has a very wide range of tastes. Some of these foods include: mandarin oranges, apples, loves bananas, pineapple, orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, eggs with anything, diced tomato, ham, onions, (or all together in an omelet), crackers, croissants, chocolate chip muffins, banana bread, chicken, french onion soup, potatos, tofu, all vegetables and anything you can do with rice and noodles. So far we have only found that she doesn’t like bacon, ketchup or carbonated drinks. She is a very healthy eater and most times we feel we put the brakes on when we think she has had enough. The ironic thing is one day she may like something and we will try it the next day and she will not want it. Jane, one of our guides in Hefei, said that she was used to bland foods in her orphanage so for a long time she will be just trying everything we are giving her. It is a whole new culinary world for her so we will keep trying and testing to see where she settles.

When we first accepted Hadley's file and agreed that we wanted to adopt her we were given a two page bio. on her. A few things have turned out not to be true from her bio. sheet. The one sentence that I kiddingly said scared me the most was "she is easy to wake up" ie...she is a light sleeper and doesn't sleep well. We have not found this to be true so far. This girl sleeps great and we have not yet woken her up with our typing, packing, shopping bag rustling, phone ringing or getting into our own sqeeky beds at night. (Funny right after writing this, Pat accidentally woke her up when he came in from shopping with "the guys" to the electronics mall). She has slept through every night with us except two and it seems that the uncomfortable bed space was the issue, we shall see. We understand that this may change when she is settled at home, but all signs point to her continuing this great trend. We are thankful that in a house full of other kids and a dog that she is a good sleeper.

All the other things written about her at 9 months of age have been dead on. She is extremely outgoing and friendly, likes musical bright toys, has "darling looks," she is smart, she likes to mimic and she is active. She hates to have the covers over her feet while she sleeps or even if she is sitting in your lap with a blanket. Her Foster Mom gave me this tip and I have found it very useful. We have also found that she likes things neat and clean. She will move all her toys from the table over to the floor and then back when it is time to go to bed. She finds the tops for things around the room and returns them to us to put them back with the bottom piece. She even brought me our meal vouchers when it was time for us to leave for breakfast this morning. I love having another girl who likes things organized. !!!

Pat and I keep looking at each other and shaking out heads. This is not the typical blog for the adopting parent and we know that and are humbled. God has done this for us and we will never be the same. We never even dreamed to pray for this easy of a transition for her. We knew we would love her but the ease of establishing our relationship with her is really unheard of. I already feel like she has always been with us. I cannot imagine life without her in it. Isn't that strange? She hasn't been with us a week yet. That is an act of God!