Guess its time I checked in! Overall we are doing very well I think. She really seems to be attaching to me and is a mommy's girl. She'll give me hugs and just started giving kisses sometimes. She babbles and sings a lot, but the only words I can tell she is saying are Mama, dada, hi, and cacca (nice). She can follow commands like "give Dylan his shoes" and she'll walk straight to Dylan, she knows Madison and just adores her, you ask her where Daddy is and she'll pat his arm. She likes going in the car, but tires of her stroller quickly and does not do too well in a shopping cart so doing daily errands has been a chore and will take some getting used to by me. I'm also getting used having a 2 yr old that needs a nap in the middle of the day, while also trying to get things done.....just normal stuff like that.
Our easy sleeping patterns seems to be over already. She now cries when I try to lay her in her crib so I'm laying with her until she falls asleep for naps and bedtime. She pretty much is still sleeping thru the night so that is great. She does seem to get easliy aggitated and hyper. Not sure what is normal 2 yr old behavior and what part is her adjusting to her new life. She's definitely come out of her shell and is not the mellow quiet little girl we met in the baby home, which is a good thing, just takes some getting used to. She is still eating and drinking limited things and I can't really find a good snack to give her in between meals, other than puffs or yogurt melts which don't provide much in the way of calories. She'll eat baby cereal with fruit or yogurt for breakfast, sometimes I can add in some scrambled eggs, and pretty much just stage 2 baby food mixed with mashed potatoes for lunch and dinner, along with yogurt. Juice is the only thing she'll drink more than a few sips of.
We have an appt Tues with Dr. Feldman in Long Beach who specializes in internationally adopted children. It sounds like he will basically help give us a plan to take to our regular pediatrician to make sure she is tested for the right things. After that appt I will see her pediatrician, get blood drawn to see what vaccinations she has had (don't know what happened to her vaccination list we were given in Russia?? I gave it to our coordinator at one point for the US Embassy doctor and never saw it again) and get a referral to a pediatric opthamologist for her lazy eye (which already seems a lot better).
15 comments:
Glad she is doing well. We gave Daniel milk with sweet tea mixed together. It was the only way we could get him to drink milk for some time. (We used decaf tea and barely sweetend it). Also have you tried cottage cheese. We were told by the baby home that they served a "type of cottage cheese" to the children. Also Gerber Graduate cups were a big thrill especially served in the container. Just a few thoughts!
She is so adorable and looks very happy. Glad to hear that things are going well. I know about the sleeping....we spoiled Matt terribly for the 1st 6 months and rocked him to sleep every single night...we finally had to change that and he now gets a book read, rocked for a couple of minutes and put in his crib awake. The 1st couple nights were awful but now he is asleep on his own in no time flat!!! The eating was difficult for us as well and actually still is. Have your tried a grilled cheese or maybe a cheese quesadilla? They seem to work good in our house. We have also regressed and gone back to some of the Gerber toddler meals...Matt loves the Cheese and pasta shells. He is very picky and I can count on 1 hand what he will eat. How about waffles in the morning? Matt likes them as well or he also like the Nutri Grain cereal bars. Also, he really likes apple sauce either plain or strawberry. Thanks for giving us an update. Love to hear that Anna is adjusting to her family!! :)
Good to hear of the update. We had a lot of the same issues with Ava Grace when we got home. I just stuck with all baby food, it seemed to be more of a sensory issue with her. We have just now started on all regular food, it was at her own pace. She eats almost anything now. She still loves Gerber puffs, Goldfish crackers, cheerios and animal crackers while we are out shopping or running erands. i bought those cups that she can stick her hand in and grab one out and it works great.
Glad to se the update. Glad to see Anna doing so well. She looks very happy!!
I just love her smile. She is adorable. It sounds like things are going well. The eating will come, slowly. Colby was also picky when it came to certain foods but now eats everything. Keep trying different fruits, and other mushy foods. Colby was often given shredded up apple on top of a cottage cheese type of thing for a snack. It looked pretty good and nutritious. Keep trying things, one day she'll not take it and another day she will. Their tastes change often. Congrats again.
Melissa
She looks so, so happy!! Her eyes are beautiful and what a great smile! Sounds like things are going well - we brought Marina home about the same time and most of the behavior issues were very typical of a 2-year old. Thankfully we didn't have any food issues - Marina ate everything, and I mean everything. Couldn't get enough. Have you tried giving her a sippy straw cup as opposed to a sippy cup? I second Tracy, try a cheese quesadilla - and some Gerber cookies/crackers. You may have already gone down that route - good luck!!
Some of what you wrote sounds just like Grace. She doesn't sit long in a stroller, can be very hyperactive and tough to settle down, needs to be rocked to sleep,etc.
We have worked out a very rigid schedule for Grace and that seems to be helping tremendously. She eats and sleeps at the same times every day. Now she will put herself to sleep after I rock her for just a few minutes and then she is cozy enough to fall asleep on her own in the crib with just my hand on her back. It took us almost 4 months to settle in and get to know each other really well. It was so hard in the beginning. We had great days and days that I cried all day. Having Grace on a set schedule has truly helped the sleep issues (going to sleep and staying asleep). Her bedtime routine is the same every night too and so is naptime. You will find what works in time.
Grace won't drink plain milk, but loves chocolate milk. She overall is a great eater, so we don't have those difficulties. However, she wouldn't eat any fruits or vegies for the first month or so and now eat them all. Keep trying!!!!!! Even if you waste food, it is worth it to keep putting it in front of her. I started putting the vegies and fruits on her plate while I was preparing the rest of the meal. She was hungry and would finally try them.
I know how tough this time is and I wish more people talked about it. Hang in there on those tough days. She babies tend to be quite strong willed :)
Anna is such a doll!!!!! So glad you are home!
We've been home over 2 years, and our daughter is STILL easily frustrated and very hyper. It is a little hard to deal with at times, because it is so strange to watch. I've got no advice - just know you aren't alone! :)
Victoria
So glad to see your update Shelly. Anna is beautiful and it sounds like you're all making strides....it's an adjustment for everyone no doubt. Adoption day is truly just the beginning of the journey isn't it? Give yourselves time to work out the "kinks." You are an awesome mom, Shelly, and I know you will provide Anna with all the love and help she needs to blossom. Let me know when you're up for some visitors! :)
Shelly, Anna looks so good! Can't wait for our gals to meet up and play together!
seems she is starting to fit in! I am soooo glad you stay with her until she falls asleep, she needs to know that Mama will be there for her!
everything we did w/Jack wasn't 'forced' and I really feel that by going super slow, it has paid off.
man, i am glad she is home :)
Congrats on your baby girl! I am just catching up on your blog. She is beautiful!
Welcome home and Congratulations!
So glad to hear that you're going to see Dr. Feldman. We saw him 2 weeks after bringing Kristina home and again 3 months later. We got some good information from him to take along to our Pediatrician. Plus, he's really nice!
As for food, we've been home 16 months and K is still a picky eater! One day she'll eat something and the next day she snubs it. Oatmeal, yogurt, and diced peaches were her staples when she first came home.
Best wishes on the transition...she's certainly a beauty!!
~Laura :)
I just love how she is always smiling in all her photos! She is so happy!!
I think you guys went to the doctor yesterday...just checking in to see his everything went.
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