Playing with our girl

Visiting with Mia (Kareen) today felt so similar to getting to know any of my newborn babies. We just stared and watched in awe at each thing she could do and each facial expression and noise she made. Everything was new and miraculous to us


These are a few of the things we have learned about our girl in just a few hours.....


She knows how to kiss her MAMA!



She loved the photo album we brought of our family. She even pointed at the pictures and said Papa (Dad), Mama and Bree pretty clear and she tried saying Kyra and Adrie. We were told that calling me Mama is confusing to her because all the caregivers at the orphanage are called that by her so we will start saying Mommy for me to set me apart from them.



She loved looking through the bag and getting each item out and setting it next to the purse. When we first tried to put the necklaces on her she wanted nothing to do with them and she had no idea what they were, but it only took a few times and she was hooked to the jewelry as well.






She is OBSESSED with phones! Seriously LOVES the phone! Her little voice is so cute to hear her say "Hallo"


For our morning visit they had her in the same outfit as yesterday but with this little hat on instead of the fancy hairdo.


She is totally a daddy's girl! Not 2 minutes after going outside with her today we pointed to him and said "papa" and she tapped him on the chest and said "papa"



SHE SMILES
when Kris would tickle her she would tickle herself







She likes the purse we brought with all the toys in it.



Serge had to be on his way to help other families so we had to say goodbye. What a great man he was....very entertaining!




Mia (still having trouble with not saying Kareen...we are calling her all sorts of names right now;Mia,Kareen,Susha) loved Serge's fuzzy hair
She hasn't figured out how to look at the camera yet when we try to get her attention. I am sure she has no idea what the camera is.



She does not really like sitting on laps. She doesn't know how to sit or cuddle on your lap, She just sits for a minute and then scoots off....I assume she has never really been snuggled and held on a lap too often. She likes to be held when you are standing though, just doesn't last on your lap very long.




She LOVED the slide! We had her full on giggling going down the slide!






Her eyes are more intriguing and incredible in person than they were in her profile picture!



This sweet girl is pure beauty! Pure Beauty that was locked away from the world for 4 years. Pure beauty that was deemed worthless by her society. Pure Beauty that would have been taken from this kind baby home and placed in an institution already had we not found her when we did. Pure Beauty who without SO many prayers, donations, love and support from all of you, we would not have been able to get to in time to save her. Pure Beauty who was already changed our lives for the better. Pure Beauty who thanks to each of you who have prayed for us ( and her), each of you who have advocated for her, each of you who have donated, each of you who have loved and supported us from day one, is now going to be pure beauty that the world will get to enjoy! THERE.ARE.NO.WORDS.

When we went back to visit her for the afternoon visit she was dressed in play clothes. She looked so sweet! I SOO wish I had my video camera on when she came into the waiting room because she was walking holding the nurses hand and when she saw us she let go and put her arms high in the air and ran (picture a brand new walking toddler letting go for the first time with arms high in the air to keep their balance and wobbling across the floor as quick as their little body knows how) to Kris in her wobbly run! We about died! Here this little girl has seen us 2 times and is already excited we are back. SHE KNOWS already that something is different and that she wants to be a part of it. SHE KNOWS we came here for her!

SHE KNOWS......


Don't you just LOVE the little knee highs and the red shoes?!!
She started to understand the idea behind peekaboo




She would walk from one side of the little bench area to the other to set up each toy where she wanted it to go.
We are not sure what she thought the magna doodle was but she kept trying to eat and lick it and then write with it. Oh and when a car drives by she does the cutest sound with her lips

We had so much fun just watching her explore on the afternoon visit. She is so mellow yet very curious!

The orphanage grounds by where we go to play during the visit.














She started cleaning up each toy and placing it in the bag all on her own. She will wipe off the seat next to her and wipe her hands if she touches dirt. I don't think they go play outside or get dirty very often.



I don't think she really has any sense of her own picture or realization that it is her. But really why would she because I am sure she doesn't see pictures of herself.

LOOK AT MY NEW FAMILY......IT IS ABOUT TIME!















She sits straight legged and walks with her one foot facing out so she will need some good physical therapy for walking when we get home. I am sure trying to keep up with her sisters will help!
Who knew a plastic bag could be so fun?



She fell down on the pavement and totally skinned both knees and didn't make a peep! Then she wanted to keep wiping it off with a wipe.
Aunt Caitlyn- Mom taught me how to brush my hair today but I look forward to having a styling appointment with you when I get home!


The visits today went so fast and we were so sad to have to send her back inside. It makes it a little better knowing they are taking good care of her there though. After the afternoon visit when the caregiver took her from us, Mia turned around and totally reached for us leaning out of the caregivers arms as she walked away! She wanted to come with us!


The entrance to the orphanage.


After the morning visit we found this restaurant inside a hotel that had an english menu and we really enjoyed the food.....minus the RAW egg served on top of my pasta, it was really good food!



THe chocolate cake was just what I needed for this trip! It was DELICIOUS! It had hot chocolate in the middle! We will for sure be going back there!
Our apartment is not close to any restaurants or stores so we needed to get some food before we headed home for the night but that is difficult when we don't speak the language. Our apartment manager had set us up with this college student, Lusha, to drive us to the orphanage and her spoke a little english so we asked him if he wanted to be our driver when we needed. He said he would when he could. So we asked him to take us to McDonalds and he said "No no, not McDonalds" and then he proceeded to drive somewhere else. We get to this supermarket and he shues us inside and motions that he will wait outside. So we go in and decide to grab a few things. When we go back out we try to tell him we still want McDonalds and that we will buy his dinner and he says "No I not like McDonalds, it's american food!" But he did kindly take us through the drive through anyway....which was good because we couldn't tell them what we wanted. This adventure keeps us on our toes and somehow we are managing without knowing more than 5 words! It is quite comical at times.
We felt lucky that we got 2 meals today! The McDonalds actually tasted really good tonight!

More video of these visits later but for now we are off to see our girl again! YAY!

(Oh and seriously we LIVE for reading all the comments each morning when we get up! So thank you thank you!!!)