Heartfelt Thanks & Tidbits

Thank You!
Tim and I just wanted to thank everyone who has called, emailed or sent gifts to Joy! Your generosity has been overwhelming!! We can't thank you enough!

I know that brides usually have 8 weeks after the honeymoon is over to get thank you notes out, but how long to new adoptive parents have?

I also wanted to let you know that if you sent something to us from Amazon.com, there were a few things that didn't have any information about who sent them. Please let me know so that we can thank you!

Tidbits

Singing in the Car
I think we know what the attraction of going in Mama's car is - singing to the cd's in the car! Not only does she know which cd is which number (there are 6 in the player), she knows which song is on which track! So she will say, "Mama, play 6 number 2 please!" That means, CD #6 and track 2. Amazing! I didn't even realize she could see the display that far away.

The other amazing thing is that she already knows a lot of the songs. We bought a cd of children singing gospel songs and children's songs. She obviously knows "This Little Light of Mine", "Jesus Loves Me", and a few others.

Yesterday, she asked for the "Jesus Loves Me" track, then sang along at the top of her lungs, having the best time! Then she says, "Mama, Taiwan Mama (meaning her foster mother), love Jesus. Joy baby love Jesus" and she showed me how she put her hands together to pray. I am flabbergasted (and grateful) and say, "yes, and Jesus loves Joy too". She smiled this huge smile and said, "yes!"

Last night, she sang "This Little Light of Mine" as she's getting ready for bed. She tells me, "Mama, Joy light shine, yes?" Yes, sweetheart, it certainly does!

Chinese or English
The other day in the car, Joy is singing the counting song (1, 2, I love you, etc). She has already sung it about 4 times, when it starts to come out not quite right. She is clearly frustrated and goes silent. Suddenly, out pops Yi, Er, San, Si, Wu which is 1-5 in Chinese. I'm thinking, I'm glad she still has that in her head. But wait, she isn't finished ---

"Mama, you try!"

Okay, I have Yi, Er, San down, but once we get past 3, I'm not so sure. She's counting to 15 faster than I can remember things. She usually enjoys being able to laugh at my Chinese, but she's frustrated that I'm not doing it as well as she wants me to. So, I have her start over and go slower. We get to 10, finally.

I think she may end up being bi-lingual. But in the process, I may have to learn some Mandarin! Oh my goodness!!

Food Part 2, or Ramen Noodles for Breakfast
Well, she seems to be eating enough food. And thank goodness, she's decided that Chicken McNuggets really aren't all that great (especially compared to KFC's fried chicken legs). But heaven forbid you order thick french fries! "Little French Fries, Mama!" comes the plaintive wail from the backseat!

The most interesting thing, I think, is how adventurous she was in Taipei. Anything we asked her to taste, she did. She didn't like everything, but some things were then asked for the next time we went to the buffet.

But now, getting her to taste anything is very difficult. And what tasted good yesterday, doesn't necessarily taste good today. Getting her to expand her food choices is going to be hard, at least right now. I know that adopted children frequently "control" their food because it is something they now can control. She doesn't hoard though. And she is getting better about my asking her to wait a minute before I can fulfill a request for food. But I'm getting awfully tired of chicken!

However, I have to admit that Ramen Noodles for breakfast is really pretty good! In fact, I like it a lot! We put bok choy, napa cabbage, green onions, a brussel sprout or two, and snow peas in it. Since she only eats about half of it, I have been eating the rest for breakfast. It's really good! You should try it!!

Why We Scream
I'm so glad our neighbors are used to the dogs being loud! Joy can certainly scream loudly! I mean, really loudly! She loves to expand her lung capacity outside, which is fine. But her favorite time is Bed Time.

We'll get teeth brushed and instead of just getting into pajamas, Joy has to run around, screaming. I finally asked her why does she scream.

She said, "Joy happy!"

Well, I'm glad you're happy, but sometimes it sounds like you're in pain or you're a year old and crying. But, I don't doubt that you're happy!

I asked her, did you scream in Taiwan?

Yes, she answers, with one of those grins on her face.

"Did you get in trouble in Taiwan when you screamed?"

She bursts out laughing. She bobs her head - Yes!!

Aha! Just as I thought!

So Mama is being stricter about Inside and Outside voices. She's gotten much better about yelling in my ear or the dogs' ears. She also knows she isn't supposed to yell in the bathroom, although it is a lot of fun!

As long as I provide her time at the playground to yell and scream, she seems to get it (mostly) out of her system.

Dancing
Well, now I know why we have to watch the Lazy Town show that has the ballerina in it a thousand times. She has memorized the dance routines! Almost, anyway.

So now, she wants to watch each episode 3 or 4 times in a row and then dances with the characters on the last one.

Right now, she's repeating all the dialog and asking me if she's right when she's not sure.

No wonder she is speaking pretty well already!

I'm just not sure the couch will survive being used as a saw horse....


The Swing
Joy definitely has a love of going faster and higher on the swings. We have been taking her to a park that has one of the bigger swings that locks the child inside it. She is just a little too light to stay in the leather swing seat.

She starts singing and screaming all at the same time, as soon as I get it started. Then she reminds me that Daddy says "Push" each time. So I have to do that, as loudly as I can!

She then sings and babbles in various languages, just as happy as she could be! As soon as we get high enough (about parallel with the bar), she screams, at the top of her lungs, "Mama, we did it!"

I have to laugh every time!

And she would stay there until her hands were frozen to the metal chain. (Sometimes the gloves stay on, sometimes they don't.) When I say, okay, 5 more pushes, she usually is good about agreeing, but as the swing starts to slow on its own, she starts to whine. I have to remind her to enjoy the end part too. And think about what she wants to do next.

Before it's totally stopped, she's ready to jump out of it and run to the slide.

It's actually a good thing we don't have a swing set in the back yard - it has become a reward for running errands with me and behaving. Or something special she and Daddy get to do.

It certainly thrills her. As did pointing out the pedals on the floor of the car in the front driver's side. Yes, the gas and brake pedals! Already! She told me those make the car go and stop, right? That's a truly scary thought!