The day we brought her home.
Last month.I know she doesn't look like she's changed much, but I assure you, she has.
She came home crawling, now she's running.
She was a whopping 16 pounds in Korea, now she's 22. However, she STILL fits in the same clothes that she came home in. I have to admit, it's easier to carry her in the Beco, being that she's still so tiny. She still loves the Beco, that hasn't changed.
She came home very much a baby, even at 13 months old. Now that she's two, she is doing many things that her toddler counterparts are doing. Like normal two-year-old stuff; tantrums, stomping, fit-throwing, crying at the top of her lungs, you know, regular toddler things.
She came home with MANY sleep issues, now she can fall asleep on her own. In her bed. Without me. (except now as I type, she's wailing in her crib, NOT sleeping - the irony.)
She came home bowing, responding to Dori Dori, and when you said 'sah-rahng-hey-yo' (Korean for 'I love you'), she would put her hands above her head. None of which she responds to now. Sniff, Sniff.
She came home with a deeply-rooted jealous nature toward the boys. They couldn't even come near me. Hugs, kisses, even conversations, would send her into a tornado-tantrum. Now, we see this from time to time, but not at the level it was. Glad that's over.
We were SO in love with our newest addition and yet, so pained by the fact that we took her away from the only 'mother' she knew.
That LOVE has grown so deep, so tangible, so REAL. And she is doing some loving of her own now. I really don't think she knew how to love us at first. How would she? She barely knew us.
She calls out for Chad and I, and prefers us to all others.
I have been reflecting back to a year ago, and it's amazing how far we, and Joye, have come. What a difference. I wouldn't trade this past year for anything in the world.
For the record, it hasn't been rainbows and Popsicle's.
It's been HARD.
But if it wasn't hard, I don't think I would have learned what I needed to learn, forgot what I needed to forget, and loosened the grip on what I held tight.
I am looking forward to many more years with my little Tootsie. (Even though she hasn't been the most delightful little person to be around lately.)
:)
3 comments:
She is simply breath taking! I love your honesty and sincerity in your posts!
Beautiful girl.
I totally get it. I think unless you have traveled the road of adoption, you can't understand the ups and downs that you go through. I have been reflecting a lot over the past week, as well. It is amazing how far we all have changed over the year, not just our Miss O. She still uses her Korean daily. Probably because she was 5 when she came home. It is still precious to me, I hope she always uses it and continues to learn more (both English and Korean :)).
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