My Baby Is Still a Baby!!!

I cried huge tears of joy when I received Hannah's referral call in August and at the time she was only 5 1/2 months old. Fast forward 10 1/2 weeks and a beautiful BABY was placed in my arms!!

Some wonderful things about my sweetie that I don't want to forget!

- although 8 months, 1 week old, my little sweetie's muscles are not very strong and she finds it difficult to sit alone. I put pillows behind her for support or if she tumbles backwards/sideways. That being said she has still managed a face plant into her play mat forward before I could reach out to her!

- even though she is 'older' her favourite position to be held is my very favourite to hold a baby! Her beautiful little head tucked into the crook of my left arm and her little body across mine. If she's awake we can easily gaze into one another's eyes. If she's tired, when I put her into this position she will fall asleep within moments, often singing sweet songs to herself. Beyond cute!

- the first day we met, when I fed her her bottle her little legs were rigid and she'd pull away if I tried to touch her little hands. By day 2 her legs were relaxed, she allowed me to hold her hands and sometimes would even put her little fingers in my mouth as a game.

- she loves, loves, loves to smile!!! I am blessed beyond measure to have such a happy little girl!

- she doesn't really feed herself yet but I'm only too happy to oblige! She lets me hold her bottle and also feed her from a baby spoon or my fingers. Such wonderful bonding opportunities and I'm so thankful for these.

- the way she holds her little hands she has her thumb tucked under, sticking out between her pointer and her middle finger. Too cute!!! Baby hands!!! Even if she's holding a stacking cup she often still has her little thumbs tucked under

- she's still not crazy about how mommy is making her bottles but we're getting closer. Warmer/hotter than I'd imagined. Also, when i shake them up I need to shake and shake and then shake some more. Sometimes finding clumpy bits in the bottom which might be why she doesn't drink as much as I thought she would. Oops!

- once my girly mastered her first poop she has proved to be a pro! 2-4 messy diapers a day which makes mommy very, very happy! Who knew poop could be so exciting??

- my sweet Hannah is what I would say is a typical baby who has spent and extended amount of time in an orphanage. Although I firmly believe that she had great, amazing, loving care, I don't believe she got the 'normal' amount of stimulation. Because of this she is developmentally in some ways younger than her chronological age. They say that for every three months a baby is in an orphanage, be prepared for them to be 1 month delayed. I feel this is Hannah's situation but that is totally ok with me and I know she will catch up quickly. Although 8 1/2 months chronologically she acts more like a 6 month old. Still pretty wobbly sitting but getting stronger every, single day. She does not really sit up from a lying position on her own although even in the past 2 days, if I have pillows behind her and she falls back she will attempt and occasionally succeed as getting herself into a sitting position. She does not crawl yet but that just means it's something exciting that we get to learn together!!

- when she gets going into a 'good cry' she squeeks a little like a mouse although even today that was missing. Hope it's not gone for long as it's kinda cute.

- she is an amazing sleeper and she has quickly taught mommy how to best meet her needs. She still naps twice a day but with our crazy, wonderful schedule here in China she is proving to be very adaptable and quite happy to sleep on the go. Movement of a taxi or bus will often bring on sleep. Another awesome thing is that once asleep, I can easily move her and she stays asleep. So thankful! Once again, one of those crazy things I prayed for and God answered.

- I am very thankful that her crib is in my room at home!! She wakes sometimes and I see those little eyes look for me, catch mine and then she drifts back to sleep quite contentedly.

- I hate to put her to bed at night as my arms feel empty without her. I look forward to the time she wakes each morning for our early morning snuggle and first bottle of the day

- she doesn't suck her thumb or any fingers going to sleep but when upset she chews and sucks on the pointer finger on her left hand and it has a tiny callouse on it from doing this.

- even though she is used to it, I cannot wait to let my baby sleep in her crib. We're staying at an amazing 5 star hotel and the 'mattress' on her crib is still a wooden board with a folded towel and sheet on it. That's it! She does have a beautiful baby duvet to sleep under and I'd like to keep my eyes open in the market and possibly purchase one of those.

- when she gets too warm sleeping, her little legs kick together and in about 3 kics the duvet is off. So cute!!

- the first night Hannah slept very soundly and truly never moved. Since then she's had one super restless night and now 2 pretty normal ones. It will be interesting to see what her true sleeping habits are like once she's more settled.

- although I have looked closely it appears my baby girl does not have any mongolian spots. I was surprised by this as I thought most Asian babies had them but I guess not all do. She's currently sporting a tiny bruise on her right cheek from a little tumble at the orphanage before we met and also a mosquito bite above her left eye that she got our 2nd night together.

- there is nothing as precious and amazing as the feeling of my sweet daughter reaching up from her carrier and placimg her hands on my cheeks or running them through my hair.

Have I mentioned lately.........I LOVE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is so much more but I'll send this off now with a couple of cute pics!