Third Week Home

August 28th, 2005

Life is a pathway of choices, each setting us on a different road. We’re so joyful we risked the unknown and obeyed the calling to adopt. Sometimes, while we’re caring for Marissa, we think about how she would still be in the Chinese orphanage, or worse, dead, if we hadn’t chosen this route. Some of the babies were sick enough that we aren’t sure they would have made it if it hadn’t been their time to be adopted. We are humbled by God’s power and grace.
This third week home showed true progression in Marissa’s trust in us and her comfort in our family. She has been sleeping much better, loves Spencer, thinks Shelbie is okay, recognizes her brother when he visits (and loves him), and is understanding english. She can mimic many things and enjoys playing mimic games with people, especially Daddy. She plays differently with each of us and comes to each of us for different things. Daddy says she wants Mama for comfort. Sounds like a normal kid!

The other day, Dennis was blinking his eyes at Marissa, so she started blinking her eyes back at him and smiling. She’s pretty sharp. Marissa is up on all fours now, and is starting to crawl…mostly backwards, which really frustrates her. She seems like an adult in a baby’s body. She knows what she wants, and where she wants to go, but can’t make her body do it.

When we say this child loves music, she LOVES music. She needs to hear it everyday. It makes her so happy. Just getting close to the CD player makes her start moving like she’s dancing. She remembers the tunes and makes nosies like she’s trying to sing them. Sometimes if we’re rocking in her room and Mama sings one of the songs, Marissa will sit up and look at the CD player. She knows where the songs are supposed to comes from. Either that, or she smart enough to politely look at the player to urge Mama not to sing with her croaky voice. Think we’ll end this post on that thought!