Grandma's Take Care of Gia

The white fluff is Quinn, whom we also affectionately call "The Great White Shark." Clearly evident at mealtimes...

Mile Stones--Week 3

Just a quick update with a few pictures regarding last week's milestones:

1. Gia LOVES Quinn! Quinn is a great toy for getting her to stop crying!

2. Gia went to her first ECFE class last Friday and it went really well. I was afraid she wouldn't mix and mingle, but she got busy quickly discovering new toys, and well, ignored potential new friends. I did learn though that most toddlers aren't too interested in others--they're mostly interested in themselves.

3. Renee (sister-in-law) and I have started a play group on Wednesday's at 9:30 at Eden Prairie Mall at the indoor playground. Gia spent most of her first playdate in my lap, but did manage to take a few pretend rides with Addison on a miniature hotdog truck. Please join us if you can!

4. I did get her to swallow a few lentiles, but for the most part, it's still pasta, bread, crackers, and cake. I learned from some fellow Ethiopian travelers that their toddlers are also showing the same strong food preferences--obviously these foods were served often in the orphanage.

5. Big news---Rob and I got out for the first time together without Gia. Saturday was our 10th Wedding Anniversary so we had a date. Not that we did much for our date...we basically visited a few stores, sat in a parking lot and talked for an hour, and had dinner at our favorite haunt. We were back by 8:00 sharp.....pretty low key for us. The Grandmas had their first crack at babysitting, and by all counts, it went well.

Must close, but please enjoy...

Bath Time with Gianna

This is great stuff (at least for us parents). (Please ignore the woman with the black bathing suit on.)

Week 2 Mile Stones

This concludes the second week that Gia has been with us in the United States (third week with us as a family including ET). Some milestones that we've achieved in the past two weeks:

1. I went from not showering at all to approximately one shower per every three days.

2. Gia went from screaming in the carseat to loving the carseat.

3. We've been to McDonald's four times in two weeks. Considering we usually go to McDonald's four times a year, let's just say ol' Ronny boy is happy with us.

4. Quinn (our dog) was banned from the house the first week Gia was with us. The second week he joined us was a little rough---i.e., instantaneous, high-pitched screeching from Gia whenever Quinn came within four feet. As of Wednesday, they were able to share the same patch of earth without incident, and yesterday she actually petted him. "Pet" is a loose interpretation of sloppy slapping, but at least she's making an attempt to touch him. He on the other hand, has done pretty well---he has resisted any temptation to hump her and has only knocked her flat on her face twice.

5. She now looks forward to sitting in her high chair. Again---the high chair was initially met with resistance and the usual screaming, but she's starting to put two and two together. High chair equals food, food equals full belly, fully belly equals good, high chair equals good.

6. This week I was able to get her to eat a food other than pasta and bread...drum roll...she ate, I know, I know, she actually ate....MEAT. This tells you how far I've fallen. Our vegetarian household now welcomes any meat that could potentially be consumed by our toddler. Why? Because I'm desperate to get food sources of iron in her body. She doesn't like beans! What! Doesn't like beans? A staple vegetarian food...served in some form or fashion every night for the past 10 years and I can't get her to eat it. Grandma Stoebner is the meat-pimp, and Gia is the insatiable customer. Tomorrow night I will try preparing a different bean in a different fashion--I'm determined to tear down the bean wall. Gia---tear down your wall! (Think Ronald Reagan here).

7. Most importantly---this week Gia touched Rob. Oh yeah, we're headed for the big time. She touched him on the knee, then stroked his calves, then played with his hands, and tonight, she let him give her a hug. She enjoys playing with Rob, but is still wary of men. Basically this means I'm still the primary caregiver and lug her around quite a bit. But we worked on that this week also---I made her walk in the house (once she got over the fact that a dog walks here too), and now it seems like she wants me only 85% of the time (down from the 100+%).

As I have three weeks of parenting under my belt, I am now an expert and can give parenting advice FREELY. Feel free to contact me should you have any questions. I'll be sure to post a most important answer.

More Photos of Gia

Photos of Gia

Returned Home Safely with Gia

Hi,
Just a quick hello to let everyone know we returned safely with Gia last Friday night. Ethiopia was great and meeting her was amazing. Unfortunately I have little time to spend on postings as she is currently "high need" (or "high touch" -- the term we use at work for demanding people). She is beautiful, healthy, and well, a toddler who is teething. She has attached to me, and is working on attaching to Rob. She likes to be carried 24/7, held when she eats, held when she sleeps, held when she bathes, and likes physical contact when she plays. This is not uncommon in internationally adopted toddlers---we are working on it, but it may take some time for her to break physical contact with me. In the meantime, I have only a few minutes to post some pictures.

Enjoy,
Tamara