Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Whew!

This morning we explained to Alayna that I will be her mommy. She was thrilled and we all breathed a sigh of relief! She immediately started calling me mama and, this morning, while we were watching a Sesame Street DVD, she gave me two HUGE hugs! Again, I melted! The biggest indicator of her acceptance of having a mama and joining our family came when we returned for the afternoon visit. She had drawn me another picture. In this picture there were two houses, connected by a road. One was hers (and Baba Marta's!) and one mine. She had also colored and completed a maze where a little girl was walking through a field of flowers to her house where her mama was waiting. I asked Alayna if the little girl was her and she was coming home to mama. She said yes :-)

Alayna's picture

Finding her way home to Mama!


Although she has always been relatively comfortable with Toni and I, today she really came out of her shell. She sat on my lap, gave me hugs and always sat right next to me whenever we were playing. She sang for us again (she loves for me to record her singing and to watch herself when she is done. . .I promise to share once I am home) and she even showed us a little of her goofy side! She had us all doubled over in laughter many times!

This afternoon, at her request, we played beauty shop! I brought hair clips, a child-sized makeup kit and some nail polish (thank goodness for Toni's brother Alex who ran to the store during lunch and picked these things up for me!) and we did each other's hair, makeup and nails. We also completed a few more necklaces and bracelets for several of her friends (who are also very excited that Alayna has a mama. . .every time they see her they ask what she and mama are doing). Maren is going to be in heaven having a sister who will love doing all of these things with her.

Alayna, skillfully applying her green eye shadow!

Mommy doing Alayna's nails

Alayna doing mommy's nails!

My turn for eyeshadow! Bright blue!

"This is great!" Alayna giving her thumbs up!

She continues to amaze me with how smart she is! Yesterday morning I showed her how to spell her name in English and she copied it beautifully. Today, she wrote it by herself without having to look! Wow! This girl is one smart cookie!

Alayna is such and amazing girl! It is going to be so hard to leave her on Friday, but I know that, once I am home, I will finally be able to start the final steps to bring my girls home!

Mommy and Alayna (yes, I am as exhausted as I look!!)

16 comments:

Marc, Julia, and Cole said...

What a fantastic picture she drew! The happy face on the sun & the colors she used all show how happy she is about her new mommy:)

Armstrong Family said...

She sounds amazing! I'm so glad it went so well for the two of you, and I'm so glad she said yes!

Renae said...

Love following your visits...makes me miss my little girl:(...but the end is in sight:)! For all of us!

erinannie said...

Valerie and Richard- I'm so happy for you! The girls sound perfect for your family! I've been checking your blog for updates every possible chance during your trip. I'm so happy it is going well.

Jessica K. said...

SOOO ADORABLE!! These girls couldnt be more perfect!! Praying that you get to bring them home quick. Do you know how long it will take to go back and pick them up?

Jennifer said...

I think you're glowing, not exhausted-looking! What an incredible picture! Cant' wait until you bring those precious girls home!!!!!

growing our love... said...

First let me say..thank you for sharing your days with your two beautiful and smart daughters. Everyday after work I look forward to reading about them and your visit.

I am hoping to pay it forward when we travel in April. I hope I can do 50% as well as you have done.

Just beautiful!

Kelly said...

She just has one of the prettiest complexions! I just love to hear about her... what a J.O.Y.! :) I agree with Renae, it makes me miss my girls more... and yet I am SOOO happy for you! She is old enough, I bet the wait until your return will seem like forever, but once you are there her excitement will just be uncontainable! I am so happy for her!!!! Praying, praying, praying all goes smoothly and QUICK! :)

Yates Family said...

I meant to ask you how the big announcement went but I was too busy being self involved...Sorry! I am so happy she was excited and happy! You are an amazing friend! Those girls are so very lucky to have a mama like you!
Travel safely!

Charissa said...

Oh valerie, how wonderful. She is just precious. What a blessed mama you are. And now two more GIRLS to be painting fingernails with!

Chris Haven said...

Valerie, you are truly a woman of God! I am so impressed by your maturity in Christ for 26 yrs old. You are an inspiration to me any many others. You are selfless. I am so happy for you and can't wait for you to take your girls home. They are beautiful. Thank you for blessing me with your blog.

Cynthia Rieben said...

Oh, what a priceless and beautiful set of photos. I hope the next months just fly by until you can get back and get both girls. I enjoyed our chat today and I'm going miss not visiting with ou almost daily -- sigh -- real world.

Rachelle said...

love love love your pictures and narrative of your trip. Hope you can get those gorgeous girls home soon!

Arizona mom to eight said...

I could not wait to get on-line to check your blog. Both of your new daughters are so smart! I loved her picture, how wonderful, she is good! It will be hard to leave them and play the waiting game again, I know. I remember the fatigue, I hope you can rest a tiny bit once home, I know with all your kiddos it will be difficult. Just being HOME will make a difference though. How long of a wait is it until you go back to finalize your adoption?

Amanda said...

This is just so neat!! A picture you for sure want to frame!

Stacey Kirchner said...

Too cute! I am so glad things are going so smoothly. I love how she REALLY understands the meaning of you being her momma! So neat.