How It's Going

Okay, I think my grace period for jet lag, new baby, sibling rivalry, etc. is about up. Time to share how we are faring after a month at home. Wow, where did that month go??? It seems like we just got home but it also feels like Ailah has always been part of our life.

I'm wishing I'd posted earlier because Ailah is changing so quickly, I almost can't remember what she was and wasn't able to do when we first arrived. I'm in awe of the speed with which she is catching up developmentally with her calendar age. It is amazing what love, attention, good food and trying to keep up with a big sister can do for a kid. She is changing so fast.

When we first arrived home, Mara and Ailah were, shall we say, less than pleased with the existence of one another. Mara was ready and waiting for this little sister with (mostly) a heart full of love. However, she was ready to love on Ailah, not be smacked up side the head whenever she came near. Ailah, our heretofore mild, sweet, gentle little girl, went into WWE mode whenever Mara came within reach. (Okay, so it never occurred to us that she might think she was an only child after less than two weeks with us in China. Apparently the photo album with pictures of Mara with me and Jeff didn't click for her.) It turned into an all out turf war for Mom's lap and by the end of the first weekend home, I was even more exhausted than the day we arrived home. Ailah would shout "aiiiiiii" as soon as Mara came within 3 feet of me, whether or not she was in my lap and Mara would run to jump in my lap whenever it looked as if Ailah was going to visit with me for a few minutes. Did you know that you can love a child dearly and still not like them very much at the same time? Well, I can.

Fortunately, the majority of that behavior has disappeared though it does rear it's ugly head from time to time. The girls still aren't too much into playing with one another but they are working on it. Especially when Mom says, "Mara go play with your sister, she's bored and I'm tired."

This has been sitting in my draft file for a month! I originally wrote it on Feb. 15! I'd say I'm not going to get any more added on, so I'll post it as is, with the original date. Typical for our busy life now, my time is not my own and blogging is catch as catch can.