I honestly cannot believe we first met Beach Ball, then known as Sprout, a year ago today..... I remember the first anniversary of Dumpling's arrival. It felt like a year. No more, no less. Beach Ball is a totally different story. On the one hand, it honestly feels like yesterday. Time just flew by. On the other hand, the girl that stands before me today is not the girl we met last year. she has come SUCH a long way....
She was so scared. Screaming her heart out, so very very fearful of what was to come. She was OK with me at first but very soon came to resent me. She didn't want anything to do with me. All those nights in the hotel in China, poor hubs had to carry around this huge bundle of nerves and tears. She wouldn't let me touch her. But as long as I stayed away, she was actually a happy child. She loved the bath from the get-go. Even tried to drown Dumpling in her exuberance to play in the water!
She hated our house. Could not wrap her head around the designated rooms: a room for eating, a room for sleeping, a room for playing.... she has spent her entire life in the same 4 walls. We had to do some major adjustments to ease her into her new life.... But adjust she did! Did she ever!
From not speaking a sound to learning words, she's now stringing 4 or 5 together and makes herself understood. My new favorite is "Mommy pick-up me (s)kook!" But pick-up is a 3 syllable word, with an eh sound in the middle... too cute! Today, with the speech therapist, she had to ask "what's in the bag?" It was like a toddler game-show host! "Whaaaaaat's in the bag?"
The thing about Beach Ball that cannot go without mentioning is the absolute cheer joy she radiates. She is always happy. OK, not always. But we have been living with Little Miss Broody for 4 years, so BB's sunny disposition is such a joy to be around. She's so very funny. She's a total jokester.
She is also such a loving little girl. The hugs and the kisses are non-stop. "Love too" is the current way she says I love you. She must say it 25 times a day. Out of no-where, for no reason: "Mommy, love too!"
Of course, an anniversary post wouldn't be complete without mentioning the eating..... When I first posted about how much she ate, how much she seemed to enjoy it, people told me to enjoy it, that eventually, it would stop. Well, a year later, the girls still eats every bite with gusto, can be taken to any 5 star restaurant and will eat with utensils, without spilling a drop. I haven't had one food argument with her..... you cannot imagine what that does to my heart!
We had a family dinner last night in honor of the anniversary. I put her in her sister's silks, from her own previous anniversary at the same age.... I had to let out all the darts to squeeze her in there! BB wasn't built for silks!
She's been quite under the weather for a little while, was tested for pneumonia yesterday (negative) and hasn't been feeling herself, so today, just for old time's sake, she refused to let me change her diaper or even touch her, only wanted DAAAAAAAADDY! Happy Anniversary Beach Ball!
Happy anniversary!
Posted by: wkn | January 29, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Happy Anniversary!!! What a joyful little girl!!!!
Posted by: Stacey | January 29, 2008 at 09:34 PM
Happy Anniversary! She is gorgeous!
Posted by: Shelba | January 29, 2008 at 10:00 PM
I'm such a mush, or is it moosh, either way reading this made my eyes mist up, such a darling your little BB and I agree it seems like yesterday and yet that photo shows what a long way she had come. Her personality has always radiated from the photos you post.
Posted by: Debberoo | January 29, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Happy Anniversary!
Posted by: Judy | January 29, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Happy Anniversary! Hope BB feels better soon!
Posted by: Herb | January 29, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Has it been a year already?! Happy anniversary! What a beautiful little girl!
Posted by: OmegaMom | January 30, 2008 at 12:20 AM
Wow, a year... amazing! Happy Anniversary tothe whole family!
Posted by: Justine | January 30, 2008 at 07:54 AM
It's been such a pleasure to watch her blossom. Happy Anniversary!
Posted by: l | January 30, 2008 at 08:30 AM
Happy anniversary! She is so adorable!
Posted by: Janet | January 30, 2008 at 09:01 AM
I remember those first photos, and now this! BB is a BEAUTY, and so sweet. Loved this post.
Posted by: Amanda | January 30, 2008 at 09:15 AM
congrats on the anniversary. She is too cute.
beverly
Posted by: beverly | January 30, 2008 at 11:42 AM
What a wonderful post! And I bet about 10 or 11 months ago you would never guess you would have come so far. It is great to hear about what a happy and lovey girl she is today. Congratulations, MM!
Posted by: Amyesq | January 30, 2008 at 11:43 AM
I have never posted a comment before but I wanted to thank you for this beautiful post. My daughter has been home less than five months and sometimes I can get down about the hard, hard work of parenting, even though she too has come so far. This is just what I needed to read today. Happy Anniversary!
Posted by: Carolyn | January 30, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Happy Anniversary BB!! What a great post, what a great little girl! BTW, our daughter has been home a little over 2 years now. She ate everything when we met her and she still does now, and like BB, she handles utensils like a pro - if truth be told, my 3 year old has better table manners than my 9 year old!lol
Julie
Posted by: Julie | January 30, 2008 at 02:17 PM
What a great post - and look at BB, she's not a baby anymore! Happy Anniversary.
Posted by: shelly | January 30, 2008 at 04:23 PM
I can't believe it's been a year. I vividly remember your posts from the first month or so, and I'm glad that she has adjusted so well.
She looks beautiful in those silks.
Happy anniversary!
Posted by: PinkDevora | January 30, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Ooh! I am a day late but I hope it was a grand anniversary for your family and beautiful little BB. I hope she feels better today. Love that last photo. She is already starting to look like such a big girl. Something about 2.5--things start to change quickly,huh?
Posted by: Tracie | January 30, 2008 at 07:37 PM
wow, what a beauty! happy anniversary.
Posted by: cat, galloping | January 30, 2008 at 08:00 PM
Happy Anniversary BB! She is too adorable!
Posted by: Susan | January 30, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Happy Anniversary! Both of your girls are beautiful, and you have a wonderful family!
Posted by: Mayhem | January 30, 2008 at 11:20 PM
what a difference from those first few months. It is great to hear about so much fun and love with her. I agree, an eating kid is a joy to a parent's heart. Congrats to you all!
Posted by: lizard | January 30, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Happy Anniversary! Make sure to copy this and put it in her "baby" book...what a nice post!
Posted by: Melissa | January 31, 2008 at 06:44 AM
Congratulations! What a beautiful, healthy, happy little girl.
Posted by: Lisa in Herbsylvania | February 01, 2008 at 01:30 AM
Happy expanded Family Day.
Posted by: Karyn | February 01, 2008 at 05:58 PM