One Month Since Adoption Day

We have had another great 3 day weekend. Today is a holiday due to All Saint's Day so Andrey was home, which was fantastic as it was great to capitalize on the recent positive developments in his relationship with Michella. Much more progress was made in that respect!

Today is also our one month anniversary of adoption day - the day we became Michella's parents. When I got Michella dressed this morning and let her choose what she wanted to wear from her closet, she picked the same dress she wore that first day a month ago. Smart girl.

I can't believe how much progress she has made in one month. She is starting to explode with more and more new words each day. The best of all is when she called me Mommy for the first time just a few days ago. Well actually she said "Mama" and since then she's regularly been saying "Meme," which I believe his her attempt at "mommy." That's how I refer to myself most of the time.

It is becoming more and more apparent that our daughter is a really happy girl! What a blessing to see her enjoying life with us.

Now for a few videos and photos from the past few days...

We had a really great day on Sunday. Went to church in the morning and Michella did better than ever. She even let me put her down in the back of the room and she walked around holding my hand with the other toddlers and their mommies for a while. After church we met some friends for lunch and a swim. Michella had a GREAT time in the pool. I supported her for a while until we realized that the water was just shallow enough for her to stand on her own with her mouth above water. As soon as she figured this out, she just kept pushing me away. She even submerged her head completely under the water and then came right back up all by herself with a big smile on her face. Swimming will have to be a regular activity. 

Today, Andrey and Michella had several play times together. The most significant time was when we took a chance on letting me exercise while she played with Andrey. I was in our room away from them (they stayed outside mostly) for a good 45 minutes and she didn't have a hard time at all! When some neighbors walked by and Andrey stopped to chat with them, she let him hold her the whole time so that she could safely avoid the strangers.

In the days when I was still trying to get Michella interested in her daddy, I demonstrated how fun it is to pull on his nose and hear the sounds he makes when you do. This has become a regular fun game for her.