Wow, It's been over Three Months since Got-cha

It has been over three months since we had our "Got-cha Day" for Danielle. She is adjusting very well. She is so innocent and happy. She does not have any established safety boundaries, we must teach her everything in this area which tends to seem like all we say is no, no, no. She tests almost every situation to its limit. I tell her to not touch something and the little index finger comes out and she reaches to touch the item that is off limits. She will do this with a smile and dare me to correct her. So far I have tried to be up to every challenge and it is exhausting. But most two year olds must establish their limitations and test the waters. She smiles all the time and loves to be tickled. She has been to the Doctor and had all the recommended tests and is an average sized healthy little girl. Thank you Lord. Danielle is no longer afraid of our dog, a brindle boxer named K'Ehlyre (Kaylar) named from a Klingon Character from Next Generation Star Trek. (She looks a little bit like a Klingon with her pointed ears)



Danielle loves her big brother and he loves her most of the time. One day about six weeks ago we were driving and passed the area where the Goodyear blimp hangar is located. I pointed out the blimp as it was landing and David was very curious about the blimp and wanted to know if we could fly in it sometime. When I said that could happen someday, he promptly spoke up and wanted to know if we could fly Danielle back to Russia in the blimp when it was time for her to go back home. Funny story, but his sentiment was real. He continued asking when Danielle would be leaving for about two more weeks before he gave up on the idea of sending her back to Russia. He is still adjusting to becoming a big brother. He tries to be her parent most of the time and wants to show her how to play with toys rather than let her discover how to play with them on her own. He is coming along and each day gets a little better for him. When we meet someone new, he promptly introduces his little sister... Hi this is Danielle; she is my little sister................. we got her from Russia. It is so funny, that big David and I have started chiming in when he blurts out the final phrase.

It has been two months since I posted to this blog and a lot has happened. Danielle is learning a couple of words a day. She says: Let me see - translated can mean let her see what we have or it can also mean let me do it, or let me have it. She says Juice please for any drink. She says I love you several times a day and she will also say kiss, kiss. Each day when she is dressed I put her in front of the mirror and say pretty, so of course she can say pretty and says it about herself during the dressing process. She loves shoes and can say shoes, socks, monkey, lion, elephant, tiger, dog, cat, bird, eyes, ears, hair, elbow, feet, legs, brush teeth, mouth, nose, head, tummy, body, potty, poop, and pees-pees and so much more. She wants me to give her the English word for everything she sees. She is bright and is learning very well.

Danielle has went to the Science and Discovery Museum three times, the Miami Metro Zoo once, a small water park once, swimming at a friend’s home, trick or treating, bounce house (several times), several of our local playgrounds, a huge Thanksgiving at her Great Aunt Sharon’s home where over 32 relatives were able to get together. During the time at Aunt Sharon’s she got to ride a four-wheeler, go to a bond-fire, see goats, horses, cows, pigs, chickens, rooster, and dogs. Today we were able to take out our boat and she got her first experience in the boat. She loves to go anywhere, just to go and be going makes her very happy. She has met most of our local friends and family. She seems to be fine with new people, at first she did not like strangers to pick her up, and she would look for mommy or daddy to rescue her, now she is fine with any new person she meets.