Several Breakthroughs Today!

Milestones accomplished today by Caroline:   1) She smiled at least 10 times and showed her teeth...yay for big smiles; 2) she giggled; 3) She decided to be a big girl and sat up and even stood today....I watched her walk toward me on Gotcha Day so I know she can walk;  4) she is closer to playing with toys today...we are thinking that she was never given toys to play with by herself....she doesn't know what to do with them; 5) she likes to shop (like her Momma)....when we went to the Carrefour (their version of Walmart) she lit up and smiled and was really engaged...she was a little flirt; 6) she is starting to learn the sign for 'eat'....and demonstrated it several times when she wanted another bite....she's a good eater and food seems to be a good motivator for her; and, 7) she peed and pooped in the potty chair....that's a major deal!    

The main thing that Caroline struggles with are 'transitions'......any kind of change cause her to cry.  If I am holding her, but I move, or if we move from one room to another....any change scares her.  That is totally understandable, so we know that with time this will improve. Also, in the picture of Caroline in the high chair, you'll notice that she is holding on to a blue object.  That is an 'egg shaker', a little 'percussion' instrument.   She holds on to that shaker from the time she wakes up to the time she goes to bed....well, actually, she is still holding on to it and she is asleep.   That is attributed to being a 'hoarder'....very natural in her situation.  If you are afraid that something might be taken away from you....food, or a toy, you hold on to it for dear life.  That is what she's doing with the egg shaker.  We are guessing that food was taken away from her before she was full....and that perhaps she's never had anything that truly belonged to her. Therefore, she holds on to the shaker.  That's OK....soon, she'll learn that she doesn't have to hoard things.    

Today's pictures are from the restaurant at the China Hotel where we eat the breakfast buffet every morning; and the Guangzhou Orchid Garden. Included in one of the pictures is Anne Miller, one of my closest friends who arrived in Guangzhou on Monday just before I received Caroline.  Tomorrow we are visiting a Buddhist Temple and a shopping market.    

Last thing.....our official business today was applying for Carolines registration and visa.