Sorry to keep mentioning this, but IT IS COLD!!

I woke up to the sound of the space heater put in the cabinet under the kitchen sink to thaw out the pipes. No cold water. It is still cold, and the big warm-up today should put us around 8 for our high. With the wind chill, still way below zero. But, since we've been indoors so long avoiding the extreme cold, and school wasn't even 2 hours late today at last, Anju and I bundled up to head to the library and some other errands.

Even the garage door didn't want to open today. It creaked open an inch then stopped several times before I helped it manually go up while holding the button down. The cat jumped in the car for warmth while I messed with Anju's car seat.

Anju hadn't been in the snow yet, so while she was bundled up in her snowsuit to go out in the 20-30 below wind chill, I took the opportunity to snap a quick picture. Don't leave me nasty comments--I set her down, took one picture and swooped her back up in a matter of seconds--nothing got frostbitten! I thought this would be a great picture to send to India for our next post-placement report in a month or so. Too bad she isn't holding a thermometer or something! But, I guess unless they have traveled to the tundra, they would have no concept of below zero temps anyway.

We had this snowsuit in the car when we landed in Bemidji in November, and when Shawn brought it in for her (great thing about a small-town regional airport--car was parked in the "more than 7 days" parking lot only 50 feet or so away from the door and Shawn pulled it right up to the airport door and let it idle 15 minutes or so while we got Anju bundled up) she swam in it. It is size 12 months, and her sister wore it when she was 9-15 months. It seemed two times too big when we landed. I don't think her arms or legs were in it more than halfway down the sleeves. Today, it fits perfectly. I'm starting to think that she DID grow 4 or so inches from November 9 when the orphanage measured her to the day of her mid-December doctor's appointment.

She had a great time going to an indoor garage sale where I got a warm fleece sweater and Anju got some jammies amongst other treasures. Then we headed for story time at the library where she really was walking quite a bit.

She must have tuckered herself out, as she's having the best nap she's taken in a long time. Hope it lasts!

Please keep my dad, who is in Milwaukee for medical treatment, my mom and brother, who are with him, and my friend Brooke, who is facing the challenges of international adoption and travel in India, in your prayers.

Poodle Pup-pup

Anju's toy puppy is now called "Pup-pup" and says "baaaa". Anju also has her pant- sticks out her tongue and pants after she says "baaa."

Anju and I colored this morning with her new color crayons. She also found an empty box to sit in. She enjoys playing the organ in our house--Solveig started piano lessons yesterday, and I'm sure Anju will want to take them also. She stops whenever she hears music and points her fingers in the air as if she is a disco queen. ;-)

Traveling blessings on my parents and brother as they journey to Milwaukee for a week. They will visit my grandmother on the way who has been released from the hospital back to the home where they are providing opportunity for recuperation.

Daddy's idea--Child's delight!

Anju had about an hour's worth of fun playing in the (empty) laundry hamper this morning. Her dad set her in to be funny and after he went to his office, she wanted to play in there for a long time. She played ball from there, had her milk in there, and loved to play peek-a-boo with me. What a nut!!

Baby, it's cold outside!

I see now that it has warmed up in Lengby to 17 below. This morning it was 36 below when I checked e-mail. Anju's shirt says it all!

Update on Anju's progress:

Anju likes bananas, oatmeal, Life and frosted flakes cereals, chocolate, carrots, peas, onions, sweet potatoes, vanilla yogurt, spinach/artichoke dip, spanish rice w/ fajita meat, ketchup, kimchi (thanks, Joe), jalepeño poppers, and peanut butter toast. She especially loves her Indian biscuits that she enjoyed at Ashraya. (Thanks to Auntie Sara for replenishing our supply!)

She loves animals in books and on tv/movies, but only likes to admire the real thing from afar. All animals initially say, "baaaaa", although some eventually will say the correct sound. Her new stuffed puppy mostly says "baaaa"--but then again, it is a poodle, so I can see the sheep confusion. The pig saying "baaa", however cannot be explained.

She says, "Mama", "Dada", "ba-bye", "hi", "hot", "mmmmm", "baaa" (on occasion has made the other animal noises too--but that one is her favorite), and this morning said, "puppy." She uses the sign for "milk" when she is thirsty and often signs it and points to her cup after she has gotten it to show us that she has milk--just how we taught her the sign. Very cute.

She can now take 10 to 15 steps and stand while engaging her attention on something without falling. She can walk 4 or 5 steps with items in both hands. She wants to be carried all the time and we're trying to break her of that.

She now loves bathtime, but is very cautious about it- which I like. Naptime is still a struggle, but then who wants to nap when you could be clinging to your mama??

Traveling Mercies

Please keep my friend, Brooke in your prayers as she is on her way to India to pick up her precious new daughter, whom we met when picking up Anju at Ashraya. Godspeed, Brooke!

Blessings

Anju's baptism on 1/4/09

Anju is continuing to be a blessing and a challenge to us. The success in the bathtub has continued, and she now smiles and giggles when she sees the bathroom door. She still prefers to be my "potty buddy" during the day, but busies herself playing with barrettes and toothbrushes instead of what I'm doing. She magically ended her fruit aversion yesterday by eating the banana chunks out of her daddy's Rice Krispies and wanting grape halves for supper. She loves playing ball--especially with her daddy. Anju and Jonah played "Little People" for almost half an hour tonight without anyone getting bitten or pinched.

We have a new morning routine where Shawn gets her up in the morning and I jump in the shower right away as it was getting difficult for her to separate from me once she saw me in the morning. She can usually manage being just with her daddy for 20 minutes or so while I get ready, but often will not eat from him and fusses while she waits for me to come. Yesterday, Shawn said that when the shower upstairs shut off, Anju pointed at the stairs and said "Mama done" and wanted to go up to get me. The concept that I probably needed a few more minutes to dry off, get clothes on, etc. eluded her.

Anju still hates it when I type on the computer. She immediately cries whenever the phone rings. Also nix to another child being on my lap. Anything that gets my attention off of her is a problem. In addition to her attachment process and adjustment to life outside an institution, I think she is a "terrible 2". Her sister was a "terrible 2" from 1 1/2 to age 4 and Anju is much like her sister. She is very independent and totally dependent alternate minutes. She only likes things done one way---until obviously (to her alone) they should be done a totally different way. She thinks she is the queen of the house and wants to be carried all the time. She will fuss for me to carry her to her sippy cup 3 feet away instead of crawl to it. She's not too happy- and by that I mean occasional biting, pinching and crying-when I insist, "Anju do it."

She enjoys going to story time at the library where she can sit in a circle on the carpet with a bunch of kids once again. How much her life has changed in the past few months. Really, when you think about it--it's amazing how readily she has adjusted to her new life. I already find myself forgetting that she has not always been with us. I forget that she looks a little different than me when we are in public and people ask about her. She is fully my daughter and I don't know how I could love any child more. My three wonderful kids are a blessing--yes, a challenge too. How blessed I am to be given the opportunity to help these kids grow into the adults God created them to be.

Please continue to pray for my grandmother who has been hospitalized again.

Success, at last!

Anju has finally had a successful bath. It started out as a "visit" to sister in the bathtub. Thought we'd try that again. Anju seemed engaged, so I set her outside the bathtub standing and holding onto the sides. Solveig started playing with her. After a few minutes, I took off her shirt and Solveig put the sudsing bar (Johnson's and Johnson's) on her arm. Anju giggled at the suds left behind. A little while later, I took off her pants. So she's standing outside the bathtub in her diaper getting pretty wet by this time. Then I took off her diaper. There was concern at this point. Some fussing. I put her inside the tub in not much over an inch of water and she stood and held on from the inside. Solveig stayed in and played. Pretty soon Anju was giggling and allowed herself to be washed. She pointed to where she wanted the soap and we put the soap there. Her hair was washed and rinsed before she even realized it and she didn't want to get out. She enjoyed filling the nesting cups with water and pouring them back out again. She would not sit down--only stood--so I was a "Nervous Nelly" the whole time and only let her be in for about 5 minutes. All the giddiness with the slippery tub and standing up made the mom in me on high alert.

So, next time we'll try bath time with Solveig again and slowly wean her to bath time alone. I'm glad Solveig is a willing participant in this adventure!

Happy birthday, Ryan!