blogosphere

I did sorta kinda start a new blog.  Tallis will not be the star, but she is definitely a cast member.  Of course, I'll still be updating this blog with all things 'Tallis'.  I have no idea where I'm going with it, so it may be quite random.  But, from me, would you expect anything else?  Click the photo to visit.  But, you know, only if you really want to.

Salutations,
~w

Lifeline Reunion

Tallis is the one with the circle around her head...

'cause, that would be weird if I circled some other random kid. 

This photo shoot was hilarious, as there were many kids

making a run for it trying to escape.

This is Lily...she matched our file to Tallis'.

This is Rebecca.  Rebecca peeled me off of the elevator floor

at the White Swan to take me to a Chinese doctor.

We LOVE these ladies and all that they do.

"f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-four"

Just because I didn't blog about it, doesn't mean that Tallis didn't have a birthday.  We didn't do a big party, I think we'll save that for next year.  Actually, staying home was perfect and Tallis definitely knew that the day was all about her. 

Tallis learning the American tradition of boring the birthday girl

with a card before receiving the loot.

Rowan "helped" with the sprinkles.

As you can see, I'm not a baker.  But, if I say that the kids decorated the cake,

then I'm off the hook, right?

Notice Mom's deathgrip?  I'm afraid of fire.

Tallis' favorite gift was the gadget my parents got her.

She had a great day.

And the next day, she had cake for breakfast.

Good to Know

6 June, 2009

20 July, 2009

(with a fresh scar on her forehead)

Yesterday, I was going through photos from other families' visits to Tallis' orphanage.  Tallis sat on my lap and so I was showing her some of the photos that she's in.  While looking through, Tallis suddenly said, "go back, Mom".  Then she touched the screen to show me which one she wanted to see.  She pointed to a table in the photo and said, "owie, fall down. bump your head." and then showed me the scar on her forehead.  We saw that scar appear in the above photo when we received an update in July '09 and we've been wondering ever since how she got it.  When she first got home, we'd point to it an ask what happened.  She would show us that she fell.  But now I know exactly where it happened.  In the photo below, you'll see the table that is in a playroom at the orphanage.  That's the culprit.  The scar is a pretty good one, and it is quite raised.  I'm glad that if she forgets someday, I'll be able to show her where she got that.   

It seems insignificant, but there can be so many mysteries about your adopted child -- even the smallest thing adds a much-desired piece to the puzzle.  It will be our job to tell her all that we know about her early years and so we want to be able to answer as many questions as possible.  Like, where she got that scar on her forehead.

Happy Tuesday!

~w

Not Really Hot

Hanging out in the morning after waking up.

With bedhead.

We've had a bit of a rough patch with Tallis for the past week or so.  It happens now and then, not as often as in the beginning, but it still happens.  She just struggles.  And, so, we do too.  For her privacy, I won't go into the details.  Besides, the details don't really matter.  But I want to share a couple of things she has said recently. 

One day last week, I played a video online of this little girl singing "Amazing Grace".  I don't know why I clicked on it, but I'm glad I did.  The  boys looked for a second and quickly lost interest and walked away.  Tallis sat on my lap.  When it was over, she asked to see it again and so we did.  I said, "I like that girl.  I think she sings pretty.  Do you like that girl, Tallis?"  Tallis said, "Yeah, she good girl."  She stared for a while longer and then, a little teary-eyed, she said, "Mom?  I good girl too."  I told her that I knew she was and then we talked a little about good girl things.

Just a few minutes ago, I tucked Tallis into bed for her nap.  We talked for a few minutes and I kissed her and hugged her.  I asked her if she was having a good day.  I could tell she wanted to say something so I waited a minute for her to find the words.  She said, "Mom?  Tomorrow, I good girl."  And then she said what I thought was "really hot."  I agreed that it's hot outside.  "No," she said and tried again, "I good girl.  It's really hard."  Her eyes were a little watery by now and mine were too.  When Tallis is struggling, there's all kinds of difficult behavior going on.  And when she tries to be better, she really tries hard.  That's what she was telling me today.  She's a little girl with a bit of a broken heart and having a broken language doesn't help matters. But, she is certainly trying and I am unbelievably proud of her for it.  She is a really good girl too.  I think I'll try to get that across to her better when she wakes up.

Happy Tuesday,

~w

Tonight is Relative

Tallis' first time in a pool.

WHEW!!!