Ever-Changing Emmie...an Update

I haven't written about Esther Marie specifically lately, so I thought it would be a good idea to give an update about how she is doing. She is progressing with bonding with the family and enjoys playing with Joshua, MaryAlyce and Hannah quite a bit. Blossoming like a flower is a good way to describe it, trusting and opening up more and more each day. She wants to participate and not be left out of things, which can lead to some frustration and the inevitable whining. She loves music and dancing...music can calm her when she is antsy and upset. She especially likes to dance with mommy holding her. Paper seems to be a favorite thing to play with...she likes the crunching sound of it, she likes to draw on it, and she likes to stare at words on a paper and pretend she is reading it. She really loves toy kitchen things and dolls. She pretends to feed herself and the dolls. I think the thing we notice most about her is that she is a fantastic imitator...she copies sounds, motions and facial expressions. She really makes us laugh and she knows it. She is sleeping much better now and bedtime and nap time don't seem to be as threatening. She has calmed down and doesn't cry as much. I believe that is because she is getting more secure with us and her surroundings. She is very independent and wants to do things herself. She "talks" at us and is still pointing and acting bossy. She is not eating "real" food as much as I would like, but I think the textures are throwing her off...the feel of them in her mouth. She still prefers baby foods, yogurt and mashed up banana. I am curious about how that will change after she gets her palate repaired and she has healed from the surgery. I love watching her interact with others and still am in awe at what a miracle her personality is after growing up in an orphanage for two years. She will meet her grandparents soon and I know she will charm them just as she has charmed us.