Yes, I Remember

We make a point of frequently talking to Wynn about China, adoption, and the day we became a family. These things have been part of the conversation at our house from the moment we got home two and a half years ago, so Wynn's familiar with the story and the terms. (She hasn't reached the age yet where she realizes that most of her friends' first moments with their families were different than hers, but that will come.)

Here's tonight's bedtime conversation between the two of us. (Picture her with a snotty nose and watery eyes from having a cold.)

Wynn: Remember when I was a tiny little baby? (Holds her fingers up to emphasize tiny, as if she were the size of spool of thread.)

Me: Yes, I remember. You were so tiny.

Wynn: Remember when I was in China?

Me: Yes, you were in China, and Baba and I were here.

Wynn: And you said, "That's our girl. Let's go get her!"

Me: Yes, we saw your picture and knew you were our daughter. We came as fast as we could.

Wynn: And when Baba picked me up -

Me: Yes, Baba carried you back to the hotel room in China.

Wynn: And I cried on Baba.

Me: You did cry.

Wynn: It was 'cause I didn't know who you was yet.

Me: Yep, we knew you were our daughter, but you didn't know who we were.

Wynn: I didn't know yet, but now I know. You Mom and Baba. (big smile)

Past and Present

On this date, two years ago, we became a family.

Last night I read through our blog posts from that time; I smiled (and teared up a little) as I remembered those first few days of discovering one another.

As is our custom, we had pizza and Cheerios for dinner tonight - just as we did for our first family meal together in China. As she sat there slurping down her chocolate milk and making goofy faces at me - the latest of which I call her "great Norma Desmond" look - I couldn't help but think about how far we've come. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that there was a time when she wouldn't even let me hold her, even though I know it's true.

Today was also what Wynn calls a "girl day" - when I'm home for the summer, and she stays home from daycare. The big excitement on this day was that it was Wynn's first time going to music class at the MacPhail Center.

Now, I happen to be sick as a proverbial dog this week - we've been taking turns with the stuffy nose, low-grade fever thing, and it's my turn at bat. But I managed to take enough Tylenol and decongestant to get us over to Minneapolis and through our first class.

Wynn was oddly shy for much of it. Maybe it was the unfamiliar people and surroundings. Or that she wasn't quite sure whether I was staying or leaving. In any case, instead of pretending to fly around like a woodpecker, Wynn wanted to be held by Mom. So I held her, and we flew like a woodpecker together. And it was fun.

Near the end of the class, the teacher brought out a parachute to play with. Wynn got one look at it and started jumping up and down, "Oh, I like THAT!" And any hint of shyness disappeared.

Breakthrough

Wynn really opened up to me tonight. After our walk in the park we put her on the bed in just her diaper. While I was in the tub, she and Scott were watching Shanghai Idol on TV (hilarious!), tapping their feet to the Chinese pop music. I came out and started fixing a snack, which meant I had her attention. She motioned to me from across the room that she'd like some, and I delivered. Pretty soon I was sitting on the bed with her, sharing my graham crackers.

She loves how the smooth, cool bedsheets feel against her skin, and she keeps rubbing herself around on the covers. It looks like she's swimming around on the comforter, kicking her feet, stretching out her arms, rolling over again and again. I got on the bed with her and Scott, and soon the whole family was tickling her belly and giggling with her. She's particularly fond of having me take the bottom of her foot and go ZZZBBPPFF! on it. We feel like she's relaxing around us, and that what we've seen from her tonight is probably more of what her personality is really like.

Don't know what tomorrow will be like, but tonight has been so nice.

Also ... several people came up to us in the park to practice their English. The conversation always starts the same, "Hello. I'm glad to meet you. Where are you from?" One older couple were quite good at speaking English; they explained that their daughter lives in St. Louis and they've visited her there. They asked about which city Wynn was from, her name, etc. Then the woman looked at Wynn and said, "She's lucky." I replied by telling her that we were the lucky ones to be her parents. Maybe Wynn heard me.

Ann