just who is SongLian?

We are loving getting to know our girl. She is an amazing little gal. I know that there will be some harder days ahead; but today was essentially seamless for her (two of our other kids however are tired tired tired and had a harder day). SO very thankful for this gift God has given. SIZE (for you Natasha): I packed all size 4 clothes (based on the up date we got a few weeks ago) so I am basing size off of that. She came in a size 5 shirt that was too big but worked. Her skirt was SO small. Today she wore size 4 leggins--they fit now just right (but I am guessing she will be size 5 pants soon: she has some LONG legs). Size 4 on top is fine. She came in shoes that were much bigger than her feet so today we put her in the converse we have--size 9 and they are a much better fit (her feet are actually smaller than we thought). Kyle weighed himself with and without her and according to the scale in our hotel room (I know right; who wants to weigh themselves at a hotel?) SongLian weighs 40 pounds. This morning the big "break down" was because I changed her out of her PJ shirt that had a big sparkly heart. She refused to take off her sweatshirt despite the warm temperatures because of the sparkles on it. This girls loves her BLING. She is amazingly determined. I watched her this morning get herself to the bathroom (she "cruises" for the most part much like a baby does, using things around for support). We were told that she likes to do things on her own (why I watched to see what she would do) but needed help with the bathroom (up to this point I've always helped). She amazed me as she stuck with it, completing the task, complete with washing her hands with soap. She loves her shoes and will find them and work and work to put them on. She loves to do things on her own and has an amazing dose of determination. Again, we are learning AMAZING things about this little gal who is a trooper despite her special needs. While this girl's legs may not work like my legs there is NOTHING wrong with her brain. Again: she is a walking lesson of looking beyond a special need. She's picked up some simple signs: please, more and always tells us when she has to go to the bathroom (if you have not helped a small child use a squaty potty you've never lived). Today while walking she blurted out, "Mommy and Daddy!" And later when playing Barbie with CoraGrace she said, "Good morning!" We think she may be calling Nonna Grandma and Noah Noah. ??? Ok: update she most definitely just called me Mom. :) These are signs that she was well prepared for our coming (and brilliant). Her fine-motor skills (on both hands) are fantastic. She can dress herself, manipulating her legs (sometimes with her hands) to get them through the clothing. All in all, she communicates with us amazingly well considering. We are hearing more (Chinese) words today. Like the Red Thread Charities people said, she is observant and always learning. She will throw her trash away in the bathroom trash on her own. She was sitting on the bed watching TV and noticed all our jackets hanging on a clothing stand. Pretty quick that jacket came off and she hung up her jacket too. She is neat (tidy). At dinner she cleaned all the rice off the table last night and then off her lap. This morning at the civil affairs office she cleaned off the bubbles she had blown all over the table. After eating she often goes to the bathroom and washes her hands. Today at the market we bought her some cup 'o noodles and she wouldn't let go of them for anything. For dinner I made her noodles and after eating a few she made her way to the "snack drawer" and picked out peanuts. She's been munching on them content (are there bad effects for eating too many peanuts?). This girl can eat: she is a true Hardee; packing it away. At breakfast she shoved half a boiled egg in her mouth right alongside her sister and brothers who were stuffing their faces too. She and Josiah were neck in neck eating yogurts until Josiah pulled ahead at 5 yogurts. I think we might roll our children home. :-) SongLian still loves her Daddy but is getting more comfortable with us all. Last, this girl has an amazing sense of humor. She loves to laugh and is one of those kids you can look in the eye and laugh with over a funny situation. She was eating the last of some snacks packed in her backpack (she came with) and wanted to get at the crumbs. We teased her as she ripped the package to sticker face in and she laughed and laughed with us. She still loves her wild-toad stroller rides: the bumpier the better. We spent the afternoon exploring the West Lake. It really is beautiful and while only a few blocks away it was nice to be "out of the city." The lake was glistening with little boats dotting it and there are beautiful trees and flowers around here and there. There are little lawns; my kids were hopeful of a place to run until we noticed the police who's number one priority seams to be keeping people off the grass. There are several small shops around the lake we browsed through. We enjoyed listening to several musical performers and watching dancers. So neat how everyone is out sharing their art. We had lunch at a Japanese fast food place with great pictures on their menu. :) Back at the hotel settling for our evening routine: we've gone to eating our dinner for breakfast because there is such yummy (Chinese) food out at the breakfast buffet and oatmeal for dinner. We are falling asleep as our heads hit the pillow and waking early.