3 weeks home

We have been home for 3 weeks. So hard to believe...time does sure fly by when you are busy trying to keep up with 2 kids.

As expected we have had new challenges and new highlights.

Highlights:

-Katie is up to 5 English words. She is learning more and more everyday and today I caught her trying to sing along with the Leap Frog alphabet thing on the refrigerator. She is sleeping really well at bedtime and naptime. She has stopped screaming at us and when she wakes up she just goes to her gate and fusses but no actual tears. Today I talked to her over the baby monitor to let her know I was on my way and she quieted down and then when she saw me she was practically jumping up and down she was so exited.

-Kiya is a great helper often volunteering to clean up toys all on her own. She most of the time plays nicely with her sister and seems to really love her. She is still working on staying dry all night and when she does she gets a star on her board and when the board is full she gets a prize. Well her board was full so this weekend she got a prize. She picked sparkly Hello Kitty shoes. I can't say I was surprised. So in the last 11 days she has been dry all night for 8 of them. She is a VERY sound sleeper and as an infant I could change her diaper without waking her up that is how well she sleeps. So I knew this part of potty training would take time but she is doing great!

-As for me I am really falling for the littlest one. She is such a sweetie and so funny. I love that goofy grin she gives me and we are really starting to connect. It is feeling more natural now.

Challenges:

-Katie is in to everything. She tends to throw things, chase the dogs and today climbed out of bed at naptime and took all of the books out of her basket. I am so not used to having a kid this mobile at this age that is so curious.

-Kiya is struggling at school. She has gone to this school since she was 9 months old. She is in class again with her best friend and yet she is getting really sad and even crying. Kiya has never been much of a crier. She is however very sensitive and very dramatic. They said she did better today but still sad and just standing off to the side by herself. When you ask her why she is sad she says " I miss my mommy." So this weekend as a treat, I took Kiya shopping and then to a movie. Let's just say we didn't have the best time and Kiya was VERY moody. We both ended the afternoon in tears.

-As for me I am struggling to balance taking care of two kids and the housework. I have no system in place and most days am overwhelmed by the shear mess two little kids can make. I am thankful I have house cleaners that come every two weeks as I then have to clean up the clutter so they can do the other stuff. I am also struggling to not be so hard on Kiya. I know this is hard on her and I wasn't prepared for her reaction. Some days I have very little patience and can be snippy with the kids, the dogs, my husband. I am tired a lot and don't have a lot of energy. I am working on it and I find as my attachment and bonding to Katie get stronger things seem better.

So there you have the reality of life for us right now. I have another post brewing....we were surprised today to learn that Katie has a foster brother. More on that next time.