Merry Christmas, Henry and Calder

Thanks for a fun afternoon! Love, Mei-Mei and Dina.
We love you.

On Thursday, we received Dalia's "Playlab Mid-Year Report" in Dalia's cubby, along with an adorable laminated ornament, a photo of her smiling so wide her eyes turn to horizontal slits. (One of the things I think about when I am not with her...how her eyes start to change shape when she makes a subtle joke, when she starts to laugh, and when she laughs so hard I can't see any part of her eyes.)

"Dalia is a very bright, happy, and busy little person. She adjusted very quickly to being in a new classroom and developed strong connections to teachers and peers. She is popular and has adjusted well to classroom routines. She does test limits in an age-appropriate way. Affect is almost always positive."

As Tal said, "A+ for Dalia!" The report went on to describe Dalia's Gross Motor and Fine Motor skills, Communication, Cognitive abilities, and Social/Emotional. Dalia and the other kids at Playlab received beautiful hardcover books; Dalia's is "There's a Nightmare in my Closet."

Dalia, in an orphanage and/or foster care for the first 18+ months of her life, is now more advantaged than most of the kids at Playlab in terms of the socioeconomic background (and place) and education of Tal and me, her parents. Tal and I certainly help shape her learning, her vocabulary most of all, but her personality would shine through in any circumstance, no matter what.

Most people reading this will know that Tal and I are separated (since August). We are both parenting Dalia, and working together to do so, to communicate, to understand her needs and encourage her growth.

She is now over 26 pounds. She's in the 50th percentile for height and weight, and in the 75th percentile for head circumference. Yea! I took Dalia to a naturopath last week to get input and some other options for some skin issues she's had and is having, and to learn more about what we can do to boost her immune system and help make up for all of the antibiotics she's been on. The Dr. was impressed with the variety of foods and liquids in her diet, and blown away by her vocabulary.

She is still challenged with Bs and Ps, substituting Ks and Gs for those sounds. But her "S" as in Snowman is clear as day!

Last Monday morning, she woke up and looked at the shade. "Stripes on there." Then looked at the pillow cases - the ones that were on the pillows my Mom used when she visited. "Stripes on there, too. Grandma's pillows. Grandma home." She woke up, played while I got dressed, and out of nowhere, brought me my glasses. I put some socks on her: "Dalia, these socks are a gift to you from Grandma Patty." Dalia said, "Thank you Grandma. Happy Hanukkah!"

Dalia will be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Tal, Henry, Calder, Blair, and John. We are then taking the bus to Boston, and flying out the next day to visit family and friends in MN and WI. Dalia's adventures continue! Thank you - family and friends - for keeping in touch. It means so much to us.

Hello, Hanukkah!

"Hello, Hanukkah!" - Dalia's words as we pulled up to the Jewish Center at the College for Shabbat and Hanukkah services tonight with Middlebury Hillel. "Hanukkah" is a word Dalia can say with perfect clarity, too. I've been meaning to go to services with the students all year - so tonight was the night. When we gathered around the Menorah, and sang the blessings, everyone could hear Dalia's little, pretty, clear voice singing "ring around the rosey...". When we went around the room to introduce ourselves, Dalia was chitter-chattering, talking about "spinning" and watching the dreidel, one of the students said, referring to Dalia, "that is the highlight of my week."

Dalia is pure and simple joy. I wish that everyone reading this could have an afternoon with her (and then, a nap). She is nonstop fun, activity, playing, imagination, activity, trying and learning new words, making new yoga poses, running, laughing, friendly.

Her vocabulary is multiplying so quickly, I cannot keep up. Tonight, she woke up at 11 after falling asleep - finally - at 9 pm. She called for me several times, and I went in and held her. She said, "Mama, nightmare." So, we talked a little about bad dreams, and then I told her to think about all of the fun things she enjoys, and all of the people in her life who love her so much. There are many.

Daycare at Playlab continues to be fun and enriching for her. Today, she went to the library. Yesterday, to the Middlebury municipal gym. One day last week when I dropped her off, one of the high school students, Melissa, who is in the human services program at the high school/career center, said "Hi, Dalia!" and Dalia said, "hi, Melissa." She has friends of all ages.

Next surgery is scheduled for January 24th to repair her fistula (again) in her soft palate. We went to see Dr. Laub yesterday, and for the first time, she opened her mouth big and wide and said, "ahh" -- without tears -- just as we practiced! She missed school Mon-Weds, fever, ear infection, some impetigo again... but you would never have known it from looking at her. Ear tubes seem to be working... as fluid drained out. She's gained 3 pounds, is now 26 healthy pounds.


Tonight she ate fishsticks in the shape of fishies (Dr. Praeger's), celeriac and spinach pureed soup. She put the fish in the soup, "Fishy, in there." So it would swim. And ate applesauce -- Vermont Organics brand - highly recommended. And a smoothie -- finally! Sometimes she only eats almond butter.

This morning, we watched and Elmo dvd, and Mr. Noodle came on. "Mr. Noodle, moustache." We pretended we had moustaches by putting our fingers above our lips. She said, "Dalia, Moustache. Mama, moustache. . . Mama, Adam." As in, Uncle Adam, who has a moustache and a beard, whom she hasn't seen since August. Huh? She doesn't miss a thing! Happy Hanukkah, Dalia.