Four years old. It doesn't seem possible, but right before our eyes she is growing up. She is turning from a shy, scared tot into a loving, beautiful little girl with a personality that is all her own.
Two days ago, our Korina Grace turned four. We had a birthday party in her honor; she loved every minute of it. Of course, all the noise, the balloons, the cheering, and the singing startled her; it wasn't long, however, before she threw herself into the celebration (not to mention the cake, once she found out it was for her!). What a mess! LOL She looked like a cherry snowman! LOL Cake all over her face, her clothes, even in her hair!
Her brother and sisters reveled in the celebration as much as their little sister: they loved all the attention, too. They loved the games, and they loved seeing their little sister being so happy.
It doesn't seem possible, but we've now had our newest daughter for seven months! Just last year she came to our family from Vietnam; now she acts (and looks) like any typical American-born child. She loves pizza, cupcakes, ice cream, cake, cookies, hates most vegetables (mealtime is oft a battlezone for our family!), dressing up in her parentt's clothes, preening in front of the mirror, and watching Walt Disney movies on the DVD player (her favorite is Mulan).
Korina is now learning English at an incredibly rapid rate: she's now forming complete sentences, can easily make her needs/wants known. She is very smart, much to our delight, and now attends pre-k twice a week, in the afternoon. She's made her first real friends since coming to America, and she is very exhuberant, adventerous about life.
Now, our daughter does have her bad days: therapy still causes tears, as do her dental/doctor appointments; however, it's nothing that a lollipop (or a balloon) can't fix. We know how to chase the tears away; we don't like seeing Korina being unhappy: it breaks our hearts, each and every time!
Korina has had to go to the Emergency Room only once: fell over the darned cat; cut her lip, chin open; had to get stitches. It was scary to see all that blood pouring from her face; it wasn't, however, as serious as it could have been. It looked a lot worse than it was.
We are still waiting to hear from the adoption agency regarding the children we asked to adopt: a boy from Africa, and a girl from Mexico. Hopefully we'll be hearing something soon; it's only been a few months since we put in our applications.
I will most certainly keep you updated regarding this matter, so stay tuned.
Well, I have to go now: taking the kids to the store, then to the park for a good part of the afternoon. I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Mattie Denise Wright signing out of here. Take care and God bless you always!
~Love, Mattie D. Wright, Korina Grace's mommy. :)
