2 1/2 weeks makes a big difference in a child's life. Oksana already has a good handful of English words that she is using correctly and she is understanding even more. Behavior continues to be a bit of an issue but it probably will be for a long time and we have seen great improvement since those first days. She is obsessed with balloons, balls, and bubbles...anything round. Her favorite things to do are go for rides in the car, read books (especially if they have a balloon or a ball in them), and play in water....but NOT the bath. She is still petrified of the bath an only plays with water while sitting OUTSIDE of it! She is obsessed with closing doors so we put childproof locks on the rooms we don't want her closing herself in and made sure the others are well childproofed, although she doesn't really get into much.
Here are some recent pictures and a video:
Oksana loves taking walks in her wagon.
She spends most of the time pointing out every car she sees.
Here she is walking her "baby" in the stroller. The baby has also been a balloon :).
She LOVES Elefun.
The best part is putting all of the butterflies back in to do it all over again.
She loves painting!
Here is her first creation.
Today we played with playdough. I made it into a big ball and she thought it was the funniest thing she had ever seen. We did it over, and over, and over, and over again! Check her out saying "big ball". It's one of just a couple of times I've heard her put 2 words together.
Last week our friends the Urbans came to visit. Charissa was in town with three of their 7 children. We met the Urbans in Kiev when they were in the process of adopting Joseph and Zoya. Zoya has a doctor here in Little Rock that she will need to visit frequently so we are excited to have them over and to continue our friendship with them on this side of the world! Here are pictures of Joseph and Zoya hanging out with us:
More to come when I can!
5 comments:
Hello- I am glad you are settling in. It all sounds very exhausting. I will keep Oksana (and you) in prayer. Patience and baby steps, eh? She is so fortunate to have you all!
As are you to have her.
Thinking of you.
Blessings.
Gretchen
Welcome back!!!
Nina has told us that at the orphanage she did not have any toys...except for balls. It could explain their fascination with balls, balloons, and bubbles!
Glad you're back. I'm sorry the adjustment is tougher that you anticipated. Are you taking requests? I'd like a pic of Oksana in her pretty room please! Sending lots of prayers for all of you.
It is morning now, and Nina has requested to watch Oksana play with the ball a few times. She insists "she" made the ball for her...silly girl.
Also, Oksana's painting is incredible! Her grasp of the brush in fantastic, especially for a child that had never painted or colored before. Oksana should teach Nina her tricks, Nina really struggles to hold the pencil (or brush) properly and has no control once it is touching paper. (Still, she loves it, and we try try try!
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