Six Months Home and a Happy Mother's Day!

In six months my little girl has gone from sweet, quiet, withdrawn, shy, "just like a little adult" as her referral said to expressive, outgoing, LOUD, whiny, joyous, attention demanding, affectionate, confident and happy. While I'm loving the new changes a small part of me does miss the quiet. Did I mention she is LOUD? She talks loud, she asks for things loud, she eats loud, she laughs loud, she cries loud.... But, of course, I do have to remember that she has four boys to compete with and sometimes to just keep away from her at all costs. I totally get that. However, I completely underestimated what a little girl's ear piercing screech could do to a mother's sanity. And it's not like I wasn't told. I was. And so I practice patience. Breathe mama, breathe...And then I practice some more... I have come to the realization that while we became comfortable with Ava immediately upon meeting her it is only now, 6 months later, that she has just become comfortable with us. Without a doubt. But with the hair-curling screeches and whiny demands also come the unexpected hugs, kisses, small pats on my arm and sweet caresses on my face. And most recently an obvious declaration and determined point of her finger that I indeed was "mama". What I mistook for her personality before I now realize was only a little part, the part she was comfortable showing us. Her developing trust of us has given her the freedom to be something even richer and more complex. On this Mother's Day I am grateful for unexpected surprises and the gift of change.

Also fitting for Mother's Day- to share an overheard conversation. On the way to town today to run some errands Ava and Aidan chattered in the back seat.
Aidan: We have the best mama in the world!
Ava: (something unintelligible but no doubt very important)
Aidan: Well, she's the best mama because she brought home such a nice sister.
Me: Awwww.....[Smile]

Happy Mother's Day to all you "best mamas in the world"!

And some 6 month pics...

Helping Daddy with a chalk line- learning the ins and outs of kitchen remodeling!

Did I mention how terrifying bubbles used to be?!