Without a doubt, the highlight of 2008 happened on 3/17/08 in Changsha, Hunan, China. I can remember it clearly, watching S peer out the window onto the busy street looking for anybody carrying a baby into the building while clutching the soft pink rabbit S had hand carried to China for her little sister. Then the moment the man carried in a sweaty, red cheeked, baby holding a toothbrush in her hand looking at us with a worried and confused little face. After she was placed in my arms, telling her I loved her and finally being able to kiss those chubby cheeks I had been gazing at for the past four months, I quickly knelt down as her big sister waited anxiously to hold her. We have watched JT grow and blossom in so many ways in the 9 months since coming home. She went from having a hard time pulling herself to stand to running (and it is so cute to see her run from behind, she looks like a little cartoon character!) and climbing stairs, bookshelves, drawers, anything really that seems to be of interest to her! She has gone from understanding and speaking no English to understanding thousands of words and phrases and speaking seventy-five. Her favorite words are her sisters name which comes out like Sha Sha and yogurt which sounds like YO -YA. And of recent her sister taught her to cross her arms over her chest and yell "YO" then her sister proceeds to call her "JT from the hood" and they dissolve in giggles together. JT went from a very somber, frightened baby to an exuberant, happy, full of life toddler that laughs right from her belly and tops it off with a snort or two!
And S started 1st grade, lost two teeth, traveled half way around the world and back to become the BEST big sister that ever existed. Over the past year, S has had to overcome many emotional hurdles. She had such a tough year in Kindergarten. One of her friends decided to make S her target and this went on through the whole year. S could not understand why a "friend" would treat her in such a way. There were many nights she cried over the loss of this relationship. It took almost all year and someone said to me "ya know, this happened to us and we asked ourselves why we spent so much time and energy talking about the other little girl" Then we changed our whole way of thinking. We can't change the other little girl, but we can change how we handle the situation, and help S grow from this situation. S was forced to deal with the harsh reality that sometimes kids can be inconsiderate and unkind. She learned how to handle this with such grace and dignity, much more than any adult would have done. S went from crying about this several nights a week, to talking about it and how sad it was that the other little girl changed. But she no longer cries over this lost relationship. She has learned from the experience and continues to grow! Yeah S!!! And of course becoming a big sister. As with any child, having a baby come into the home shook her to the core for a few months. She was worried she wouldn't be loved anymore. We reassured her this would not be the case, and she figured that out pretty quickly too! And I am so proud to say, this was the first Christmas S initiated purchasing gifts for others with her own money. The best shopping trip I have ever been on was bringing my very grown up baby shopping so she could get presents for her sister and her cousins not asking for a single thing for herself in spite of all the temptations at her eye level. I am so proud of her!
There have been so many things, too many to write, that have happened over the past year. But there is no doubt, 2008, is a year to remember! Aside from receiving our little bundle of joy, watching the girls develop such a close, loving, relationship over the past nine months has warmed my heart. My heart just melts when I look back and see them both stretching across the back seat so they can hold hands. I chuckle when I hear JT start to fuss because S decided she just can't stretch anymore to hold her hand. Then I hear S say "JT, I love you and I'm right here, but I can't hold your hand right now." S is so motherly to JT, always wanting to get her dressed, change her diaper (YES, I said change her diaper and she does it well! Don't worry folks, I only let her change the wet ones!!), help her brush her teeth ect. And she does all this with a wiggly, giggly toddler that weighs almost as much as she does! I've, said it before, and I will say it again, this little soul is amazing! And no doubt big sister will help JT become the same caring, kind, child that S has become. With her nurturing guidance, and unwavering patience, there is no other direction for JT to go.
We hope you all have a safe, healthy, and happy New Year!
