Sarah and Eleanor were painting in their nightgowns before bed tonight; I liked this picture of Eleanor Zitao. :)

"HEY, MA?" is something all of our neighbors are probably very familiar with, now. Eleanor picked it up from Genevieve (who else), and Eleanor has been using this particular method of getting my attention all day, and is a new honorary member of the Very Loud Club. Although Sarah was getting tired of it by the end of the day ("Here she goes with the "Hey Mas" again, Mom..."), I was really enjoying it. Zitao has been busily exploring her world, and she's been calling me to show me everything (hence the frequent use of "Hey, Ma?"), and it's been so fun to experience all of these firsts with a 6-year-old who really appreciates things!

One thing I can tell you she appreciates a LOT is food. She's been eating practically all day every day since she's been home, and I've been letting her have free rein. Of course, Sarah and Gennie have been following suit to some degree, but I figure they're all growing girls, and there are some unusual circumstances this week. Eleanor is eating all kinds of things, and since she weighed less than Genevieve a week ago in Guangzhou, she needs it. She's been drinking quite a bit of soy milk, too, which she seems to prefer to the regular skim we usually have around. She likes to play at feeding Dave and me, and enjoys being able to give and receive food treats in this way, with lots of exaggerated politeness, "Xie xie, Mama." (Thank you, Mama.) "Oh, no - xie xie Zitao!" (Giggles...)

Usually, once I respond to her "Hey, Ma?" she asks me to pick her up (well, she doesn't really ask - she stretches her arms up and smiles). She is definitely going to get me into shape this way! Then she points in the direction she wishes to go (usually towards the pantry), and she laughs as her gullible mommy bounces her on a hip and takes her wherever she wants to go. Her birthday is coming up next month - shall we get the empress a sedan chair, perhaps?

All three girls have been spending a lot of time outside, which has been good for their bodies and spirits. Eleanor thinks the play equipment in our back yard and at the park across the street is pretty neato-keen. Her joy is so evident during these times, that it makes everyone else around her happy, too.

It has been an emotional roller coaster, though. A couple of evenings ago, she had a very rough night, and she wailed and cried out loud for the first time since she's been with us (until now, she's had silent tears). I held her, and then her Baba, and she finally went to sleep. It was so hard to see her grieving, and I know it's probably not the last time, but I'm glad she is letting out her feelings. During the day, she's been a sunshiney little girl.

We've been inventing our own communication system to some degree, since my Mandarin isn't fluent, and her English is, of course, just emerging. So we have kind of a pidgin Mandarin/sign language/facial expression/English-learning thing going on. She parrots us a lot, and I don't think it will be long until she's a fluent English speaker. (I want to get her enrolled in the local Mandarin Chinese school soon, too, so she doesn't lose her Mandarin). Her Baba has been impressed by her already knowing the alphabet in English (we believe this is a recently acquired skill, as she was asking me about letter names only a few days ago, and today she was drawing them on the patio with chalk and naming them in English), and her ability to do math well beyond what most first graders can do. We feel lucky that she's learning so quickly.

Sarah and Genevieve have been adjusting to their new sister well, too. Genevieve has been having the harder time; I think she probably feels that her space has been invaded a bit - Eleanor is a very similar size despite being three years older, and has needed additional "babying." But I think Gennie is realizing that she is very loved, and is still my baby girl. And as Eleanor comes out of her shell, Gennie is finding a fun playmate, too!

And of course, I love the "Wo ai ni, Mama" (I love you, Mama) that Eleanor has been freely expressing lately. That and hugs and kisses have been coming unsolicited, and with sweet smiles. Between that and snuggles from my two other darling girls, what more can I ask for? Life is good.