DECEMBER 2007
I want to say to anyone reading this update and considering
adoption-I would highly recommend adopting an older child. I
have had many conversations with various people about adopting a
4 year old; the pros and cons of bringing home an older child.
Ella has been the most wonderful addition to our family; she has
adjusted so well and is flourishing with our family. And of
course, adopting a child with a special need is so dear to my
heart. If you have any hesitations or questions about adopting
an older child or one with special needs, please contact me. Our
experience has been nothing short of amazing and I thank our
Heavenly Father every day for this little angel that has blessed
our lives.
I cannot believe we have been home for six weeks with our little
Ella. I also cannot believe that we met our Ella eight weeks
ago. The time has flown by and the two years of waiting to
finally bring Ella home is all but forgotten. Ella is doing
fantastic and we keep telling her that she is definitely a
“Page” sibling. She is funny and kind, stubborn and sweet,
loving and independent. This girl came to us with a solid sense
of humor; she loves to be the center of attention and make us
laugh. Ella is learning all about life in our home.
Ella loves to take her brothers to school in the morning and
can’t wait to pick them up in the afternoon. Ella loves when
Madison comes home early from school and takes her to lunch.
Ella loves to dance-whenever we have music playing she is
usually busting out some pretty awesome moves. Ella loves to
help out with chores around the house; her favorite is moving
clothes from the washer to the dryer. Ella loves to say her
prayers at night-she half way closes her eyes and say “Amen”
through the whole thing, although she is getting better about
repeating what we tell her to say. Ella mimics everything we
do-she watches very closely at how things are to be done. The
other day we had to show her how to eat a sloppy-joe sandwich;
she was not quite sure how that worked. Little things that make
us laugh. Ella understands almost everything we tell her. If she
does not understand us, she tilts her head and crinkles up her
nose and says “Huh” which always gets a laugh. Ella is speaking
new English words everyday. Our favorite is “I Love You”
pronounced “I Wove You” which is always followed by two great
big kisses-one on each cheek. Ella’s favorite word is ‘No.” We
tell her “Ella, go throw this away…No,” “Ella, go get your
clothes…No.” We are hoping her new favorite word becomes “yes”
soon. Ella loves to go in the car which she still calls “beep
beep.” Ella will say “momma go beep beep, Ella go beep beep,
papa go beep beep.” She loves to be on the go. Ella does not
like to watch TV or any DVDs, but I did find one that she
loves-“Bird Big in China.” She loves to watch that DVD over and
over. Ella is very attached to our family; she is still wary of
new people and does not want to socialize too much with others.
Hopefully with time, everyone will get to enjoy her fun
personality.
Christmas was fun with Ella; we were glad to finally have her in
our family to celebrate this Holiday Season. Ella does not
understand the whole Christmas thing, but she understood
presents. She was so patient to wait her turn to open presents.
Every time she opened a new present she would say “pretty.” Ella
got some dress-up princess dresses that came in a trunk. Ella
put everything she received for Christmas in the trunk and told
everyone in our family that the trunk was “Ella’s-no touch.” She
kept telling us all day long “Ella’s toys” while pointing to her
stuff. Ella is very possessive of all her things so we have to
constantly reassure her that Ella’s clothes are hers, Ella’s
shoes are hers, Ella’s bed is hers, Ella’s pillow and blanket
are hers, etc. I know this is a reaction from living in an
orphanage where she did not have anything that was her own.
Ella has many changes coming up. She starts pre-school in
January. We are keeping our fingers crossed that she will
transition into that new adventure without too many problems. We
are checking into several places around our home that teach
Mandarin; we are hoping Ella can keep her language and grow up
speaking both English and Mandarin. We look forward to watching
Ella progress. Everyday is a new adventure with her and our
family is so blessed to have this special little girl in our
daily lives. |
Family Christmas Picture
Ella At Christmas
Presents Are Cool
Christmas P.J.'s
Bracing For Cold Weather In Phoenix?
Day At The Zoo With Hunter And Bridger |
