Friday: First Kisses

It was 7 months ago today that we met K for the first time. When I think back to that day, wow -- what a difference 7 months make. I remember JD and I meeting K under (what we felt was) the watchful eye of our agency translator, the Orphanage Doctor, and Dr. Victoria Khouloudis -- the pediatrician from Moscow who we flew in to examine K.

Having never been a parent or even worked with children, I wasn't sure what to expect from a 20-month old. So we just played. We let K guide the playtime and all went well.

Today, she continues to lead the playtime but we have learned her likes (scribbling with pens, anything that makes noise), dislikes (balloons being blown up!) and how to re-direct her when she tries to do things she shouldn't (i.e. try to empty my purse).

She doesn't appear to be hypersensitive as she'll touch JD's newly grown-in gotee. Towards the end of our time together, I was able to massage her back and arms only to have her massage my arms right back. [ sigh, :) ]

But today was an extra special day --- definitely worth waiting 7 months for. Everyone remembers their "first kiss" and that is what we got today. K not only received kisses, but leaned in to give kisses. I was falling in love over and over again with this little girl. As I held her, she looked at my lips and kissed them not once, not twice, but atleast 6 times in a row. To her, I'm sure it didn't mean much but to me, it was the world.

This was day #9 in a row that we saw K and we will see her again both Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, the Social Worker from Social Services will be going with us to the Orphanage to watch JD and I interact with K so she can report in court to the judge. Ahhh!! Now I'm starting to feel the pressure....but as long as the days go 1/2 as well as today, we'll be in great shape.

K's caregiver leading K and her friend back to Grupa 4 at the end of our playtime.