September Update

OK, it's been a month since my last post. As usual, I am so far behind and there's so much to record.

"EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC"

Katerina is developing in leaps and bounds. Jay, Echo's Dad and author of one of the blogs I follow said it best; to quote The Police: "Every little thing she does is magic". I don't think anyone could have said it better or described the absolute wonder I have at everything Katerina does. This is my first "baby" and I am literally in awe watching and participating in her development. Our magical moments are just everyday living; the hugs, the laughter, etc. But some recent standouts: One night at the end of August we met a bunch of FCC families on the beach for a picnic and fireworks. As the regional coordinator, I organized it and brought balloons so everyone would easily find our location. At the end of the evening, we gave out the balloons to the girls. One girl's balloon flew away and started crying. Katerina walked over to her, put her arms around her and kissed her. I had tears in my eyes watching her compassion! And the imagination....One night she came and got me for a picnic. She had a little basket filled with pieces of paper and puzzle pieces and put her blouse over the basket. She led me to my room and we sat on the floor and we "ate" our picnic. And the humor.......While we were on vacation in Greenport in August we were on a tour boat waiting to leave the harbor. It was a long wait for her as we had gotten there early. As soon as the engine turned on she announced in a loud voice: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, The boat is leaving." Where did she ever come up with that one? I'm amazed at what she hears/picks up and then how she applies it. One morning she woke up before me. Constantin had already left the house. When she wakes up she calls for Daddy or Mama. So I wake up that morning, all is quiet and I turn on the television to watch the morning news. All of a sudden I hear "ANYONNNNNNNE!!" coming from her room. Poor thing must've been calling for us and I was sleeping like a log. I wish I could record all the magical moments; she's developing so fast, but I'm so busy living those moments that I don't always get to write them down or post them in this journal/blog. I keep making promises to myself that I will keep journaling on my blog, but I'm always so far behind.

Last week we were in the bank waiting to meet with the bank officer. A little boy was also there waiting with his Mom and she was called in. Michael and Katerina started interacting. All of a sudden he lets out this screech. Katerina looks at me wide-eyed, puts her hand over her mouth and says "Michael's screaming". She then looks at him and says "No screaming. I said, no screaming." Hmmmmmm, wonder where she got that!!

Another day Deb and I were chatting and Katerina asked me a question. Deb answered her and Katerina gave her an exasperated look and said: "I'm talking to my Mom!"

Katerina has developed an interesting way to verbalize the negative; she just puts a "no" in front of the positive. For example, "No, I want to go home" means I don't want to go home. I think it makes a lot more sense that totally changing the sentence structure, don't you?