What a difference 6 months can make...for both of us!
Today marks 6 months that Ruthie has been part of our family. In some ways, it seems like that is impossible and in others it feels as if she has always been with us. So much has changed in these past few months, Ruthie has grown physically and in many other ways, I have grown and our family is still adapting and evolving daily.
I look at this precious child, who repeats everything we say and I mean EVERYTHING, and wish that I knew what was going through her little head. Does she miss someone when she is sad? Does she remember the orphanage, her nannies and her friends? What does the song she sometimes sings to herself mean, if anything? What causes her to wake screaming in the night on occasion? Does she truly feel safe with us? Can she feel our love?
There are times when I still feel so inadequate to be her mother, one reason is because there are so many unknowns in her past but then I have to remind myself that God called me to be her mother and He will guide me. I also think that I didn't truly know how to be a mother when Jon Milledge was born, that parenting is a work in progress. It is no different in this case, I'm still learning daily with not just Ruthie but all three of my children.
Ruthie is really doing great considering how she could be doing. She does get a sad, distant look sometimes which rips my heart out but we just hold her, love her, talk to her, cuddle her and pray that she understands that we adore everything about her. Her vocabulary is very high for any two year old but considering she has only heard the English language for six months, she is doing exceptionally well! She can let us know now what she wants or needs using her words. She loves to read and sing songs all day. Her brothers think that everything she does is amazing and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual. She has a very outgoing personality and hasn't met a stranger yet. She has a way of charming everyone she comes in contact with daily.
We had a great Christmas and I'm pretty sure Santa had fun bringing girl toys to our house this year. I don't know who is enjoying the toy kitchen more, me or Ruthie! Ruthie enjoyed all the festivities even though she really didn't understand why we were doing all these crazy things...like putting a tree in the middle of our house! We talked about and read books about Baby Jesus and she was so cute singing Happy Birthday to Him!
The past six months have been amazing, scary, wonderful,terrifying but also so precious. We waited so long to meet our daughter and she has exceeded any expectation, hope or prayer that we ever had for her. We can't hardly remember what life was like without her and we can't wait to watch this sweet child blossom even more over the next six months! Thank you God for an amazing first six months and an amazing, beautiful daughter!
She has brought more joy to our lives than we could've ever imagined. A joy that we didn't even realize was missing.
She is spoiled, happy, delightful, charming, so smart and loved beyond measure.
