Things are going well, if I do say so myself. RP has adjusted fabulously and is getting bigger and more vocal every day. Everyone who has known her from the time she came home can't believe the difference in her - she's like a whole new child: happy, chatty, and full of mischief like any normal two-year old. Those who know that she is adopted but have just recently met her can't believe that she hasn't been here all her life.
I am asked the question, "Was it worth it?" a LOT. While it annoys me (kinda like overhearing the person who, in the office, said that there wasn't any reason to do a shower for me because I just adopted my child), I can certainly understand why the question is being asked. This question is usually followed by, "Would you do it again?" The answers are as follows:
- YES, it was worth it. Through all the paperwork, running around, waiting, redoing paperwork, expense, travel, uncertainty, and delays I now have the child whom I truly believe was born to be my daughter, and born to be a part of my family - it just happens that she was born on the other side of the world. She is my world and my life and I do not regret a minute of the process, especially when I hear her call for "Mommy!" or have her give me a big sloppy kiss and huge bear hug. You will never hear me say otherwise, even on days when "the terrible two's" kick in and there are temper tantrums (hers and mine!), tears, and frustration. She IS my child.
- MAYBE I would do it again - adopt, that is. Would I go to Russia again? No. Not that I don't appreciate the country and the amazing gift I received from there. It's weird and sounds semi-cliche, but even when I was going through in-vitro, and probably even before then, I somehow knew that my family would be created through adoption, and that my child was going to be from Russia. Just knew it - not sure how, but I looked into adopting from either Russia or Guatemala several years ago, before the fertility specialists and before the hysterectomy. I just knew in my gut that my child was going to be from another country, and deep, deep down I knew it was going to be Russia. That being said, I am quite happy with RP being an only-child, but if the opportunity to adopt domestically came up, either through knowing someone or through a foster-situation I would not be opposed to looking into it further. I just am not physically, mentally, or financially able to do international adoption again. RP is truly going to be my one and only Russian Princess!
Like I said, not much to update - RP is doing fantastically and I am in constant amazement as to how she has grown and developed over the last 15.5 weeks (it'll be 16 weeks on Saturday - wow!). Her grasp of understanding the English language is fantastic, she is babbling more and more English words (we're up to about 40-50 now, with more added on every day), and she is running, climbing, and jumping on everything. Most of all she is settled, happy, and comfortable in her family and with our friends, and that's all I could have ever asked for!
