Can you tell . . .

I know, not much lead up after the last post. As the saying goes, a picture speaks a 1000 words.

Can you tell which one is the big sister?

Josie helping Clara Rose get some play dough toys to play with all the while explaining to Clara Rose that she needs help because she is little and Josie can help her because she is big.

Josie made some playdough yogurt and was trying to feed *baby sister* Rose. 

Rose wasn't too interested.

Josie scooping out a better spoon of the playdough yogurt she made for Rose.

Josie explaining to Rose that she needs to eat her yogurt and that Josie needs to feed her because she is little and Josie is big.  All the while Josie is calling Clara Rose, baby sister or Sister Rose.

Josie explaining to me that Sister Rose is little and doesn't even know how to eat her yogurt.

At this point, I think Clara Rose things Josie is completely off her rocker!

Josie getting firm with Clara Rose and letting her know that she (Josie) knows best.

Clara Rose is actively ignoring her at this point.

Clara Rose decided to move on to a different toy.

The playdough thing with the yogurt was starting to creep her out.

Never Fear, Clara Rose, Your big Sis is right there, keeping tabs on you, playdough yogurt in hand!

More explaining from Josie about her being big and Clara Rose being small and that she needs to eat her yogurt.

This was a good afternoon-- yesterday, not so much.

Josie returned to Pre-school this week so I can have some one-on-one time with Clara Rose. This has really been great for Clara Rose's attachment to me. Unfortunately, I think Josie has realized that while she is at Preschool, Clara Rose is spending the day with me.

Yesterday after we returned home with Josie from Preschool, Josie took every opportunity to: hit, grab toys, shove, pull-- you name it. Just about every 5-10 minutes it was something else. At this point, I am not a big fan of Wim's Bullies-2-Buddies method. I am going to hit the bookstore later on today and pick up 1-2-3 Magic. I've heard from a couple Mom-friends that it has worked well for them.

Wim and I don't really believe in capital punishment and we realize that much of Josie's behavior is jealousy and she feels threatened. I am making time for special time with Josie-- I think that would work even better if I could spend one-on-one time with her when we first get home in the afternoon, but Wim isn't home yet so it is difficult.

I did take Josie to a family swim last night. The timing of that is just before bedtime, which later in the evening, close to bedtime, so the desired effect is kind of lost due to the timing.

During the car ride we talked a little bit and Josie told me she feels mad.

I am guessing she is mad that she now has a baby sister who gets to stay home with Mommy.

All I know is that Josie, at heart, is a compassionate, loving, caring, happy, little girl and I want to get more of this back!

 

The Stats and a note about CDC required Vaccines

Clara Rose went for her check-up at our Pediatrician on Monday. The overall visit went as well as it can go with a 2-year old.

Most of you already know about my *issues* with the new CDC requirement for internationally adopted kids to have specific vaccninations before coming home. If you missed look at a post on or around January 9, 2010 and there are some prior to that, but I don't recall the date-- in 2009 though.

Our pediatrician was unable to determine when certain vaccines were actually administered from the sheets provided to us. The vaccines were indicated as administered, but except for the vaccines administered on 1/9/2010, there are no dates listed. I guess some of these are date sensitive if they are a series? Wim's sister has much more knowledge on this than I.

The pediatrician also commented how ridiculous it is for the CDC to require these vaccines especially if they are not going to require that the vaccines be administered from a US sanctioned medical clinic/hospital. She commented that a big problem in many developing countries is that even if the Vaccines haven't expired, which she noted is a problem in many countries, there is also the issue of the vaccines being kept at a specific temperature and that consistent refridgerations/temperature control in developing countries, especially for orphans is a big problem. Then she also noted that since the vaccines are administered within 10 days of traveling, if the kids are sick with something they can transmit, they will still get other sick.  So, all in all, our pediatrician gave me the clear impression that these requirements by the CDC are completely ridiculous. They would be better off requiring that parents get their internationally adopted children vaccinate within a certain time period of arriving home.

While re-hashing this is a bit infuriating for me, it also made me feel good to know that I am not the only one who thinks the vaccine requirement is absurd. Now I have it from our pediatrician as well.

So, she ordered blood titers for everything-- I think Clara Rose filled 9 to 12 tubes of blood yesterday afternoon, while screaming bloody murder, after which she passed out.

Nice day, Huh?

I really hope everything registers as good. I would hate to have to give her yet more shots on top of everything else. Not to mention that it will mean we basically wiped our buts with $300 to get the vaccines in China. Time will tell, and I will definitely keep you all posted.

OK, enough of my grumblings:

It seems Wim and I have managed to adopt two large girls from China. Both are in the 90th percentile on the American Charts-- Yao Ming size by China's standards!

Clara Rose weighs 30 lbs. 10 oz and is 35 in tall.

Here are some happy pictures of the girls playing nicely to close out my grumpy post.

Clara Rose seems like Phoebe, or Go-Go, as she calls him. At first we thought Clara Rose was calling her that because I often say to Phoebe, "GO!" But, "go" phonetically means dog in mandarin.

Here is Clara Rose sharing a harmonica with Phoebe.

A not as rare as it was a week ago moment-- Josie Dong Dong and Clara Rose playing together

WITHOUT fighting.

Josie always the crack-up comedian, enjoys getting laughs from her baby sister.

Clara Rose is generally pretty good about laughing at all of Josie's funny-boned silliness.

Last but certainly not least, the main Jie Jie, Gabrielle, making gourmet playdough ice-cream cones.

Somebody give this chick a commercial deal!

Stay tuned for my upcoming series, "Can you tell which one is the big sister?"

Fun at a Birthday Party

This past weekend I took both Josie and Clara Rose to our good friend, Angeline's, birthday party.  Angeline turned 3-years old and is one of Josie's best buds.

This was Clara Rose's first big Birthday party and she didn't know quite what to think at first. She mostly sat on my lap for the first 45 minutes and then she started pulling my hand to go with her and check out activities.

Sisters Carly and Clair. We don't get to see them nearly enough. Don't you just love their poodle skirts?

Josie sitting next to her best bud, Angeline, the birthday girl and chatting it up

with her friend Callie and her mom.

Clara Rose finally ventured off a little ways to hop on this toy. She got tired of waiting for me to tag along. She also has a mouth full of trail mix in her mouth-- a new favorite treat she discovered at the party.

Our friend Grace-- always the toddler fashionista at the hippest of parties in Toddler town.

Clara Rose and Grace are the same age and are quickly becoming good friends. I also think they have similar personalities. They both like to sit on a Mommy's lap to drive a different child bonkers.

I did my best to get a good picture of Josie with Angeline.

Take 1

Take 2

Take 3

Here is a good one of the Birthday Girl.

Before long it was time for cake, and you don't have to repeat that word to get this crowd's attention!

After cake, Angeline showed off her loot and willingly let

Josie and Callie check out some of her new loot.

Several of the girls hopped on the bouncing pony to burn off some of the sugary high

followed by eating yummy birthday cake.

It was great to watch Clara Rose jumping in to play and have fun with the other girls--

always keeping an eye on me or her big Sis, Josie.

Of course, Josie Dong Dong isn't going to miss out on any fun action!

Here she is, "giddy-up, cowgirl Josie is ready to ride!"

Grace, on the other hand, prefers a slower trot on her beast,

so she can take in the scenery and contemplate the day.

Both Josie and Clara Rose had a great time at the Birthday Party and after a timid start, Clara Rose didn't want to leave. As I was putting her in the van she was signing for more and pointing back at the house.

Looks like we have another party girl in the house!

Forging New Pathways

We are starting to get over the jet lag and into some semblance of a routine. Clara Rose has indicated to us that she is a big tea (chai that is) drinker. We made sure to get some decaf tea and here are the girls having their morning cup. Josie has since decided that she doesn't like tea.

One of our good friends, Grace and her Mommy Michelle came over on Tuesday for some playtime. Grace and Josie go way back and Grace is the same age as Clara Rose. It was fun to watch an old friendship be reconfirmed and a new friendship formed.

The three girls did a real job on the play tent! One of the tent poles is bent big time, which I have discovered is a big gripe about this product with many parents. I'll have to figure something out for it.

Here are the three girls acting sill for some pictures.  As I type this Clara Rose is pointing to Grae and signing for more. I think that means she wants more play times with Grace.

Not to worry, there is plenty of that in your future!

Honestly, I think Josie is having a more difficult time adjusting than is Clara Rose. Josie goes from talking about how much she loves Clara Rose and fussing about her to whacking her over the head and ripping toys out of her hand. We are using positive reinforcment with Josie when she behaves well and at Wim's suggestion, we are using a method from bullies-2-buddies when Josie is mean to Clara Rose. Basically, you watch the girls to make sure there isn't serious bloodshed, but let them duke it out. Then you comfort whoever is hurt (loses the toy, is hit etc.) and ignore the child who caused. This definitely requires some stomach as it is quite hard to sit back and watch one child be mean to the other, but we are seeing some results. Josie wants attention and she only gets it when she behaves well-- not when she behaves meanly.

Here are some pictures of her behaving well-- shortly after behaving badly and watching Clara Rose be comforted.

Other new pathways-- Well, I need a few through my home as this seems to be the new baseline for my living room being clean!  Gsbrielle and Xavier were fencing with some nerf sword I bought for the girls, the girls are playing on the sit-n-spin, and I have NO IDEA how Wim manages to sleep through it all!

What an action shot! I'm glad these are nerf swords!

Happy faces!

Ah, the slumber brought on by jet lag!

Gabrielle is not one to miss an opportunity to talk with her Dad about the kind of car she wants in a few years when she turns 16.

This very well may be my last post. Wim may kill me.

Yesterday I packed the girls up and we headed to a nearby playground. It was a bit cold out, but not too bad and they do have snow suits, although Josie said she was too hot to wear all of hers.  The entire day turned out to be quite the event-- one I wasn't too sure was going to turn out well.

Clara Rose freaked when I packed us up to go out (no small feat the first time around!). I think it took me close to an hour to get everyone appropriately dressed, warm the milk, pack some snacks, extra clothes etc. All with her screaming-- I was ready to pull out my hair!

She quickly passed out in the van. Oh GREAT! I drove to the park that was closer than the one I had planned to go to thinking that Clara Rose would be a total freak show when I woke her up.

She was fine when I woke her up and was happy to see the playground!

She likes the bouncing toys. We played on those, the swings and the slide. Clara Rose freaked when I packed us up to go out (no small feat the first time around!). I think it took me close to an hour to get everyone appropriately dressed, warm the milk, pack some snacks, extra clothes etc. All with her screaming-- I was ready to pull out my hair!


She quickly passed out in the van. Oh GREAT! I drove to the park in West Warwick thinking it was closer and she would be a total freak show when I woke her up.

She was fine when I woke her up and was happy to see the playground!

She likes the bouncing toys. We played on those, the swings and the slide. The slides were wet and the girls really zipped down quickly in their snowsuits. They both loved it and were laughing and scrambling to go down the slide over and over again. They were both offering each other their hand to help up and down the stairs. It was really nice to watch them! Clara Rose also reached for me many times to help her.

The slides were wet and the girls really zipped down quickly in their snowsuits. They both loved it and were laughing and scrambling to go down the slide over and over again. They were both offering each other their hand to help up and down the stairs. It was really nice to watch them! Clara Rose also reached for me many times to help her.

Clara Rose and Josie also offered each other their hands to help each other on the playground, which was sweet to watch.

We went to taco bell and came home to eat. Clara Rose likes beef meximelts-- she wasn't sure how to eat it and gestured for me to feed her, which I did of course (Josie wanted me to feed her as well).

At nap time both girls had to go tinkle after I put them in their cribs.

Both wanted their ponies out.

I kissed Josie--

Clara Rose sat up and reached out her arms-- I went over and she stood and gave me a big hug with a big smile on her little face.

I told Josie I love you and Wai Ai Nie to Clara Rose-- she smiled big and blew me a kiss.

After I closed the door, I could hear the girls jumping in their cribs and peals of laughter. They finally settled down for their naps about 30-minutes later.