Hope shocked us all by picking up a pair of chopsticks and eating with them. I don't know why we were so surprised- she is Chinese.
Hope is still VERY cautious around everyone. She still likes mom best and NEEDS to be within CLOSE eyesight at all times or we have a major meltdown. At times she forgets about her fears and losens up enough to have some fun but she is quick to return to her timid self. Quite like riding on an emotional rollercoaster that leaves me really tired at the end of the day. Please pray for her emotions, trust, and ease with her new family and life. Pray for her momma too-that she has loads of patience, love, and mercy to handle these rollercoaster moments all day long.
She did let Cris hold her briefly for the first time yesterday--HUGE-- breakthrough! And today while I was in the same room doing something else Cris got to change her diaper for the first time and Hannah put her clothes on!!!! But like I said these moments are fleeting at best. We're just trying to give her the space she needs and build trust. Right now at this moment she is taking a nap in her crib for the first time. She cried for about a half hour and fell asleep. Of course I was in the room packing while she cried--have to always be in sight remember... Her big sis Rachel is on the bed napping next to the crib right now too. Rachie was so excited to be able to be next to her new little sister without getting hit or kicked by her! Hey gotta get your chances to be near and enjoy her when you can... even if she is asleep!
We are just waiting for Hopes passport later today(hopefully) so we can actually fly to Guangzhou tomorrow morning at 9:50am. Leaving the hotel at 7:30am-- another early day for us all! Hope's Chinese passport photo should be hysterical and a great memory cuz she is screaming her head off during the photo shoot. Can't wait to see her tonsils... don't know how the chinese government will recognize her by her open mouth but oh well! So we are just packing packing packing again to get ready for the next province we are headed to. We are headed for the White Swan Hotel in Guanzhou where it is supposed to be very humid, warm and tropical- I am hoping!!(Cris & Grandpa Rich are not so excited about the heat and hot!) We've been told to be prepared to sweat through 2 shirts a day cuz its so humid. I'll let you know how it is tomorrow. Been rainy all week here in Xi'an for us and hard to do anything with all of us Nelson's to cart around, but we are making the most of it and still doing as much sight seeing of Hopes home province as possible.
Going to go pack now... Pray for safe travels and good flying for Hope and her first flight on an airplane tomorrow morning. Talk to you all later! And thanks for all your comments... it has been so great to hear from all of you each day. We miss you all and can't wait to be stateside again soon.
Hope is still VERY cautious around everyone. She still likes mom best and NEEDS to be within CLOSE eyesight at all times or we have a major meltdown. At times she forgets about her fears and losens up enough to have some fun but she is quick to return to her timid self. Quite like riding on an emotional rollercoaster that leaves me really tired at the end of the day. Please pray for her emotions, trust, and ease with her new family and life. Pray for her momma too-that she has loads of patience, love, and mercy to handle these rollercoaster moments all day long.
She did let Cris hold her briefly for the first time yesterday--HUGE-- breakthrough! And today while I was in the same room doing something else Cris got to change her diaper for the first time and Hannah put her clothes on!!!! But like I said these moments are fleeting at best. We're just trying to give her the space she needs and build trust. Right now at this moment she is taking a nap in her crib for the first time. She cried for about a half hour and fell asleep. Of course I was in the room packing while she cried--have to always be in sight remember... Her big sis Rachel is on the bed napping next to the crib right now too. Rachie was so excited to be able to be next to her new little sister without getting hit or kicked by her! Hey gotta get your chances to be near and enjoy her when you can... even if she is asleep!
We are just waiting for Hopes passport later today(hopefully) so we can actually fly to Guangzhou tomorrow morning at 9:50am. Leaving the hotel at 7:30am-- another early day for us all! Hope's Chinese passport photo should be hysterical and a great memory cuz she is screaming her head off during the photo shoot. Can't wait to see her tonsils... don't know how the chinese government will recognize her by her open mouth but oh well! So we are just packing packing packing again to get ready for the next province we are headed to. We are headed for the White Swan Hotel in Guanzhou where it is supposed to be very humid, warm and tropical- I am hoping!!(Cris & Grandpa Rich are not so excited about the heat and hot!) We've been told to be prepared to sweat through 2 shirts a day cuz its so humid. I'll let you know how it is tomorrow. Been rainy all week here in Xi'an for us and hard to do anything with all of us Nelson's to cart around, but we are making the most of it and still doing as much sight seeing of Hopes home province as possible.
Going to go pack now... Pray for safe travels and good flying for Hope and her first flight on an airplane tomorrow morning. Talk to you all later! And thanks for all your comments... it has been so great to hear from all of you each day. We miss you all and can't wait to be stateside again soon.
What an awesome thing for her to be able to eat with chop sticks. I will pick some of those up too.
ReplyDeleteWe have enjoyed reading your blogs and all your pictures. We are so happy for your family. We will continue to pray you safely back home and pray for the adjustments to come. What a wonderful blessing!!!
ReplyDeleteThank God for technology to be able to experience your journey. I already feel connected to Hope. We are teaching Ava to say Hope and show her photos from your blog so when we visit she will know her little cousin.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me what size Hope is approximately in clothing?
We love you and are praying for you all every day!
Love
Kyle, Joy and Ava
:)
Hi Nelsons -
ReplyDeleteWe are thrilled for your family and read your blog with big smiles as memories come flooding back to us. It is wonderful to get to share your journey with you. Thank you! Hope is a beautiful, precious addition to your family. We are so excited for you and pray God's blessings on each of you! Enjoy Guangzhou and the White Swan :-)
Love,
The Harbaughs
Hello Nelsons-
ReplyDeleteWe can not wait to welcome you all home. Your journey looks so amazing and we are thrilled to get to share it with you like this. We will continue to pray for all of you but especially for Hope's little heart to be comforted. It looks like she is making amazing strides already. May God open her heart to each of her new family members even more each moment. Hang in there Kelly you are a wonderful Mom and by God's grace things will just get better and better. We miss you all and are so happy for you.
Love,
Michelle
Hi Nelsons:
ReplyDeleteLove reading your blog posts! Hope is a beauty...we can't wait to see her - and compare China stories - once you're all back! Enjoy the Middle Kingdom!
Uncle Jim