We are on a plane heading to fl for the
long weekend. As I watch Annie Kate I think of how fast this year has flown by.
The changes in this little person came in small incremental steps that have
resulted in a totally different child than we saw being lead in to the Hefei
Civil Affairs office on the morning of Nov 29.
HER LOVE IS BOUNDLESS for us and the world.
That love is mutual. She seems to hold no ill will for her humble beginnings. In
fact, she has adjusted very easily to life in the American Myers family. So
much so that a few months ago while riding in her car seat she announced: “
Mommy I wants to go to Floorda.” I said I was sorry but we cannot do that
today. She quickly said; “Yes just dribe up to da airsport and yets gets on da
pain.” I replied that we would be continuing onto Wegman’s for groceries.
I
secretly am hoping she never or at least not too soon learns to pronounce all
her words correctly. I love to hear her tiny little voice put extra “s” on
words or leave out other sounds as her vocabulary explodes.
I marvel at how the fact she is missing a
hand is literally forgotten by all of us. It is just not an issue. We are conscious of the fact that Annie
does not know any different. She has never had a right hand yet she can do
whatever she needs to with one hand. She taught us from the first moment we met
her to never assume she “can’t”. But occasionally something will happen to
remind us that sometimes in certain situations we may need to think ahead.
Annie
did amazingly well in ski school last month, better than her Dad did as he
nervously observed every chance he got ,while trying to stay hidden. During one
of Tim’s seemingly clandestine spy missions he noticed Annie only had on one
mitten. Seeing that as a reason to approach ( I think he sprinted) he asked the
instructor where her other mitten was. Annie quickly told Baba : “dat it falls
off alls da times so I do dis ( pulling her “special hand” into the sleeve of
her coat) and its is worms.” I need
to sew some Velcro to the cuff of her jacket and mitten so it would stay on.
The point being she is so smart she does not see any situation as anything
other than a need for a little adaptation. She also knows what she wants. On that
day at ski school When her dad wanted to spring her for his own comfort, what
she wanted was the hot coco and the end of the lesson. So to that end told her
Baba: “Key skool is not ober yet. Yous needs to come back yatter.”
Dear
China: Thank you for allowing us the incredible blessing of being this child’s
parents
