Week 1

It has been one week home already!  Three weeks that Kelina has been with us.   It seems so much longer than that.  I can't believe how long it has been since I posted.  Just pouring all my time into my kids!  Kelina is doing so well.  She loves Ge Ge Kyle, Ge Ge Kellan, and Jie Jie Kaylie!  Kaylie must have been thinking about all the things she wanted to do with her little sister because our first day home, Kaylie went from one thing to the next with Kelina.  The best was putting makeup on Kelina and painted her nails!  Kelina loved it and then did Kaylie's face and nails as well. 

They also love playing Barbies together!  Kelina has patience because she enjoyed putting shoes on everyone of the Barbies!  (I guess she really does love shoes!).  
My mom bought Kelina a zhu zhu pet hamster and she loved it.  She giggled as it ran around the living room and kept bumping into Kellan.  She would intentionally put it close to her brother just to watch him scream and jump away.  She also had fun looking at Pokemon cards with Kyle and Kellan, although I doubt she has any idea what they are all about. 
We brought home videos that can be played in English or in Mandarin.  The kids love them.  Barbie and the Three Musketeers inspired some fun play.  After watching the movie, Kaylie would do two cart-wheels, grab a play sword that was on the ground and stand ready to sword-fight.  Then a game of chase.  Kelina had us laughing with her big eyes, animal claws, and funny growling sound that was more like the sound of someone swallowing a mouthful of air.  She especially loved to chase after Kellan.

Kelina also has taken more to BaBa (her Daddy).  The first day home, she just watched as Matt interacted with the kids.  And before long, she was asking for piggyback rides and more.  She also runs and hugs him when he comes home, but there are many times when she still will not let him help her.

On Saturday, we had a small family Birthday party for Kyle and Kellan.  When Kelina got overwhelmed at the meal time, I just took her to another room to cuddle then she wanted to watch her Pleasant Goat video on the computer in the study.  When she was ready to join the family, she came out and interacted with the kids.  She was excited to meet Nathanael, Benjamin, and Asa and she really enjoys interacting with Nana, Grandma and Pap.
She loved the Birthday cake, asking for two pieces!  The amazing part was later when everyone was gone and she was riding a bike outside, she started singing "Happy Birthday to you..." in English!  She sung the whole song, did they teach that to her in China?  I don't think so, but I'm not positive.  In China, she sang  in Mandarin and we recognized "Happy Birthday" and "Twinkle, Twinkle", but she never did an English version.  This girl loves music, so (note to self) Mama will have to use songs to help teach English to her.