We have been extremely busy, but I'm not exactly sure what we've been busy doing. Life happens, I guess.
This blog has, mostly, been about Ella and our experience during the adoption process. From time to time, however, we have veered away from the original subject. So, today we will veer a little off the beaten path but, I promise, we will retun.
May will forever go down as one of my least favorite months... As most of you know, Larry had a profound influence on my life. He entered Kevin's world when I was seven. This past week was the year anniversary of his death. For the first year, I have gone through the sadness phase. I think I'm entering the anger phase now. I really don't understand why as there isn't anything I can do about it. But I am. I am angry.
At his death bed I was able to tell him everything he meant to me. Everything. One for not being sentimental, that made him uncomfortable. But I didn't care. It was about him realizing the type of man he was. The role model. The mentor. The father. The man.
What I am so angry about right now is the fact that he never met Ella. He isn't here to take her to Indiana Beach. He isn't here to take her boating. He isn't here to mess up her hair. He isn't here to teach her to ski. He just isn't here.
Knowing him, though, he probably did meet Ella. He is probably the one that helped bring the most wonderful gift anyone could ever bring to me. For that, I will be forever grateful.
Okay, enough of that. Let's return to our regularly scheduled subject...
Ella continues to amaze. The biggest question I get is about her speech. Does she understand English? Does she speak? Well, you are all invited to spend 10 minutes in our home and you will quickly understand why I just said that. Today, in fact, I was screaming inside my head... "shut up. Shut Up. SHUT UP!" she just never stops talking. NEVER! Yes, I'm grateful. No, I'm not complaining. But Lordy! Did my mother feel like this with me? Surely not.
She is combining words... mostly three and four word sentences. I'm sure most of it is due to her voracious appetite for books. She just LOVES to read.
She is running now and learning to hop. Really? You have to learn to hop? Yep!
Ella graduated from Early On last month. She no longer needs their services. Which is fantastic! They are just amazed at her progress. Need I remind everyone? She's a genius.
But she is screaming... a lot! It's quite annoying.
She knows her animals and their sounds. But when you ask her what daddy says... she responds with "I love you."
She knows all the parts of her body.
She says yes to everything, except food.
She mostly knows her ABCs, can count to ten and picks out colors.
She better! That Harvard tuition is nearly $60k per year! She sure is going to need a scholarship, though.
Jennifer and I did the thing we said we would never do... So never say never. We bought a mini van. I'm sure Larry is up there laughing his ass off screaming 'I told you so.'
Below are some photos over the past two months.
Be kind. Be safe.