Thursday, February 21, 2008
Just to update everyone.... things are going great here! Tiring, but great! I'll try to post some more pictures when I get them downloaded from Michael's computer.
Our daily routine is something like this:
3:30-5:30AM
Rita wakes up. We stay with her in her room until 6AM. She's doing a great job at sleeping. Since Sunday, she has been sleeping in her own room at night and getting up to go to the bathroom if she needs to. We have no issues with night terrors, self-soothing or being afraid to be in her own room. When we hear her get up (singing, turning on/off the lights) then we go into her room and lay down with her.
6:00AM
Cartoons in our room.
7:00AM
Brush teeth and get dressed. The Children's Home did a great job teaching her how to brush her teeth. And she loves doing it. Her first dentist appointment is on Monday. She has some staining on her teeth but overall they look pretty good. We'll see Monday... :)
7:30AM
Breakfast and playtime with Michael while I get to take a shower and get dressed.
8:30AM
Rita takes Thani out for a walk with one of us.
9:30AM
Rita gets to play with papa while I schedule doctor's appointments, complete (more) adoption paperwork and check emails.
11:30AM
Lunch
12:30AM
Naptime. Oh, our biggest struggle of the day. This girl does not want to take a nap! But if we don't put her down she becomes "out of control" starting at 3 or 4PM. Overstimulation. Plus, she will go to sleep by 7PM and get up too early if we don't give her a nap. I have been staying with her in her room until she sleeps and we usually have some great bonding time. After the struggle and temper tantrum to sleep. I've been staying with her in her room until she goes to sleep otherwise she will play with her stuffed animals, destroy the blinds, play with the lightswitches, etc. Any suggestions?
2:00PM
Shopping and/or cafe. My favorite part of the day. She's a good shopper and fun to be with.
5:00PM
Back at the house. Freetime. She loves to play with the computer that Grandma bought her. It has letter and number games.
6:30PM
Dinner. In one week we have new eating preferences - now she doesn't like chicken or meat but does like sausage, ham and ground beef. And after having spaghetti (and loving it) twice she doesn't like spaghetti with tomato sauce. She loves fruit - especially bananas and grapes. And bread with lots of butter. Cheese is good too.
7:30 or 8:00PM
Shower. Pajamas and brush teeth. The first night we had Rita she LOVED the bath. Every night since its been a struggle. When Z was here we asked Rita about it, and she says that she would prefer a shower. So we are doing showers and she is great about it. The Children's Home also did a great job teaching Rita how to use soap and shampoo.
8:30PM
Bedtime. With books or (gasp!) television.
Our daily routine is something like this:
3:30-5:30AM
Rita wakes up. We stay with her in her room until 6AM. She's doing a great job at sleeping. Since Sunday, she has been sleeping in her own room at night and getting up to go to the bathroom if she needs to. We have no issues with night terrors, self-soothing or being afraid to be in her own room. When we hear her get up (singing, turning on/off the lights) then we go into her room and lay down with her.
6:00AM
Cartoons in our room.
7:00AM
Brush teeth and get dressed. The Children's Home did a great job teaching her how to brush her teeth. And she loves doing it. Her first dentist appointment is on Monday. She has some staining on her teeth but overall they look pretty good. We'll see Monday... :)
7:30AM
Breakfast and playtime with Michael while I get to take a shower and get dressed.
8:30AM
Rita takes Thani out for a walk with one of us.
9:30AM
Rita gets to play with papa while I schedule doctor's appointments, complete (more) adoption paperwork and check emails.
11:30AM
Lunch
12:30AM
Naptime. Oh, our biggest struggle of the day. This girl does not want to take a nap! But if we don't put her down she becomes "out of control" starting at 3 or 4PM. Overstimulation. Plus, she will go to sleep by 7PM and get up too early if we don't give her a nap. I have been staying with her in her room until she sleeps and we usually have some great bonding time. After the struggle and temper tantrum to sleep. I've been staying with her in her room until she goes to sleep otherwise she will play with her stuffed animals, destroy the blinds, play with the lightswitches, etc. Any suggestions?
2:00PM
Shopping and/or cafe. My favorite part of the day. She's a good shopper and fun to be with.
5:00PM
Back at the house. Freetime. She loves to play with the computer that Grandma bought her. It has letter and number games.
6:30PM
Dinner. In one week we have new eating preferences - now she doesn't like chicken or meat but does like sausage, ham and ground beef. And after having spaghetti (and loving it) twice she doesn't like spaghetti with tomato sauce. She loves fruit - especially bananas and grapes. And bread with lots of butter. Cheese is good too.
7:30 or 8:00PM
Shower. Pajamas and brush teeth. The first night we had Rita she LOVED the bath. Every night since its been a struggle. When Z was here we asked Rita about it, and she says that she would prefer a shower. So we are doing showers and she is great about it. The Children's Home also did a great job teaching Rita how to use soap and shampoo.
8:30PM
Bedtime. With books or (gasp!) television.
10 Comments:
Adopt A Child.orgAdopting from Russia
Eastern European Adoption Coalition, Inc
Embassy of the Russian Federation
Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption
Karen's Adoption Links
Older Child Adoption
Russia Adoption Blog
Russian Adoption Medical Services
Russian Family Search
Russian Toys
Vernissage Press
I think the food preferences come because it's the first time she CAN have food preferences. That's probably a good thing in disguise.
And the food thing is totally normal. She has choices for the first time in her life and she's using the opportunity to exercise this new freedom. But as our coordinator told us when we had the major issues, "be firm." Let her explore her independence, but don't let her play you too much.
Sounds like things are going great!
Good luck with the nap time. Only thing I'd ask is if you could put her down a little bit later in the day, maybe she'd be more tired and more cooperative then. I do hope it gets better.
Very happy you're doing well, bonding and enjoying your daughter.
As for naps, yes, the consequences someone else mentioned is helpful. "If you don't nap for 1 hour, you can't ......." If she loves the cafe/shopping, make her earn it by napping. Sounds like things are going very well so far. Great!
Wendy