Approaching normal and hat wars

Well, we've been home a little over a week and things seem to be settling into some kind of normal. Although Kiyomi seems to be changing by leaps and bounds every single day, and it's pretty amazing to watch.

The last few days, she's been focussed on locomoting in any way possible. Her favourite though, is grabbing on to hands and toddling around. Luckily, neither Kohji or I are that tall, so there hasn't been a need for hunched over backs. She's pretty determined little girl, and when she decides she wants to toddle... she lets you know that this is what is going to happen.



She also continues to be a very social little being, preferring company to being stuck with just mom and dad. She's been to a couple of ultimate games, a bbq with Kohji's work colleagues and has entertained a few visitors here at the house (note that she is doing the entertaining, not us).

We're also engaged in an ongoing war with Kiyomi about the wearing of hats. We've tried all sorts of hats with her but she has steadfastly refused all of them, struggling with all her might to remove the offending articles from her head. This has been a problem since it's been sunny almost every day that we've been back in the city and she loves going out for walks (as do we!). Occasionally, we do enjoy a small victory, but as you can see, she continues to struggle to free her head...even in her sleep.

Otherwise, she's a happy and healthy girl. She eats, poops, drinks, pees and sleeps well, and that's really all we can ask for.

We're also doing well. Every day gets a little easier as we continue to establish patterns. She's still sleeping very well which makes things a whole lot simpler for us since neither of us seem to function too well without a good sleep. She definitely enjoys being out and about which is good since so do we! Fortunately the weather has been fantastic so we've been only too happy to go for walks, go shopping, head to parks, etc.. We certainly have our moments when we can use a break, but fortunately for the time being we have each other to trade off whenever these moments arise. It will be more challenging when Kohji's back at work next Monday.

In the past few days we've taken her for her first hike in Gatineau Park, namely around Pink Lake, taken her to a couple of nearby parks including her first ride on a swing, took her to brunch on Sunday to a local patio, and she had her first ice cream last night at dairy queen.







She and KT the cat are also getting along famously after a rather rocky start involving her first being quite frightened of KT, and KT being none-too-pleased with this small creature grabbing her tail.


In the next few days we're hoping to take her to a pool, to set up an appointment with the Foreign Adoption Clinic at CHEO, and to establish a good solid routine here at home. We're also hoping to move her into her own room to sleep soon. Thus far she's slept at the foot of our bed as she had been needing some back-patting in the middle of the night. However, she's largely grown out of that stage so we'll (hopefully!) be moving her next door, and Mom and Dad will have a snorfle-free sleep soon.