Free Day - Wednesday

We gave Brooke her first bath today. She needed it yesterday, but between naps and paperwork, there just wasn't time. She did really well in the bath and had fun pouring water on herself. She didn't care for the water in her face when I rinsed her hair, but she still never cried - just made a squeaky noise until I wiped her eyes. She let me brush her teeth last night, too. I brushed Olivia's first, so she could understand what was going on. She cooperated completely. I was really surprised and grateful. After we finished, she gave a little cheer! Her teeth are very uneven, but they actually look very clean and there is some space between them - maybe we won't have to be best friends with the orthodontist after all... But in the bath she helped wash herself. She helps wash EVERYTHING. Furniture, beds, countertops, herself, Olivia, you name it... Either she has OCD or her foster mom was a neat-freak. After the bath we went down to breakfast. Olivia was in the mood to hold hands and Brooke was very pleased. She really likes to watch and copy everything that Olivia does. At breakfast, Brooke would drop her napkin and Olivia would pick it up again. This went on for several minutes, with Brooke giggling like a maniac. Then some middle eastern men took their pictures with Olivia. I think they were ok, but that was when this "blonde thing" got old for me. It just felt creepy. No more... There is a small playroom upstairs from us and Olivia, Ke Xin and Lilly spent some time there. Olivia and Lilly hadn't seen each other since the bad flight to Zhengzhou, so they were very happy to see each other again.

Here's the bottom line - Brooke likes Debbi best. She really doesn't have any use for me. She doesn't avoid me, but right now she thinks Debbi hung the moon. All she has to do is look at Debbi and she breaks up into peals of laughter. Debbi has stolen my child!!!! That's ok - as long as she's happy during this stressful time, it's all good. And Olivia is having a big adjustment. One moment she'll be fine and the next she is having a total meltdown. She wants her father to ship one of her dolls to China because she misses it (Louie) and cried for quite a long time over it. I just let her cry herself out. What else can you do? She really does like Brooke, but she also misses being #1 with me. It will just take time for her to sort it all out.