We came to the decision to adopt as so many couples do. Years of infertility had left me emotionally wounded. While I was able to give birth to my son, the pregnancy was very difficult. When a later invitro attempt resulted in miscarriage, I was ready within a twenty-four hour period to turn to adoption. I'd always felt a calling to adopting from China, and the rest, as they say, is history.

We adopted Liann from China, and this is just a little update of the diva herself. She is a hoot. She has changed sooo much from those first few weeks. Once she started walking, we were goners. She's VERY bossy--wants things her way or the highway. She has been known to even stamp her foot. Oh my. And she's naughty too--we'll be walking on the sidewalk; and she runs on ahead, and I'll call, "Liann, stop!" or "Liann, wait!" And she turns, looks at me, giggles, and keeps running. She is already acquainted with time-outs.

The funniest thing has been to watch her and her brother, Will's, relationship evolve. She is the one who takes toys away from Will, so it's been a real learning experience trying to teach Will some assertiveness and trying to teach Liann not to take his stuff. So up until a couple of weeks ago, I'd say we had an armed truce going between them. But just recently, maybe because with the colder weather, they're stuck with each other more; they have started to become buddies. They will join hands for "Ring Around the Rosy" and chase each other around the house giggling. Their favorite joint game at this time is sitting at the kitchen table and seeing who can yell louder. Then they laugh and laugh as I go deaf, and my head implodes.

So, so much for my quiet demure little girl. No, I've got a two-and-a-half foot Ethel Merman. But we love her to death, and she is thriving--growing like a weed--she has twelve teeth now--up from the two when we got her--and happy, happy. Most of the time, I forget we haven't had her forever.

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