Since we have had Lizzy with us full time, there has not been time to write a blog! She has been wonderful. Even though she did not sleep on the train ride, she was a happy girl all day on Saturday. I think Mama was way more tired and grumpy than Lizzy. She is having a little trouble adjusting to the new food. She hasn't eaten much because it does not look like the food she ate at the orphanage. We figure she'll eat once we are home and can cook kid friendly meals for her. She went to her first mall on Sunday. She just took in everything. We went to the toy store and she wanted every doll that was there. Mama and Papa bought her her first Barbie and it hasn't left her side since. I have never seen a child so excited about a doll. We also bought her some more clothes. Everyday we put on a new outfit, she jumps up and down with excitement.
The first shower we gave her started off horrible. She screamed bloody murder because she was scared. Once she was in for a few minutes, she loved it! Now she wants to take a shower all the time. We let her play in the shower a little today. She had so much fun. I wish we had a tub so that we could give her a bubble bath. She has been really good at laying down at night when she is tired and going to sleep. However, last night was hard for Paul and I. Sometimes she rocks back and forth before she goes to sleep. Our facilitator told us that some orphans do that to comfort themselves. This means that she was not rocked to sleep when she was scared or going to sleep. When she started doing this last night, Paul picked her up and rocked her. It broke both our hearts to think about her not being rocked when she was little. Maybe sometimes, but not regularly. We also have found that she has a love/hate relationship with dogs. She loves them and wants to look at them. She has even gotten kind of close to them. However, once she gets too close she gets scared and runs away. We'll see how she and the dogs get along :) She is also a ham and LOVES her picture taken. She likes to do silly things and have us take her picture. We have definitely been entertained lately. Tomorrow we do our business at the Embassy. It sounds like it is an all day event :( Wednesday we take it easy and pack. Our flight leaves Kiev Thursday morning (our time) at 5:35 am. That means we have to be at the airport at 3:30 am!!! We have a two hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Then we have a 5 hour layover. Finally, we have our 10 hour flight to Atlanta. All of this with a 5 year old who doesn't like to sit still. Sounds like fun! However, we will be so excited to get home and back to some normalcy. It will be great to eat healthy again, and get back into our routine. I think Lizzy will like her new home.

Love,
Candace and Paul