We are also celebrating that spring is now here. If you block out the two foot snowdrifts and pile of boots by the door, you can almost hear the robins singing!! The kids have spent their entire lives outdoors in Haiti, so this has been a long wait. They were so excited to get out the bikes, scooters, sidewalk chalk, and jumpropes to play like they are used to. Nate set up t-ball in the backyard with frisbees as bases. Besides lifting the wrong knee when batting, they are hitting balls over the neighbors fence already. Pierre has mastered riding bike and asks to do so the second he arrives home from school each day. Bruce took Ange-Laurette on a little father-daughter date last night to pick out the pinkest/girliest bike they could find...princess helmet to boot! As hard as we try to steer her otherwise, she is eating up the chance to be a princess here. :)
Bailey and I had our first attempt at unbraiding Ange-Laurette's hair and then washing and brushing it in preparation for her appointment with our friend and stylist Carol. We helped the long process by buying the new "Princess and the Frog" DVD to watch as we worked. As always, I was disappointed by the need for such scary parts in a Disney movie, especially when they involved VooDoo and ghosts which are portrayed as so real to people in Haiti. I didn't do my homework in reviewing that one! Ange-Laurette was so patient with our 3 hours and then the next day with Carol's 2+ hours of rewashing, conditioning, and braiding. We are blessed to have someone so kind and talented right here in town! Ange-Laurette loved every minute of her pampering. Long awaited and well deserved.
The two-month-home anniversary was almost like an instant turning point with both kids. We have no more lengthy pouting spells with Pierre. He is able to talk through situations and understand our intent behind rules and correcting. We hear him telling himself, "that's ok" and "maybe later." He notices when he is treated younger than the other 3rd grade boys and does not like it. Even though Pierre tries to ask the other kids to stop things like tickling or chasing, he is not always successful. Overall, the other students have been awesome and accepting, but we are working with his teacher to help stop this "babying" of both kids. For Ange-Laurette, the two-month-mark meant so much more talking and laughing and being herself. She belly laughs about such appropriate things! There has not been any English vocabulary the past few days that either child did not appear to understand. They grab books and try to read them alone in the other room. Ange-Laurette even asked to have a sleepover in Bailey's bedroom downstairs...a first!
We were finally able to reach Pierre's birthmother by cell phone. She was thrilled that he had his chipped tooth repaired, and repeatedly shared that she was happy that he was safe and with a loving family. Pierre was switching between English and Creole as he spoke...Me go Biblioteka. His birthmother said to him, "You can't speak Creyole?" He corrected her and said that he and Ange-Laurette do speak Creole to each other. I felt bad for him because I think he was just excited and nervous. It must be hard to switch back and forth. Both kids also talked to their favorite nanny from the orphanage on the phone. They were disappointed when she said that Haiti is still "broken" and sometimes still "trembles." It was reminder to us to keep praying and to keep giving thanks that the kids are here!
