Five Weeks!

We have now passed the five week mark since Marie Ling came home. Her English is definitely improving. We still have a long way to go since we started at zero, but she is trying new sounds and new words all the time. Tonight at dinner she noticed that Mike, Matthias and I were finished with our soup and she said, Daddy, Mommy, Matthias wait for Magda, Marie Ling." I was delighted for I had never heard her said "wait for". Usually she is not known for anything to do with patience!

A big adventure this week was Marie Ling's first visit to a dentist. Fortunately, we were able to arrange for a mandarin speaker to go with us. Still she was still somewhat frightened and tried to cover it by being a goofball. When the dentist approached her mouth she told the translator that he was going to cut out all of her teeth to make her like an old lady! Eventually though, the dentist was able to do a brief cleaning and was able to check the spot I feared was a cavity; it was not. It was a stain and he was able to clear it. For now, her teeth seem healthy and straight.

Marie Ling seems to have settled into a school routine. Of course, routine would be easier without snow days and teacher in service days. She seems pleased to go to school and thus far feedback from school has been positive. I am hoping that continues.

Today we went for her first American hair cut. When I met her her hair was cut very closely around her ears. The stylist tried to even out the sides a bit, so it can all eventually be the same length. Now she has shorter bangs and more of a blunt cut. Marie Ling squirmed a bit when the stylist got close to her ears, but overall did quite well. I think it helped that Magda, Matthias and Mike were also getting trims.

This week we brought up all of Magda's old Barbie stuff. ML was enthralled and entertained for a good while. Big sister had enough long before little sister. I have tried to steer television watching toward PBS that can help teach our girl language and thinking skills. She does enjoy "Arthur" and "Curious George". She could benefit from Seasame Street, but it does not hold her attention. Today on our day off we added the game Trouble to our entertainment options. I am anxious to get her in a dance or tumbling class to burn off some of her energy, yet we don't think she is quite ready for that as far as her social and language skills are concerned. One day at a time...
More again soon.
Michelle