the many faces of Ella Joy

Today Ella woke up with a big happy smile on her face. Eric put her in our bed and she laughed and played with us both. She is definetely preferring me at nap and bedtime, but she will play with Eric and let him do things for her the rest of the day. It's normal for her to attach to one of us at a time. It's really good that she is preferring one of us over the other and it won't take her long to be closer to Eric too. If it doesn't happen here, it will happen when we're back home and she figures out he's the fun one!!

We had to work a little harder for smiles today. Our guide and driver took us to the museum today and she was CRAZY  in the van.  Every time she has been in a car, big changes have taken place.  I'm sure she was not sure what was happening today.  She was great at the museum and fell asleep in my lap on the way home-did I mention no car seats here? She slept a little while longer when we got back to our room and when she woke up she was very quiet for the afternoon.  Let's be honest-she has to be bored with us by now!  She is used to playing with lots of kids every day and we're just not that fun with the same toys and the same 4 walls every day! We have one more day here and then we're off to Guangzho.  It'll be good for her to see that she goes with us when we leave.

Eric played with her this afternoon and I have to share some of the faces he was able to get out of her.  Sister is a MESS.  The report said she likes to play games and I'm starting to understand what they meant by play games.  Ella is a firecracker-and it's only day 3.  She was almost asleep when the boys face timed us.  She sat up and grinned when she heard their voices and then she showed them her tummy.  Because that's what she does with her brothers! She finally took her baby doll and elephant lovey to bed with her and she covered the baby with the elephant lovey.  She is SMART.

Ella is a pistol and she did regress a little bit today but overall, she is doing amazingly well.  She is adorable and full of personality and she loves laughter.  Joy was the perfect name to give her because she is definetely full of joy.  We are so thankful for this little peanut.  I can't help but think about her birth mother and the joy that she will miss raising this precious girl.  I believe in my heart that she couldn't afford her medical care and abandoned her outside the orphange walls hoping for a chance at life.  I have asked our guides questions regarding the orphans and one child policy and I have learned so much more than I already knew.  It's a life that I can't even fathom and yet, they feel their lives are good because it is better than it was 5 years ago and their parents lives were so much harder.  I am just thankful to live in America and have the freedom of choice.  I am even more thankful that Ella Joy will be able to grow up in the United States with a family that cherishes her and that she will have endless opportunies.  One less orphan.