Update

Life goes on, as always, and now that the holidays are over, it almost feels like we're getting into some kind of rhythm with work, and then days off centered around our new tiny tots. It's getting very close to the point that I would say the honeymoon is over for the kids, as well as for us.

Little Girl is into everything, wants constant attention, and is constantly being told, "no," since she often wants or does what's off limits. Cuteness only goes so far, so no one is too moved by her cute faces or cute mannerisms. We aren't having any trouble being strict about the rules.

She has also gone on a potty strike. We were originally told at the orphanage that she was potty trained, and that Big Girl and Little Boy were not. The surprise was that they all came with the same degree of potty trained-ness. They would all produce when set on the potty, but no one would hold it, or ask (or indicate) when they needed to use it. Several weeks later, everyone was pooping on the toilet, Big Girl and Little Boy were often dry, and Little Girl almost never was. Now, Big Girl is usually dry, often all day, and Little Boy is rarely dry, but they both poop on the potty. Little Girl now refuses to sit on the potty, and makes a point to hold it if we make her sit there, and then immediately wets her diaper. Same for the poop. That's why I say she's on a potty strike. She cries very loudly when she has to sit there. It's fun days around here!

This one-- always into something or other.  Has a great fondness for taking everyone's clothes out of their drawers, and dragging the clothes all over the house (or just throwing them on the floor.)

I just loved that his diaper looked so saggy on him.  He really has no hips;  however, he is starting to get some meat on those thighs!  He loves the vacuum cleaner, and crawls like lightning to get in front of it when I'm vacuuming.  Then he wants to stare into the light on the front of it.

"It's so cruel to put a girl like me on a toilet!"

"Is anyone looking?  Does anyone care?"

Our little boy seemed to be doing so much better every day-- eating better, drinking better, more active, more social, more eye contact, and more smiles.  This week, though, feels like we've gone backwards a few steps.  Lots of griping about the food, refusing to drink, and lots of ignoring when he's called to come to the table, or called for something else.  He makes a point to cry and fuss when we hold hands before dinner to pray.  Everyone else is quiet, and understands that it's important.  He probably understands that it's important, also.  That's probably why he makes such a fuss.  He doesn't like to give us what we want.  I say that everything is such a battle with him, and then, even after he knows that it's good (whatever we've forced him to do--against his better judgment) he doesn't like to admit that we're right, and still resists, even if he ended up liking it last time. 

Ahh... an empty bowl!  It does a mother's heart good!  Actually, this was two weeks ago.  Also, this picture doesn't even look like him to me, since he really doesn't smile much.  This was a sudden and unexpected smile that flashed across his face, and I just happened to catch it. 

He must have been in a good mood, because he made this goofy face, too.

I don't have any new pics of Big Girl for this post.  She still seems to be doing alright.  She's more active, and exploring more, but also picking up some new, weird habits.  We haven't even convinced her yet that her old, weird habits should go.  She seems to be trying to say some words, though, and likes to use signs, although never spontaneously.  I take that back.  I think she made up her own sign for "all done," which consists of slapping her hands together suddenly, while sliding them across each other, and one goes up and the other goes down.  That one she likes to use when she's done with whatever.