Saturday, January 16, 2010

She has come so far.

It has been 1 year, 3 months and 3 days since Nika left her baby home in Russia ... forever. Sometimes I forget how far she has come. Until I look back on the memories.

Like a video I have of her greeting us when we were there visiting her on trip one. She was such a baby.



Or a video I have of her taking her first steps at age two when we were there visiting her on trip one. She had so far to go, but was also doing so well given her circumstances.



Although she was walking regularly soon after we brought her home, her low muscle tone has always left a lot to be desired. We often ever-so-lovingly referred to her as the drunken sailor, because that is pretty much what she looked like when she walked.

And she still looks like that when she runs. Hands flailing, body swaying, feet all over the place.

We have been working hard in physical therapy and at home on strengthening her core ... basically to help her with balance. She used to think that jumping consisted of throwing her hands up and then falling to her butt. I honestly didn't think she would ever grasp the concept of how to jump.

But she has. She is getting it. And not only that, but she now has enough strength and balance to stand on one foot.

She has come so far.

When we brought her home from Russia, she obviously did not know a lick of English. She is still learning but she has come so far. She follows direction well and she is learning to say more and more words ... or approximations, thereof. She chatters all day long ... I often wonder what she and Chicky are saying to each other ... they have the most adorable conversations with each other.

So yeah, Nika has come so far. She still has so far to go, but we love progress!

15 comments:

  1. So cute!! I cant believe how different she looks in just over a year! She definitely turned from a baby into a little girl, for sure. And she was so much chubbier then. She has come so far in so little time. Good work Mommy!

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  2. Ahhhhhhh. She was such a tiny muffin!! SO CUTE. I love her jumping. What a love!

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  3. I was *so* crying. Happy tears, of course. I always loved her little Michelin arms. LOL.

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  4. I could watch her forever. Thank you of posting the video clips. Yes, New Year's Resolution for us: post video clips :). I hope I have some great before-n-after pics and video of Alina :)!!

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  5. Wonderful. She is doing so well and I can tell she is well loved. Thank God she's with you.

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  6. She is so stinkin' cute! She has grown up so much in a year!

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  7. So stinkn' cute.Oh wait,I just noticed, the person above me wrote the same thing ... I ditto that then.Seriously she is amazing.Loved everything about watching this.

    And ... you have a dog named Zoey??or Zoe?Funny,I know a few people who named their dogs that .. strange when I am at their homes and they call their dog and I'm holding Zoey!!

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  8. Oh my word! I love that first video with her fat little arm waving! Looks kinda like mine these days...lol. And to see her now...wow. She is so freakin' cute!!! Makes me so excited of things to come for us!

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  9. Bethany,
    She's so cute I can hardly stand it.
    And what progress, thanks for sharing
    Cara

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  10. I remember those first videos! How she has grown! So glad she is with you guys! We loved the new video! Aleena watched it with me and we had to watch it numerous times!! :)

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  11. beth(hannah's mommy)January 17, 2010 at 1:48 PM

    She's so adorable!! She's really "blossomed" with all the love your family has given her!!

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  12. Ah, that first video made me cry big fat tears, what a pudgy and happy little girl. You are so blessed B and I hope she keeps up the progress!

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  13. She is so cute! Loved the videos!

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  14. I loved watching that last video of her! She is doing awesome! Thanks for sharing!!

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  15. she has come so far!! Look how much she has changed in those videos...wow...grown so much. Way to go on the jumping and speech. It's amazing how she's able to understand English so well too.

    Kayla used to say "cup" like "pup" :)

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