Lera at Home - Week Four (aka, Back to Reality)

I can't believe it has been a month since we've been home with Lera! She seems completely settled in and happy with her new life...and we are completely smitten with, and proud of, her. She now has 28 English words (latest additions: finished, shoes and soap). I swear, she could be the best-behaved 2 year old on the planet (hexing myself as I write this, for sure...but she seems a lot less melodramatic than I remember either Aidan or Kristin being at this age)!

This week we appreciated a few fun visits from friends. And, Lera did a few half-day stints at daycare for 'practice' (since I must return to work next week...) Over the past 2 weeks, I've been taking her along to drop off and pick up Kristin, and also for recess with her class. I think this all helped her transition easily to the longer stays this week - dropped her off before recess, then she stayed for lunch, playtime and her nap! By all accounts, she did GREAT...only crying for about 2 minutes when I left the first time. The next day, she was excited to run inside once we'd arrived. Needless to say, this is a HUGE relief to me, as I'd worried about how she'd handle daycare away from home. (The international adoption books had me feeling pretty guilty re: this...)

The big highlight of the week, by far - was meeting her new grandparents! My folks traveled all the way from KC to meet her. Our dear friend Lisa was here, and she captured the moment well!

(Note I am holding the Russian for adoptive families book, where I'd just looked up how to say "this is your grandma and grandpa")

A couple other cute shots, thanks to Lisa B: