How is it going with Norah?

The most common question I get asked is, "So how is it going with Norah?"  Usually I respond with "Good,"  but the answer is always a little more complex for those who are interested.

NORAH
"Good" does generally sum up everything.  Norah is adjusting so well and I know so much of it has to do with her age.  She calls us mommy and daddy, comes to us when she is upset, wants us to hold her and comfort her, and like any almost 2 year old she defies us.  She can talk so much!!  She has such an amazing vocabulary and is about the same size as Maya that sometimes I think I expect to much out of her, sometimes I think she is older.  It is hard to remember what Maya was like at this stage even though it was only a year ago.  One of m favorite things Norah does is this cute face when she hears a noise (like a plane flying about), she whispers "noise" and does this face

MAYA
Maya is doing so well also.  In some ways this has been harder for her, but she is really learning to share with Norah, help me more, and I think she knows Norah is staying for good.  I do tell Maya that Norah is adopted and in our family now because Norah's mommy is with Jesus.  Having Norah here has been so good for Maya.  One of the ways Maya has been so helpful is by folding laundry, she really likes it and is very good it at!  She says that "Jesus taught her"

MOMMY
The hardest adjustment is for me.   Let me first say that just because there are times that are stressful does not mean I don't enjoy having 2 children :O) Norah is a delight, but she doe not have a long attention span, so even if I give her something to do, she does it for about 2 seconds and then she wants me.  I can hardly rinse off a dish and put it in the dishwasher, before she pulls on me.  This has been very trying on my patience.  It is very hard for me to know if I should hold her non-stop and allow her to feel secure in me/us, and sometimes just let her cry because she is whining and should not always get what she wants when she whines.  I want there to be boundaries.

I do remember Maya being a little more needy at this age and wanting me to hold her, and I remember not Always holding her because she needed to learn.  I feel like with Norah I just hold her all the time though, rather than let her whine because I am afraid that she will think I don't love her.  Ahhhh it is so hard!  Where is the balance? Making dinner is the worst, Norah is very hungry and wants to eat, but she wants me to hold her the whole time I am cooking, and if I do, I can't cook anything.......... 

When I try to imagine what is going on in Norah's mind all I can think is that she probably thinks, "my mommy just left all of a sudden, and then my grandma, now I don't want this mommy to leave."  I just want her to know we aren't leaving........

Norah is the best huger in the world though! I think her hugs are more reassuring for me than anything

DADDY

Daddys says, "Thinks are going really good." Norah does not do this same whinny thing with Brett (always wanting him to hold her), so if he is home alone with the girls his perception is that things are very easy and having 2 children is not that much harder.   He says the hardest thing is her random crying and difficulty in communication (which comes with any 1 year old).

I know that there are going to be seasons that are hard, especially when Norah gets older and we have to answer more questions, but for now we are enjoying her embracing our family and we are embracing her.