We have entered month 2 of custody of Norah, and things are really notching into normal life, well, I suppose I can say "new normal". She is delightful, and is totally a Blackwell! We attended Loy Krathong festival yesterday, where we met the other KC Thai families at Loose Park to release Krathongs into the pond, and light flying lanterns. It was great to let Norah meet some other Thai children, and get a little Thai culture:) Krathongs are floating decorations made out of banana leaves and flowers, and are sent afloat with candles and incense on them, giving thanks to water gods. It also means that you are letting go of any negative feelings or judgements you've held onto over the last year, and releasing them. Since we don't love a water god, we are saying "thank you to the God who MADE the water, and thank you for our daughter!!" Our krathong was thrown together last min, and made of construction paper and cardboard!! Guess who's krathong was least authentic in the group?? BINGO! But hey, it was fun:) It caught fire almost immediately, and was gone in 30 seconds! Give me at least a year, until next Loy Krathong, and I'll have more energy to chop down a banana tree and do origami with it.
Norah is learning all sorts of new things, and is comprehending an unbelievable amount of language! She has learned NO, can you believe it!!? Oh yes, it's the first word every child learns... And her new favorite food is ketchup. She loves it and when I point to snacks or a meal choice for her, she shakes her head no, until I point to the ketchup! It's all she wants! So I convinced her to at least dip it in crackers:) Her comprehension of what we say is remarkable! Just a month ago she only heard and understood Thai. I can say, "Norah, go get your shoes", or "Norah give this toy to Sam" and she will do it! And loads of other things too! She wants to play tea party with her dolls daily. Today we were playing with her hair bows, and she put one on her hello kitty doll, and laughed and laughed! Pretty soon all her dolls were wearing her bows and having tea:) My heart is so full with love for her. She still loves loves her dad the most, and I am yet to get a kiss from her, but every day it feels like she connects a little bit more to me. It feels great:)
