Today With D

On the docks downtown,  watching the fish.

The days are going by too fast. She has already been here one week. I would give anything to slow time down. D seems to have been a part of our family forever, and she is already telling us she wants us to be her family 'forever and ever.'  Its heartbreaking to hear her thoughts on the whole thing. She announced at dinner tonight, out of the blue, 'Next summer I will be coming to stay with you forever!' Nastia asked her what she meant and she added 'Well, the director told me that this time I go home after I visit but then NEXT summer when I come to you, I get to be adopted and stay forever and be your daughter!'

I tried to very gently explain that she is here to visit and we do not know what might happen in the future. I explained that it is up to the government what happens, and I did tell her that ukraine wants 'Papas' in the family, and our family only has a Mama. Her response? 

'Well, Mama, just get one!' Wish it were that easy.

Anyway, aside from the obvious sadness of hearing her hope of being with us forever, the day was wonderful.

We played together all morning before I had to wake Nastia up. I had to work today for a few hours, and D stayed and played with Nastia. When I got back we played checkers, and just played games  around the house, taking it easy. 
At night we went to the pet store, as promised, and bought three fish! She named hers 'Zolishka' (Cinderella). Nastia named hers 'Finny', and the extra one I got talked into is named 'белый' (Bailey) because he is white. Bailey is what the word for white sounds like in Russian. Now it's been an hour of the girls watching every little move the fish make. They are glued to the fishtank. I'm soaked from bath time, because D was pretending to be a mermaid and splashed all the water out of the tub!

D watching all the fish at the pier.

Heading up to put her to bed, and then quiet time with Nastia, before I crash myself. Hope everyone has as rewarding a day...