Day 8....

We have been visiting with Ella for 8 days now. It is amazing to look back on the videos and pictures we took from day 1 and see the changes in her. We are truly thankful for this beautiful blessing.

Today, we did serious laundry and house cleaning - apparently, this apartment didn't come with maid service! After laundry and cleaning, I ironed - yeah, I know a bunch of first today; but Ella needed her blue dress and bunny back; she only has 2 dresses so we alternate between them. We brought several articles of clothing with us for her; but only 2 of the dresses we brought fit her...the others we donated to the orphanage. Her pink bunny was looking like it had been living in the woods. Yesterday, we managed to pry it away from her so we could wash it.

Ella seems to be understanding a bit more of what we say to her and we can tell her bond with us is getting stronger. She squeals with delight at the sight of us and drops whatever she is doing to come running. She listens when we tell her to come sit with us or not to go over there...but most heartbreaking is when she asks to leave in the car again today and we have to tell her not today. She loves to play hide-n-seek and for us to spin her around. She loves to have Papa chase her and to sit in Mama's lap and to have her hair fixed. She is afraid of heights, dogs, and cats. She cries when it is time to go back to her groupa.

Here are some more pictures from our visit today...