Getting to know Hope:

1. While in care in China, she only slept in a crib or a playpen. So, while we were in China, we requested each hotel to provide us with a crib or a playpen. Hope was going to have enough changes, we didn't want to add a change in her bedding and make her even more insecure.

The day we came home, she went to bed. We had a twin bed and a playpen for her to choose from. She chose the play pen. The next time she went to bed, she chose the twin bed. We put the railing up, and she has slept in the twin bed from that day forward. (I had noticed she was observing Andrew in a bed over the last couple of weeks, and she decided it was time to try it.)

2. We found out that Hope's favorite color is pink. Which, actually, is going to make my job hard. The children all want to sleep in the same room, and they had decided to wait to repaint the room until we found out Hope's favorite color--so they would have a room with all their favorite colors. So now, I have turquoise, green, and pink. Ugh! I have no idea what I am going to do....

3. Hope loves ketchup. I mean: LOVES! I mean: "May I please have a spoon to eat it?" And, yes: she uses a spoon to devour her ketchup before she begins to use the refill for dipping. Note to self: stock up!

4. While in China, I noticed Hope had small hands and feet, so when we got home I measured her. Hope and Andrew have EXACTLY the same size hands and feet! Even down to the 1/8 of an inch! Hope is 1" taller than Andrew, weighs 8.4 lbs. more than him, and is a year older than him.

5. She likes to smile, and she smiles a lot!

6. Her laughter is loud and boisterous.

7. She dresses barbie dolls like Chinese children are dressed--with multiple layers.

8. She "mothers" Andrew. He patiently lets her.

9. She colors her fingernails and toenails with crayons. Note to self: get the nail polish out!

10. She likes to splash in the bathtub. A LOT!

11. She is learning that she is allowed to leave food behind on her plate. In the begin she refused to leave the table until her plate was cleared. She used to be greatly disturbed (to the point of tears), if she couldn't finish her plate, and she would reprimand Cherish and Andrew for leaving food on their plates at the end of a meal. Now, she is letting us know when she is full.

12. She does everything with gusto!

13. She prefers to color with markers rather than crayons. Though, momma prefers she color with crayons--until she learns to color only on paper ;-). Granted, her nails would look better with marker color rather than crayon color, but that's for a different time....

14. She'd prefer I dress her, but she prefers to do her own hair. She loves to carry a comb or brush around (ya know: for touch-ups throughout the day).

15. She likes to play on the tablet. Therefore, I'm thankful for Zoodles--which keeps the tablet safe and keeps her only on approved children's sites. A win-win situation.

16. She likes to pose for a camera! (I need her to teach Andrew!)

17. She really enjoys playing in the sandbox.

18. When she understands us (i.e. when we use the translator app on our tablet), she is quick to obey.

19. She does not care for dogs. Yet. ;-)

20. She likes car seats. She thinks they're hilarious.