Happy Adoption Day!

Today is our "gotcha" day, the anniversary of the day that our adoption of the oldest and newest Little Jogger became official. We don't do much to celebrate it, because her birthday is in just a few days, on July 1, but it's nice to remember it.

She was born in Ukraine, and lived with her biological mother until she was six. Then her biological mother just disappeared. We have no idea what happened to her. The Little Jogger and her biological sisters were obviously well-cared for, so it wasn't simply a matter of a neglectful mother finally giving up. The other two girls were adopted domestically, but our Little Jogger waited two and half years for us to come along and get her.

She has made great strides in adjusting to life in the U.S. She spoke basically no English, but she has picked it up pretty quickly. In the middle of this past academic year, they raised her from the remedial English class to the main class, meaning that it took her basically a year and a half to learn to read English at grade level.

She has also made great strides in adjusting to our family. She tends to be a bit impulsive, and to do or say whatever she thinks of, not really thinking about the consequences. This drives her mother crazy! But she's learning to think a little ahead some times, and Mrs. Jogger is learning that mostly she is being thoughtless, rather than outright defiant or mean.

Basically, she's a happy, friendly kid, and we're glad that she has become part of our family.