Sisters

There is great debate in the world of adoption as to the right of adoptive parents to request or even demand a specific gender when adopting. We asked for a girl, but would not have turned down a boy had he been referred to us. We asked for a girl for one reason, so Paxten could have a sister. The boys adore each other, and I wanted Paxten (and our new child) to have the opportunity of sharing a life with a same-gendered sib. I'm glad it's worked out that way.

So far Little Miss and Xiao Jie have done very well together. Much like any other siblings, they alternate between best friends and worst enemies in any three minute time frame. They fight viciously with screams, hits, bites (KNOCK ON WOOD, not since PJ bit back, KNOCK ON WOOD), tears, but yet they are already attached at the hip, following each other around or seeking each other out. They are playing better together every day. They have moments of jealousy in sharing toys, sharing brothers, sharing parents, but they're working through it.

Yesterday they were fighting over a toy key. I have no idea who had it first, but when the screaming started Paxten was pulling it away from Wen while screaming it was hers and When was crying and screaming "mine first! mine first! mine first!" and flailing her hands at Paxten in attempt to hit her without getting off the rideon toy (as not to lose that too). I walked over and plucked it out of Paxten's hand, and took it back to the kitchen saying "if you're going to fight and scream about it, neither of you get to play with it". You know how football players have a signature touchdown dance? Paxten has a signature tantrum maneuver. She wailed miserably, ran to the couch and threw herself down face first with such force that the momentum brought her feet into the air. AnnaWen watched, waited a half a beat and copied it exactly. With their faces side by side in the couch muffling fake screams of torture, bums in the air, they couldn't see me laughing at them in the kitchen. You could say she's learning how to join in...

N