ALICE - JULY 2007

I met Alice on the 1st July this year.

She was a good size, had 2 teeth (on the bottom), sticky up hair and the end of a heavy cold. She could stay sitting up when put in a sitting position, but couldn't push herself back up if she keeled over. She could roll over, but always rolled back to where she started (maybe she learnt to roll over in her cot - where there was no room to keep going?) She liked to stand up, holding hands for support. She was extremely calm, she didn't cry when I met her or held her, she sat on my lap (facing me) and reached up to smooth her hands down my face while I tried hard (and for once succeeded) not to cry (trying not to unsettle her any further). That first day I did make her cry (not just aloud but with real tears) - moving her biscuit from one hand to the other. She would only take one type of food at any mealtime and wouldn't mix textures - this changed very quickly once we came home. She got her third tooth on Adoption Day and the 4th came through before the end of the month.

When we came home she settled in so quickly. She was terrified (went rigid and screamed) when she saw the dogs, yet within 5 minutes she was straining to reach out and touch them. She adapted quickly to many new situations with very little fear though she did look to me for my reaction, especially when new people came into our home.

From our first days together she has shown herself to be a thrill-seeker - loving it when the pushchair went over bumpy ground, squealing with joy when pretending to be dropped, smiling on the swing but only laughing when it goes through at least 180 degrees.

Her favourite things - soft toys, dogs.

Her favourite foods - most things but especially fromage frais.

1sts in July 2007 - 1st month with Mummy, 1st time on an aeroplane.
1sts (with Mummy) in July 2007 - meeting dogs, going home, going to parties, cutting teeth, playing on the swings,.