Play Day!

Today we received a warm reception from Thandokuhle.  When we came to pick her up in the late morning she ran right to Grandpa and gave him a big hug. The orphanage social worker spoke with Thandokuhle and she said she wanted to come play with us.  So she held my hand and Miranda’s hand as we walked back to where we are staying.  (We are staying on the orphanage property but the building is on the side of the property and is 5-7 minute walk from all the children’s homes). 

Thandokuhle had a snack bag of puffed corn which she ate when we were with the social worker.  I noticed that after she finished the snack she used her fingers to wipe all the seasoning out of the bag so she could lick off every last bit of flavor.  So, our first activity was to have an orange for a snack which she completely inhaled.

Playtime was great!  At the beginning she was very quiet and did not say a peep as she dressed the new doll that we had brought.  She watched Miranda’s every move as we played with stickers and crayons.  She really liked the headband we brought for her even though her hair is as short as fuzz.  Then she started to warm up and squealed with laughter as she and Miranda ran up and down the long hallway.  She chattered away, mainly in Zulu but with some English sprinkled in.  Throughout the day we heard more of her English vocabulary.  She knows words like “house” and “monkey” and phrases like “do it again” and “this one”.  She also calls me (and sometimes Dad) “Miss” when she wants help or attention so we’ll have to work on “Mommy”.

We looked through a small photo album we had sent to help know what her new home and family looks like.  She flipped through the photo album again and again and asked the names of her cousins. Her favorite photos seemed to be the playroom and our swingset.  She would point to those pictures and then pat her chest and say “Thandokuhle”.  What a joy to provide such fun places to play!

Lunch went smoothly and to say that Thandokuhle is a good eater is an understatement.  She ate with focus, good manners, and completely cleaned her plate (including using her spoon to eat all the ketchup).  She had seconds on everything.  She is quite tiny and clearly appropriate nutrition will be an important part of her transition to our family.

After playing all afternoon we went back to visit the social worker and Thandokuhle’s house mom.  The social worker asked Thandokuhle in Zulu if she wanted to spend the night with us.  Thandokuhle answered in the tiniest whisper that she did.  So, we returned to our lodging for dinner, more playtime, and bedtime.  Again, Thandokuhle ate all of her dinner by eating the meat first and then when her plate was clean of every tiny bite she had seconds!

We put another mattress in the room where Miranda and I are sleeping so there are 3 twin beds lined up in a row.  Thandokuhle snuggled with her stuffed monkey and both she and Miranda fell right to sleep.  Sweet dreams, little one!

What a great day of playing together and getting to know the sweet, brave girl who is joining our family.  It was also a great day when all five pieces of our luggage arrived intact!