So, you were all here when I got the call for my ad and brought her home:
http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/999149/omg-omg-omg-we-got-a-call-pic-link-in-77
Some updates:
She is now 2-1/2 years old and, in fact, did wind up being named Mariella Grace. :)
We still suspect she may be partially AA. She has a patch of her hair in the back that is EXTREMELY kinky but a crown that is looser and finer. Too "not AA" for pink lotion, but in need of a daily conditioner/detangler (we use Beautiful Curls--it's heavily shea butter). She also has darker, ashy skin. Her hair is stunning, btw. :)
She did have a vacuum-assisted birth.
She is still allergic to soy and dairy, and doesn't eat a ton of solid food. Read: expensive allergenic formula. :/
It took until about 2-3 weeks before her 1st birthday to finalize. The initial cw supervisor was removed from the case. We DID wind up getting "back pay" for her monthly stipend because she was, for all intents and purposes, a foster child.
Outside of the Hep B shot they did at her discharge, she has never had another shot. :D I had TWO state-licensed regular ole doctors agree that with ZERO parental health history and not nearly enough of her own health history plus some neurological issues (she didn't react to the allergenic formula even remotely the way 99% of infants do), there was cause to delay. *I* did not introduce the idea of NOT vaxing. That was COMPLETELY Divine intervention!
We never did get anything at all--not a picture, not a hair pin, nothing--from her family or mother to pass on to her.
Mom was positive for opiates at birth. Likely ad didn't have colic, but withdrawal.
And ds is now 7, still loves his sister, she absolutely adores him, but they do NOT do well with sharing toys! They are happiest when they can take turns raspberrying mommy's belly. :P
Oh, and my inlaws love her like one of their own. In fact, sometimes I think they'd rather see her than the rest of us! LOL! Since we moved halfway across the country last summer, I think my BIL & princess are less threatened by us possibly getting more attention (or more of anything). I miss being able to pick up and just go see them for dinner whenever, but we're adjusting.
She is a stunningly beautiful, vivacious, fiesty, opinionated, precocious, VERY well-attached, loving, extremely verbal and empathetic child who loves baby dolls, painted fingernails and new shoes... at 2-1/2. Heaven help me. :D
I'm glad you were all there with me in the beginning!!!
