Vera got her first haircut today! The ends of her hair were really dry, and she definitely needed a trim. When I told Matt I was going to do it, he kept asking, "Are you sure you want to do this?" I only took about an inch off the back. I didn't dare touch the rest of it. The front is still so much shorter than the back that I'm sure there are many more trims to come before she needs a "real" haircut.


















Taking a little off the back... I only posted this picture because it has my belly in it. Mom keeps asking whether or not I'm showing yet. I definitely am, but I don't know that you can really tell in this pic. Our local friends have all starting patting my belly when they see me.

















From the front...

















...and from the back.

















And one little chunk to save.

Preschool

Vera started preschool at the beginning of January. We had previously had a woman that came to our home and watched her in the afternoons while I went to the orphanage. Well, I got tired of having someone else here everyday, so we decided instead to have Vera attend a Chinese preschool in the mornings. She goes for three hours four mornings a week and loves it! She comes home each day repeating Chinese phrases while she plays, obviously something she heard someone say that day. Soon, her Chinese is going to be better than mine!

I'm REALLY enjoying having the house to myself again. We've tried several times since moving here to hire someone to help with Vera and housework so that I can have a little time at the orphanage, and each time I feel the same way...THRILLED when they're gone! I could write a whole post about that. I'll save you from having to hear! Anyway, I really LOVE cleaning my own house. I love that for the two mornings that I don't go to the orphanage, I can have some time alone in a quiet home. I feel so much more refreshed, my house feels so much more clean, and I feel like I've got more energy and desire to do fun things with Vera after her afternoon nap.

Here are a couple of pictures from her first day at school.

Walking out the door...


















She was the second child there her first day. Didn't make for a very good picture. There are about 12 kids in her class.


















After coming home... "Oh, I'm exhausted!"

Painting

Vera has been doing a lot of painting lately! She absolutely loves to paint! Here are some pics and a video.