Can it be Nine Months Already?

I cannot believe it has been nine months since we had our "gotcha day." Mary and I talk about it all the time. On the one hand it seems as if they have always been a part of our family, on the other hand, they have come so far in just nine months! Imagine spending the first ten years of your life without parental instruction - no rules, no talking about the way you should treat people, learning life's most important lessons from other kids who also had no parental instruction, etc. Then, you suddenly are thrust into a new country, with a new language, and lots of rules about how to act. I cannot believe they have learned the language so quickly. But, they are starting to really settle into how to act. Nicolas does not greet men by kicking them in the crotch or stomping their toes anymore. That's a big improvement.
They also can go to a restaraunt now without acting like banshees. Sunday, we went to Olive Garden with some friends and they acted like normal kids. They didn't eat off others' plates, they didn't eat so fast, or with their mouths open. It was nice.
They have a long way to go. Nicolas still does not like to be told no, and he does still throw a fit if you give him some consequence for his wrong actions. Diana occasionally still will resist and throw a fit, but neither of them last as long or are as frequent as they were. Diana is starting to think about what she is doing. She will start to have problems, then rethink her actions, weighing out the consequences, and then decide to calm down and do what her Mother asked of her. Nico is still learning this process.
In nine months, they have come a long way. I can 't wait to see what happens in the next nine months.
A bit of advice - if you are adopting, or have just adopted, it is going to be tough. Don't kid yourself. But, it won't last forever. They do change! They do grow and mature. It just takes awhile. Be patient.