Into the deep end of the parenting pool

After knowing our daughter for fewer than 48 hours, here is what I know:

-- She can sleep nine hours - and she looks absolutely angelic as she kicks me in the groin. She sleeps like a rock. She slept right in the middle of the hotel bed, between us. I usually sleep like a log, too, but I slept so lightly, listening to her breathing. Finally I had to wake her up so she could get washed up for breakfast.

-- At the orphanage, she got bucket baths. Here, she got into the shower and let Melissa clean her up with a washcloth.

-- She eats and eats and eats. She will devour hard-boiled eggs, crackers, white rice, omelettes, cooked tomatoes, more crackers, more eggs, toast. The folks at the orphanage said she was not a fussy eater, but this is ridiculous. She'll let us feed her or she'll grab the spoon and go to town.

-- No problem with keeping Niranjana hydrated, as she drinks like a fish. Milk is good. Water is even better. We took the top off the sippy cup and let her go at it. She must have gone through a liter. And it goes through her.

-- She doesn't like to wet herself. She gives us a whimper and other signals when she needs to go.

-- Melissa amazes my mother and me. When Niranjana needs to go to the bathroom, Melissa is all over it, taking her behind a rock at a temple or getting the driver to pull over on the side of a road, dropping trou and letting 'er rip. Melissa's brother, Kevin, got the nickname, "The Whiz Kid," on some road trip. Meet the new Whiz Kid.

-- Niranjana sweetly waves at everyone. It's one of those Miss America waves. All the Indian women we pass by are enamoured with her, clutching her hand or pinching her cheek. Yeah, she's going to be a heartbreaker. Kenton and I already have made plans on how we will scare the hell out of any boys who want to date our daughters.

-- No problems with naps. She fell asleep on Melissa yesterday in the van on the aforementioned treacherous highways. We visited temples along the coast south of Chennai, an area badly affected by the 2004 tsunami. She fell asleep on my chest on the way there and on Melissa's shoulder as we got back into town. She never awoke as I carried her up to the room and put her in bed. Being frightened with all these changes must be exhausting.

-- Her first words to us that weren't coerced by someone from the orphanage: She wanted a biscuit, and she softly uttered "Please?" in the sweetest, most angelic little voice.

-- She isn't constipated. Melissa was slightly concerned until right after breakfast. Nope, all the plumbing works just fine (and on a regulated orphanage schedule).

-- We confirmed that she is, in fact, a fashion diva. Melissa pulled out a Norstrom special, a bright blue seersucker/gingham dress decorated with cherries. Niranjana inspected the dress, touching every cherry before approving. When we arrived at the temples along the coast, Niranjana added the blue sun hat from Auntie Vanessa to the ensemble and looked perfectly dashing.

-- We've nicknamed the diaper bag "Angelina" after Angelina Jolie, who uses the same model when she has brood in hand. On Vanessa's recommendation, Niranjana and I got it for Melissa for Mothers Day. It's been a lifesaver.

-- I'm starting to see Niranjana attach to us, more to Melissa than me. That makes sense because there are no men who are caregivers at the orphanage, only a doctor who comes by weekly. She has no problems having me carry her, feed her or kiss her. She will hold my hand as we walk along or reach up to me when she wants to be carried. As long as we give her love, we don't think we will have attachment issues. She has not had the same trauma as orphans from other countries (including ours). She has been well fed, clothed, educated, looked after medically, and raised in a relatively stable environment. As far as orphans go, she's been a fortunate little girl.

-- Niranjana is a dancer. We saw this last night at the church we visited. This morning while Melissa was getting ready, she danced with her grandmother while watching/listening to Indian music videos on TV. She doesn't "bust a move" quite yet, but the inclination appears to be there.