I know that a part of Liana's being is due to the wonderful love that her foster family gave her during the first 13 months of her life. She would be a somewhat different person if she had spent those first 13 months with me. While I do feel a little melancholy about having missed that time, I sometimes enjoy seeing her do little things that are so NOT me.
For example... Liana's foster mom taught me to pat her back (or her belly) to calm her or comfort her. This is not a reflext reaction for me. But at 13 months, Liana would pat MY back when she needed comfort, as a way of letting me know she wanted me to pat her back. Fast forward to the present... Liana pats my back to comfort me!!! And sometimes, she pats other people's backs too! There is a part of her foster family that lives on in her... forever....
