New Child, Old Child

Lately Olivia's been on a kick of calling herself our "NEW child" and Emily our "OLD child."  I'm still not sure if she really means younger and older, or if she's implying that Emily's old news who should be kicked to the curb!  She's also been calling us her "new" parents.  At least we're still her favorite parents--along with just about every thing and every one else that she states emphatically as her "FAVORITE in the whole world!" But that begged the question of whether or not she remembered having "old" parents...she was in foster care her last six months but she's never mentioned it.  I'm still not sure what she remembers because now when I ask her if she had "old" parents, she causually says, "ya, Jimmy and Anna."  Ummm...those don't sound much like Chinese names!  I'm not sure where she gets these names--see last night's post about her brother, also named Jimmy!   It's hard discern if it's all betend or if these stories contain any remnants of her former life.  

She'll also spread her arms as she declares how much she loves her new (favorite) house...and has lately mentioned that her old house was tiny and broken.  And something about having a big butterfly on the wall at her old house.  Not sure if this would have been in her foster parents' home or in the orphanage.  I know the orphanage walls had big painted cartoon-like murals...  

The only other reference to her past has been when she's talked about how they go potty differently in China--she giggles as she demonstrates squatting down on the floor and gets wide eyed as she shares the ludicrousness of them going potty outside.   Specifically, outside on a sidewalk that was cracked and broken.  Now she thinks it's just the silliest thing ever, but I suspect that part probably is an accurate memory.  Many toddlers in China wear split pants with no underwear or diapers.  The pants are literally split, as in no seam in the crotch/back side so that they can relieve themselves whenever the mood strikes.  If they're too young to squat, parents will hold the child spread eagle in front of them waist high to let them do their thing on the sidewalk, over a garbage can, or in the street.  It's a very strange thing to see!  What memories we have :)  Now, if only we could help her to remember and preserve more bits and pieces of her first four years...