The Baby Brain

I don't dwell on this, I truly don't . Sometimes it just hits me and I stop and ponder its significance.

I spent about an hour this morning sifting through pictures of Annabelle's hometown. Some travellers who went to do charity work posted pictures and I was able to order about 20 from her town and her orphanage. I was feeling very thankful as we were not allowed to travel there. Our guide explained it like this: "You will not like what you see, so you are not allowed in the orphanage". I appreciated his straight-forwardness, kind of like a midwestern farmer.

Anyway- I showed Annabelle all the pictures. Sometimes these jar memories from her baby brain. As we looked at a colorful marketplace full of fruit, frogs, herbs, she said, "What is that Mama, a Wal-Mart?".

"Yes", I answered, "something like a Wal-Mart. It's called a market".

"They HAVE those in China? Well, why didn't they bring ME any food. I was very hungry".

I don't dwell on this, but isn't it fascinating that a baby who came home at 13 months has these memories? Experts say that trauma can imprint memories on a brain before the baby has the words to explain it.

Her coping skills make my admiration of her grow. She, and the many babies who cope with the trauma of hunger or neglect or whatever , have a strength that is something special. God bless the hungry babies today.