Her Arrival // A Photo Story

Good day! I mentioned in this post that I had an idea for a new doll. So, you shouldn't be too surprised to find that..... After much searching and decisions, I got a new doll! She's been in the works for about a month, but I've had her personality formed for a while now. I put together a little photo story so you can get acquainted with her.

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I had two overwhelming emotions. The first was exhaustion. I hoped the girls at the house had a bed set up for me, or even a sofa or sleeping bag. Plane rides weren’t my favorite, and my last one had been very long. I smoothed the nice dress I had put on before I left the airport.

I let go of the suitcase and knocked on the apartment door. My stomach churned. My second overwhelming emotion was nervousness. My grandparents had sent me to live with my cousin and her new family. They thought it would be best for me. You see, I didn’t have many friends from where I came from.

The door opened and a girl appeared.

“Hello!” She said. “We’re so glad you’re here. I’m Maggie!”

“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” I waited to see her response to my voice.

She didn’t seem phased. Maybe my cousin had told her. Not that I didn’t want her to tell, but I was just curious.

Maggie turned around to let me in, and she led me down the hallway She was talking, but her face was turned away, and I only caught a few words. I followed her, lugging my bags.

She turned back toward me, “-not set up yet, I hope you don’t mind. You can stay in a sleeping bag in the living room until it’s -” Then she turned again.

My thought that my cousin had told her must not be correct. She clearly didn’t know. I thought I should tell her. I shook my head not yet.

“Oh, would you rather have my bed for a week or two?”

She must have thought I was shaking my head in answer to sleeping on the floor.

“I’m sorry, I misunderstood. The sleeping bag’s fine.”

“Alright, if you’re sure.” She changed the subject, “Phoebe is really excited to see you.”

“I’m excited to see her too.” We continued along the hallway to the kitchen.

Phoebe jumped out around the corner and rushed toward me with a hug.

“Cadence! I’m so glad you’re finally here. I’m sorry that Jiji and Baba sent you away from them, but we can be together now again.” We called our grandpa Jiji and our grandma Baba, since our family was Japanese.

“Me too.” I smiled. Phoebe was always so nice to me and a great friend. In fact, she was one of my only friends.

“So you met Maggie. The rest are on their way down.”

Maggie looked toward the hall, “I’ll go check on them.”

“Did you tell them?”
“Tell them what?”
“About me?”

“Oh, no. I thought you would want to,” Phoebe said.

I didn’t say anything.

“You can, don’t worry. It won’t make a difference to them.”
I sighed, “I’m not ashamed.”
“Then tell them. Here they come now, let's go to the living room."

I followed her to the nice living room and thought about what she said. I knew it was the right thing to do. I’d been through it before.

There stood the rest of the girls. 
Phoebe announced, "Everyone, meet my cousin, Cadence!"

"Hi, everyone." I smiled. 

All the girls introduced themselves to me. They all seemed very nice.

It was suggested that we sit down and talk about my trip. 

When I had finished, Beth spoke up, "Now tell us some things about you!"

"Well, I love drawing and water colors. I like to sell my work, too. I even helped buy my plane ticket here, and this new dress. I also love movies, especially Disney." I began.
"We love Disney too!" Teddie chipped in.
"Something else that's part of who I am..." I began slowly. I glanced at Phoebe. She nodded. I pulled back a piece of my hair.

"...is that I'm Deaf." I stopped for a second. "I wearing hearing aids, which help me hear a few things better. That's why my voice sounds a little different. I've had a lot of speech therapy and can sometimes read lips." 

"I usually use American Sign Language, at least that's what my parents had taught me. Jiji and Baba don't know sign language though."

"Sign language sounds really cool!" Brooke exclaimed.

Her enthusiasm encouraged me. I continued to briefly introduce them to Deaf culture. They all seemed really happy to get to know me.

In fact, the girls were so happy for me to join their family, the insisted on doing a new family photo right then! My feelings of nervousness are gone, because I know that these girls will accept me. 

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Yay! I'm so excited to have this new girl! And yes, she really is that tall. I have no idea why. Thoughts? 

Her backstory so far is that she lived with her grandparents, because she is an orphan, but her grandparents really wanted her to have a friends since she was having trouble making friends. So, they sent her to live with Phoebe and the other girls. She and Phoebe have written letters for a long time.

More pictures of this girl and details to come! 

Also, blogging is going really well! I have posts scheduled out as far as February 7th!??