2 1/2 Weeks Home

LilyBeth has been home for 2 1/2 weeks now and we are just beginning to see her personality. We've seen glimpses here and there, but never for more than a second until now. She is one wonderful little lady!

Yesterday, I dared the unthinkable: I took 6 children (all under 8) to the ocean by myself! Lily has no fear of anything--especially water. That's very scary to a mom. As soon as she saw the ocean she pointed, "shouted, "guh!", and ran headlong into the waves. Of course I was in pursuit and managed to get her before she went under. Her brother, who is 2 1/2 years old, is terrified of water, so I spent the whole time trying to get one near the water and the other out of the water. The big kids were great and stayed in the shallow water so I wouldn't completely lose it.



Lily has been to her pediatrician and is 20 pounds, and 32" tall. She will have her blood work done today (say a prayer, please), and will be meeting with the specialists soon. She is afraid of doctors, and I'm not sure how best to prepare her to see them. She spent several months in the hospital in Beijing.



Isn't she adorable? I love this sweet girl!

Clearly I'm not good a blogging!

LilyBeth has been home just over a week and we are just beginning to see her personality. She can be mischievous, to be sure, but mostly she is a very sweet observant toddler. I say "toddler" because she is 2, but really she's more like a 1-yr old. She just learned to walk before we got her--you could tell by the way she wobbled when she walked. She had the skinniest legs and arms I have ever seen on a baby (except for a newborn) and NONE of her clothes fit her. Since coming home, Lily has been walking everywhere and is even beginning to run!

I had been told that the orphanage she was at is one of the best in China, but after talking with other families who adopted from the same place I learned that SN (special needs) kiddos don't get the same treatment as NSN (healthy) babies. They are often left in their cribs all day and the nannies do not cuddle, or play with the SN babies. It made me angry to think of Lily sitting in a crib all day while "healthy" children went out to play, or were lovingly held by nannies. Then I remembered that no matter what her circumstances, her Heavenly Father was always loving her and caring for her. How awesome to know that she WAS and IS loved by her Father! He was preparing her for our family all along.

China was wonderful, but I'm so happy to have her home where I know she will be loved, cuddled, and played with.

Home

And fighting jet lag. Oh well. It's amazing to be home. China was amazing, but I'm happy to be home. I will update later. Until then, here is pic of little miss!