Friday, March
22, 2013
I know a lot of you have been waiting very patiently for this
post. I'm just not sure where the time has gone!!
We are Home!!
The flight home was long but she did A-mazing!She sat there
contently for over 12 hours (slept for a little over 2 hours).
We could not believe it...Thank you Lord! She fell asleep in
Chicago while we were waiting for our St Louis flight and slept
the entire plane ride. She was out!
Tim and I were so giddy when we arrived at the thought of
finally seeing the boys. We beat them there and waited briefly
by the luggage. I'm actually glad it worked out this way because
when they walked into the airport they ran towards us! It was
wonderful! I was full of tears of course. Thank you SO MUCH to
Aunt Karen for coming all the way over there to pick us up and
braving it with three little ones in tow. I don't think I could
have waited another hour. She made a wonderful sign for us
too...LOVE it!!
The boys went straight to Lily after that and she seemed to warm
up to them instantly. They had so many questions about the
things she could do or say. The moment was priceless.
The car ride home was a bit rough. As expected, she hated the
car seat but we made it home ok (update: she doesn't mind the
seat now). Our house was filled with lots of love...people
hanging signs, making dishes, purchasing items, and a floor
filled with balloons. Each one of the kids in Hayden's preschool
class made her welcome home signs...too cute! She seemed at home
immediately and went right to the balloons to play.
Surprisingly, we wound down pretty easily and it felt really
good to be home!
The first week home was really rough. We were all pretty
jet-lagged. She cried for most of the first week. Seemed to be
from exhaustion and just being overwhelmed in general. We had
lots of visitors which we really enjoyed.
The past week has been wonderful. She is showing lots of
personality. Talking lots of gibberish and even saying a few
English words. She loves food! She already knows which drawer
holds her snacks and goes right to it. She has eaten everything
we have presented her and thankfully, hasn't rejected a thing.
She's getting better about her chewing. She has five teeth
coming in at once (4 being molars) so I think maybe that's why
she didn't want to chew. She has finally mastered the sippy cup
so we have gotten her off the bottles.
I have a new little helper in the kitchen now. As I'm cooking
she will stand at the stove and say "mmm" "mmm" until I let her
try something!
She dances, runs, plays independently, and laughs all the time.
She is a very content and happy girl. Sooo much different from
the little lady we met almost a month ago. It's amazing what
love and nutrition did for her.
The boys absolutely love her. They are very gentle with her and
love it when they see her in the car after school. They think
her gibberish is pretty funny but are not very fond of her high
pitched scream she does. Wow! That girl has lungs.
This has been a wonderful experience. We have been given an
amazing gift and feel so blessed every day. It has been such a
delight watching this child literally come alive and it seems
that each day brings something new. Very cliche, but it feels
like she's been in our family forever. Many people have asked us
"Does she feel like your own?". Absolutely! |
Priceless!
Grady and Hayden giving Lillian
the bear they made for her
It's official-I'm a U.S. Citizen!
Adorable sign made by Aunt Karen and the boys
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