One Month Home!

We have been home one month already (yesterday) and have had Lucy with

us for 6 weeks!  It is so hard to believe that it has been that long

already!  She has come so far since we have had her!  She is such a

blessing to our family and we continue to be in awe that God chose us

to be her parents!   She is one amazing little girl!  We have truly been blessed with two incredible little girls who were created by our God to be a part of our family!  Wow!

Lucy can now say Mama, Dada, Kar Kar (Karlye), up, thank you, good job,

night night, and I am sure I am forgetting more. She does not call us

Mama or Dada yet, but all in time ;). She can understand so many

things that we are saying to her...it truly is amazing!  Especially

the phrases we use everyday.

Her eating continues to be a struggle. She was eating a good variety of

foods/textures once we were home and settled, but her variety has

definitely bit the dust, as has her interest in siting in the high

chair.  She pretty much eats yogurt, baby food fruit (most times),

peanut butter crackers, and most things junk :(. She is sick right

now, so maybe that has to do with the lack of interest in food.  We

have tried the bottle a million times for bonding and good calories...she just won't take it. She is

beginning to let me feed her water from a sippy cup while I rock her

(briefly).

She gets so excited to ride in her carseat and go out of the house!  I really think going out is her favorite thing to do!  She does continue to shut down in new situations and in new places, but is content in the Ergo carrier.  It continues to take her a long time to warm up when we have visitors over to

the house as well, especially men.

She is a smart cookie and VERY curious about everything!  She is

sorting colors, putting the puzzle pieces in the right place (with a

little help to get them all the way in), very close to stringing

beads, repeating everything we say, beginning to do some nice pretend

play, etc...  Karlye teaches her so much!

She has the  most beautiful eyes and such a bright smile!  She is very shy.

She is warming up more and more to her Daddy!  She loves to play with

him and just has the cutest giggle when he tickles her!  Nathan kept

both girls while I worked one day this week and he was still in one piece when

I got home!  I might add that they were both sick with fevers as well.

He said that he could not have asked for a better day!

Sleep around here has A LOT to be desired for. It just plain stinks. I

am not sure that we have had a good nights sleep in months. Between

Karlye's cough she had for three months, our trip to China, adjustment

after China, and now two sick kids, it is not looking too good ;). Oh

well, we will get it when we can. Lucy is still in her room on the

full mattress in the floor. I continue to lay next to her until she falls asleep. I

am usually in there several times a night to comfort her and let her

know that we are still here. This seems to have doubled over the last

week, resulting in long nights on the mattress in the floor.  We have

heard that as attachment increases sleep decreases, so if this is the

case, we'll take it!!

She has begun to enjoy rocking before nap and bed time for the most

part. She continues to have great difficulty with eye contact in these

more intimate situations, but she is definitely more relaxed than she

used to be! She makes really good eye contact during play!  She

actually layed her head on my shoulder with her tummy towards me for

the first time this week!  She just melted in that position for the

first time vs. being stiff.  Small steps are huge gain around here!

Karlye is doing well...all of this change is just so hard for her to

understand some days. She and Lucy are slowly figuring out how to play

together and not want everything the other one has (SLOWLY).   Lucy

loves Karlye so much and Karlye really is such a good big sister.

Karlye and Lucy are sick right now. They both have pretty high

fevers, a barking cough, and LOTS of snot. Karlye began running a

fever this past Sunday, so she has missed gymnastics and school all

week. We took Karlye to the doctor and it is just viral...so we will wait

it out.

We head back to the international adoption clinic next week for a

follow up. Lucy also has an eye doctor appointment, a hearing check

up, and a pediatrician visit. Whew...makes me tired just thinking

about it.

Enjoy the pictures of life around here!  Please be in prayer for two of Lucy's sweet

friends from her orphanage and their families. One of the families is

headed home from China today with their sweet new addition (follow

their journey at odell.ourredthread.com) and one of the families is

leaving today to head to China (follow their journey at

totellofhisgrace.blogspot.com).

The first time Lucy agreed to put on a hat...she doesn't seem so sure

 Lucy is obviously confused about what "Mama" means :)

Lucy's serious look

 Daddy/Daughter date to "Airwalk" to get out some energy!

Mama/Daughter date to "Painted By U"!

 More jumping with Daddy!

 Lucy has got the moves!

 Lucy is into repeating the words from the iPad games

First stroller ride at the park.  She actually loved it!

She has got the China squat down!

Sweet friends!  Lucy is unsure about it all

Bath time!!  The place where you can count on them to get along!

Lucy playing with Karlye...

Karlye playing with Lucy...

...or not so much!

Lucy tries to carry this activity table wherever she goes so that Karlye won't take it from her

Airplane with Daddy!

Lucy wants to carry the grocery cart while Daddy does airplane! (So Karlye doesn't get it)

Karlye missed her mouth

Love this!

Matching chairs!

Lucy's first time in the Cozy Coupe

Karlye's favorite place!

Static!