Medical Day

Guangzhou 04/07

Myrtle Beach 03/08

One Year Ago - Lily had her medical exam to make sure she was healthy enough to enter the U.S. BTW, Lily can still wear this dress.

Passport Photo Day

Yet another 1 yr ago post . . . Bear with me as I reminisce. We saw her first smile one year ago today. We had a bit of a lazy morning hanging out in pjs for a little bit. She put her slippers, my keys, and her blankie in her "purse."

New Words

I stopped counting at 135. My guess is she is somewhere around 150 words now. Here a few of her favorite words/phrases now:

Mama, wet car - yesterday as we were getting out of the car in the rain
Running!- enthusiastically comments when she sees someone/some animal running
Bye, bye Jesse - Jesse is Steve's co-worker. Didn't know she knew his name until now
Cassie, come (Ka-Ka come)
Choo-choo - as we pull up to the library for story-time (opens with that rhyme)

Adoption Day

Today is the first anniversary of our adoption being final in the eyes of China! It wasn't a big deal to us last year, because she was ours from Day one (yesterday/Gotcha Day). It is still neat to think about "signing our lives away."

As you can see from the picture, Lily has socks on her hands and a hat on her head. She insisted on putting them both on about an hour ago. The hat is an infant hat and is nearly chocking her. She just finished eating a cheese stick with her socks on her hands. We'll see how long they stay on . . .

Brea's 1 Year Heart Transplant Check-Up

Thought those of you who followed Brea's transplant journey would be interested in a link to their site: http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/photo?parent_id=313473&show=2&ID=345602

Gotcha Day - 1 Year!

Lily has gotten 12 teeth and her 2 yr molars are about to bust through. She has gained 5 lbs and grown 4 inches. Most of the time, she will eat what we are eating.

She is now using all kinds of words. Just yesterday, she stood at the window saying “Dadda home, Dadda home” in kind of a whiny voice. He is normally able to join us since he works just a few minutes away. Cassie is our black lab and she has started trying to call her and get her to follow her around, “Ka-Ka come.”

She is definitely trying to assert her independence. Her sleep issues have quieted a little. She still needs us to lie next to her to fall asleep, but she has slept through the night 3 of the last 5 nights!

Lily and I met Daddy in Myrtle Beach for 5 days. Steve had to travel with the track team. Now, before you say “That’s too bad :(” . . . The highs hovered around 60. Not much beach time. I wasn’t about to try and do 10 days of 24/7 with Lily and her sleep issues if I didn’t have to. It was well worth the time and money to get out of town for a few days.

We had NO idea what we were in for a year and a day ago. She is definitely a firecracker, but she is also a joy. I’m appreciating the unsolicited hugs/kisses and the “help, mama” while they last. I wish I could find the words to express what we are really feeling. Unbelievably Blessed!

Thanks Mom and Dad R for your beautiful bouquet!

Go, go, go!

My friend, Tabitha, has two boys. They have a toy 4 wheeler that Lily learned she could make go. Now, she doesn't really know how to turn, so you have to stay pretty close.