Thinking...

As you may know, we are homeless right now, so I am hijacking my best friends house for Kaylee's party tomorrow. I went over there this morning to get everything ready and was thinking about my little girl...

I was thinking about what a perfect fit she is for our family.

I was thinking about her birthmother...the sadness she must feel at this time, the desire she must have to know where her daughter is and what she looks like.

I was thinking about how lucky I am to get to plan a party for her.

I was thinking about the clueless comments people make about Kaylee's 'situation'...like, 'How can a mother abandon her daughter?'. After all, we don't understand in America because we have the opportunity to choose abortion or adoption - both are culturally acceptable and legal (not saying that I support the former, just that it is an available option for a birth mom).

I was thinking about her birthmom having to make 'the choice'. Here are her options: 1. Abort the baby. 2. Carry the baby to term and keep her, knowing that, in her culture, girls are looked down upon and she could possibly be shunned by other family members. 3. Carry the baby to term and give her up for adoption publically and be arrested. 4. Carry the baby to term and risk everything (after all, if she is caught, she will go to prison) to find a place to abandon her...hoping and praying that someone finds her before she dies and takes her to an orphanage. What terrible choices those are! Aren't we glad Kaylee's birthmom chose number 4!

I was thinking about what a precious girl she is with such a great personality and loving sprit!

Amongst all these thoughts were the thoughts of how I will respond to what Kaylee's birthmom (and so many others) did. These are my decisions:

I will make a point at this time each year to thank God for Kaylee's birthmom and the tough choice she had to make at the time of Kaylee's birth.

I will make it a point to teach my daughter that her birthmom was a brave, loving woman who risked everything so that her daughter could live and have a loving family.

I will continue to pray for China...that the government will open their eyes and see that their 'one pregnancy' law is hurting more than it is helping.

I will continue to thank my God for the wonderful work He is doing. He is continuing to place these beautiful babies in loving homes all around the nation!

Will you pray with me?

Happy Birthday Kaylee!

The Many Faces of Kaylee

Update: 5 minutes for Mom is having a Mother's Day Giveaway. I have entered this post in the contest.

This post signifies mothering to me in the fact that, in my eyes, it is a miracle that I am given the privelege to be this child's mother.

When I think of her lying on the side of the road in Gansu, China, wating to be found, it makes my heart melt. Then, she survives 9 months in an orphanage and then,

God chooses us to be her parents!

Truly, a miracle!

And I get to be her Forever Mama!

It has been awhile since I have posted any pictures (been way too into the blood!).

Since that is the case and since I had a bit of time to play with my daughter and my camera today, here you go!

The top photo is pre-bath and hair. Then, obliviously, the following are different fun hair styles. I think it is interesting how some of them make her look so young and others make her look all grown up!

Enjoy my baby's sweet face and personality!

She's a Walker!

I would officially call Kaylee a walker. She now walks more than crawls. As a matter of fact, I haven't seen her crawl in about a week!

The physical therapist is still visiting weekly because Kaylee's walk is quite lop-sided. She tends to turn her whole body slightly to the left and walk predominatly with her left side and let her right side follow.

She would still prefer that I carry her. As a matter of fact, Wednesday night we were at church and I wanted her to walk from the Fellowship Hall to the Nursery. Well, I'll be! If she didn't have a HUGE wall-eyed fit right in the middle of the Fellowship Hall! I mean, a screaming, lay on belly, kick feet and beat fists on the floor fit! All because she wanted me to carry her. I finally got her to walk, although screaming all the way!

It's amazing how many parenting tips one receives when her child is having a fit at church!

Walking?

We went to my Great Grandmothers funeral a few weeks ago. My step-moms husband (no, not my father, I am not that clueless. I call him my step-whatever) inticed Kaylee to walk. You see, for awhile, she has been walking while holding someone's hand. Well, Daulton would hold his hand out for her to hold while walking, but he would hold it just far enough for her to have to take a few steps to grab hold. He did that for most of the weekend, and now she will walk without holding a hand. She still prefers to crawl, but the walking is happening, slowly but surely!

It's a Small World, After All

Here I was last night, bored, cruisin' around the blog world when I found this. Panda-Pop and I went to HPU together. He, his wife and his beautiful Panda-girl live somewhere in Texas. How cool to know a fellow grad got the calling to go get their daughter from China and bring her home.

Doctor Visit

Kaylee was supposed to have her well visit today, but the fever earleir in the week and the rash that now covers her entire torso prevented that. Her well-child turned into a sick-child visit. Guess what, she has a virus! Much like roseola...but not! Anyway, it is one of those 'wait and see' things.

As we were in the office, the doctor pulls out his stethascope and tries to examine my precious angel of a daughter. As he places the instrument on her chest, she starts wailing. Not crying, WAILING. Much like the marker dots!!! (see Earrings! post) Our sweet pediatrician looks at me and says, "Wow. She has a mind of her own...but that's good." That she does Dr. Font, that she does!

So, have I mentioned that Dr. Font is retiring?!?!? Something about being 71, in practice for 40 years and wanting to visit his kids, grandkids and travel. I stopped listening. After all, this is the man that found Jake's craniosynostosis and with such great tenderness explained it to David and I...this is the man that welcomed our daughter to the states with open and loving arms. He can retire, but I don't have to like it!

Earrings!

Well, I did it! I have been tring to decide for quite awhile now about getting Kaylee's ears pierced. David wanted to have them pierced from the minute we got home, but I couldn't commit. I decided, rather quickly, that I wanted to have them pierced. Because I am a chicken, I called a friend who is not. We met at the mall and had them pierced. I chose some pretty little pink studs (actually the October birth stone, but we wont tell her). They are precious.

Here are some photos that capture the moment. Notice in the first photo how content she is. Notice the 2nd photo, this meltdown was caused by the marker dots that the girl made on her ears...nothing else...just marker dots! (That's my drama queen!) The 3rd and 4th photos are pretty self-explanitory.

6 months already?!?

Wow! What a difference 6 months makes! Here is a picture of Kaylee on 'Gotcha Day' and Kaylee today! Look how far she has come!

Just a reflection of God's blessings:

When we got Kaylee she couldn't do much...she laid!

What she has learned:
Sit on her own
Hold her bottle

Drink from sippy cup

Drink from straw
Have BM's on her own (sounds silly, but this was a major milestone!)
Lay/play on her belly
Feed herself with her hands
Commando crawl
Hands and knees crawl
Sleep thru the night
Smile and laugh (especially at her brother's silly antics)
Babble, Babble, Babble (in English, we assume! LOL!)

Say 'uh-oh' and 'hi' with meaning
Pull up to standing
Cruise Furniture
Walk with help

Kaylee's Personality

inquisitive

strong-willed
loving

funny

What we love about Kaylee:

her curly hair!

her sweet personality

her loving spirit

How we feel:

BLESSED

Happy Mother's Day

What a proud feeling...to be the mother of 2 kids! How great it is to have our Kaylee home for Mother's Day 2007! :)

Kaylees Dedication

On Sunday, February 25th, we dedicated our baby girl to the Lord. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about...this means that as her family, we promise to raise her up knowing Jesus Christ. We present her before the church and our pastor and they pray for her and her upbringing. Here are a few photos to show the moment.

What we won't do to our kids!

Just thought these were cute! My beautiful flower after her bath!

First Professional Family Photo

Many thanks to 'Love Stories Photography by Suzanne Nolan' for taking our photo last weekend. You can link her website from this one...look in the margin to the right. Her work is fantastic and she is so much fun to work with!!

Things her are going much better...getting into a normal routine.

Keep praying for Kaylee's development...she does not roll over or crawl as of yet (10 1/2 months old). I know it will come...with prayers.