Sunday, August 17, 2014

Just Like Any Other Kid

Throughout our adoption process, I've heard over and over... story after story... of the resiliency of children coming from hard places. Some do have more struggles than others, but these precious kids THRIVE with the love of a family.

Bringing home Lainey, we were prepared for whatever might lay ahead. But now here we are, home and settled... and Lainey is just like so many of those children we've seen come home before her. We've only been home for 2 1/2 months and every fear is gone, every immediate hurdle is conquered (though we know of course there will be more to overcome as she works through her past and identity).

But today, even after such a short amount of time, she is very truly just like any other child. Which means she has giggly, happy, silly moments, but also sometimes is grumpy... usually because of her relentless teeth or if she's tired... but it's all just normal 19-month old stuff.

And every day we fall more and more in love with our sweet girl.

I almost get sick thinking about the big what-if. "What if we never said 'yes' to adoption?"

We would have no idea this very moment all of the blessings we were missing out on.

The sweet hugs and kisses she gives before bedtime. The way she loves to be chased, tickled and "tickling" her guh guhs (brothers). She sequel she makes when her body is on the downward motion of the playground swing. The way she says, "peese" (please) with her baby sign or signs "help" when she is trying to get the very last bit of her freeze-pop. Her love of SHOES, and the randomness of never knowing whose shoes she'll be wearing next. The way she loves her "bebes" (babies) and gives them kisses and tucks them under one arm. The way she grins in such an adorable mischievous way when she's hiding with her brothers during hide and seek. Her bravery. Her pigtails. Her sweet little nose. The way she now so easily lays down in her crib at night... and pops the thumb out of her mouth just long enough to tell me, "nigh nigh". I could go on and on.

Did I mention we love this girl?!



Man, we are so blessed. :)

Friday, August 15, 2014

Lainey's Sweet Face

A few days after meeting Lainey, BJ and I visited her orphanage, the Hangzhou Children's Welfare Institute (CWI). There are also Social Welfare Institutes (SWI) in China, which have children, adults with disables, and the elderly. Children's Welfare Institutes are usually much better environments for the children because the CWIs are focused solely on children. We are so thankful that Lainey was in a CWI, and such a nice one with such loving nannes.

Lainey had been at the CWI since she was just a few days old. One of the first things that the orphanage staff gave us when we visited was a CD of photos from Lainey's life there. It's such a treasure to have these photos of our sweet girl! We have no specific information about when each photo was taken, so we make our guesses about how old she might have been in each of them.

Because we applied to adopt just a few short weeks after she was born (though we didn't know it then), it's amazing to think that as each of these photos were taken we were somewhere in our adoption process... and already on our way to her! It was a long (15 month) journey, but worth it ALL, and God. knew. THIS little one, half a world away, was meant to be a part of our family. I can't even imagine us now without her.

Here are a few of our favorites!

I wonder what I was doing when this photo was taken.
Well, probably sleeping... so I wonder what I was dreaming about. :)
A battle over a toy! Haha! Oh the battles yet to be fought with her guh guhs. She was in preparation.



The little grin I now know so well.


Life Lately { & Photo Overload }

I've been taking a nice long social media break (primarily Facebook)... and have a lot of catching up to do here, I almost don't know where to begin!

After 2 1/2 months home, we feel finally settled and in a normal swing of things. We definitely have our share of holy-cow-two-toddlers-is-tough moments... but then comes a hug and smooch from Lainey, or Ezra's first "I wud you Mommy".

And this past week we finally deflated the air mattress in Lainey's room and I can now lay her down straight in her crib. She finally feels safe and secure enough to lay down and let us leave her. We don't even have any tears (usually)! It's. awesome!

We have also been finding a new rhythm with BJ being back to work, especially since a couple days each week he leaves before the kids wake up and is back after they are in bed for the night. It's been an adjustment, but overall we are just so thankful for the long maternity and paternity leaves we were able to have together as a family helping Lainey settle in. Our boys were both born in the winter, so having time off to enjoy the summer all together was awesome!

This past weekend I took the kids up to Granger (8 hours round trip) to see my parents and have a another celebration for Lainey's homecoming and 1st birthday (that we missed). It was so awesome seeing everyone and for them to be able to meet our precious girl! I also got to visit my amazing friend Kate... but forgot to take pictures!

So here's a little photo catch-up!

The babies have eaten their weight in freeze-pops this summer! 





Why yes, that is my daughter sitting int he dog's water dish. :)
And by the way... her fear of the beast is gone!

Just hanging with my cuz... eatin' some cheese. :)

Blurry, but cute! These babies like to HUG (without prompting)!
Having two toddlers can be tough... but also pretty sweet! 

A very rare moment of my wild man... sitting still. 

The house in progress across the street has provided much entertainment for our little ones!
So many cool trucks!





About to watch Canaan's first soccer game.

Snacks with Nana & Pops.

Lots of waves from Guh Guh!

She loves water bottles!



Watching some good ole' PBS.
Cute as a button, this one!
Pudding!
Stinkers.
Helping Papa John make a fort!
Exploring Mommy's childhood home (from age 11+ anyway!).

Pigtails!
Getting ready to celebrate!
Canaan and GG Lake
Beautiful Emelia!
Our sweet family that all came to meet and celebrate Lainey!
Ezra & Uncle Eric
Four generations of women
Playing chase with Grandma Sue before bed
Peek-a-boo!