September 13 On the Move!

This is our two month anniversary of our “forever day” with Lacie. On July 13, 2005 we became a forever family. It is so amazing how time flies and it is also amazing because I feel like she has always been with us, so when I think, we have been together for two whole months then I say to myself, “That is all?” I mean, I can remember life without her, but it does not seem right. It really feels like she has always been with us. I cannot even begin to describe how hooked John and I are. Our lives have changed dramatically and it is so right. Tonight it just felt normal to follow our little Lacie bug around and film her and take pictures of her. WHAT??? Follow her around? YEP! She is finally on the move. She is slow but moving.

Last Tuesday when we were at the doctor’s office the nurse asked about her developmentally. She asked: “Is she crawling?” Us: “No.” She asked: “Is she pulling up without assistance?” Us: “No.” She asked: “Is she getting into a sitting position by herself?” Us: “No.” I was beginning to feel like our baby was real behind. Then TWO days later – on Thursday, September 8, Lacie attempted to get into a sitting position by herself. Then on Friday, September 9, Lacie did get into a sitting position by herself. OH Wow – mommy got all excited and clapped and cheered. Lacie got excited too and I do not think she realized why. Also on Friday, September 9 Lacie assumed the position to crawl. On Sunday, September 11 in the evening she began to move her knees but her hands did not know where to go, so she would stop and sit. On Monday, September 12, Lacie began to move however I would not call it an official crawl yet. She is getting places. AND on Monday, September 12 she pulled up by herself. The first time on Jonah the poodle and the second time on the couch. When she pulled up on Jonah, he rolled over and she toppled over him – thank God he is good natured and let her do it and did not care that she was all over him. I think he likes the attention. John and I got every single move on film. It is amazing what a week can bring. I am so glad that we are documenting and also filming. She is so funny and she knows it.

In two months since we met Lacie for the first time she has gotten her first tooth and now has four and two more coming in; she rolled over multiple times to get to the other side of the room; she began to feed herself cheerios and other small finger foods; she is beginning to hold and attempt to use a sippy cup; she began to clap or “patty cake” on her own and upon request; she has gotten into a sitting position by herself; she is assuming the position to crawl and beginning to move some; and she is pulling up without assistance. I am sure there are other things she is doing that are new and every day – but these milestones are so special to us.

Around the time our documents were sent to China our prayers were with Lacie’s birthmom, her health and emotional well being. We prayed for Lacie and her birth and her health. We prayed for the orphanage director and nannies for their love and that each day as they walk by Lacie’s crib that they reach out and touch her and she could feel their love, even if they did not have time to do much else. We prayed for God to place an angel with Lacie and the other babies so that they feel His presence and His love as He prepared her to be with us and vice versa. And I prayed for the baby that God was preparing for us. Selfishly I prayed that no matter how old she was – that we could experience her “firsts” with her. Even if that meant that she were delayed. I wanted to share her important milestones. Then I began to feel guilty – that I prayed for a baby who was delayed. And God has been good! He answered our prayers AND our baby was not really delayed. Maybe she is about a month or so behind by the “averages.” God blessed us with a younger baby – so to experience her “firsts” was to be expected. And, all our other prayers were answered too. I prayed for a baby who would prefer to be held and rocked and sung to and read to. Lacie would rather me hold her and rock her to sleep than to be put down to go to sleep on her own. I cherish these moments with her as she falls asleep in my arms and I can cuddle her. John gives Lacie her morning bottle. He insists on being the one to get her up. He loves seeing her first thing in the morning and her excitement to see him. She loves her daddy! Lacie just loves to be loved on too, even in her play time. She will stop playing for a brief second and pull up on us and offer a kiss or a hug. I am always amazed by her sweetness and how she offers it to us as well as us giving it to her. I prayed that she would prefer us over others and she does. I prayed for a good natured baby and she is. I prayed for a sleeper, and she does sleep through the night – from the very first night. God has been so good to us – and I so pray that we can give back to Him by being the very best we can be to and for Lacie.

And as mentioned in my previous post – John is also very smitten with her – even to the point of stating that he is happy with having only her and foregoing having a boy to carry on his name. She is rather perfect and that we both agree on.

Here are pictures of Lacie on the move – one is of Lacie pulling up on Jonah the poodle. She is so amazing!

September 6, 2005 Certificate of Citizenship

Today Lacie received in the mail, her first envelope and addressed to her personally. It was from the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security. Enclosed was her Certificate of Citizenship. It states that Lacie A. is now a Citizen of the United States of America and became a citizen on July 23, 2005. On it there is her picture from when we were in China and she looks so young and so small. Yes – only 1.5 months later she seems so much older and so much bigger. And her hair is longer too. Our angel is growing up. Lacie also received a letter from George W. Bush congratulating her and welcoming her to America. We will always save that for her too. I cried. I took it out of the envelope and read it to her and showed her. She kicked her feet and got excited. Of course she was just excited because I was, but it was a fun moment to share that with her. Now we can apply for her U.S. passport and her Social Security Card. That is exciting too. In a few months we will complete her adoption at the state level to make sure everything is clean and right.

We had her well baby physical today and got her first round of shots. We love her doctor. He spent a lot of time talking to us about many issues. Lacie was not impressed with him cause he always wants to look in her ears and that makes her mad. She hates her ears messed with. She cried and cried. He is such a gentle doctor too. She fell asleep on mommy and then the big bad nurse came in with four needles. She got her first round of shots. We had to wake her up for the shots and that was horrible. Lacie and mommy cried together. I never realized how much love hurt until I got this sweet angel in my heart and life.

Lacie is of course growing each day. Her height is now at 28.5. (you may remember that last time we had an appt she was at 29 inches and I decided to average the first height of 27 inches and the second height of 29 inches to make 28. So, according to the doctor’s office records she shrunk ½ an inch. But according to mommies averages, she gained ½ an inch. I think I am more accurate. She is now 18 lbs and 14 ounces only up from 18 lbs and 1 ounce from our last visit. They said we should feed her more protein to get her weight up. My goodness I think she is growing fast enough. So, her baby stats are as follows based on the U.S. Growth Charts: 50% height, 30% weight, 50% head circumference. Not bad, sweet angel, not bad. Lacie now has four full teeth, two on bottom and two on top. She also has two more coming in on the top. It is amazing how fast they come in. I can’t keep her baby book updated.

Daddy is hooked! I asked him when it really hit him and he said while in China. I think it really has become more recent. They have developed some sweet bond. She smiles at him when he passes by and oh she lights up more than ever when he comes home from work or walks into the room or just hears his voice from another room in the house. John will call when he is on his way home from work in the evenings and ask if she is awake. If I say yes, he begs me to keep her up a little longer so he can see her. One day last week while she was playing and we were getting ready for dinner, he said something that really surprised me. John looked at Lacie and said, “I do not know if I want any more kids. I think she is too perfect. Look at her. We could not ever do so well with another baby. She is so good-natured. I am afraid we would always compare any other child to her. She is so perfect. I love her and we do not need another child.” Don’t you know that mommy about fell out of her seat, because Daddy has talked about getting his boy for over a year now. The only condition of asking for a girl in China was that we do not ever give up the thought or idea of adopting again and getting a boy. He wanted to carry on his name. John now says that that is not so important. What is important is that Lacie grows up knowing how important she is and that she is a child of God and that she is very special. I love my husband! He is a great daddy and gets better each day. We are both on a learning curve. Mommy’s thoughts on all this – some days I think one is enough. Other days I think it would be nice to have another. Most days – I believe it would be nice, if we have the resources to get Lacie a sibling. I know how absolutely wonderful it has been for me to have a sister and a brother to share my life with and I know John values his sisters too. Besides, to quote my friend when she asked me: “Vonda, would you want to be my only family?” I wonder that about Lacie, is it appropriate to make her our only family? Poor girl, not having someone to share our elderly years with. I would not want to be my only family.

Here are some pics of our angel. Enjoy.