Do not be afraid for I am with you.
I will bring your children from the East
and gather you from the West."
~God (Isaiah 43:5)
After all that has happened this year, and it has been an eventful one, I have to reflect on all of our Christmas's without our daughter. I can remember all of the mornings when there where the sounds of the boys trying to wake us up, and Paul and I laughing in bed because they wouldn't come to the door and ask if they could open up their presents. I don't know why they wouldn't, but it was funny to hear them talking and laughing really loud so that we would get up. Of course we made them wait it out for awhile, but then we gave in because we were so excited to see what Santa had brought them. And then there were the years when they were gone that we had to find a way to make it through Christmas without all of those wonderful sounds. We were on the waiting list for Millie and there wasn't a Christmas that went by that I didn't cry for her, for my babies that are in heaven, for someone to love to wake up with and watch open up all the gifts from Santa. And now there is this year. There were still tears of sadness, wondering about all the orphan's that need a home in China and here in the United States. Wondering what I did to deserve so much happiness with Millie. Missing those that have moved on without me. But I also had an amazing Christmas with Paul and Millie. I cried and cried while Millie danced to the Christmas music in the living room and played with all of her toys that I had to open for her. She didn't really care about the presents just wanted to play and dance.
My Christmas dream has come true. The story of Jesus and Joseph reminds me of Millie and Paul. She has the best daddy and he loves her with all of his heart. Here are a few pictures of my baby's 1st Christmas. I love you Amelia Yi!!!
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We made it back home on Monday from vacation. It was a wonderful visit for Millie and myself, one of the most relaxing vacations that I have ever had. I'm sure Mamaw and Papaw are still recovering, but I had a blast. Millie made herself at home about 15 minutes after we showed up at their house. She ate everything in site that Mamaw made for her. She slept like a champ. She swam in their pool, she went on long walks with her Mamaw. She climbed all over her Papaw the entire time we were there. She threw food all over their car, and threw major fits in the car because she wasn't getting all of their attention. She tried to talk their heads off and for the most part no one knew what she was talking about. Millie has a very bad habit of fake laughing when she hears someone else laugh, including her grandmother. She tried to help her Papaw with all of his chores. She was as happy as I have ever seen her and she had no idea that we were just visiting. She went about her day like she was at home with all of her surrounding. I really was amazed at how well she adapted. But I think she didn't care where she was as long as they were there too. She didn't care if I left the house, but cried if Mamaw or Papaw left her with me.
We went to the beach twice, and Millie loved the sand, she even liked to eat it. Mamaw feed the birds so they swarmed us and she loved that too. I got some really good pictures of that since I was running away from them. We did put her in the water and after a few minutes she liked to sit and play until waves hit her pretty good and then she got knocked over, but didn't cry. We really had such a good time with Joyce and Jim. Millie and I were spoiled rotten by them. It couldn't have been easy to have a 15 month old baby in their new house they just bought. Millie is very active and she is having some trouble understanding the word "NO", I know that all of you think that she is an angel because she is my child, but she is only my angel and she does have some flaws that need a little bit of work. We are trying to gain some control of our melt downs when we don't get our way, and I do mean, we. As Papaw would say to me time and time again, she only 15 months old. So I'm trying to remember that when she is smacking me in the face when she wants something. Oh it happens, and it is hard and numerous times. She is so sweet for the most part she just has a small temper. (Gets it from Daddy's side) Just a joke Joyce and Jim are going read and understand how much I blame on them. Thanks again for the wonderful time. Millie misses you and so do we.
This is Millie's first Thanksgiving with her forever family. And I just want to take a minute to say how thankful we are for Millie and all she has brought to the family. She is home with her family and she can feel the love that everyone has to offer her. We are so blessed to have such an generous and loving family. Millie is blessed to have you all in her life. Sometimes I read about other families that don't have such an open heart to this situation. So my heart is full of love for everyone that loves Millie. I go to sleep every night with no worries that she will be treated differently by our family and friends.
She got to meet some more of her extended family today and of course they loved her as she did them. Millie did not eat like she normally does. She did have pie and pretzel salad with tons of sugar. I think she is taking after her mother on the sweet tooth. So it was a very active day for her playing with all of her cousins and aunts and uncles. Here are some pictures of her on her big day. Millie and Reese had on the same outfit. They looked so sweet.
By the way next post will be delayed due to the fact that Millie and I are taking a trip to Ma maw's and Papaw's all the way in Florida. I don't think Millie knows quite how much they have missed her and she is going to be smothered in love and kisses a week from Saturday. So we will have pictures of the beach soon. Can't wait to see you in Florida Jim and Joyce.
This is one of my favorite post in awhile. I hope you can hear her in the video. This laugh fills our house daily and I wanted to share it with all of you. Just a little something to take you into the weekend with a smile. Millie loves to play and laugh as much as we do. She is such a happy baby, we are so in love with her. Our lives are full of hope and dreams for her. What will she do tomorrow, or tonight to make us smile.
So it's been an eventful couple of weeks. Millie went to her first UK football game with us. She did really good considering what we asked of her. We lasted until the end of the 3rd quarter. Millie had some cotton candy at half time that sent her into quite an active state. So Millie and Mom bailed out. Millie did have some problems sleeping in the Motor home with all the activity and noise going on around us. She just wouldn't give up, so we did leave a little early from tailgating. She had a great time and would have loved to party ll night with the guys, but mom wasn't ready for that. I have to say I was tired and needed a nap way before she did. Holding her and walking a little over a mile to and from put a hurt on me. Millie is also as of today, walking all over the place. All week and some of last week she would take steps, around 5 to 10, but now it's on. She gets up and walks on the hardwood, which makes me a nervous wreck, carpet, one room to the next. Millie is fast. She just doesn't do anything slow. She is going to run by the end of November, I'm guessing or maybe before. So my little angel is on foot and we are so happy for her. We just want her to catch up with her friends at daycare. When she goes back to school she can show off her new skills. One thing that I haven't talked about much is bedtime routine. When we brought Millie home she did not like to be held for very long, so when I would take her to her room for bed I would read to her and then we would rock for about 1 minute and she would push on me and fight to get away. Of course it was heartbreaking for me because I wanted to rock her and sing to her. Just show her how much I love her. Well over the last 2 weeks things have really started to change. Some people that have adopted from China have told me to keep a journal and within 6 months she would be a totally different acting baby. Well Millie loves to be read too now, just for a few books, she loves to be cuddled and loved on before bedtime. We play a musical doll that I received from my friends in Moorehead, that plays a Chinese love song, and she loves it. I wish I knew the words but then again that might mess up the way she enjoys it. I don't know if it makes her feel calm or she is just starting to want more affection but I'm very surprised at how much she wants to show her love now. Cuddling and walking. We are so much in love with our baby girl. Thank you for watching our daughter grow up with us. I probably don't say that enough, we love that you still visit our blog
Goodbye's are always one of Millie's favorite, but not today. Pap Paw and Ma Maw are leaving for Florida in the morning and Millie went to see them off. She didn't know it would be for 6 months but she made the most out of it. Hugs and kisses for them to last for awhile.
Wishing you a safe trip, with lots of love. Thank you for everything you do for Millie. Millie will miss you like crazy. Like I told you today, you have given her so much love and attention, and we love you for that. Millie feels all of the love you have given her and I think it has helped her become the little sweetie that she is. We are so blessed to have such a warm and welcoming family. Love you both.
We have to watch out for how big Millie smiles the eyes disappear.
Happy Halloween!!!!
Cookie Monster and Millie fighting for the seat, he doesn't stand a chance.
Look Mommy no hands!!!!!!!
Millie is starting to get brave at a little over 13 months old. She is going from a squat to a stand without hands. Even taking a few steps to Daddy and Mommy. It won't be long now before she is way to fast for me to keep up. Millie is also home with her Mommy everyday since Mom is out of school until January. Millie is refusing naps as I type, she wants to run the show at home with crawling up and down the hallway as fast as she can to see if I will come and get her. When I do she laughs and screams, so I haven't decided if I should continue to feed the game or not. She is trying to climb on everything, chairs, couch, Daddy, Mommy, dogs, you name it. She likes to dance and clap to music, and of course scream with the song. It's sounds so pretty, I tell her. I think she will have a better singing voice than me with all the practice at such an early age. I think that my singing is getting better with all the practice I have to keep Millie still for a diaper change, which is a nightmare. So as you can see every thing is going wonderful and our days are full of laughing with Millie. She loves to laugh and so do we. Life is so much fun. I can't wait to wake up and see what Millie will learn everyday. Thank you God for answered prayers.
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