Sunday, May 11, 2008

our first night

Our life verse for Libi Faih Jia Qi:

"And you will be called by a new name
Which the mouth of the LORD will designate.
You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD.
And a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
It will no longer be said of you, "Forsaken,"
Nor to your land will it any longer be said, "Desolate";
But you will be called, "My delight is in her."
Isaiah 62:2-4





I will probably never be able to describe the moment I met her. It was like an out of body experience. It was very overwhelming. She was not relaxed. I thought she was, but now I have seen relaxed with her and that was not it. Everyone there was so excited. They love uniting these babies with their forever families. Again, my love for China and the people grew even more. My heart ached for her sweet nanny. I just wanted to keep placing Libi back into her arms. You could tell she loves her so much! She was glad to hear that we would be stopping by New Day before we come home. Our embrace as she left was long and painful. I am so thankful for her and her love for my daughter.

There is also another very important woman whose physical presence was not there today, but she was very much there. Libi's birth mother. How I know on this mother's day she thinks of her daughter. I pray the Father would speak so that she would know she is okay. I held those tiny little clothes and the precious note she was left with, and it was beyond what a mother's heart can handle. I thank you, for choosing life for our sweet daughter! You did a wonderful thing for her and we are forever grateful to you!!

Getting our sweet girl back to the room and stripping off her clothes was a moment! I just soaked in every inch of her sweet little body. She is like a silky, marshmallow! Her thighs are pretty chunky. I had a hard time zipping her sleeper around them. She is very playful and active. She is actually much stronger than I had anticipated. She really cannot sit up though. She arches her back a lot. She has weak abs and neck muscles. We were already making her work! She furrowed her brow at her daddy at one point as if to say, that is enough, weirdo! She is the most content little thing. She makes lots of noises. She loves to do this little high pitched squeal. She loves music. The really cool thing she does, is clap on command. It is so cute! I was laying with her on the bed and she loved touching my hair. I think the hair is going to have to stay long and down for awhile. She holds it a lot, especially when she had her bottle. She did great with the bottle, not so great with the yogurt. She struggles with sitting. Texture is hard for her, because she really doesn't chew, just sucks.

She slept on me and Jacob for awhile. We tried her in the bed with us but the just could not get comfortable. Then, they brought a crib to us. It seems like a board in the bottom. As soon as I laid her in it she was comfy and OUT!!! She is all cuddled up with her blanket on her tummy. Again, mommy goals here. trying to keep her on her tummy.

Thank you for all of your prayers. You will never know how strongly they are felt. Continue to pray for health for Libi. We think she may have had another mild seizure on the way here. It could have been stress. These next few days will not be easy for her though. We know every detail is in His hands and we have seen it in abundance!

16 comments:

Sherry said...

Thank you Brad for the precious bottle pictures! What a delight to find these this afternoon! I was just going on to look for the umpteenth time at that last batch and found there was a new one. Just cannot get enough of her!!!

Kaden said "What's Wibi doing on there?" Then I showed him the last batch and when he saw the one of her in her diaper he said "Hey Wibi's naked." I said that's enough looking from you buddy! He liked the one of her with Jacob the best.

Kevin has put in a request that you not put floating hearts in front of her pictures. We want to see EVERY DETAIL! Those hearts are getting in our way. Because you know it's all about us! (Kevin says - Oh sure blame me!)

We prayed for you in church this morning! God does have EVERY detail covered!!

I cannot get over how amazing she is doing! The squealing and clapping and rolling over and leg kicking have had me floating ALL day! Thank you for letting Libi be part of my Mother's Day blessing too!

Love to you all! - Sherry

The Millers said...

Thank you for all the details. I sfelt your Mama's heart in every word and it so blessed me. I am so thankful the first night was so peaceful and restful, what a gift. I see God's hand in every detail. What a beautiful tapestry he is weaving. We discussed this image with the kids today. How God sees everything(the finished tapestry) but all we are allowed to see for so long is the back of the tapestry with all the yarn knotted and with no seeming pattern.
How he has been weaving the beautiful tapestry of Libi Faith joining your family. Although this year has been one of confusion and many knotted threads our Father is beginning to reveal to you "this" beautiful work. All the peices are coming together!!

She is too beautful for words and I am so thankful she is even stronger than you expected. Doesn't God always do more than we can even imagine. Get her home and I truly believe you will be amazed at her progress. God knows exactly what she needs and is going to walk you through it every step of the way. Just walk forward He says, trusting in Me.

We will continue to pray,trusting in our Big God! Peace,hope and joy to you, friends.

Melissa

BridgetdSmith said...

Ohhh what a wonderful job you are doing with updates!!! I was just popping on to look at Libi... AGAIN and YEAH new pictures! Mark & I can't get enough!! We are memorizing every detail we can!!

I love the "life verse" you are claiming for her!! In fact, I now have it marked & dated in my Bible with her name!!

It sounds like Our Girl is going to give Selah & Shaylee a run for their money in the squealing department!! The MORE the merrier!!!


You are probably getting ready for your day. I pray much peace and milestones to be witnessed!

Love y'all Scads~B

Sanders Family said...

Awesome I'm the second post!!! I knew I couldn't beat Mrs. Semlow but Oh Well!

It's so amazing to think that you are finally a family of 6 and complete!!!!!!!!! So Amazing!!

I'm sooooo glad that she seems to be adjusting to y'all. Sometimes that can be a big discouragement to alot of moms (like mine)!

And Jacob it's so cool to see Libi in your arms!!! It'll be great when she meets Jack and Joel too!

So good to here from you guys again! We'll be prayin' for you! We can't wait till you get back!

Waitin' for the next post!
Elliot

Sanders Family said...

P.S. Oops while i was typing the Millers and Bridget must have blogged!! I'll have 2 try again!

Elliot

Anonymous said...

What a chunk! She is so much bigger than we thought she would be! Jack and Joel better look out! Ribi is coming home and she's packing ham hocks!

We all gathered around the computer this morning to see the "Gotcha" pics and all you could hear was sniffling over the music playing on the blog page.
Our hearts are so full of joy to meet our new neice via internet. I can't wait for my turn to hold her and let her get a load of her Aunt Kirken. Jake, you might want to warn her.
We will be praying without ceasing over these first days and nights - that she will sleep well and eat the good stuff. We love you so much and are so happy (that word doesn't begin to cover it) for you! She is beautiful!!!!

Anonymous said...

Libi is so amazingly gogrgeous! Please tell her that her big cousin Tory can't wait to meet her and do all that girly stuff with her! I'm so happy that she is adjusting so well to the changes that are happening right now and that she got to sleep okay. Again have an awesome time with YOUR baby girl and have a safe trip back. Always in our prayers, Cousin Tory

Sanders Family said...

Hello Brad, Amy and Jacob:
Wow-what an amazing last twenty-four hours.Brought back so many memories as I saw you looking out the window down at the same river/lake we saw out of our hotel window. That room you saw Libi in was the same room we saw Naomi for the first time. And we recognized one of the ladies in your photo- the lady to your right, Amy, was there when we got Naomi and I think we had a photo with her also.
She is just beautiful you guys- that milky, white skin is beautifully healthy- the Chinese will want you to leave her there with them- they so treasure that fair skin that they will say she needs to just stay put and marry one of their boys. Then you can very sweetly and proudly say- "Nope, she's comin' with me!" I love seeing her watery eyes- another one of those little Asianisms Dr. Kim told us about- we would always be wiping those wet , drippy eyes-so sweet. We would love to know what is in Jacob's big , sweet heart about his little sis.
We are thrilled to see the culmination of God's plan coming together and being sealed for life- so much more to come.

Enjoy every moment of your day- from the feel of your sheets to the things you thought about taking a shower to the faces you pass in the hallway. I wish I would have journaled sooooooooooo much more on my trip for Naomi. I wish I had given her a bigger window into our experience.

We miss you and love you dearly,
Laura Sanders

Sanders Family said...

Did you notice, I only used ONE exclamation point/!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ooops. Laura

Anonymous said...

happy mother's day, sweet amy! what a gift you have been given this year; a gift that has been planned since the beginning of all time....goosebumps!!!

merci says, "libi is really cute!! can't wait to see her in person!"

love to you all!
lynne and merci

Anonymous said...

Enjoying the unfolding of this new gift in your life!

Praise God Libi had a restful night. Now the question is did the parents of Libi have a restful night or was your mind wondering and recapping the events of the day?

Today you should have Jacob blog his experience for us to enjoy!

Enjoy your 1st full day with Libi.

May it be a "Son-filled" day.

Wish we could be there for the homecoming celebration.

Miss you,
The Munn's

Alyssa Marie said...

I can not get over how sureal it is to finally see her in your arms. She is YOURS!!!!

The life verse you chose for her is all too perfect. She is free! Her past will no longer hold her back. God has placed her in your care and given her wings to fly.

Have a GREAT day in China! Soak up every moment and I can only echo what the other posts have said about journaling. Journal as much as possible! It will be a precious gift to be able to look back and read about your short days in China in the months and years to come.

Love to you all!
Alyssa

Sheri Lyn said...

Happy Mother's Day, Amy - what a day! God is so Good and Faithful! She is one beautiful little girl - I just love the pictures of her in your arms. What you have dreamed of has now become your reality. I am so happy and full of emotions for you.

My girls think she is adorable and couldn't get enough of your pictures.

I'm in awe of this sweet lil life - I just know God has something extra special for Libi Faith - I can't wait to see His most perfect plan unfold for her!

Much love and prayers for all of you!

Sheri Jones

Anonymous said...

Brad and Amy,

What an amazing journey you are on! She is so beautiful. Maybe it's just me but she's even more beautiful in the picture you're sending now than the ones we've all been looking at for so long. Maybe it's just the fact that she's now in your arms.

I talked with Sherry at the Journey this morning. We all prayed for God's continued touch on this special time. You all are the talk of the town! We are believing a great bonding is taking place.

Please know that there's a small battalion of adoptive and pre-adoptive moms back here ready to answer any special questions you may have. We love and miss you guys!

Don't let anything back here be a distraction. Enjoy every moment of this incredible time you're having! It's a time you'll remember forever.

Nancy

lisa kindred said...

WE have prayed for this day, and it has come. I am so overwhelmed with joy after seeing the pictures with Libi in YOUR ARMS! Have been in Chicago with Kristin's graduation and just now am getting to see the pictures. Could anyone ever ask for a better Mother's Day? She is your little girl and she is forever your chosen daughter.

She looks so much like all of you! I love seeing her so snuggled in your arms when you are feeding her. She looks so peaceful with her big brother. Brad, we thought we were going to have to wait a little longer to see her smiling, but she proved us wrong.

Can't wait to get to see her clap. We are all going to rejoice over every milestone she covers. I think we are going to be in awe watching God reveal Himself thru her in this way. We are ready!!

She truly is beautiful. She has the silkiest looking skin and you know how I love those toes. Can't wait for more pics already.

Enjoy every new day with her, as you all get to know each other. If you feel like this today, imagine what you will feel even in a few weeks. Brad found a JEWEL when he fell in love with you. You are such a beautiful example to so many as a mom and wife. I love you and am so happy. LIsa

Linda Thomas said...

I am so far behind!!! Our computer was down and out for a while.. and oh my goodness, I am rejoicing with you and praying for God's love to continue to wash over you all each and every new moment together! Praise GOD!!!!!!!

Linda

Libi's song