Libi's New Hair and New Chair

Libi was able to borrow a little chair from Easter Seals and it has been great for her. She enjoys sitting up like a big girl playing in it. It is also great for working on independent feeding. Still praying for that hand to go to her mouth with great success! She also had her first haircut here with us. I wondered about her haircuts in China. I am sure that this was not her first "official" haircut, but her first with us. She has a sweet stylist who was wonderful with her. Libi seemed to enjoy it. She enjoys taking the comb and combing my hair. It is so very sweet!

O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed;
if you save me, I will be truly saved.
My praises are for you alone!

Jeremiah 17:14

Libi Giggles

At Kindermusik last week we had a luncheon. When we were getting ready to go some of the girls were having fun playing. Libi got in on the action with some giggles. I am so thankful that her teacher was able to get some video of her. Nothing "lights up" Libi's spirit quite like a little kid. Her giggles are still few and far between these days, so when she lets them go you can't help but get teary eyed when hearing them. Make sure you pause the music on the playlist and pay close attention at the end for the SNORT! She does snort, so you know she is REALLY happy!!!

Mommy's Girl!

So I might keep saying this, but it is so true. Libi had another great week! She was very engaged in spite of yet another cold. Since the boys have gone back to school Libi and I spend a lot of time together. I have had the opportunity to be more aggressive and intentional in therapy with her at home. She and I also began Kindermusik (a music class) this week. It is a class made up of all adopted children. It is a beautiful class! There are Chinese, Guatemalan, Ethiopian, Caucasian, Korean...I will post a picture sometime. I did Kindermusik classes with Ari and it was one of my favorite things that I did with her. I wondered if it would be hard to go back. I wondered if I would wish that Libi could do all that the other children were doing; singing, walking, talking. I knew she would enjoy it, but I wondered if my fears and emotions would hinder me in any way. Libi ended up LOVING it! Lots of signing "more". It filled my eyes with tears of joy! It was so thrilling to watch her having such a great time that I never thought about anything else. Thank you God, for once again, for blessing me with great joy and amazing peace!!

Libi with her teachers at Kindermusik who have followed her journey home to us. What a blessing for them to finally meet!

Libi is receiving 5 types of therapy through Easter Seals. We are so blessed by Easter Seals. They invest so much into these kids. Their passion is contagious. It is not just the therapists, it is everyone we have come into contact with at Easter Seals. So...be ready to order those calendars! It is a great way to support them, and in turn provide great help to children like Libi.

That was my Easter Seals mini campaign, believe me there will be more to come...

If you have not gotten your blessing in please do so this week!!!

Now...drum roll please...Libi is a mama's girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's official folks. She prefers me. She will pull away from anyone trying to take her out of my arms. She exhibits extreme refusal by turning her head away and clinging to me. Oh, how I love this. (Sick isn't it? but every mom out there knows and loves that feeling.) Last night I was doing some dishes at the kitchen sink and Brad had Libi across the room. She was looking at me whimpering and then she tried to say mommy and leaned out towards me. It touched Brad so much that he willingly brought her to me and took over dish duty. Whatever Libi wants, Libi gets. Which brings me to another update...I think she might be spoiled. Yes, she has begun to fuss when I put her down for independent playing and going to bed the last few days has become her time to scream. As soon as I pick her up she stops, even before her body has cleared the crib railing. Then, the second you lay her down the crying starts up. It is like a switch. I hate it when she cries, but tonight I felt like I needed to see how long she would cry. I decided I would go in every ten minutes to soothe her. It only took 2 times, so a total of 25 minutes before she was asleep. Not bad. Probably TMI.

Today was such a great day with her. It was a very "engaged" day with lots of expression, smiles, and even laughter. I am beginning to understand her and she is trying to communicate much more. These pictures I posted are her with her thumb stuck in the little hole of the measuring cup. We had a lot of fun figuring out how to get that on and off of her little thumb. What a sweetheart. She is pure sugar!!

Thanks for being on this journey with us. It is a blessing beyond words!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a great weekend with friends and family...just wanted to share some pics.