Two Months

Two months (and a day) have passed since Anna Kathryn joined our family.  Two months already!!  I think back sometimes to those super-busy days of August and early September as we prepared to leave, and it seems rather dream-like.  When I think back to the long, long days and weeks and months of never-ending waiting and wondering about our baby (What will she look like?  What part of China will she be from?  Will motherhood ever happen for me?)  it all seems like a long ago, somewhat bad dream.  Not that the Wait didn't teach me some important lessons about God's faithfulness in the storm... but I am thankful that we are on the other side of the Wait, and Anna Kathryn is safe with us.  

She has grown and changed a lot in just 2 short months!   Remember how she could hardly sit up without wobbling and tipping over when she first came to us?  Now she is crawling (on hands and knees with occasional "commando" moments on her tummy), pulling herself up on all the furniture and cruising from coffee table to sofa and all around the place .  She is beginning to walk more steadily when we hold her hands and walk with her.  She has learned how to blow kisses and give a high-five.  She still eats a ton, and definitely prefers to feed herself.  She says "mama," "dada," "kitty," (sounds like e-e) "uh-oh," and "bye-bye."  The other day I told her to say "Hi, Daddy" and she imitated me almost perfectly.  Mark and I both looked at each other in disbelief, because her words were so clear.  She loves to imitate us and chase the cats around the house.  Most of all, she loves to play and laugh with us, and all of the other family and friends who come to lavish affection and kisses on her.  We are so blessed by our funny, sweet, snuggly little snickerdoodle.

Last week on Veteran's Day we spent the day together up in Charlotte.  We took Anna Kathryn for a long walk along our favorite greenway after a morning family photo session and a delicious brunch at the Pancake House.  It was a lovely, crisp fall afternoon and we had a great time walking off the pancakes and talking.  Anna Kathryn even had a little snooze in her stroller along the way!

Bathtime is one of Anna Kathryn's favorite parts of the day.  Daddy had fun giving her a special hat to wear in the bathtub!

Feeding oneself requires deep concentration and a steady hand... especially when one's food tends to slip out of one's clutches far too easily!

Look how big I am!!

Hi everyone!

One more thing... we know a family who has been in the adoption process with a foreign country for several years now.  However, due to the deteriorated situation between the U. S. and this country as far as adoptions go, adoptions have all but shut down over the past few months and it is looking less and less likely that they will be able to complete the adoption of this baby.  Please join me in praying for this family and this situation!  At this point, it is God who will have to move the hearts and mind of the government officials in both countries.  We know He who can move mountains can make the path clear for them to be able to adopt this child and bring her home to her forever family.  Please visit my friend Allison's blog as well, as she started this call to prayer for her dear friends!