Prelude to Christmas

We love to listen to Daddy read.

Lily all snuggled up, waiting on Santa.

Lola with visions of sugar plums dancing in her head...

One of these days Matilda...

(you can just barely make out her tail, lower left)

As we prepare our home and hearts for Christmas time, we want to express our sincere thanks to everyone who has shared our joy in Lily and Lola. We so appreciate your supportive emails and comments. It has been hard to not get out to physically share them, but this blog has really helped us feel like we can introduce them to our friends and family.

Both girls are doing just great. Lily is in the 95th percentile for weight and 85th percentile for height. Lola is in the 50th percentile for weight and 95th percentile for height. Not bad for not even 4 lbs. at birth, huh? Both girls have successfully begun rice cereal and we started carrots last night. Carrots brought a new challenge for Mom in the way of bright orange stains and messes. However, Don and I had so much fun watching their funny faces try and eat the carrots that it hardly mattered.

Developmentally, the girls are right on track for being 2 mo. premature and actually even a little ahead of the game. Both girls are reaching with both hands and sitting independently for a few seconds. Lola has rolled in every direction. Lily has decided it is a game and knowing her mother is a physical therapist, has decided to drive her crazy by not doing the complete textbook roll from back to belly. She can do belly to back. But for back to belly, she will do each part and then look around for me to complete next step. So, for example, roll to side and then she looks over her shoulder and laughs/smiles until I put her on her belly. Then she looks for me again to finish and put her on her elbows, and so on and so forth. Dr. was not concerned and I'm not either. It actually is kind of funny, but I would like to check it off the list! Both girls have started to pull their knees underneath them on their bellies and Lola is doing some scooting on her belly. Lily has begun to recite the Gettysburg address in Latin and Lola is working on her violin. Just kidding! Just seeing if you were actually reading this long diatribe I have begun.

Both girls have begun to fear strangers or people other than Mommy and Daddy. Both girls like to talk to us, smile, giggle and like to be startled (by Mom and Dad only, mind you).

No Gracie news and it does sadden us that she won't be with us for Christmas as we were told. Every Christmas since we began her adoption, we wonder when we will have her for Christmas. It isn't to be this one. We only hope the people who take care of her give her a Christmas where she feels loved and wanted. Our adoption is different than many in that we truly do not know very much about her day to day. We know she lives in a private orphanage and that is meant to be good. We know our case managers have visited and found the staff caring and facilities clean. It is really something that I daily turn over to God in order to feel peace about her life in Guatemala. It is not fair, but after her adoption turned from relinquishment to abandonment, we were given no choice but to go thru this without specific and credible updates.

Whatever holiday you celebrate, we wish you a joyous time. We hope that wherever you are and whoever you are with, you enjoy your holidays with a sense of peace and hope for this world we live in. Please when you remember Gracie in your prayers and thoughts, remember all children without families living in poverty. Every child deserves a family and someone to tell them they are special. When you think of Lily and Lola and smile at their silly grins, please remember the many babies born premature and their parents. These babies fight so hard to live, it is unbelievable.

My personal Christmas wish is that all children experience the true spirit of the season and feel the love of Jesus at the marking of His birth. Many blessings to all of you! Love, Mel

Mary Did You Know

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.