Too much halloween?

I think Lily has officially had too much Halloween and it isn't even real Halloween until tomorrow night! Yesterday I was telling her that we were going to join our friends Abigail and Elizabeth for a Halloween party today....her response was..."Again!" We have been doing a lot of Halloween-themed things such as two pumpkin patches/farms and two fall festivals. So I guess she is done...you think?

Also, just a sweet note...tonight at dinner she is blowing on her french fries (her fave food in the world...that her momma never lets her have!) and she says to me repeatedly....mommy did they cool up yet?

Love it!!!!

Catching up

Pony ride at a local county fair

Pony ride at a local county fair

Unicorn Halloween costume

Swimming Class

Singing in the rain

Driving the school bus at a county fair

Man time flies fast! Before I know it October will soon be over! Here's the latest in Lily's world

Current favorite Color: Pink

I had always counted my blessings that for the most part, Lily let me dress her in whatever I picked out. But this past month or so she has begun to express some real preferences. At first, it started out with the color of her socks. They had to be pink! Then occasionally, especially on days when we have swim class and I want to put in the brand new dress I bought her (the only dress I have bought her this year...mind you...my simple pleasure), she wants to wear her favorite summer dress that Ms. Gretchen gave her for her birthday! It is a good thing Ms. Gretchen bought it one size larger!

Lily just completed her first swim class. Her improvement was incredible. The first class she loved, the second,  she cried for 15 minutes and I had to bribe her with candy to complete the class. And the 4 out of 5 classes left I had to bribe her even though she loves it when she is there, she cries every time about going beforehand. Anyway, I can't believe how much she improved after 7 1/2 hour lessons. It is a bummer she doesn't want to continue because she really was doing fabulous! I think I sit out this next session and then maybe try again in the mid-winter or early spring. It is a good thing though I am not a swimming teacher...I got nervous sometimes just watching her!

We have had such a fun fall...we have done so many fun things! I never realized how much I love fall until I had Lily.

Lily has begun to talk about being adopted. She said, "You adopted me when I was a baby and I fell into Mama's pouch". A while back we read a book called A Blessing from Above. Basically, a mama bird has lots of birds in a nest and it is too crowded. A kangaroo wants to be a mama but can't. So the kangaroo prays that somehow she will have a baby in her pouch. One day with the nest overcrowding...a little baby bird falls out of the nest and right into the kangaroo's pouch. So sweet. Anyway of course now I am trying to explain the best I can that she didn't fall out of a nest, and even though she didn't grow in my tummy (or pouch), she grew in my heart.

In other news, our beautiful Lily is fiery! Not that we didn't already know that, but some days lately have been enough to exhaust any mama! I know it will so serve her well in life, but man...sometimes I wish she would just say, "Alright mama...I will do whatever you ask me to do!" A mom can dream, right?

Terrible Three's

I love Lily dearly, but man...she can really drive me nuts! She has really been pushing all the buttons lately. Testing at every corner, not listening or responding with any consistent frequency, and using her words to assert her independence. Do I have gray hair yet? And she is only 3!

Other notable items...I try my best to integrate a little Spanish into Lily's life each day. One of the things I have noticed which brings a smile to my face is the use of la for every word. For example, the word could be a masculine word such as el perro, but to Lily, it is la perro. El Gato is la gato. And so on and so forth! At least she knows there is an article before the word!

A year later...

My Dearest Lily,

Wow, tomorrow marks the 1st anniversary of we all came home from Guatemala to be a forever family. I am filled with joy and gratitude toward God and all the wonderful friends, family, colleagues, etc... who loved, encouraged, supported, prayed, etc. us on our journey. Sometimes I still can't believe God's goodness, providence, mercy, and grace to us.

Happy Gotcha day Lily girl! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

I remember there were times, when I prayed out to God, if we are not allowed to adopt you...who will save you...God spoke out loud to me, and he said..."Kim, you are not her savior". So I begged Jesus, knowing that he was your savior, could we at least be your parents?. We are so thankful to God that he allowed us to be your parents. You bring us so much joy! I love your laugh and your smile. Each day when I wake up, I can't wait to see your smiling face!

I hope as you grow older that you will find joy, peace, security, and contentment knowing that you were wanted so badly and loved so fiercely. I know that your adoption in the future may cause you to feel a sense of loss. I pray that if you experience any grief that your heart will be healed.

Love you Lily girl! May we celebrate many more Gotcha Days!

Love,
Mommy

Before I forget

Talking ears: Headphones

Eye Flashes: Lightening

From the mouths of 3-year-olds!

2006 was a good year for.....

BOYS!!!! Frederick County must have had a boom on boys! It cracks me up...almost every class or event Lily is enrolled in locally, she is the female minority. In daycare, this year she is the only girl. Last year...there were only two girls. In her first swim class tonight...again the only girl. In Sunday school...often she has been the only girl...but our friends have a daughter also...so sometimes they both are there! No wonder she loves dinosaurs, lions, sharks...

In other news, Lily started swimming lessons today. After trying to fit swimming lessons in this summer unsuccessfully, I am dedicating this year to swim education! She did great. I was actually a bit nervous for her because they start them out in the deeper end (4.5 ft) and encourage them to actually "swim" with their "bubbles". But she did great! I don't think she is feeling quite confident to float independently, but hopefully, after a few more lessons she will be!

She has been such a sweet girl. I so enjoy her! We have such a good time. She is active and friendly...and of course adorable! She has such a nurturing sweet soul...I wonder what she will decide to be in life...a vet? or a nurse? She loves animals and is friendly to everyone!

New experiences abound!

We just came back from a two-week trip to Denmark and Norway. Lily experienced so many new things in those two weeks. I loved seeing it through a child's eyes.

A few recent highlights

While waiting for the aircraft to leave Kristiansand, there was a group of religious people. One of the men was wearing a black cloth tied in the back to cover his hair. She said, "Look Mommy A PIRATE!"

Then yesterday when we were waiting to board the plane in Copenhagen, there was a woman dressed in a beautiful rich purple "dress" with the top of her head covered in an ornate gold and black scarf. She said, "Look Mommy, A PRINCESS!"

Lastly, my favorite, and one where I am quite glad she said it in Spanish..was when we arrived in IAD there was another religious woman dressed from head to toe in black, with just a small slit for her eyes. She said, "Fantasma", which means ghost in Spanish!

While in Denmark we saw the Little Mermaid statue. Lily went to look into the water and said, "Hey Mommy...look, mermaids!"