Milestones!

First, it is hard to believe Lily is going to be 5 this weekend! How did time fly so quickly???? Of course, she is as cute as ever and continues to be our little firecracker!

Next, we met with Lily's teacher last weekend and she was telling us how super smart Lily is! I am so proud. Her teacher said she is already 3/4 of the way through kindergarten. Incredible! And she thinks that if she continues on this path she may have an opportunity to go to GT/magnet school in the future! Wow, these are the times, I wish her birth mom could see her!

Lily read me her first book this week! It was awesome! I was sooooo proud of her!!!! It's so exciting too! I can't wait for her to read to the new baby!

Lastly, it occurred to me that on the 25th of March...We had been home for 2.5 years and 1 day. We have been a forever family longer than we had been separated when she was in Guatemala!

Growth Update

Lily went to the doctor today for her once-a-year check-up. She is doing great! She is now officially 40 3/4 inches! I goofed though on her growth chart...I had her stuck for a long time now (I think since July 2010) at 42 inches. I guess that is what happens when the growth chart is not hung right or mommy measures wrong. I can't remember what percentile she was in before, but now she is in the 15-20th percentile. If I recall when she was younger it was more like the 5th and 10th percentile...so she is really growing!

Her weight is doing awesome too! She weighs 39.5 lbs and is in the 50th percentile! I had thought she already weighed 40 lbs so I had moved her out of her "baby" car seat, but I guess technically she still has a .5 to go! I told her she could go into the big girl's car seat when the new baby comes. No more 5-point harness...but a seat belt!

Our future scientist!

Lily has been very interested in anything scientific nowadays. She loves learning about animals and their patterns in nature. She spouts off random scientific facts like hibernation. She loves watching this PBS program online called Ruff, where they do all kinds of fun scientific experiments! I've lost track of all the cool things they teach her.

She also has become interested in doing addition. She loves adding numbers and challenging others to add two numbers together as well. She can almost count to 100 as well. She just gets stuck at 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90...otherwise she is good to go. Amazing! She is soooo super smart!

Hunter and our Little Disciple

First I wanted to show the "Valentine" that Lily's best buddy Hunter made for her! So sweet! He also gave her a picture of his baseball card.

The second thing was I was volunteering in Lily's class today and I was talking to Hunter's mom stating how Lily talks about Hunter constantly and how we need to set up a play date. She replied, that Hunter too talks about Lily constantly. Hunter recently was sharing how Lily talked to Hunter about Jesus, and how he died on the cross. At first, I was "mortified" thinking...oh no...this parent is going to "hate" me. Now I know that is not the response I should have had, but I am human. But then she went on to say that she had been praying that her son would find a good Christian friend in school and that Lily was an answer to prayer! And of course, after I got over my initial shock I thought wow...isn't this why God fought so hard to bring her home from Guatemala. He knows she is going to be a mighty warrior for Christ! I am so proud of my little disciple! I pray that she continues to grow in her faith and continues to have a passion to share it with those around her. I also pray that I will become more like her in that regard!

January Update

Lily's favorite movie which we have watched at least 100 times is Barbie Mermadia, so Barbie has now officially penetrated our house, Thanks to Daddy and Santa Claus.


Lily's best friends in school are Hunter and Meredith

She has been really into making body noises the last few months. Burping is one of her faves....oh my

She has also gotten really good at whistling.

Prior to Christmas, she saw a picture of a "pobre nino" named Norma who lives in Guatemala in an advertisement for child sponsorship. Ever since then, she has been saving toys and money to give to Norma. Ironically we sponsor a girl named Kimberly, in Guatemala..but ever since she saw the picture of "Norma" that is the image she holds dear. She truly does have a sweet heart. I just wish I knew what to do with all the stuff she has collected for "Norma".

She even said she wanted to give some money to her birth mom. Again so sweet. Lord, I love her sweet heart. I hope someday that if she desires to do so, she can come to know her birth mom. Lord I pray it would not be the situation I fear (the exploitation of Lily for personal gain), but one of pure and holy motives.

Funnyisms of the Week

First, to really appreciate this you have to know we do not have any type of television. So any exposure Lily gets to television comes from outside sources. So the other day her daddy was telling her how smart she was. And she responded, "There is smart, and then there is Kmart smart". We think she heard that at daycare.

Then last night while at the Chinese Food restaurant, Lily got a little carried away and "hit" the waitress in the face. When her daddy asked her why she did that she responded, "I was all jacked up". Wonder where she heard that one? Mamma and Daddy?

Lastly, driving in the car on the way home from a party this evening I was sharing that tomorrow I had to get my chi, chi's smooshed in a big machine (a.k.a. mammogram). She asked, "How are they going to take them off". I laughed so much, I cried.

Love it!!!!

Bathroom talk and more...

First Lily is on a huge bathroom talk spree. If she can get the words, underwear, pee, butt, etc...in a sentence she is thrilled.

Lily also went to her very first movie, Tangled. I am not sure who was more excited Lily or Mommy...I think Mommy!

The other day we went to a restaurant for lunch, and the hostess was a very petite South or Central American woman. Of course, Lily with no filter, said, "Wow your small" If she only knew!

Lastly, for my birthday Olav bought me a magazine which had quotes of gratitude. One of the quotes that took my breath away and made me laugh all at the same time was by an actress by the name of Kristin Chenoweth. It read:

"When I was adopted, I went home with Jerry and Junie Chenoweth. I feel like I won the lottery in the family department. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful that I was placed with the right family. I believe God had a big part in that. Also, I do have long legs, which I am thankful for because I am only 4'11"."

That is my prayer for Lily, that someday she will feel very much the same way.