My Current Life

So after going to work each day for the past 22 years, staying at home with a toddler is a change.  A big change!  I'm use to getting up, showering, putting on make up, fixing my hair, choosing a cute outfit (OK...maybe not cute, maybe one that just fits that day!) and heading off to my classroom.  

My classroom - the place where I'm in charge and it's organized.  Everything has a place and everything (for the most part) is in the correct place.  I can find what I need easily.  Sure, there are 22 children there but, they aren't toddlers.  They generally listen and follow directions just fine.  There's not whining or crying. (Maybe there's some, but it's usually short lived.)

Now, I still get up early so I can get a quick shower.  I put on the "typical Mommy" stay at home outfit:  exercise pants (although I can't remember the last time I went to the gym), tennis shoes and hopefully, a stain free t-shirt.  Make up is minimal and my hair is pulled back with a bobby pin.  I know I need to do something different with my hair when Lily opens up my bathroom drawer, pulls out the bobby pins, and immediately holds it up to her hair wanting one in.  Lily thinks she wants her hair just like her Mama. Who have I turned into?

Have you seen this person lately?  It could be me without my bobby pin!

I use to make my coffee in my to go cup and leisurely enjoy it once I got to work and throughout the first part of the kids coming in to class for the day.  Now, I make a cup, get a few sips and reheat it in the microwave several times, only to finally empty it down the sink after breakfast.

Mmmm....coffee, how I love you!

I use to think that staying at home would mean I would get so much done around here.  Well, for those of you who have stayed home with little ones, you know that's not true.  At all!  I never imagined one 2 year old would add so much more laundry, dishes and messes around here. Everything my shadow and I do now takes 5 times as long.  She is a big help though - she likes to put

clothes into the dryer, turn on and off lights, load the dishwasher, close all the doors and put things into the trash.

Love this little girl so much!

I hope to soon get my "brain" back.  I think Lily took it from me right after we came home from China.  With Michael sick initially and all of us recovering from our jet lag, my brain was total mush.  As my husband told me recently, out of all the things he thought would be different, me without the ability to think normally was not one of them.  I'm happy to say that he went back to work this week and was on a trip for two days, Lily and I survived!  We even went out to eat, went to the park and did a big grocery shopping trip.  Yea for us!!

I don't want to be in jail, Mommy! Just playing at the park...

Yes, things are very different around here and I wouldn't change it for the world.  How awesome is it that I get to spend my days with this sweet girl and to watch her experience so much on a daily basis? Anyway, I know I'll get my brain back.  One day.  Maybe.

 Sleeping with a blanket her Great Grandma made a very, long time ago

One Month Update

One month ago tomorrow (Feb. 25), we became a family of three.  People often tell us how lucky Lily is, but we honestly are the lucky ones.  This little girl has so much love to give and giggles to share we are the lucky ones to get to be her Mommy and Daddy!

Loves pretending she's talking on the phone

Having Lily one month, I though it would be a good time to share an overall update.  This may be a long post (with pictures and videos) so get comfy!

Sleeping
Lily is sleeping with us at night.  I know that may not be the best decision for everyone, but for us, it was and we love it! It helps to build attachment as we can meet her needs right away.  She had been by herself enough and this little girl needed some cuddling! Lately she's been falling asleep somewhere around 8:00 and gets up around 7:30 in the morning.  Lily also takes a nap around 12:30 for a little over an hour. For her nap, she sleeps in her room.  I lay down with her until she falls asleep which is usually pretty quick for naps.  Then I leave and try and get a few things done (or watch something I have recorded).  This past week was another new thing:  When she is finished napping, she just gets out of her bed and comes to find me!  We were shocked the first day that happened because in the past, she would just start to cry for us and we would go in and get her.

Snuggling with Roxi

Eating
Lily will try just about anything (except cheese or macaroni and cheese) and if she doesn't like it, she'll just spit it out.  Her favorites right now (although they change daily) are: chicken nuggets, fries, any kind of chip, watermelon, pork ribs and oreos!  At the orphanage she was on the bottle for her main nutrients.  I guess it's easier to feed many toddlers bottles instead of meals.  She was use to 5 bottles a day and when we first came home, we kept her on three a day.  Now, she's down to just her bedtime bottle.  She's currently in the 10th percentile for weight and height.  She is 84 cm tall and weighs almost 24 pounds.

Loves being able to sit at the table like a big kid with the help of this on the chair!

Eating and visiting

Mmmmm....pork ribs!  Love me some Texas BBQ!

Ahhh, my first oreo! (Warning - long video!)

Attachment
In the adoption world, attachment is a biggie.  We did a lot of reading about this before heading to China and we hoped for the best.  Lily has attached very well to both of us now!  I think she knows we are "her people" who will always take care of her.  She's good around other people too, as long as we are close.  She takes quite a while to warm up to men and prefers to watch them and just give them toys as a sign of affection.  She loves watching kids play when we go out to parks and stores.

Loves her Daddy!

Playing
Lily loves to play - meaning she likes to take things out for a few seconds, then take some more things out, then some more, etc.  There are a few times that she'll play with blocks and toys but mostly right now her favorite thing is to close our doors.  And yes, she has gotten her fingers caught a few times! Her most favorite activity is just being outside:  going for walks in her wagon, going to the park, and going to my friend's house to play outside with her grandkids.  She also now loves bath time! (Just don't turn on the shower head to try and rinse anything - she's not a fan of that at all.  Now when we go to take a bath she looks up at that shower head and shakes her finger at it!)  For the first two weeks we had Lily, we only did a sponge bath because the bath was just too much for her.  Then for a few days once we got home,  I got in the bath with her.  Now, she's a pro and loves playing in there!

Trying out a friend's tricycle for the first time

First time at a park - stay close, Daddy

Read that one again!

Love a clean baby after a bath!

Communicating
The question we get asked most is "Does Lily speak Chinese?".  That's a tough one to answer because she is just 27 months old.  To me, she babbles a lot like any other young toddler.  She is most vocal when we are here at home and it's just us.  She's pretty quiet when around new people.  She'll mimic and repeat many of the things we say.  When she's babbling, who knows if it's in Chinese or not! But let me tell you, she can communicate:  she points, mimics, grunts, cries, laughs, and smiles.  There are a few things she says that we understand but I doubt anyone else would.  She says Gracie, Roxi, Puppy Dog, Dolly, Mama/Mommy and Daddy.

Lily communicating that she's happy

Lily communicating that she's sad (that's a pretty pitiful face and her eyebrows turn so red when she's upset!)

Lily singing and signing to an app with Twinkle, Twinkle

Puppy Dogs
Not ever being around dogs before, we were worried how she would handle our Roxi and Gracie.  This was another subject I had read a lot about and some kids had a really hard time getting use to dogs.  Lily wasn't too sure about them the first night for a bit, but after that, she was just fine!  Gracie lets her climb all over her without batting an eye and Roxi just wants to give Lily some kisses!  But, Roxi doesn't like it when Lily decides to try and chase her.  I think the three of them will be great buddies!

Gracie needed a blanket on her for a nap

Loving on Roxi

Loving on Gracie

Looking back at the last month, there has already been so much growth and learning!  I'm so glad Lily's personality is coming out and we are getting to experience all these "firsts" with her.  We never know what our day will bring, but this sweet girl now knows that no matter what, her Mommy and Daddy love her so much and will always be here for her!

Rainy Day

Lily definitely grew in our hearts for so many months before we even met her.  At times it is still surreal that she is now ours.  Forever and always. She keeps us laughing, tired and truly in love!

What's one to do on a rainy day? Well, we watched it rain...

We played with leaves...

We had a snack sitting in her Daddy's chair from when he was little...

But most importantly, Lily figured out (all be herself - yes, bragging parent moment!) how to eat an oreo!

She's got this down so it's all going to be ok!

Seriously, when you've mastered the oreo at 27 months, you know you are destined for great things!

Life Lately

  Sunny, warm, high of 80...gotta love mid February in Texas!

Of course she chose to sit in the Texas chair

With the nice weather, we've been doing a lot of walks with the puppies and exploring all the parks in our area.  We've also had some playdates, lots of fun around the house, and have eaten out a few times.

Love the front porch time with Daddy and Robert

Looking cool with my shades and my applesauce!

A selfie with Mommy on our first playdate!

Figuring out these new toys

Applesauce? For me?

Daddy, look at me!

Just sitting back enjoying the ride

These bubbles are hard to catch!

We worked hard on getting on a schedule this week and we've done pretty well.  But, as someone told me, once you get her on a schedule, she'll change it!  Hoping to blog a few more updates next week than I did this week.

Later this week is our one month mark - one month since we became a family of three!  So many huge changes for Lily already.  I just can't imagine what the future holds for her.

Daddy's Little Girl

This is so very true!  Lily has an awesome Daddy who loves her so very much.

One of my favorite things now is getting to watch Lily's relationship with her Daddy grow.  Lily has taken a bit to attach to her Daddy but boy is that attachment strong now!  Not seeing any males (aside from doctors) while spending 1 1/2 years in the orphanage probably had something to do with that along with the fact that Michael was sick for part of the time in China and then diagnosed with shingles once we got home.

Gotcha Day - He loved her so much from the very beginning!

I love seeing her hold up her arms for him to pick her up, give him hugs and kisses and want him at times over me.  I love being in the kitchen and hearing them in the playroom singing, reading books and just being silly with each other.

Looking at books in the study

I think Lily and her Daddy will be very close.  He's pretty taken with her although he hasn't quite picked out the car or anything for her. Yet...

Playing at the store while Mommy shops

These two love walking together

This day, Lily learned how to sit on a curb and was super happy to sit with her Daddy. And no, that's not a beer in his lap - it's a sport recovery drink!  

Come on, let's go play!

Loving the trips to the park

What a cutie! Yes, Lily too!

These two are off to a great start and I can't wait to watch their relationship build throughout the years.  There's something very special between a Daddy and his little girl.

She'll always be his sweetheart!

Valentine's Day

This year for Valentine's Day we got our very own valentine.  Lily Grace Wilson!

A family picture on our front porch!

I feel like we are turning a corner on getting on some sort of schedule.  Lily is asleep tonight before 11 - the first night since we've been home.  I've thought about stopping the blog updates but was threatened lovingly from family.  My goal is to try maybe three posts a week.  We'll see how that goes for a while.

I'll leave you all tonight with our valentine...

Leaves, grass, bushes...all this stuff is so new!

Sunny and upper 70's on Feb. 14 - I'll take that!