Writer's Block!?

…okay, so maybe that’s not really it. It’s one of those things that just makes one so upset with oneself for not being a better steward of that which God has given me. This is not only a place where I have purposed to journal the journey of our adoption TO Khloe, but also her life AFTER we returned home. As I was looking back at my posts since we traveled last May, I realized just how little I have really been on here, writing about one of the greatest blessings in our life. She has blossomed SO much over the past 8 months and I feel I have not really let you see the beauty of her growth since being home. And for that, I feel ashamed. Because, as my younger brother so sweetly reminded me, and I quote, “I'm just saying that you have a gift and a big tool but it’s rusting from non use.” He’s right. It is a big tool, in more ways than one. I know that my life has been so blessed by all of you who take the time to visit me here and get to know our family and our story, and many of whom were a HUGE support during our adoption process to Khloe. I still love following your blogs and checking in on all of you. There are many blogs that I have followed faithfully for a couple of years and others that are newer to me, but I love reading about your lives just the same. I followed many of your own adoption journeys and for several of you, more than once! Oh how happy I am for those of you who are already going back. What a joy to see more orphans coming home to wonderful families. God is good! My heart longs to be in that very place, as our Khloe could SO use a playmate closer in age. All in God’s timing.

Speaking of our little bundle of joy ~ can you believe we have been home over 8 months already!? The time has flown by, for the most part. Yet, it is hard to remember life before her. Khloe is such a fun little girl. She has brought a fresh breath of life into our family. She has all the makings of a typical toddler, and she keeps me ‘young’!!! She is so well-adjusted and she is a little love-bug. Here are a few more things I can tell you about our little princess:

• She’s hilarious. ~ She gets this from her big brother, Dawson. He LOVES to tease Khloe, and in return, she has picked up on his wit and loves teasing others, as well. This teasing also leads to the next {unfortunate} trait:

• She can be whiney. ~ Again, this mostly is due to Dawson picking on her. We never even knew he was such a little teaser until Khloe came home. Little Stinker! Seriously though, this is something I have been diligently working on with Khloe, and she is getting much better about calming her self down and not whining so much.   She ‘knows’ he is teasing, so she seriously just likes to tattle or whine to get him into trouble. Even though she often agues him on!  Did I mention she can be a little Stinker, too!?! ;)

• She is SWEET! ~ Indeed, she has the sweetest side to her, as well! She loves to cuddle and she will look me in the eyes and say the cutest things. Just a few days ago, while I was doing her hair, she was looking at me all gushy-like in the mirror, and when I paused and smiled at her, she tilts her head and with blinky eyes says to me in a soft voice, “Mommy, you so special. I love you, too, Mommy!” YES, my girl can be a sentimental GUSH! I love that about her! She likes to copy things I say. So she tells me often that I’m precious or special, and that she loves me, too. These are the moments that make me giggle a little, but also turn me to mush… I love her SO!!

• She’s SMART as a whip! ~ Seriously, she picks up on things SO fast. Often times, after only hearing/seeing something once. She often surprises me with the words she uses. She talks really well, though her annunciations are still a work in progress.

• Stubborn and Sassy. ~ Okay, I hate to say it, but she definitely has a strong-willed, stubborn side to her, too. I guess this is where I got what I deserved!! We’re BOTH working on this one! ;) Her spunk and sass do crack me up a bit though! This girl will NOT be pushed around. I mean, when you have teenage siblings like she does, it’s somewhat inevitable. Though I can say, she CAME to us with some of these traits, so I know they are just part of who she is!! LOL!

• She’s tender and caring. ~ Especially when it comes to babies and little kids, or someone getting hurt, or seeing others cry, etc… She can be SO nurturing and I love it! She ‘nurtures’ her baby-dolls so well, too!

• She LOVES the outdoors and playing in the snow! She has a very adventuresome side to her and likes to play extra wild at times. This is where Dawson and Daddy come into play!! ;)

And speaking of "Daddy" ~ he has had to travel quite a bit for work lately.  Last week he was in PA for work, and Khloe and I were talking about how we miss him when he has to fly in an airplane and go far away for work.  Then Khloe looks at me and says, "I miss you daddy.  But dats otay, daddy always come back later."  ~ That's right baby girl... daddy always comes back!  I love that she knows this and is so secure when we leave that she just knows we are coming back to her.  This has been huge in leaving her for Sunday School (Khloe calls it "Church School") and she is always so excited to go now! 

• She LOVES her dollies! ~ Yes, she is a girly-girl in EVERY sense of the word! She loves dressing up and getting her hair and nails done. She even scolds Dawson when he ‘messes’ her hair up while playing with her. SO funny!

• She loves to sing and make up songs. ~ Yesterday was my birthday, and she must have sang me 10 different versions of her own b-day song throughout the day …it was SO cute!

She also knows the “order” of birthdays in our family, and knows that now it’s “Khloe’s turn” next! I cannot believe our little girl is about to turn three already on the 8th! I am planning to take her to MOA to visit the American Girl Store, so if any locals want to join us, we’d love to meet up with you there!! We will be having a larger family b-day party for her a couple of weeks later.

Okay, well, that's enough for now. But I am pledging to make a commitment to posting at least once per week, no matter how small it may seem to me. I assure you, you’ll see more of Khloe and the rest of our family on here in the future. No more hibernation. I’m pulling myself out of the winter slumber and jumping back in at full gear. I have so many photos I’d love to share of our fall/winter and the holidays, so I might just put them into a slide-show, if I can figure it out.   Any suggestions to some easy-to-use online software would be great!

Oh, and before I forget, our little princess won 2nd place in a photo contest for AGCI last month for their “Winter” themed contest. Here’s the link if you’d like to check it out: http://www.allgodschildren.org/photocontest_jan/  

Thanks for not giving up on me and know that I pledge to be MUCH better about posting in the future. My blog may be in a transitional stage over time, to incorporate more of my family outside of just adoption talk, as well as my decorating interests. But if I still have any followers stopping by to check in on me, “thank you!” for not giving up on me …I’m still here!

I'll end with a little more 'eye candy' of Khloe!  She is sporting a pettiskirt that was custom made for her before we traveled to China, by my sweet bloggy friend, Mary.  Doesn't she do amazing work!?  She made the matching top to go with!!  

 

"This is the day which the
LORD has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

~Psalm 118:24