Four months home

I haven't been good about posting regular updates. Honestly, I find it very difficult to put the experience of adoption into words. It is an amazing journey. Ivy has changed so much, and any words I choose seem inadequate to really describe her. And I would have to say that we, her parents, have changed too. Isn't that just like God. He calls us to rescue an orphan, and He uses her to change us. Some days I look Ivy, and I can't believe it's the same girl I met four months ago. A scared child who came to us with only the clothes on her back, clothes that still smelled after three washings, is a different girl today.

For starters, she has grown a whole clothing size. She can no longer wear any of the clothes she wore when we got her. She is 2 inches taller. She truly looks a year older, and the doctor said she had a typical year of growth the first couple months.

She speaks English like it's been a year too. She communicates in full sentences. In fact she talks nonstop.  Recently she learned the alphabet and counting to 20 in just a  of couple days. Ivy was classified as a 'Special Needs' child. We joke that her special need is her high intelligence. Everything she learns is at an accelerated pace.

Remember the little girl who wouldn't cry for anything? She would fall down and hurt herself and refuse to shed a tear.. Gone. Enter Drama Queen. She has no problem expressing herself and running to Mommy or Daddy for sympathy. We are happy to oblige.

She thoroughly enjoys eating. One day after my co-op delivery (bulk items all over the kitchen) Ivy exclaimed, "This family has big food!"

Her favorite things to do are reading books with family members, playing dolls, doing puzzles (she's up to 60 count now) , playing dress-up, singing, being with people, going to Grandma and Grandpa's, church, and the library. She mastered swimming this summer (another favorite) and dives to the deep end to fetch toys. She can keep up with the older kids' competitive games in the pool. She embraces challenges and new situations with enthusiasm.

She loves to sing and knows more songs than I can count. She loves to pray. I remember the first couple times we bowed our heads and prayed. She was baffled. Now she is the first to start praying and asks if she can be the one to lead. She goes on and on, thanking God for everything, and asking God things like, "Help us go to the library tomorrow!" (We need those prayers since Mommy has a reputation for overdue books) Almost daily she will thank God "that Ivy has a family and that everyone loves Ivy". Words that never fail to bring tears to my eyes.  We sure thank Him too.

And at last...Pigtails. Okay..adorable or what?

  Taken with my Nikon D5000