We received an update on our beautiful baby girl this morning, and well, we are in awe, the photos say it all! We can't get over how much she has changed in such a short space of time, 1 month and 10 days to be exact! With this update we also got some interesting information about her.
- She is active and restless.
- She loves colourful toys that make noise.
- She is walking alone.
- She can say single words such as 'Ma' and 'Yi'.
- She drinks formula with rice cereal three times a day and congee once a day.
- She sleeps from 9:00pm - 5:30am and naps for 2 hours in the middle of the day.
- She has grown 1 cm in height, 78cm tall now.
- She has gained a few more teeth, 6 in total.
She is so sweet and we are so wanting to hold and love her in person! All being well it should be some time soon, possibly November! (Update courtesy of Kelly & Angela at ladybugs and love from above)
And somewhere while you’re sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be
When love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
Steven Curtis Chapman
This little dolly bed was bought last December when we were in Syracuse, NY for a shopping trip. We ooh'd and ahh'd when we saw it in the Pottery Barn, and I guess it really won Colin over because he decided to go back later and buy it!
As a side note, anyone who knows Colin knows he doesn't particularly like shopping (unless it's at Home Depot), so this was a big step! Oh how he loves his little girl.
Just yesterday I decided to build the bed up and put it in her room. I thought it was so cute, I couldn't help but share it!
I ordered Lilah's pram this morning, oh my, I am super excited about this purchase!
Ever since I was a little girl I have been fascinated with prams. Each year, on vacation, my cousins all wanted to ride their bikes to the park, but not me, I was just dying to get one of the younger cousins into the pram and of I'd go pushing the pram. I don't even think it was a necessity to have a baby in there, but the pram pushing, it sure was a lot of fun!
And here it is: The Bumbleride Indie
You're fifteen months old today Lilah; in just a few more months it will be time for us to go and meet you and bring you back to our home.
So many family and friends can't wait to meet you either! They ask: Is she coming home soon?
But we don't know for sure yet, we're waiting for a special letter to tell us when. Hopefully it will arrive in the next 2 or 3 weeks. After that we have to wait 6 to 8 weeks before we travel. We are so excited Lilah, we can't wait to see you.
Yep, one of the most coveted drawers in our bathroom now belongs to Lilah! I imagine we'll be finding these bath toys all over the third floor, right next to the water puddles!
Lilah's room is almost finished! Just a few more pictures to hang, a dimmer switch to be wired, curtains to be hung and we are ready!
The three pictures below were the first items purchased for Lilah's room (in Nov 2007). I love these prints from Geninne; the scenes and verses depict the little story around our desire for a baby. We couldn't ask for more joy than what we feel right now.
Ask - ask and it shall be given you; matthew 7.7
Believe - all things are possible to him that believeth; mark 9.23
Receive - ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full; john 16.24
[more photos here]
Our wonderful friends, Grev & Pam are the proud parents of a little girl, Saltanat, from Kazakhstan. She is gorgeous and we are absolutely thrilled for this little family! You can check out more pictures on their blog. They are the perfect picture of happiness!
He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
...love this verse...
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
By Annie J. Flint
It is hard to predict timelines, but I think we are at the half-way point now. It's been three months since we first saw that precious face, and in another three months we'll be kissing it!
We can't stop staring at these pictures of our little Lilah - every feature is engrained into our minds and hearts. Today I went to Blacks and got them developed over and over and over again! Everywhere you look in our house there's a picture of her!
Along with these two photos we received her measurements; she now has 5 teeth, one more gained in the last 2 months! Her foot length is 11 cms, very good information to know for shoe shopping! Everything else pretty much stayed the same regarding her weight and height.
She is so very very precious.
I am still shaking; it feels like referral day all over again. With tears of joy and love overflowing, we received updated pictures today of our little Lilah Grace.
The waiting is tough, it seems to get longer as the days go by, but this beautiful little face will carry us through. In 5 days she will be 14 months.
What an amazing gift to receive these pictures, thank you so much Adele, (from blessedkids).
Psalm 28:7 - "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
Our little Lilah was born in the Year of the Pig! I came across an article recently regarding how many couples in China had planned their pregnancies around the Year of the Pig (2007). Children born in the Year of the Pig are said to be ‘blessed’. I can definitely say that the Lord has blessed us with this precious little one.
Luke 1:45 - And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Psalm 68:19 - Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God
of our salvation.
Psalm 71:19 - Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto Thee!
Proverbs 28:20 - A faithful man shall abound with blessings.
Happy Canada Day from the nation's capital, Ottawa. All being well this day next year our little Lilah will be a Chinese Canadian girl and she will be with us on Parliament Hill celebrating Canada's birthday! I think she would have great fun on this train, it seemed to be a great source of entertainment for the little people!
While I was trying to get a glimpse of our Prime Minister (Stephen Harper) these little girls requested that I take a picture of them! Of course I couldn't say no, they were just so sweet!
A quote I really enjoyed today, spoken by the Governor General, Michaëlle Jean: "Our country is made up of every hope we cherish. Our country is made up of every dream we share". I have to admit, it brought a lump to my throat.
You're another month older and we're another month closer to you Lilah Grace.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
We received an update on our beautiful baby girl this morning, and well, we are in awe, the photos say it all! We can't get over how much she has changed in such a short space of time, 1 month and 10 days to be exact! With this update we also got some interesting information about her.
- She is active and restless.
