Fun at the Beach...

We had a great week at the beach with family! It was nice to get away and to see Shiloh's reaction to seeing the beach for the first time. She kept looking up and down the coast like she could not believe how big it was. She and Dakota enjoyed the pool more than the beach and we all enjoyed the arcade!

More on Gotcha day and Shiloh

After a night of battling the computer to get something on the blog, I decided to try again this morning.

More on Shiloh:

***She still gets nervous and shuts down a little when there is a lot of excitement or commotion. She will want me or Chuck to hold her and for the most part, lot's of hugs and reassurance help. It is usually when there is a big crowd of people she doesn't know.

***She thrives on routine and so when we travel she gets a little uncertain of what to do. Like camping I have to take things to keep her busy or she will become whiny and want to be held the entire time. I think she gets board becasue Dakota enjoys fishing with Dad and that is a little boring for her. She really hates bugs and all, so maybe that is the problem.

***She has grown up so much this year. I realized this last month she is really not a baby anymore but a little girl. The social worker asked me about this on her 12 month visit. She said another mother was having a lot of trouble with this one. I told her I kind of expected it as we had planned on a 3 year old. (But I do so wish I would have been able to hold and take care of her as an infant.)

***She doesn't prefer a booster seat or high chair and prefers to stand when eating. This makes waitresses nervous at restaurants, but we do try to at least encourage her to sit on her knees. In our kitchen she stands in the regular chair and eats just fine.

***Shiloh calls Chuck "Baba" and Dakota "Jie Jie" which comes out "eh eh". Dakota now even calls herself Jie Jie. (Big sister!)

***She loves animals unless they are bigger than she is and then she gets a little concerned. She carried our puppies around until they grew too big and now chase her around the back yard.

***She hates to take any medicine when she is sick and so we have to ask for it in pill form so she can chew it. (Sometimes that still doesn't work.) We have to make deals and promise treats to get her well, Luckily she is not sick very often.

***Shiloh will ride in the stroller sometimes, but it is a battle I think because Dakota gets to walk.

There are so many more things I could write about but I have probably blogged most of them before his anyway. I know this time last year...when the call came I wanted to panick as they were bringing her to our room. At that point it was so scarry knowing that she would be afraid of us. It was hard that first day but not for long. She is so easy to love. Out and about I notice looks from people or double takes. Probably becasue we are now a multicultural family. Most are just curious I suppose. The funny thing is that those looks remind me we adopted. Sometimes I forget that she is new to us and it feel like she has always been here. I am thankful that God knew this story long before I did. When I was dealing with fertility issues I could not see this plan. I am blessed to have given birth and I am certainly blessed to have loved a child I didn't have any idea about until a picture we got on Nov. 18th, 2009. It was a long journey either way but a wonderful place to be now!

Happy Gotcha Day!!!! (Forever Family Day!)

Today (6-22) is Shiloh's Gotcha day! This time last year at around 12pm, there was a knock at our door in Hohhot at the Holiday Inn. There she was....after 2.5 years of waiting. I now know that things happen the way God plans. I am blessed to have given birth and to have felt a baby kick, but I am also very blessed to have waited and prayed for a child I didn't know. I have given life and given love....both are amazing! At times I am sad for the 2 years and 7 months of Shiloh's life that we missed. There are some things we will never be able to know about or answer during those years. I often think about her birthparents and pray for them, as they can't know just what a wonderful child she is and maybe they still grieve for her or wonder if she is O.K. I thank God for the choice they made to leave her where they did. If not, she would not be our precious child to raise.

Shiloh has had an incredible year of lot's of firsts and lot's of learning. Here are a few Tidbits from her first year:

***Shiloh loves to sing. She is surely musically inclined. She sings what we call her "china song". She gets very serious and soulful as she belts our loud words we cannot understand. The tune is the same but the words have changed a little as she has forgotten her chinese for the most part.
***Shiloh has come a long way with her speech, but still has a long way to go. We understand her most of the time and if not, usually Dakota can figure it out. She rarely gets frustrated with us anymore when we do not understand...she will just find another way to tell us the same thing.
***Shiloh didn't run very well when she first came home with us, but it didn't take her long to catch up and now she scares us as she has no fear or climbing and jumping too! She loves the water and has no fear of jumping right in...thank heaven for swimmies! (They keep her afloat!)
***No matter where we eat Shiloh lets us know she wants "meat" and "rice". Now and then I fix rice or noodles for breakfast so she will eat. She has gained from 22 to 29 pounds, and has grown from 18 months to 2T clothing. We still have to be careful and not take any food from her plate unless we ask.
***She copies everything Dakota does but certainly doesn't play the role of the second child...she fights just as hard to be first in line for most anything. She plays well alone but I often hear giggles and laughing when the girls play together. She knows which toys are hers and doesn't like to share.
***Shiloh still cries at times when I leave her at daycare but they tell me she does well. She might be the smallest in her class but she "bosses" everyone around. She knows some of her letters, can count to ten and knows her colors. She loves books and her favorites are ones about adopting babies from China. She will read them over and over. I think she gets that it is about her too.
***Shiloh seems to enjoy her Sunday school class though she still fusses when we leave her. She is usually fine in a few minutes and some of the teen girls who help in the classes love to take care of her. I think they make a fuss over who gets to carry her around. She is quite a hit.
***She is the fastest thing in town in her electric jeep, keeping right up with Dakota. At least now she knows how to drive and doesn't just go forward until she hits something. She has mastered that skill.
***It still looks like Shiloh will not need any further mouth surgeries until she is 5 or 6. For that we are thankful.
***Shiloh clearly prefers Baba to Mama most of the time. (Baba is a pushover and Mama makes her mind.)
***Shiloh loves to view the blogs of children she knew in China or from China. She also loves to look at the pictures of her with the children in the SWI of Baotou where she came from.
***She still hates brushing her teeth so we pretty much have tears every morning but she gets over it quicker these days. She clearly hates pants that have zebra or leopard designs. Not sure why as Dakota loves clothes like that.

We'll miss you Granny...

Granny went to be with Jesus on June 18th, 2011. She is now with her savior and all those that have gone before her. While we will miss her, we have joy in our hearts knowing she is whole again. I will miss her smile, her homemade biscuits and gravy, and as my sister put it, how she always made us feel like we were special. She was special too! We love you Granny...

4.5 Months Post Lapband....27 Pounds gone!!!

Here is the first pic I took in Jan before surgery and the one just taken this week. I guess it is pretty much time for some closer fitting clothes so everyone can tell. maybe I will shop soon! Looking forward to shopping for smaller sizes, but trying to wait as long as possible!

Turner Family Reunion

Dakota And Shiloh enjoyed playing with their twin cousins Katie Lynn and Anna Grace at the Turner reunion last weekend! Everyone at the reunion was excited to finally meet Shiloh. This time last year we were anticipating our journey to China...and now she is home!

Dakota's last day of K-5

Dakota completed K-5 and is now promoted to 1st grade!!! She has learned so much this year from Ms. Gable her teacher and Ms. Collins her para-pro. She has learned to read, add, subtract, counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's. She has made a lot of friends and had a lot of fun along the way. We are so proud of her!