Kaylee's Journey Home

Wow, it's been a long time since I've been able to write! 2 weeks of jet lag and life with a toddler hasn't left much time!

First off, my little Kaylee Mei as we're calling her now, is extremely smart. For this I'm most grateful! However, that means its virtually impossible to pull one over on her. And it also means she doesn't miss a THING!

She has such a sweet spirit and loves to cuddle. She'll place my hands on her little face and just smile. And she's almost always up for a hug from Mommy. But she's also a fighter (a characteristic that served her well during her first 2 years of life.) However, because of this, she'll fight hard for what she wants and vehemently object to what she doesn't want!

Accomplishments Kaylee Mei has made in just 17 days home:

1. LOVES baths now (have to drain the tub to get her to realize it has come to an end!)

2. Does high chair with no problems now!

3. Does car seat happily 90% of the time

4. Rides in shopping carts happily

5. LOVES the stroller

6. Tolerates her "doggie sister" Taffy

7. Gets Taffy's food and water each day with no prompting! (at least she doesn't want to starve her although she told her off in Chinese big time the other day through the day gate! LOL!)

8. Throws things in the trash and the laundry for mommy

9. Let's Mimi and Pop Pop hold her

10. No longer afraid of her pink riding pony and loves riding it now!

11. Will go down slides

English words Kaylee says:

1. More - "moooooaaaah"

2. Mimi and Pop Pop (she yelled out "Pop Pop" in the middle of church last Sunday)!

3. Shoes "soooooz"

4. Taffy "Tassie"

5. Diaper "diter"

6. Water "watah"

7. "WOW"

8. Bow

9. Lotion "lossun"

10. Powder "powdah"

11. Bye bye

12. Hi

13. Thank you - "Tay ju"

14. Glasses "gasses"

15. Eyes, ears, mouth

16. Phone (and has some kind of iPhone radar to find anyone's iPhone and snatch it in seconds!)

Her receptive language skills are amazing. So many things I ask her to do and she understands and does them!

Things Kaylee Mei doesn't like:

Teddy bears
Dolls
Books
Veggies
Cheese
Going to sleep (but hey, she's 2!)
Taffy

Things Kaylee Mei loves:

Chick Fil A
Cuddling
Walks
Her stroller
Oatmeal
Congee
V8 Fusion
Toys she has to figure out, especially nesting
Clothes and shoes (Go Kaylee!)
Mimi and Pop Pop
Baths
Bubbles
"folding" things like towels
Being generally helpful
Looking at pictures of herself (doubt she'd seen a lot before)
Oreos
"Playing" piano (wonder how that happened???)

our primary issue right now is that of going to sleep. Because of attachment issues, leaving the room and letting her cry it out isn't an option. It has to be handled very carefully. Please pray for wisdom on my part and a secure attachment on her part that will help her to trust that her current circumstances are permanent.

She also still feels the need to be holding my hand 90% of the time. I'd love if she could see me with her and feel secure a little more of the time rather than needing to be held or in physical contact. However, she was wanting to be held 90% of the time, so we're progressing!

Please keep us in mind Wednesday morning as she has her first doctor's appt. here. The physical exams in China were very rough and traumatic for her. That could cause this visit to bring back those memories.

Have to post a few Mother's Day pics here too! Couldn't have imagined a better Mother's day with my grandma, my mom, me, and my sweet daughter of only a couple weeks all together!