6 Month since Gotcha Day!

I truly cannot believe that 6 months ago today, I was standing in a hotel lobby in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China ready to meet my precious Kaylee Yu Mei for the very first time!  In some ways it feels like it was just yesterday because the time has flown.  In other ways, it feels like she's been a part of my life forever and I can't imagine how I ever lived without her in it!

These last 6 months have been a roller coaster ride of emotions for sure.  They've been some of the most challenging and rewarding of my entire life.  But when you see these pictures side by side, you see the difference that is made by giving these little ones a place to call home, the individual nurturing every child needs and deserves, some things to call their own, and constant assurances that this is forever.  

      Scared little girl on Gotcha Day 4/22/12

                                                                               

What a difference!  She DOES have a silly side!  

When I brought her home 6 months ago, she was so afraid of me leaving her that she screamed if she couldn't fall asleep laying on me.  It took up to 2.5 hrs sometimes.  All this while I was completely exhausted in every way from the trip...and she was too.  Tonight, 6 months later, she goes to sleep in her own room in her own bed after her bedtime routine with Mama while I sat in the hallway outside her room checking emails on my iPad.  Oh how very far we've come!  Granted, she will wonder into my room about 4 hours later and climb in bed, but the progress is astounding in such a short time.
6 months ago, I literally had to carry her everywhere while I did everything.   She wouldn't go anywhere without me...even into another room.  If I left her sight for even a second, she'd go into sheer panic mode!  Today, 6 months later, she spent the afternoon with the Hensons.  When I walked into their house 3 hours later she looked up and said, "Hi Mama!  Come sit! Play! Play!"  When at home, she still doesn't like me out of her sight for more than 5 minutes, but again...oh how far we've come!
6 months ago, my little precious knew NO English except "Bye Bye".  Today, she is CONSTANTLY shocking me with her 3-4 word sentences in English!  Truly astounding!
6 months ago I had never seen one picture of her smiling.  I really was concerned and wondered if she was just incredibly serious and I might not ever see her smile.  Today, she is a total crack up!  She makes everyone around her laugh with her antics and WONDERFUL personality!  It's been like watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly!
6 months ago when she came to me, Kaylee literally had the clothes on her back, an authentic Mongolian outfit given to her by the orphanage,and a little jacket we had sent to her the month before.  She had no concept of anything of her own.  Today, one of her VERY favorite words is "MINE"!  So great to see such typical 2 year old behavior.
When I look at these pictures words can't even describe how blessed I feel.  This precious child chose to give me her trust, her love, and her affection.  She didn't have to choose that.  I'm so thankful to our Heavenly Father for giving me a child who is incredibly smart, compassionate, hard working, hilarious, eager to please, and strong willed (Okay, sometimes right now I'm not completely thankful for THAT part, but I know it's what made her a survivor and will make her tenacious and successful in the future! ;)

I'm thankful for the nannies who apparently took good care of her and taught her its okay to become attached. They so clearly prepared her that she was getting a Mama.

It takes a lot of patience and endurance on both of our parts, but oh the rewards!  Happy 6 month Gotcha Day, My little Kaylee Yu Mei!  I can't wait for many many more celebrations of Gotcha Day anniversaries!   I'm so glad I GOTCHA!!!