Bahahahahahahahaha!!! I may frame these. They make me smile.
This girl:
These past two months have been so very full. You guys, she is so, so smart. I love watching her little mind work as she figures out a new toy or “reads” a book or plays on my phone {seriously – she is a tech whiz. I have to hide my phone during the day because she will snag it and send emails and take photos}.
Her language is expanding daily. She understands us perfectly and has started not only repeating words, but using them in the correct context. I am in awe at how quickly she is picking up english. We have really not had any issues communicating since she has been home. I can understand her french-lingala-english-toddler speak perfectly. 🙂
She has made so much progress…
She is no longer afraid of grass or trees or our dog. She now gets excited when she sees daddy and wants to be near him. She no longer needs me to be in her line of sight at all times. She no longer needs me to carry her whenever we are outside of our home, she happily walks along with her brothers or is content to hold my hand. She no longer shuts down when someone new comes into our home or talks to her when we are out and about.
It’s been amazing watching her full personality come out. She is hilarious and fun-loving and so very sweet.
These two:
They are adorable together. Sylvie is such a great helper with Charlotte. She loves to help care for her and is always is the first one to jump up if Charlotte starts to cry. She has several baby dolls that she will feed, burp, rock and sing to while I’m feeding Charlotte. There is typically a “baby” in the swing or rock-n-play whenever I go to lay Charlotte down. This sister-love isn’t one-sided either, Charlotte loves to watch Sylvie and she giggles at her sister all day long. Sylvie lights up when she makes Charlotte laugh. I love when she yells, “mommy! baby!” to get my attention in her french accent. It’s ridiculously cute.
Now, I know I haven’t posted much on this blog about what our transition has looked like. I realize that if you read this blog or follow my Instagram posts, you will get the impression that life is peachy and everyone is happy-go-lucky around here.
Here’s the thing: I am all about transparency. I would never, ever want anyone to jump into adoption expecting ONLY sweet airport homecoming photos and silly videos and lots of snuggles and laughter. Those things are wonderful — incredible, actually – but they aren’t the full picture.
The full picture is hard. Adoption, at it’s core, is about loss. Our girl has lost everything and everyone she has ever known and loved. She has never had a chance to trust. She has learned that everyone leaves. We are working hard to build a foundation of trust and love and safety. We want her to know that we are not going anywhere. We want her to know that she will have food and water and she doesn’t have to be scared that it will run out. We want her to know that she is loved.
Yet, I don’t want to share all of the details here because I want to protect my girl. She is dealing with a lot of hard, hard stuff and not everyone {well anyone, really} needs to know all of the nitty gritty details.
Still, I struggle because I absolutely do not want to paint a false picture. I want y’all to know that we are seeking God’s grace and wisdom each day. We are learning more in this season about His redemptive love than ever before.
We have had an incredibly intimate glimpse into God’s deep love and abundant grace for us. I’ve been gently reminded that I too have run from His love. I too have tried to control my own life and resisted His leading {even when I know that His plans are for my good}. Yet, He has been there. Steadfast. Even when I turn away.
Undeserving, magnificent Grace.
I’m giving him the “you better stand up and smile right now” face. Meanwhile, my nephew is trying to sneak out {nana trying to restrain him}:
I give up.
Yep. This is my life. I think I will frame this one:
Nathan’s face is classic. Bottom-lip pout:
Well, I published something but since I'm a bit sucky at tech, it might just be in lala land, or hopefully, just waiting for approval. *big sigh*
🙂 oh, i hate when that happens!!! sorry friend… but thanks for the note anyway! always love to hear from you!
Hi, My Name is Maydelin, I found your blog trhough Kelly's Kroner!! I love everything about it, and that you're very clear about the adoption process!!!
Sylvie Looks like she has being with you all her life, and she seems happy!!!
thanks for sharing your life!!
thank you so much, maydelin, for the kind words :). happy you're here!!
So I have to say that it is very clear to me that Sylvie needed Charlotte to be here when she arrived in your house. I love how God works little miracles out like that amid all the struggle. Hugs girl!! And let me know when Sylvie is ready to play with my wild one. Jilly has asked several times about her.
YES! i remember when you first said that when i was expecting and i had never thought about things from that perspective. i now am in awe of how perfectly God planned this out…hmmm..it's like He knows what He's doing. ha! cannot even believe how wonderful it has been for both girls to have one another.
ok, Sylvie in that T-shirt brought tears to my eyes! God is SO good! So glad things are settling into your new normal. Love the outtakes from your porch shoot, you make me smile cause this is REAL life!
right?!! she is IN her shirt. i only have one pic of her in it in congo last summer and it made me so sad…but now she wears it all the time and i still cannot even believe this is all real. it's incredible. 🙂 yep, the outtakes are real life for sure!!
I am so glad you were able to get away and have some family time. Make sure you take lots of video now, while she is still speaking her french/lingala/English. I wish I would of taken more videos of Zalen b/c he phased out of his lingala so fast. He still has his accent though. I LOVE the family pictures!! Just the way they are. 🙂 I so do hope it works out for you to attend the Joy in the Journey retreat. Registration is beginning of October!! I would love to meet!!
oh my goodness- her english is expanding every single day. she blows me away!! i am trying to capture videos because i know i will miss this silly little language of hers and i'm already starting to see it fade away… it's pretty amazing. yes!! i definitely want to go… would love that:)
I am so glad you are are honest about the adoption process…..at this point I am just ready to have her home….but I need to be thinking and preparing my heart for the hard things that will come as well. Adoption begins with loss….but what a beautiful picture of what love, family, and God can do through the loss! Thanks for sharing.
i know exactly what you mean. you are just ready to be done with the wait. i know. i am so sorry. i'm stopping right now to pray for your family. and, praying that God uses this time of waiting to prepare your hearts and your daughter's heart for your family!
Love, love, love. I love your transparency, balanced with protecting your sweet girl and I so enjoy your blog, your family's story is absolutely incredible. God is good!
thank you so much!! i was just talking with our social worker last night for our first post placement visit (already!!?) about all of the details of our process and then of Sylvie's homecoming…we just both were in tears at how clearly God worked in her life. it was so awesome to just talk through it from the beginning and see His hand in all of the details. 🙂 He IS good!