Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Our spirited one!!

Jaili has had an amazing week. She has come along way from the baby we received 1 month ago in China. Everyday she shares something new with us. This week has had a few firsts which has been lots of fun. She snuggled with me for the first time last night. She started crying at around 3 or 4 so I picked her up and put her in bed with Shane and I. Her usual routine is to fight and roll away from us as I try to keep her close and no one usually gets much sleep although she does stop crying. Well this morning I picked her up layed her on my chest and she snuggled right into me and fell asleep. Even when she rolled to her side she still wanted me close beside her. What a fantastic feeling! Then when it was time to wake up first she cried then she gently reached up and started patting my face. I rolled her over to Shane and she looked at him and said BaBa several times until he looked at her and she gave him the biggest smile. She has grown leaps and bounds over the past week even. I know that she still has a long way to go and we may have some setbacks as I go back to work, but we are making definate progress. She is attaching to me more and more everyday and has kept up the attachment to Shane. We had our first post placement visit which went great and our wonderful social worker Kathie made me feel good to let me know that often times the little one has to attach to one parent first, but that Jaili seemed to be doing very well. I'm thinking that Shane and I are just about on equal ground with her now. She had her doctor visit yesterday and the poor girl not only had to have 4 immunizations but had to have her blood work drawn as well. She was NOT a happy camper. She is just a trooper though and was back to being her feisty self by bedtime. We will most likely hear about her blood work in a few days. We keep praying for her health. It is God's hands and I wouldn't want it anywhere else. I look at her and think she is just a miracle. How did Shane and I become so blessed? Each day we see a new light in her eyes and she is responding to us on a more intimate level now. I think she knows that she is home and we are never letting her go (at least I hope she knows this). Oh another first.. she saw her first snowfall today and she thought that it was pretty cool. She sat in the front window and laughed and played. It was the cutest thing. Of course I have pictures of it, I just haven't downloaded any yet. I hope all that are reading this feel the amount of love and blessings that God has brought to our lives. I have never birthed a child, so I cannot compare it with adoption. Adoption, especially on an international/racial level and adopting a child older than a newborn, is a totally different experience that you cannot explain adequately ( you just have to experience it for yourself). To me it is a perfect example of God's love for us all. Though there are difficulty's along the way I know that when we look into our daughter's eyes that she was ours from the moment the Lord knew her. Everytime we hold our beautiful sweet girl it just confirms God's plan and our plan for our lives. That we are not have our children biologically but from another women's womb and I would never want it any other way. It doesn't matter where our children come from they are all God's children and he has just chosen us to love them and guide them through life. Adoption is a miracle in itself and Jaili is just proof of that. Love to all and take care.

4 comments:

Mary said...

Reading your post brought back all the memories and emotions of when we were first blessed with Nathan. It is such a wonderful feeling and as the tears roll down my face, they are not tears of sadness, but only of joy. I'm so happy you've been able to experience those feelings! Jaili is just adorable! I love the new pictures!

John, Cristi, Leah, Lauren & Kate said...

Shane & Angel - we have thought of you guys so often since being home. Jaili looks so beautiful!! She looks like she is getting bigger. You guys are doing such an awesome job with her. I just had to post to let y'all know we are thinking of you and missing you! As a side note, Leah & Lauren now "play" Shane & Angel - really!!! Lauren is Shane and Leah is Angel - their little baby doll is Jaili. What an impact y'all made on our girls! :) They talk about you often and really enjoyed spending time with you! Well, know that we are thinking of y'all! PS: I've lost their email address so if you could email it to me that would be great!

B-Banshee said...

Congratulations to you all. I followed your journey to China, and was so excited for you when you were finally able to hold Jaili in your arms. She is so sweet. The photos and update that you have posted are wonderful. I will continue to check back often, hoping for more updates.
Aloha,
Bailey (Holt)
http://ladybug,komplexify.com

Lesa said...

Congratulations, she is beautiful!!!
Makes me want our Mylie NOW! It is going to be a while still.

Jali looks like a very happy baby.

Lesa Lambert