Two Month Gotcha Anniversary

was this past Sunday, you know if Sunday had been February 29. Two months since
Layla decided taking a nap was better than dealing with me and all the changes
that were hitting her left and right while we drove to the Department of Justice
to finalize her adoption.

Two months since I laid her down in my bed at the Royal (thanks Nancy and Lisa
for that name) Hotel to put her down for a nap for the very first time. Until
Layla I had never laid a child down that was legally mine from our first day
together. With Layla coming home, the weariness from the system fell off my
back and the giddiness I felt when Jory was first placed in my arms returned
with bells on.

The baby that once slept to get away from me now cries or whimpers when she
hears my voice as I walk through the door, if I don't pick her up right away.
Layla has grown another quarter of an inch. Twenty-six inches is so within our
grasp, I can feel it unlike her teeth. James, the other baby on the trip with
us, is supporting top and bottom teeth and still nothing for us. Though the
lack of teeth hasn't stopped her from trying any and everything, including her
brother's shoes.

She has learned to shake her head no, which is great at meal times but other
times not so much. And staying true to form of her cousin, Kayla, and her big
sister, she doesn't like to smile in pictures taken professionally. She is
pulling up more and standing up for longer period of times. Becoming a feisty
one....I was teaching her to sign 'more," "please," and "thank you" as I fed her
soggy cheerios and when I went to put her hands together, she beared down on
them, making it difficult for me to have to remove her hands from her side to
sign "more."

Layla is holding her bottle like an old pro. Yesterday, her Oma said that she
reached for and put a piece of Oma's powered donut in her mouth. A first for
her. Go Layla!!! She's working on that pincer grasp. Her hair is growing and
we've actually had to give away some six month clothing. My precious baby girl
is growing and thriving right before my eyes.

On Sunday, we went to church with Aunt Dee Dee and Uncle Stan and the guest
pastor was speaking how his seminary school in Africa had just decided to build
the dormitories they so desperately needed, even though they didn't have the
money for it, but they knew God would provide. As I held Layla I completely
identified at what Pastor Nick and the seminary school were about to embark
on...this step of faith...knowing God told you to move ahead when "wise" men
would tell you not to. Taking that step and trusting in God to lead the way
leads to such a glorious and wonderful rewards. The journey may not always be
easy, but the pot of gold at the end - - PRICELESS.



A baby at play. And, yes, that is the most powerful man in the universe.