Wednesday, November 19, 2014

My Brave Girl

It has been quite a week in Emma's life. She has used a soother right from day one although we tried to limit it to sleeping times only. She knew when she got out of bed that the soother had to go up on her dresser until the next sleep time and she was great about it. I have been wanting to take her off of it for a while but it seemed like things were always happening that postponed that...moving her to a big girl bed and her getting her two year molars were the two biggest things. I couldn't bring myself to take it away right when she needed some comfort and security.

Well, she has been in her big girl bed for a while now and is doing great in it and her two year molars are all in so it was time. Chad is away this week so I thought it would a good time in case there were some sleepless nights ahead. Just like when I took away her bottles I started preparing her a while before it actually happened. Explained why it was going away and when. I also prayed with and for her every night that she would have the strength, determination and courage that she needed.

Monday morning she got up and we went right to the garbage can. She had told me numerous times that she wanted to throw her soother away herself so I let her. The look on her face when she threw it away and then closed the door was one full of uncertainty and insecurity. I jumped in right away and told her how proud I was of her and how brave and strong she was and gave her a hug and kiss. Then I gave her a cuddle blankie that I made with pieces from the bumper pads from her crib. She loves the softness of the squares and uses them to help her go to sleep.


Then it was on with our day. We had music class that morning so I encouraged her to tell Miss Debbie her teacher what she had done and Debbie was great about encouraging her in it. She also called her Gramma when we got home. I wanted her to tell people because she is the type of little girl who needs reinforcing by people she loves and it just fills her heart right up. We went to Toys R Us that day as well to buy her a special stuffy and she picked out a giraffe. She loves giraffes.


She has done amazingly well without her soother! Her naps have been a breeze with no tears whatsoever. Her first two nights there were some tears but they didn't last long and she never once asked for her soother. Tonight she is settling in with no tears. She is quite the little girl. I had prepared myself for tears and meltdowns and lack of sleep but she has been so brave and strong. I love watching it happen and knowing that what she is learning now is going to help her later in life. To say I am proud of her would be an understatement!

I will admit that I shed a few tears over it all. My baby is gone and in her place is a beautiful little girl with a maturity and understanding beyond her age who loves deeply and has such a determined and strong spirit. The time is going by much too quickly. As I watch her I can't help but think of the coming years and wondering what they might hold for her and when and how that determination and strength will be called upon. I pray that when those times come I have done my job to prepare her and teach her Who strength comes from and Who will carry her through.

I am so proud of my little girl and so love watching who she is becoming.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Quick Update

For those of who you may be wondering how things are going with our next adoption I thought it was time to write another quick update.
Last month we met with our social worker to do our one year update. She just needed to know if there have been any changes to our home, finances, health etc. It was a very short visit but we got it all done.
I checked in with the agency this week and we are currently at number 42 with 6 couples ahead of us on hold. So we should be in the 30s soon which is great! Our profile also went out once in September which is encouraging.
And so we continue to wait and to trust and to hope and to pray.