First Christmas

WOW, What a whirlwind. I should aplogise first thing because i have completely lost track of what people have bought for Caitlyn. When we got home we recieved some amazing welcome baby presents, and we tried to open those up right away, then we were also recieving christmas presents, those were hidden all over the house, and then we also were receiving frst birthday presents, those i tried to keep together at the top of my closet.... well, it sounded good, but here we are on the 29th and we are still finding presents, which seems to be just fine with Emma. we have opened gifts everyday for 4 days now.... Thanks to everyone who has reembered us at this time of year when things are so hectic with our families. we feel tuly treasured by you all.
For those who bought Emma dress up. you should know that we haven't been able to get her dressed into proper clothes for 4 days, when i ask her if she wants to get dressed she responded, "Mommy, why are you even asking me that" dumb question, we just spend the days rotating the dresses.

Christmas was amazing. in more ways than I will ever be able to describe. Caitlyn is truly remarkable. She is able to do things each day that she honestly was not able to do the day prior. She is almost walking, she can climb the stairs. she can put into her crib awake for her nap and bed time, she doesnt scream or have night terrors anymore, she doesnt cry when she wakes up, just starts to talk to herself. She is starting to use sign language for her bottle, and down from her high chair, i tried to teach her the sign for more, she instead decided to try to speak the word, 'mah' she refuses baby food, only wanting what we are eating throughout the day, some days she will refuse her bottle during the day as well. she is happy to be on the floor!!! up until 3 days ago, i could not put her down, i would caryy her around and when i needed to do something with two hands, i would put her down and listen to crying and whing and pulling at my leg until i could pick her up again, now, she is content and will look at me from across the room and give me big smiles. what a feeling. The first day this was happening, Emma told me that she needed to go to the bathroom and i decided to leave Caitlyn where she was (before this i was carrying Caitlyn into the bathroom with us and placing her on teh floor in front of the toilet and she would cry until Emma was finished and i was able to pick her up again) This day i left and Emma cried out, you forgot Caitlyn, she's goona cry, you need to pick her up. i told emma we were trying somenew things because Caitlyn is happy tolday. well, she did squak a little bit and Emma cried out "Spike... Spikey we are in here." it seems Caitlyn has been renamed. it has stuck. Everyone is now calling her spkie, (but to end the story, she started to crawl towards the bathroom, got distracted by a toy and never made it all the way and when Emma and I left the bathroom, she let out this giggle which she was so proud of herself., I cant beleive the changes in this little girl. she is amazing. I dont think that we know her true personality yet, she is letting us all in a little at a time, but let me tell you, she can melt your heart in an instant. I hope you all get the opportunity to come under her spell.

China has truly given us its greatest gifts, Love and Treasure.


How happy are we.