Almost 2 years together

Wow I cannot believe we have almost been a family of three for two years. They have been a wild ride. Chicklepea has continued to grow and heal with every passing day. We still have lots of bumps but we are now seeing more and more of what she is capable of.

Her attachment issues still plague her and we take 1 step forward and 10 back. We are committed to this little girl that we love with all of our hearts.

She is now 39inches tall and about 32 lbs. She loves preschool and her speech is improving more each day.

18 months together

Tomorrow will be 18 months together as a family. Time has really been speeding past. Lets see
chicklepea is now 3 going on about 13. She is about 32lbs and about 37inches tall. She is still very very skinny but long. Her language is much better and we are 1 year out past the palate surgery and her articulation is getting better slowly.

Her attachment issues are slowly getting better. I think we will have issue related to this for many years to come but her behavior at this point in time is getting better.

We are so in love with our sweet baby. I love to watch her sheer joy and love of life. She will just break out into a little dance, sing a song or spontaneous hugs. Our life was forever changed 18 months ago in Hohhot China and we could not be happier with our baby.

She loves to dance

DSC00661
Originally uploaded by ntpruett

She had her very first dance class the other day. We had some bumps and I had to go into the class with her and do everything the teacher did before she would calm down. But once she got the hang of it she loved it and had a great time. My only problem is she looks 3 going on about 6! Good grief where has my baby gone? Its times like these I want time to stand still and never take this sweet little girl from me.

How cute

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Originally uploaded by ntpruett

We cannot believe how big she is getting.

One year together

Yesterday was our one year anniversary. It has been the most incredible year. I cannot believe how far we have all come in the past year. I am so glad that my life did not follow the plan I had. I would never have met my wonderful husband or become the mother of such an incredible daughter.

Odds and Ends

Ok sorry so long for the post.
Went to the doctor because she had a bad cold and she is now 27lbs.
We have now finished the testing with the school system and hope to hear from them soon.
We have found what we hope is a great attachment therapist and maybe soon we will see some improvement in that area. We have been having huge problems with her behavior and attachment issues. Her night terrors are every single night multiple times a night. We love her so much and we have every hope she will be able to overcome her issues with help, love and prayer.

We are leaving for Disney on January 30th and are so excited and terrified! First flights since China.

We had a good bath tonight with NO crying all thanks to bath crayons!!!

We are less than a months from our 1 year anniversary as a family. This brings up lots of happy and sad emotions for all three of us. We always have her family in our thoughts but most especially at this time. It is hard to know how much to celebrate the anniversary of our first meeting tempered with the great sadness and loss our sweet baby endured on the same day.

Pictures of Chifeng SWI

I found a website that had pictures of Chifeng Swi after I saw a great video on this blog

If you scroll down the page you will see where they visited Chifeng. Click here


I am so grateful to be able to see more pictures of where Chicklepea spent 21 months of her life.

Pretty smile

Pretty smile
Originally uploaded by ntpruett

She is such a sweet little girl it hurts to look at her! She is not home today and I miss her!

10 months together as a Family!

I cannot believe it has already been ten months! It seems like just yesterday that N and I were in Hohhot. We were in that hot hotel room and they brought this terrified little girl into the room and I did not recognize her from her picture. Now granted her picture was 20 months old but it scared me that I did not think this was the right baby.

I cannot believe how far Chicklepea has come in the last 10 months!

• She can now go entire days with NO tantrums
• She is now 35 inches tall and 25 lbs.
• In the last week I have gotten 4 --2 word sentences. "Mo ookie" and "Mo milk"
• She is such a little spitfire!
• She has a quick temper which she will unleash on anyone close by
• The only pants that fit her skinny long torso body are gymboree 2T leggings
  
• She is now getting a little better about feeding herself
• No good news on the potty front yet
  
• The last 2 mornings she has rolled over and been very cuddly
• She is honestly getting to be the prettiest child to ever live!

• We cannot imagine our lives with out her in them!

Now the bad news is I might have to take one of my classes over in the spring and hope that chicklepea will start to play on her own a little more!!!

We are excited to spend our first Christmas as a family of 3.