Best ever Christmas!

A baby changes everything and how blessed we were sharing our first Christmas with Jailyn.  Finally our family was complete for the holidays.   It has been quite an eventful Christmas week.  Jailyn loved Christmas and is now an expert at unwrapping gifts.   Not to say she might have been just a bit spoiled.  She was a trooper missing naps and getting over the Thornbury cold.  We caught it early and it went into her first ear infection however it has not kept her down at all.   We have had 5 Christmas celebrations at our home in the past week.   Christmas eve we had the Thornbury side of the family at our home.  Then Christmas morning in our Pj's with Jailyn.  Christmas afternoon with the Comley side of the family.  Tuesday a party with Jailyn and my Mary Kay family and today Christmas with Katie and Billy who spent Christmas with Billy's folks in NJ. Christmas day was the best by far when Santa came and we video taped it and Jailyn was not quite sure what was up that morning.   I was so excited for her and as we walked out of her room my eyes welled up with tears knowing this was the first of many Christmases and a holiday I longed to celebrate with her.  We were able to Skype with Scott while she opened gifts.   It was very special with him being a part of our Christmas morning and being a world away in Japan.  Next year we hope to have the entire family home.  Jailyn got so many things from Santa and Mike and Me, lots of kitchen supplies, tea party set, her Chinese American girl ittty bitty baby I have had for 2 years, learning refrigerator ABC magnets, her first hand held Fisher Price electronic reader, Beauty and the Beast dolly, Baby Einstein videos to learn more sign language, darling clothes of course from Gymboree......Scott sent her a Barbie quad bike which she is warming up too.  The battery powered quad takes off and startles her a bit but she giggles and likes it just for a short ride.  Then both sides of the family totally spoiled her with more gifts and big sis and brother spoiled her rotten today with a a baby laptop, cleaning set she loves, clothes, dolly, videos......  Mike and I had very little sleep Christmas eve with the clean-up and prep for the next celebration and our own Christmas morning preparations and Jailyn being over stimulated and up 2 hours that night with night terrors.  The morning was so special as I stated before and then I broke down with tears of joy two more times Christmas day feeling so much joy, love and happiness in my heart.  The holidays for the past 7 years had been terribly difficult emotionally and that is No more!!!!!!  Woohoo!!!!!   I had the best Christmas present ever the gift of being Jailyn's mom on Christmas and seeing her so happy.   I love her so much and Mike even more as he is an incredible father to Jailyn.  I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams with so much love and incredible family and friends.  Mike and Jailyn complete me.  So here are some photos from our Christmas.
With love and a grateful Heart,
Linette

Christmas morning break from opening presents to have her morning bottle!

Checking out what Santa brought Jailyn Christmas Morning!

Reading the paper with Daddy a morning ritual with our love roses for Christmas on the table another Tradition Mike does for our family.

Jailyn with her Big panda she got from Uncle Bill.

In her Christmas Tree Pants I could not resist to buy Jailyn to wear!

Katie her big sister who spoiled Jailyn!

Katie, Billy and Jailyn Christmas 2011!

Mommy, Daddy and Jailyn, - Our Family Christmas 2011!

Jailyn with Grandma Fattig!

Love this photo of Jailyn Christmas morning talking to Scott on Skype in Japan.

Our tired baby girl Christmas Morning getting ready to open all her presents.

Merry Christmas! Such a Happy Christmas for Jailyn and our family!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHLGdxmkf4w

This video was posted on my facebook by a girlfriend from my Christ Renews Group.  Thank you Brenda!  Mike and I wept as we watched especially after 3 minutes into the song and thought it was important to share with all my blogging friends and family.  Get your tissues ready!  You will have to click on image if blog does not let you watch on this site.  Click on the you tube and it play on You tube.  You will want to scroll down to the bottom of  my blog and turn the play button off the music on my sight.

Merry  Christmas!
Mike, Linette & Jailyn 

17 months old today!!!!! 6 months together!!!!!

Happy December!  Wow has the past few weeks flown by in the Thornbury household.  Life is happening and been busier than ever.  I have our Christmas photos to share and it was so special to have our picture as a family for the very first time.  It has finally happened after all these years of wanting a child and to start setting traditions and sharing the holidays.  I was so emotional on the way to our photo shoot and Jailyn hammed it up and we got so many great pictures.   It is going to be a very special Christmas at our home. Still so much shopping, wrapping, parties and celebrations with friends and family to come.  It will be so much fun with Jailyn!!!!   Can't wait!

So Thanksgiving flew by and then we lost Bob Fattig, our step father in law, Nov 29.  He was suffering from liver cancer and his time came.  It happened the busiest week I have in my MK business and the week was full of challenges for us all.  We were blessed with tremendous help from family and friends through the funeral visitation and my Mary Kay Open House weekend which happened all the same weekend.  We kept Jailyn away from all the funeral arrangements as there was no need to take our baby girl in that environment.   Recently she has had some night terrors as she still is processing the grief and emotions of the change over the past 6 months.    She is very bonded to us and struggles when I leave her.  We are very protective of who watches her and where she goes.   She is so smart and learning so much.  She mimics us, dances anytime music comes on, sings, pretends to talks on her cell phone and starting to say words.  Needless to say Bob's passing emotionally rocked our world.   We both got stressed and did not feel well and been out of sorts however we are on the mend and had a lazy day today with Jailyn (just what we needed to slow down,) Mike as the eldest son has been helping his mom through all the challenges of Bob's passing.   Mike is so good getting matters taken care of and guiding his mom.  We know Bob is at peace and we will miss him dearly.  We were so glad he was able to meet Jailyn and he just loved her smile and her visits while he was sick.   Rest in peace Bob and we will celebrate the love and the memories.

On a happy note Scott is off the carrier and in Japan and will be coming home to the states in Feb or March  and we have skyped and so glad he is not in harms way on the carrier for the holidays.  Katie and Billy had an ugly sweater Christmas party this passed weekend and it was a blast.   It was a happy time for the Thornbury's after all the heaviness of Bob's passing.  Jailyn had so much fun and Katie and Billy have made their new home their home for the holidays (quite festive).  It looks fabulous and so happy they rented their condo and were able to purchase a home in West Chester closer to both of their work.  They will spend Christmas with Billy's family in New Jersey and be with us after Christmas to celebrate Jailyn's first Christmas.

Enjoy the photos!  Happy 17th month Birthday and First Christmas Ever, Jailyn!!!  The best is yet to come!!! We love you so much!!!!

Merry Christmas!

Linette

Just so blessed and the best 1st Thanksgiving with Jailyn!

 Jailyn's First Thanksgiving happy as can be and looking cute in her Purple Dress with a Big Smile!

 Tired Baby girl after having Two Thanksgiving festivities!

Playing with Grandma Comley!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!!!!  We have been so touched by the out pouring of love and support on our journey to Jailyn and it just keeps getting better and better.  We are so thankful for all our family and friends.  We are blessed beyond our wildest dreams.  Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving and celebrate the blessings!

We received the nicest most meaningful gift from our incredible attorney, Sue Gilkey at Rosenacker Law Office (who rocks if you ever need an attorney).   Sue was on board with us through our endless paperwork journey from the beginning to now.  We met with her this past week and Sue surprised us with a gift.  She took all our photos off our blog and made a DVD montage of our journey.  Every time I watch it I cry.  You know it has been like a dream these past 5 months with Jailyn and so special.  All the challenges we faced and face just make life with our new baby girl even sweeter and more special.   I love the photos to music and it touches my heart all the way down deep in my soul.  Truly our happiness has been found in the journey.   Thank YOU Sue and everyone at Rosenacker Law Office for the DVD and being on our journey with us.  

I love Thanksgiving because Mike and I met on Thanksgiving 14 years ago and it has been a special holiday for us over the years celebrating the night we met.    However our first Thanksgiving with Jailyn was perfect.  We still have a whole weekend full of family fun still to come.  Last night we spent some time with our neighbors and she was a big hit with them and quite entertaining,  Jailyn is so social and loves people and so happy to be included in all the fun we have.   Today was action packed lunch at my brother's home with my family and then home for family nap time and then to Mike's Dad.  Tomorrow we go to Tewes Turkey farm for our Turkey for our Thanksgiving dinner at our home with Katie and Billy on Saturday and will get the house decorated for Christmas.  Saturday Jailyn will goto her first Breakfast with Santa at St.I's.  Sunday will be shopping and Mike is headed to the Bengals game with clients.

I love the long Thanksgiving weekend and we have plenty of time to begin Christmas preparations. I can't wait to celebrate with Jailyn her first Christmas and see the holidays through her eyes and her smile that lights up her world and ours too.  So blessed and so excited as the holidays approach......

With love and Thanksgiving for all the blessings,

Linette

16 months old today and 5 Blessed months with Jailyn!

Wow I sit and marvel at Jailyn and tears come to my eyes she is 16 months old and has been with us now 5 months.  She is beautiful, happy, healthy and brings so much love and joy to our home.  It has been a few weeks since my last post.  I went out of town for 28 hours and it rocked Jailyn's world.  Daddy and Jailyn did great together however Jailyn regressed a bit with the fear she had lost her mommy and was clingy and always wanted to be held and was not lovey dovey for the first 24 hours when I returned .  It took three days and we are back to normal.  She does amazingly well with her sitter and family on the nights I work.  They love her like family and we could not be happier to be blessed with Colleen and her family helping us.  Mike and I are still adjusting as the life we knew with the freedoms and independence we had is no more.  It is all about Jailyn and we will slip a few dates in here and there.  I started reading a book about the connected child about bonding and attachment.  Jailyn is a sensitive child and very anxious (still hates having  her diaper changed) and I believe that stems from the neglect of being left in her cradle and who know why the diaper changing is such an issue.  We believe they may have started potty training her since she tends to sing when she pees and that is something the Chinese people do to train the babies to pee on command.    So we will see if singing on the potty will work for us.  I am enjoying the shopping for my baby girl everything is so cute and with the holidays coming Jailyn will be stylin and pretty darn cute.  Her personality bubbles over and is just a happy girl with the biggest smile that melts our hearts.  Looking forward to all the fun the holidays have instore for us and giving our child the best 1st Christmas ever.
Blessed and so thankful to be Jailyn's mommy,
Linette

Halloween and Fall Fun Fest Pumpkin carving

Jeremy(Alyssa's Dad)  with our little Chinese Princesses

Daddy and Jailyn with her first Pumpkin Daddy carved for her!

Our little Princess!

Lynelle (Alyssa's mommy) with the girls.

The family pumpkins!!!!

Trick or Treat in her stroller!

Jailyn with our silly neighbors Connie and Joe Cullen.

Mommy and Jailyn

Just so tired after Trick or Treat in my Sherpa Princess Chair!

After Trick or Treat she plopped in front of the TV.

Our little princess playing with her glowing wand!

Well as you can see my blog has a simple new look.  Unfortunately there was an error in my design elements and all the images went away.  It is what it is however all the contents from 2008 to now are stored and now we will go with this simple look.   As I continue to update our lives with Jailyn as she grows up and all the fun events we share in this life together.  Checkout our fun Halloween and Pumpkin carving photos!!!  Our first Halloween was special for Jailyn and Mommy.  She melted my heart and we video taped the process of getting ready and afterwards too.  She totally knew what she was about to do since she had watched Ni Hao Kai-lan trick or treat over and over on her Halloween Video.   She got so much candy from the neighbors and she blew kisses to everyone as we left each house.  We love it!

Happy Fall Y'all!
Linette

Zoo and 15 month Dr. appt!!!! Jailyn is growing like a weed!!!!

                                                                                  Holding hands at the zoo!

Photo opportunity in the Frisch's Pavilion.

Daddy's their baby girl!

Just a little princess picking up leaves.

I'm cute!

These girls are BFF's and just figuring it out!  Love this photo!!!!

Well my blog is having technical difficulties and hope to resolve this week.  Went to the doctors on Oct 17 and Jailyn is 30 inches tall (I swear her feet just grew an inch - had to get big girl shoes from Stride Rite) and almost weighs 20 lbs.  She is in the 5-10 percentile for weight, 50 percentile in height and 25 percentile for head size.  She got more shots, Prevnar, and the first dose of the flu shot that had her running a fever bit however it was just that night.  Her teeth are still breaking through her gums and she has crying fits a couple times a week.  She has 16 teeth just have to get them in completely and I think we are good until the 2 year molars.  She got her hair cut in a cute bob.   Colleen cut her hair and she looks darling.  She graduated from mom and me swimming and MOM is thrilled that is over.  A 15 month old is all over the place in the locker room and in the pool.  She had fun and learned to blow bubbles, reach for toys in the pool and go off the side of the pool.

We went to Hallow Zoo Ween with Lynelle, Jeremy and Alyssa and had fun with the girls.  Alyssa was Minnie Mouse and Jailyn was Princess Belle. See our pictures of the fun last Sunday.

Beautiful Day at the Pumpkin Patch

Wow We just love fall! We have had two fabulous weekends enjoying fall festivities with Jailyn. We went to Shaw Farms in Milford. They do a great job with a free festival and it was packed. Jailyn took in everything and got her first pumpkin (actually 2 little ones) and got to listen to a live band in a barn (and dance and clapped) and saw lots of farm animals. I have fun pictures from our windy day at the pumpkin farm festival.

You know it truly takes time to change and so much has happen in the past four months and I feel we are in new normal lifestyle with Jailyn. She does the cutest things and so active and ready to start running now that she is walking so much better. She is 15 months old and goes for her 15 month check up and will be interested to know how much she has grown.

Mike and I were able to have a dress up dinner 10th Anniversary date a Morton's Steakhouse while Katie and Billy watched Jailyn. They had a pizza night and played while we were out for a few hours. I love date night with my honey!!!!! Mike told me the past 10 years he has been the happiest ever and I ditto that! I told him let's go at least for another 40 years of happiness! It only gets better and I know the best is yet to come!

Next week we goto Happy Zoo ween and then a Pumpkin carving party with family and Halloween is here.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Fall O ween at Coney Island

Well time is passing quickly our baby girl has been with us 4 months and turning 15 months Oct 11! She has come so far however still realizing how behind she really is. Everything is so new and she is taking alot in as she explores her world. She is walking and still teething. It is pretty amazing the child who could barely roll over is crawling, walking, talking (alot of baby talk) and still bonding with us. She has recently been having some anxiety waking up screaming. We are not sure if it is those big ole molars breaking through or fears we will not be there for her. We went to the park and she is so afraid of new things and freaked out in a swing. In our mom and me swim classes so many of the younger babies are so much further than she which breaks my heart that no one worked with her the first 11 months except to take care of her basic needs. She is amazing how far she has come and we are letting her be a baby still and helping her learn and explore her world. We went to the Fall O Ween event at Coney Island this weekend and she took it all in and trick or treated for the first in her stroller with mom and dad and watched a Monster Mash show she loved all the music, singing and dancing and road the carousel with her mom. It was a special moment between Jailyn and me on the carousel to have my baby girl initially terrified and then was so happy and loved the up and down of the horse. It brought tears to my eyes to see her transform her fear to happiness and joy. She laughed and screamed and love it. All those things I have longed to do with my baby are becoming reality. She is a doll (not to mention the prettiest baby ever and in her Belle costume she melts your heart) and is such a good little girl and we are so happy to take her to all the fall events. We will be so blessed to have her here for the holidays when those times in the past have been terribly difficult during our wait over the years. All of that grief is gone and the love is filling our world though still a bit rocked as we are still transitioning from our independent lifestyle we had as just husband and wife and now as a family. We celebrated our 10th anniversary on a date without Jailyn for the first time away for 5 hours. We did a couples massage and dinner and could get used to that on a more regular basis (date night). However still staying close as the bond is getting stronger and we don't want to have set backs. See our pictures from Coney Island and Jailyn in her Belle Princess costume and enjoying her first lolly pop.