14 Month Photo Shoot - Jailyn & Mommy

Blessed to be Jailyn Mommy!

Wow how time has flown by and Jailyn is just so amazing to watch.......Ever had one of those turning point moments where the world stands still for a moment. So many times it happens while watching Jailyn and feeling the love, joy and happiness as the world stands still. I have been on my own with Mike traveling for a week for pleasure and work and staying busy with family and friends. However I have been in awe of Jailyn and thoroughly have enjoyed our time just the two of us together. I stop to marvel at Jailyn so many times and look at me and realize I am a mom after 8 long years and the 5 1/2 yr wait for Jailyn (which was so worth the wait). I am so blessed to be Jailyn's mommy. It has really sunk in I am finally a mom and yes it has been 14 weeks and the new reality has emotionally taken time and setting in and loving it. Getting her and transitioning and just being in survival mode was the norm for a while and it is living life now and getting into a routine and taking in every moment. Mike and I have had big changes and challenges making the change as our lives are completely different. We are now able to live (learning how to live again) and not be on hold and finding our way as new parents and our next adventure of building a house..... We are doing a great job as parents as it is shown all over Jailyn's face. She is so happy and to think we were picked to be her mom and dad. WOW it still blows my mind!!!! We serve an awesome God whose timing was so perfect.

Going back to work part time and finding the balance was such a challenge and then I had to really look at my priorities and has to be totally Mike and Jailyn and not so much work anymore. When you have been a workaholic as a survival mechanism it is like a drug withdrawal.....but letting go more and more and liking the balance. Mike and I need more time together and feel we will be able to take more time now for some date nights.....as she is thriving and does very well with family and her care giver watching her in the home. Mike and I celebrate our 10th anniversary Oct 7 and looking forward to some time alone with him just the two of us. I love him so much and so very proud of him. He is a wonderful man full of love and very talented and is celebrating 25 years with Quaker. I am so blessed to have an amazing husband who provides for us and I love so much and get to share life with.... More blessings I am so thankful for......

You know, YOU have to celebrate life and live in the present moment as if it was the last. Live fully present, love deeply, reach for your hopes and dreams to make them a reality, enjoy the journey, and love God with all your heart and share His love. Because life is so fleeting and in a blink of an eye can change.

See our beautiful happy baby girl pictures in her new comfy chair and playing at home in her cute new fall outfit. I love shopping and buying all the cutest little outfits for Jailyn. I love being a Wife, MOM and being ME!!!!

Just so blessed beyond my wildest dreams!!!!

14 Months old and 3 wonderful months together!!!!

More milestones....It has now been lucky 13 weeks together = 3 months and she is now 14 months old! Time is flying by.....With the anniversary of Sept 11 we are reminded how precious time is with the ones we love as life can be so fleeting....many times I often remember our time before Jailyn and how different our lives are now...... So much more love our little girl has brought into our lives and how wonderful to see her life expand and her little light shine bright with so much newness and excitement in her eyes. She is so happy and just precious and getting ready to take off walking on her own (she takes three steps and gives in) and jibber jabbering all the time. It is so darling to hear her in the morning or after nap time playing and talking and having so much fun in her crib. We have overcome night time with little crying now for a couple of weeks and she can play in her crib and soothe herself and be okay. Woohoo! Some nights we still have challenges however not on a daily basis.

Well I am back to work on a part time basis....I had a much harder time than Jailyn. Last Tuesday before Colleen came over and when I was rocking her to sleep I starting crying and could not stop. I could not believe the tears and a mother's love I have for my baby girl. I enjoy working however just did not want my baby to suffer in any way and cause anymore pain of feeling abandoned. Jailyn did great and I was just emotionally exhausted and felt so out of sorts getting back into the saddle. It was nice to be back with my consultants and re-connecting with customers. However I am taking it slow and will not get back in the swing of things 100% until October. Jailyn needs her mom and dad and I am thankful Mike has stayed close to home this past Tuesday and will tomorrow. It was a busy short week and we attended the Families with Children from China Autumn Moon festival and spent it with Jeremy, Lynelle and Alyssa. It was fun and we look forward to many more memories with them. I am so glad we found eachother and have our lives to share in raising our daughters. See the pictures from the festival and Jailyn holding her lantern Mom made for her in to carry during the parade at the event.

We went to Children's Hospital today and her hearing checked out to be perfect so there is no concern the perforated eardrum caused any hearing loss. She did well with the audiologist and did not like it at first but they played with her and made it fun and of course the mum mum treat was the reward. Tonight we did our 3 month visit with the social worker for post placement reports for China. Only two more times to meet and we are finished with all the adoption requirements. We have another post placement in Jan and June! I think we need to have a celebration next summer. I have such an intolerance for paperwork now and very little patience after using it all up on the wait for Jailyn....

Enjoy the photos from the Autumn Moon Festival.

Jailyn's first hair cut!

Well it is September and time is flying by.....Jailyn needed her hair trimmed and Colleen one of my best girlfriends who is a hairdresser trimmed her hair. Once again she was so good and had her mum mums and baby gold fish on hand to keep her happy as Colleen trimmed her hair. Colleen will be Jailyn's care giver on Tuesday and Thursday so I can work those days. They are already buddies and I know will do great together. I feel so blessed and comfortable having Colleen and her family with Jailyn at our home and out in about as needed. See the before, during and after photos. She looks so grown up with her hair trimmed. I am excited I feel like it is back to school in our home as I am heading back to work and excited to get back to my business and make it work as my goal was always to be a work from home momma. Enjoy the photos. Happy Labor Day weekend!