An update

We took the kids to LaFortune Park in Tulsa Wednesday night. They have some awesome playgrounds, lots of shade, families all around playing and walking their dogs. It was a beautiful night and all three kids loved it.

I suspected Katelyn would love the place. If she can climb it, she does. If she can hang from it, she does. If she can go across it, she does. The playground was perfect for her.

Love her sweet face.

Rarely catch the smile, but it was definitely easier at the playground. She just couldn't help herself!

Mooooooom!

Think she likes the slide? lol

My baby about to be 12.

My other monkey.

Everything is going pretty well. She gets overwhelmed if we do too much or see too many people at once. Andy and I are getting better at reading her and preventing her from being stressed. It makes it better for everyone. 

In my unprofessional opinion, she is exhibiting many things I read about in adoption books. But this sweet girl is so brave, and so good at just trusting us, and rolling with it, I'm really amazed by her. I swear that if I was her, I'd be in the corner rocking back and forth. lol But she is so smart and so courageous and we are thankful for her every. single. day. 

We prep her before every activity or visitor. We explain it all the best we can and sometimes she flat out tells us no, and sometimes she nods in agreement. She takes a bit to warm up, but once she does, it goes pretty well. I think she is doing a little "fake it 'til ya make it" and does what she thinks you are supposed to do. Meet a relative? Say hi and offer a hug. Going to bed? Give hugs and politely say goodnight. And I love her for it. She's trying and doing her very, very best. 

Other times, she says no to something, or shrugs her shoulders as if she really doesn't care to bother with it, and I get that. 

We've finally made it clear that she doesn't have to clean her plate. She knows to eat what is filling, and that she will always have access to a snack or drink later, and another meal when it's time. I am sure she was never denied food or made to eat everything, I just think it was one way she tried to do what is "expected" and what she thought would please us. I'm really glad she  understands it's okay to stop eating when she's full. :) It's the little things!

Family time

What a whirlwind!

Thanks to the generosity of my sister, we've been able to just hang out here at her house...she's gone almost all the time and we've been able to start this whole new family gig. It's hard to be in the middle of a move and be away from your own home and routine. But this is definitely the next best thing and we're very thankful.

Katelyn has met most of the extended family and it's gone well. She isn't shy. She is so trusting with us. We pack her up and take her places. We visit new people..and she just rolls with it. We try to tell her beforehand each time and she seems to nod and agree. But it still must be a little crazy from her viewpoint.

Most of the time, if we go anywhere around 4 or 5 in the afternoon, she ends up doing this while we're on the turnpike.

We went to OKC yesterday to get her enrolled in DEERS (the military database). She is officially a dependent in the family now. Fun to complete yet another piece of the puzzle. 

We also saw the amazing B. family. I love them so much. They will be moving soon and so I will no longer get my Wendy fix when we're in Oklahoma. Her youngest and Katelyn have become fast friends and they are pretty cute together. Just love it! It stinks they're leaving... :(

It's been fun discovering the things that are new to Katelyn. Yesterday she saw me put in my earrings. She was very curious so I took one out and showed her again. As I stuck the wire into the hole in my ear, she gasped out loud. lol Then immediately gestured that she wants to wear earrings too. Oh you will sweet girl, you will! 

She also insisted on using bobby pins to pin her bangs back. I do it a lot myself and use two bobby pins. I used one and fixed her hair as requested..then she said "No, mommy, no...two!" Yes ma'am!

And twice she has called Andy "Andy." She does it with a totally impish grin on her face. She's too smart for her own good! lol

Today, we've kept it low key and just hung around the house. They boys started a "war" with their plastic guns and soon, Katelyn joined in. The laughter and giggles are awesome. Sitting here while they run around, shooting, fake dying, and arguing about whether or not they got hit....heaven. 

The pre-battle conference.

Mom, I don't have time to stop for a picture!

She giggles when she fake dies.

And as a victor.

Her English is coming right along. She keeps saying "Ah-me" over and over. We don't know specifically what it means but she uses it to get our attention, show us something, go somewhere etc... we just keep saying telling her to say "Look" or "help please" or whatever the case may be. 

Once again I want to say how blessed we feel. God has been part of this process from the beginning. As it so often happens, we can look back and we see time and again how He worked things. It's humbling...and cool. It's just so awesome to be part of this. And we are very grateful. 

We've had a couple of busy, fun days. Katelyn has quite the personality and she makes it all so fun. She's had a few impetuous moments. She decided today she doesn't mind simply telling us "no." We also know that once we engage in that, we can't lose. Ever.

She will put her foot down, clearly say no, and occasionally throw in a few words of Mandarin. It tickles me each time because I'd bet money she's NOT saying something sweet and loving..I wish I knew what she's thinking!

But so far, we give her the stern look, and the stern voice, and she complies. She's just testing it all out and we expect it. But she's a little naughty and anyone who knows me, knows that this is EXACTLY how I like 'em! Her personality is pretty big and I am so thrilled to know we can watch her blossom as she grows up as our daughter. What an honor!

We try to give her choices each day on what to wear, which shoes to choose, what breakfast to eat, etc.. we want her to feel like she has some measure of control in this process. She's constantly putting things in order, straightening something that's crooked, moving Matt's hair out of his eyes, correcting me when I color with her, etc....lol. My sister pointed out that when you have no control over pretty much anything else in your life, it makes sense that she would try to maintain a sense of order in her surroundings.

Our baby girl is just so smart. She remembers things after seeing or talking about them once. She remembers the routes to and from places after going there just once. She remembers most words and phrases after hearing them once. Just in the 5 days we've had her, she's speaking more, asking more questions, and then reapplying what she's learned to similar situations. It's truly fascinating for the teacher inside me.

She's spent a great deal out on her scooter. Her knee has been introduced to the cement a time or two, but she toughs it out and a bandaid and some TLC makes it much better.

Not only have they all been riding scooters, we've colored, blown bubbles, put puzzles together, painted fingernails and toenails, played monkey-in-the-middle, and shot basketballs. 

She got to go shoe shopping yesterday and that was quite fun. She has definite opinions about what she likes. We wanted to get her some flip flops, sandals, tennis shoes, and slip on shoes. We'd suggest a certain sandal and she would only half try to put it on...then shrug her shoulders like "oh well." Then she'd spy a glittery, shiney, lights-up-if-you-look-at-it, high top shoe and no matter what size the display was, she'd jam her foot into it and exclaim "Mommy, YES! I like, I like!"

We eventually settled on 4 pairs of shoes and her daddy even came along to help. 

She's quite "bouncy" as my sister says. Katelyn doesn't just walk room to room..and it's not necessarily a run, she's just bouncy! She goes 90 miles an hour most of the time, but then there are those times when she'll sit still in your lap, let you paint her nails, replace her bandaids, etc.. and she's just so, so, so sweet. 

Ornery, sweet, funny, obstinate, bossy, giggly, brave, stoic, and dramatic. Our Katelyn.

OOOOOOklahoma where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain

We made it!

We are all so happy to be here. I cannot say enough wonderful things about all three of the kiddos. Flying from Taipei to Oklahoma is no easy feat. It's a long, long day and they were simply fabulous! They never complained, and the boys are so sweet and good to their new sister. We were continually told how well behaved they were. Flight attendants, people we ran into while out and about,  people at AIT when we went to get her Visa. They all commented on our boys. I was very proud of them.

And Katelyn...I mean, she knows what's happening and why, but to be thrown headlong into an overseas flight, with this American family, what a lot to process! But she never complained. She was obviously sick of the planes (just like the rest of us), but she did it.

We arrived in Tulsa about 5:00 and we were greeted by some of my most favorite people. My mom and dad, sister, her boyfriend and his kids, my nephew and his wife, and Wendy and her (almost) baseball team. They drove from OKC with impending storms and tornados and were part of the welcome wagon. Signs, balloons, hugs, and kisses.

When you adopt, at least when I do, you imagine the homecoming. And then when you're in the middle of finalizing the plans, and then when you're there, you hope and imagine that it will be something special when you come back home, but you have no time or input on if that will happen. You want that memory for yourself, and for her. And my family and friends made that happen and it made my whole day! I am very thankful.

We got home and brought in all 67 suitcases (or so it seemed) and just let her explore. She loved the big yard, the house, and even the dogs. She loved that water comes directly out of the fridge door, and that the rocker/recliners rocked. We went out front to see the lightening show that was all around and she decided to run back into the house. That's how she learned there is a glass storm door. Poor girl ran smack into the thing, nose print and all. Welcome to America!

But all three kids got some good sleep and are enjoying just being here. Today she asked Andy about Mey-Fey? And Andy said "oh, you mean Murphy?" She smiled and nodded yes, Murphy...then rolled her eyes at herself and laughed and repeated "Mey-Fey" in an "oh geez" kind of way. So cute!

So, with hand gestures, Google Translate (that can be amazingly helpful, or totally interfere by not quite translating it right), and lots of repeating, we are managing.

I was helping her prepare for bed and I asked if she was happy. She smiled SO big and said "oh yes." And it melted me. Again.

Love her!!!