Week one at home

I can't believe that we have only been home one week.  It feels like a lot longer than that.  The week started off rough.  Kate was not her normal happy self, and between the two of us there where lots of tears.  She would not (and still at times will not) let me take two steps away from her.   The first few days home were very hard- between us being jet lagged, Kate being so clingy, and me just wanting to hold my sweet boy I had been away from for so long- we were a mess around here.  Each day has gotten better and better though.  Kate will let me leave her side from time to time now- more and more each day.  My sweet friends have been amazing. Between bringing over meals, coming over to play, and planning play dates to get us out of the house- I have felt well loved.  And of course our parents have been beyond wonderful- I am soooooooo thankful that they live so close to us.  All in all- things have gone so much better than I thought they would.  Brett has been AMAZING!!  He is so sweet to her- wants to see her first thing in the morning, makes sure she has her food before he has his, tells me to hold her if she is crying, etc.  He really has been the best big brother.  We have had a few melt-downs- but only a few.  I am so proud of him.  It is so fun to see the two of them together. 

So far this week Kate has had her first Mexican (which she loved), we met friends for Dunkin Doughnuts, had a play date at our house, went to Target (got to start her off right!), went to story time at Barnes and Noble, gone on a play date at the park (where my girl ate 3 pieces of pizza!!!!), met her cousins, and gone to the library.  She is very social and loves to be on the go- so we have been out almost every day.  I really am amazed at how well she is doing considering all that she has been through the past three weeks.  Yet another assurance of how well she was loved her first two years of life.  We are so blessed.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers- please continue praying for us as we get used to being a family of four.  Please especially pray for Kate- EVERYTHING that she once knew has been taken away from her- nothing is familiar- no sounds, scents, faces, food, etc.  I can't imagine what that is like for a 2 year old.  She is doing wonderful, but I can tell that she is still grieving at times.  Pray for her and for wisdom for us in how to comfort her. 

One of the signs that my sweet mom made to welcome Kate home

Not only did my amazing friends come greet us at the airport at 10pm, they also came back to our house and lit all of these luminary bags to welcome us home- and stayed to pray for us.

Playing in the backyard on the first day home

Meeting her cousins

Kate's first photo shoot- she is SO MUCH EASIER than Brett to photograph- she will actually sit in one place and smile for more than .2 seconds.

I posted one more post below...