:)

Pure joy is rocking my little lady to bed on her birthday.  

Oh my... it is so fun.  

Kyle and I sometimes do a group hug thing with her and pray together at night.  She looks and listens when we thank God for family members.  She gets an expression on her face of confusion and contentment at the same time when we love on her.  It makes my heart soar!  It is awesome to experience Willow letting her guard down and allowing herself to be loved.  She teaches me how to do the same.

Her birthday weekend was just perfect!!!  We had immediate family over to celebrate, and it was right up Willow's alley.  Elmo, flowers, music, the love of family, a sand box, Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets, swinging, sliding, rice, fruit, grilled corn, cake, laughter, bubbles, balloons, toys, and banana pudding (for the first time).  What a divine evening!  

I have a million pictures from various family members and from us as well.  Here we go!

We started the day with pancakes and eggs.  She will take more eggs please and doesn't need more pancakes!

Right before nap.  You can see birthday items in the background

We found pictures of us celebrating turning two!

After a nap she came down to discover her present from Daddy and Mama!  Kyle tried to be quiet-ish while putting it together!

She thoroughly enjoyed all of her favorite foods!

I think because we had recently watched Frozen, she got very surprised and excited by the snow man character on this banner!

She wanted to take a picture!

He tried feeding her a Kyle sized bite.  That didn't work.  Cut off a tiny piece and she was good!

Fun things!

Bubbles before bed!

Aren't my siblings adorable?  ;)

Her aunts played with the makeup toy with her.  (Now maybe we won't lose any more of my makeup!!)

Willow's great grandfather, Qua Qua, signs her birthday book.  All of the guests signed!

Thanking everyone and saying good night!

I am 2!

After a wonderful evening, she took her bath and did her normal night time routine.  I felt so sentimental to read this book to her for the last time as a one year old!  It's a beautiful story about adoption and the love of both of her mothers for her.  Willow always wants to read it.  I mean, she begs to read it EVERY single time we sit to read.  

Good morning!  You are officially 2 now!  Let's go eat some more!

Because she was sick on Friday when Kyle took off work, we decided to go to the aquarium on her actual birthday instead.  (Don't go there on a weekend day, FYI!)  It didn't matter that we were all claustrophobic and she missed a nap.  (Two year olds don't need them, right?). We saw fish and sharks, star fish, turtles, and stingray!  What could be better?!  Nothing, in Willow's book.

Peek-a-boo, turtle!

Starting to yawn...

In the shark tunnel...

Touching a starfish...

Finished the day at life group, a favorite place!

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."

Ephesians 5:1 ESV

Counting down the days until she's 2

We are loving life over here at the Robinson casa.  We've gotten a little bit more adjusted and kind of have a rhythm down as a little family of three.

This is actually a face filled with joy and love for her stuffed puppy.  We randomly took it out of the closet to her great delight.  She gets so taken with it she wants to kiss/bite it's nose.  Sometimes her very happy face looks mad!! 

She has attempted to drink the end of her soup once before (as I'm sure she's seen people do that before), so I let her this time with some help.

Clean baby!  She lets us wrap her up in a towel now...not scared anymore!

Willow Mei turns 2 this weekend!!  We can't wait to celebrate!  We have had 48 glorious days with her as a cute, feisty  little one year old.  We've soaked in every single day of it.  Two will be even more fun!  Kyle mentioned that since we met her, other than sleep, I've only been away from Willow less than two hours.  (Once when he took her to Lowe's and another time when Kyle stayed with her in the toddler room while I went to church.)  I'm glad we've been able to be together that much to bond while she is still one!

Willow, you are sweet, hilarious, and smart.  Kind and yet feisty, you always know what you want!  You have beauty and grace, and your courage and strength at only almost 2 exceed that of most adults I can think of.  Sometimes I can't even fathom your strength or how you've survived all of these many months.

In those moments that I don't understand it, I've forgotten something.  You've never been alone, even though you were without us, your parents who absolutely adore you and prayed desperately for you.  Never did you take one breath without the mighty hand of God holding you.  God gave you each of those breaths and heartbeats.  And God placed you in circumstances every step along the way in which you experienced care, love, and healing.  Our faith was shaken when we didn't have you in our arms, but looking back, there was no need for fear.  No matter what we did, God designed this family.  We didn't earn it or luck into it.  You are our precious, sought after daughter because God destined us for each other.  

This song is meaningful to us.  It's incredible to think about...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JKPeoPiK9XE

A few visits from family...

The other day when Willow was saying good night to her daddy, we gave each other a big family hug.  Kyle said 'Family!'  Willow happily repeated his words, and it was a memorable moment.  We are family forever!

Little toddler, we praise the Creator for the gift of you as you turn two this weekend.  What a treasured miracle you are.

Willow's World

Sometimes we sing Willow's World instead of Elmo's World.  :)  She enjoys the little red guy!

Tonight as I put Willow to sleep (third night in a row out of our bed!), she and I were pressing our hands onto the screen of the playpen and patting as a reminder that I was still there.  We kept getting tired and putting our hands down, but she would say 'ah' and put her hand up again when she wanted that reassurance.  She eventually fell asleep with her hand still on the screen, and it slid down a bit.  I was struck with the grace of God who placed this little one in our lives.  I hate that she went through pain when she was so sick as a baby without us.  The more I know her, the more it hurts my heart.  Thank God I can hold her hand through any and every pain she has now!  (That could mean we baby her a little, but I think she's earned it.)

I should mention her sleep evasion tactics.  She will: scream yay, suddenly clap or sing (Twinkle Twinkle or Jesus Loves Me), kick (people or blankets), slap then immediately 'be sweet' by patting softly wherever she slapped, fake feed us and say 'more', slap her tummy, put on and take off her socks, rub her eyes, and baby talk.

Her words often start with a g sound...

Fower - flower

Keeker- squeakers (shoes)

Goo - shoes

Gak - socks

Mo - Elmo

Guck - duck

Gaki - paci

Gog - dog

Gicker - sticker

Nana - banana

Cue - cute (oddly enough, only about her raccoon bib)

She sounds like a pro when she says: more, Daddy (the second syllable is sometimes a whisper), Mama, no no, yea, okay, bye bye, Doc, car, book, yum, go (which she said a ton when we were having her testing done at Children's), etc.

Lately she's been blowing us kisses.  That's her newest thing, but she will also give us a kiss only when she wants to!  We also do a family hug all three of us together, and she loves that.  (Kyle reminded me she also honks our noses!)

Love my Glenhope people.  Willow enjoyed herself, too!

I didn't get everyone in the picture.  Thanks to all who came by to say hi!

We saw our family on Kenda's birthday...

Willow has been feeding her baby and giving it her water.  She pats her back after giving the water, which we haven't done much of.  I love seeing her do something nurturing that she saw her nannies do for other little ones!

Meeting little friends...

Willow had so many tests at Children's this week!  She was a trooper, but it was hard!  During this echo, they discovered that even Elmo couldn't prevent the need for another sedated test in the future.

Poor baby minutes after getting in the car post morning of tests...

Fairy wings and stickers after a great first cardiologist visit in the US!  We are so thankful for their expertise, and we are ecstatic that Willow is doing so well physically.

That's a big bite!  Here's the 'cue' raccoon...

Met family for dinner...

We had such fun finishing up her birthday party invites for our family party!  She's almost 2!!  

She's been mimicking me singing songs from Wicked, and it's so cute.  We especially had fun singing "For Good", because it reminded me of how I've changed for good from knowing Willow.  With socks on her hands of course...

One month

We have now known you for one month. 

Our hearts are full, and we love being a family of three!  Willow, your fun personality, your joyful spirit, and your openness to our love have made this journey.  God knew all three of us needed each other, and finally we can be together every day!  What a miracle this adoption has been!  Thank You, Lord, for entrusting us with this precious little child.  We give her health and growth daily to You, our loving Father.  We thank You that You direct our paths.

Story time at the library with Matthew and Cason...

First time sleeping in her crib during nap today!  It didn't last long...

A one month celebratory dinner at Empress of China...