How did I get so lucky?

I know I keep saying that but seriously...what did I do to deserve such a cute, funny, smart, generally good natured little girl. When your biological kids do something (good or bad) you can take credit, but that's just not the case here. I just got plain lucky! Keeghan is constantly amazing us with all she can do. It only takes her seeing us do something once and she picks it up. She can sort the shapes into the shape sorter we have. She loves to look at books and will take my finger to "point" at what she wants me to talk about when we read. She can climb on the futon in our family room and make it all the way up the stairs. She gets when I am gone and doesn't like it one bit. She will lie down if you tell her you are going to change her diaper (and tried to do that in the middle of a store in the mall the other day!). She'll crawl on the floor and play doggie...barking and all. She's really fun to watch but more fun, is seeing her with the resident entertainment committee...her brother and sisters. The kids all love to play with Keeghan and have been incredible helpers. Again...how did I get so lucky?

Some pictures:

Winter warm up

So I got my wish...it's warmed up quite a bit and the snow is fading away. I certainly didn't mean it all had to go as the kids haven't had a chance to sled yet, but this weather is WAY better than all that snow and ice! It was a pleasure to go run the past two mornings in only pants and a long sleeve shirt as opposed to needing gloves, jackets, etc. Keeghan has warmed up enough to Doug and her siblings to let me run though this morning I was greeted with Doug saying "Don't you dare go another hundred yards.". And on that note...I didn't get to workout while in China. I did lug Keeghan around but that doesn't count in my book. Something you have to do anyway (ie snow shoveling, power walking while shopping, carrying a kid) doesn't count as exercise. I was worried about my weight (as I always do). I typically weigh myself daily and did hop on the scale in the hotel a few times but knew I couldn't count on that as it wasn't the scale I normally weigh myself on. I wrote down my weight from the morning I left but haven't looked at it because I thought I'd remembered it. I've had a few people comment that I look like I'd lost weight but by my memory and what my scale said I was like no...about the same. Well, I finally looked at what I'd written down last night...yeah, I lost about 7lbs since I left. So much for my memory.

Onto Keeghan...we slept ok again last night. Getting a few solid hours has helped me a ton and getting to workout is always a good thing. I'm working on getting her to one nap a day (lunchtimeish) and then to bed at 8ish. We're getting there. Something that has surprised us about her...she likes the car and carseat. Both Doug and I totally assumed she would HATE being in a carseat having never been in one. She did fuss when we first put her in the night I got home, but calmed right down and seems to actually like being in the car. We put on music and she sings and dances (so cute!). She's also talking more...saying up, cracker, diaper, shoes...and I'm sure some other stuff we just don't understand. Keeghan understands us pretty well and can follow directions if she feels like it : ) Ok, my posting time is done as the princess is wanting some attention.

Christmas

We mostly slept again Christmas Eve and last night as well. Granted we are up a bit early (4am on Christmas and again today but we did get back to sleep until 6 today) but that's ok. It seems we're well on our way to being on US time. Keeghan is coming to like Doug and the kids more but still gets very overwhelmed when too much is going on.

We went to Auntie Val's for Christmas Eve and there were a few too many people around. I know everyone is excited for us and to meet and play with Keeghan...I am too but having 10 people watching your every move and trying to get you to smile or play is alot. Especially for a little girl who probably didn't ever see much other than the orphanage she lived in and maybe a play area outside that orphanage. Keeghan seems to look to me for comfort but she also is pretty flirty with others which worries me a bit. I'm probably just being paranoid, but I'd rather be safe when it comes to bonding.

Anyway...onto the fun stuff. Christmas was amazing. I really got the best present a Mom could ask for. Doug and I didn't really get very much "stuff" but the joy of having all our kids with us and watching them open their gifts was awesome. Keeghan got into present opening later in the day. She and I sat on the living room floor and opened her things. She loves some of her toys but others weren't so interesting. Here's a few pictures:

And to all a goodnight

I'm almost afraid to say it, but it seems we slept last night. Keeghan crashed on my lap (while we girls were piled in my bed watching the Grinch) about 9. I put her in the pack and play and told the girls I was going to fall asleep and they should head to bed when the show was over. Well the next time I heard from Keeghan was about 1. I patted her back and she went back to sleep until 3:30. Again, some back patting and more sleep...until almost 6! I'm not sure how we managed it or why, but it was awesome. I'm certainly not counting on it happening again but keep your fingers crossed.

We're settling in at home. The kids love one another and have a good time playing together. Keeghan LOVES to climb in things (baskets, boxes, toys...whatever). The other night she was in a laundry basket and Carson was pushing her back and forth while Keeghan and Devon were "head butting" one another. It was damn cute. They love to imitate one another with funny faces and noises. I took Keeghan into the elementary school yesterday morning and she was a hit. She tromped around in her squeaky shoes giving up plenty of smiles. AND she got to meet Carson's classmates.

I think we're about ready for Christmas. I've baked and managed Christmas cards. Thanks to some serious help from Val, my wrapping is done! I sent brownies and banana bread into Kennedy's teachers and one of them thinks I'm nuts being home with a new child, having 4 kids and baking. I think I just love being a Mom!

Enough with the snow!

It snowed all weekend here! The kids were released from school two hours early on Friday and have a 90 minute delay this morning. Our driveway is already full of snow and if it snows more I'm not sure where we'll put it. I hate cold and the snow is pretty for about 10 minutes but then it's just annoying. Probably, at this point, more annoying given how tired I am. We're still having serious sleep issues and I'm dumb enough to be trying to get a million things done for Christmas while Keeghan naps. I did try, yesterday to lay down for a half hour but that didn't work out as Doug was out trying to pick up the Christmas picture I'd taken of the kids and there were issues.

Keeghan hasn't really been out in the snow except for being carried to and from the car. At this point it's deep enough that she'd just plain get lost if I put her down. I'm sure I'll do it at some point and I'll let you know what happens.

Now I just need to get the kids stuff wrapped for Christmas...

Are we ever going to sleep?

It seems we are still on China time. Of course we expected this, but I guess I figured I'd see SOME progress towards getting onto a US schedule by now. I'm doing what I can to get Keeghan adjusted without totally putting her off the edge. It's almost tougher now that we're home due to the lack of sleep. Given Keeghan isn't totally fond of spending too much time (ie more than 20 seconds) without me and neither of us are sleeping very well so I'm a bit cranky. In China Keeghan took one (if not two) decent naps a day and slept all night for me (with an exception here and there but even if she got up she'd go right back to sleep). So, I'd get some time to myself when she slept...but now we're trying not to sleep all day and we aren't so much sleeping at night so I'm tired and not being able to hand Keeghan off is tough. Of course I'm still loving almost every minute we have with this amazing little girl and watching the "big kids" with her. It's priceless and I know we'll sleep again sometime but that's where we are at right now.

I did get adventurous today and put the kids in what will be Christmas outfits to try and get a picture. We managed two shots before Keeghan lost it, but they actually aren't horrible : )

And a few other shots of Keeghan playing at home...

Keeghan's shirt says "Mom's favorite gift" : )

I'd almost forgotten the fun toddlers have emptying drawers and cabinets in the kitchen!

Day two

Have I said how much I love this little girl?? Granted at 5 AM after being up since 2 she's not quite as cute as at 11 AM, but still damn cute and a smile just melts me.

The kids are loving Keeghan to death and helping me TONS. They are great about grabbing whatever I need when my hands are full or getting a toy to entertain Keeghan when she's fussing. It's so fun to watch them do whatever they can to please their little sister. Doug and Keeghan are working on getting to know one another. She called him Ba Ba the other night (that's Chinese for Daddy...ok Father). He's still hesitant to just pick her up as she is not totally loving these extra people all over. Keeghan did let Doug feed her last night. Well more this morning at 5 AM. We'll take the little steps.

Being home is, all in all, a bit weird. I think more actually finally having Keeghan here is weird. As Doug said the first night we were home, "Look, there's a little Chinese baby in our bed.". That sums it up. After waiting so long (and I know...16 months isn't really that long in the land of China adoptions right now) I still am wondering if it's all a dream or if I'm really this lucky!