Kaitlyn the first day we met in China
Kaitlyn Now...
Kaitlyn 1st lost tooth in the US.
Kaitlyn & I at Summer Movie Fun each week
As I look back at the pictures of when we first got Kaitlyn, I'm amazed at how she's grown. The difference is quite something! She's absolutely thrilled to have long hair and we're continuing to let it grow out! She's almost "obsessed" with it. I guess that's part of never being allowed to have hair longer than her ears. She's truly growing up on the inside and out! She's slowly becoming more mature and living day-to-day within the boundaries, rules and guidelines we've set for her. She has come such a long way in this area of growth too!! The first 6 months were extremely difficult. I almost thought I wouldn't make it. I describe her as "Helen Keller before she learned to communicate" - wild, ill-behaved, lacking manners, no boundaries or respectful of personal space. She is still jealous of Kailey's every move, but even that's gotten better and she's learning to control it. We stopped counseling the beginning of May. It just seemed like a waste of time and we did the same thing week after week after week with little results. Discipline (even with Christian counselors) is a touchy issue. I think many counselors are brain-washed in secular psychology in college. The Bible speaks loud and clear in MULTIPLE passages about discipline. "Behavior Modification" is not in the Bible (how many counselors refer to it). I think there is a balance - and we've found it on our own which seems to be working a lot better. After nine months, she's truly a new child now. We still have our days - don't get me wrong, but it's much more managable! On occasion, I still have to speed-walk several laps around the block to relax and give myself a time-out - but it's not nearly like it was back then... PRAISE GOD!!
She lost her first tooth since being in the US. We explained the "tooth fairy" to her and her response was, "Really? Seriously?" with a huge, eager, smile from ear to ear! The next morning she comes running out with her dollar bill tickled pink and jumping around with excitement! However, she dragged me to her room and was quick to point out the tooth fairy forgot to take her tooth! I guess "she" couldn't find it at 4:00 am!! Apparently Kaitlyn slept with it clutched in her hand! We told her to put it back under there when she looses her other molar! Ooops!
Her English continues to AMAZE everyone around her! She's learned our language incredibly fast and now just works on proper verb tense, subject-verb correctness, pronouns, and longer complete sentences. Other than that, she understands and speaks very well. As many of you know, she was only educated through 1st grade in China. She is old enough to be going into 6th grade. In 7 months of English education in the US, she not only completed first grade curriculum but is almost done with second grade standards too!! She will be enrolled in 5th grade in the Fall, but will come down to 3rd grade for the Reading and Math block. The rest of the time, she will be with her peers. She's smart, eager to learn, and is an extremely fast learner!!
Kailey and I are traveling up to Washington July 7-19th to see family and attend my grandma's "Celebration of Life" reception. We're very excited to go! It will be really good for Kailey and I to have time alone together. I have Kaitlyn enrolled in two weeks of day camp with the City while we're gone. She'll be busy doing crafts, going on field-trips, playing games, etc. and spending the weekend at her friends house! I've learned she's one that needs to keep busy!! Hopefully all will go well in our absence! Thanks for all your prayers over these past few months! I think we're finally on the upswing!
