Could it be

that this is the same baby girl who screamed to the top of her lungs, clinched her little fingers into my chest, and cried her eyes out at the glimps of water?  Yes it is!  When we first attempted to bath her in Ukraine, she behaved as stated above.  It was very sad and concerning but then I began reading how nearly every baby adopted from an orphanage did the exact same thing.  This is because they are given only a type of a "sponge bath."  We honestly wondered if she would ever get use to a bath.  When we got home with her we attempted a few more times and had the same results.  Then we began to think that she just needed more time to adjust to all the changes so we began washing her with a wash cloth and washing her hair with a wash cloth, shampoo, and water from a bowl (which she still didn't like).  Lately, the last month or so, we have noticed she is just thriving in every area and she also began standing against the bath tub and allowing us to run the water and she would reach out and touch it. One night I decided to try her in the bath tub again and of course she cried and wanted to hang on to me but she didn't cry as much.  At that point I thought to myself, "I am going to bath her every other night and get her use to it by being consistent."  The next time I bathed her, I stood her in the water and allowing her to hold on to me while I sat outside of the tub and then I rubbed water on her legs. I slowly sat her in the water and let her play with toys, this time she only grunted a little. I was shocked.  Then she let me wash her hair and body.  This happened with the next bath as well which took place a couple days later. Then she surprised us with this....and it only took doing it four consistent times!  She loves a bath now! I actually feel bad for taking her out when it comes time. I allow her to play for a while and I keep refilling the water to keep it warm and she just simply loves it.  She doesn't cry at all!  This baby girl has endless potential and to doubt her in any area would be pure ignorance.  She has been through more than the majority of us will ever go through an to be here today...healthy, happy, maturing, and developing so well is AMAZING! The love of a family obviously means much more than anyone could imagine.  I know it has changed our lives forever!  We love you baby girl!

~Our Christmas Miracle~

I know it appears as if though I have neglected this blog and that is because I partially have.  Things have been very busy with getting caught up with our two offices, which still isn't totally done.  Not to mention, doing this with our new little wild child, haha.  Being that we refuse to leave her with a babysitter at this time, partly because we are overly protective ;) and partly because its just to soon...she is going everywhere we go :) and that includes to the office with me.  Lets throw Christmas and New Years in there and I just simply haven't had the time to put into the blog that I hoped.  Hopefully that will change soon.  I am going to do my very best to at least post once a week :)

In brief, Gabby is doing wonderfully!!!  She eats and drinks very well and is now at a healthy weight.  She has a normal pink color thanks to better nutrition and he hair is growing extremely fast.  She now persitently says "ma ma," da da," "byebye," "ball," and "bite bite" and she has said a few things here and there as far as repeating words but she is not consistent with them.  When we first met her she was sitting up and crawling.  We taught her to pull up on things while in Ukraine but she didn't do it that often.  Now she pulls up on nearly everything all the time.  Not only does the pull up on everything but she walks along side the edges of the couch and tables while holding on.  She has just started standing with her legs and bending over to try to push herself up with her hands against the floor.  Another huge plus is that she sleeps on our schedule with minimal to no interuptions during the night!   One of the cutest things she does is her little "rockin dance."  Anytime she hears music of any kind she automatically starts rocking from side to side and tapping her fingers and hands against her lap. She also trys to sing along with the music but mostly it is something like "la la la la la da da da da" haha.  She insists on calling out to "da da" every other minute and has started crying when he goes to work :(  As soon as he comes home her whole face lights up!  She does not like it when one of us has to be gone...she prefers us to both be around.  I could go on and on about everything I love about our little one but I'm sure everyone is tired of reading at this point.   I plan to do smaller, more frequent posts from here on out. 

As for the new year, we are excited to see what this year will bring.  I definitely know that throughout the adoption process and definitely while in Ukraine, my whole definition on what is important and what is not changed.  I am no longer the same person I was before this adoption.  I've already learned so much from the orphans of Ukraine and especially our baby girl.  I am so incredibly thankful and blessed to have Gabby and to have went through this process! She is our entire world! 

Picture time!

My baby looking out her window at the snow

 Playing under her bed :)

 Trying to stand on her own

 Having a blast

 Josiah, her little cousin, was trying to hug her haha

 My little family at Chuck E Cheese

 What an angel !

 We couldn't love her more !

 Isn't this precious.

Gabby with her cousin Jamie and little Jaylin

:)

Gabby and my best friend Robin

Jason (aka daddy) and Gabby in the snow

My baby loves traveling :)

Me and my baby

and again....

Gabby playing her bed

Isnt this cute

What a cutie pa tootie...

Gabby & Brooklyn (Robin's little girl)

She loves playing with silly things...

 Snow day

 My little sweetie

One of my favorite pics!

Gabby, Jaylin, Savanna, and Josiah...cousins

Isn't this such a sweet picture :)

My baby was shocked that she finally gets to open her gifts haha

Now excited

Just lovely

Who knows what this is all about lol

Sweet face

Daddy & gabby :)

My love

Daddy & Gabby playing on her bed

Papaw (gabby's greatgrandpa), Gabby, and Jason.

My baby opening her gifts 

 My mom and Gabby

Jason's mom & Gabby

Our little family...I didn't look all that wonderful because I stayed up all night cooking haha

Jason, Gabby, and her cousin Frogger

Papaw and gabby

My aunt Sonya an Gabby

 My mom and Gabby

Shereka and Gabby

 Gabby and Lashay

 gabby, Lashay, and Brooklyn

Me and little princess

 gabby and auntie tasha

Gabby and papaw

Hope you enjoyed :)