What Kate Emerson has taught me

"It's Christmas time again and now you're home. Your family is here so you will never be alone." Third Day

This post may be hard for waiting Moms to read. I apologize if it is. I debated about posting it but I really want to have this as a keepsake for Kate.

Today it is 8 months since Kate Emerson came home. I remember this time exactly a year ago and how sad I was. Of course I was happy about some things but overall it was a tough month. My step father (who I loved very much) died last December 18th. We still miss him terrribly. I would listen to this song by Third Day and cry and wonder why I had to send out Christmas cards for the third time in a row without a photo of our daughter. Again, I had to explain to people why it was taking SO long!

What a difference a year makes! Now, I listen to the Christmas music with such joy! As I recently said to someone, this year my heart is BURSTING with love. I walk around the shops with Kate and everyone looks at her (and then with confusion at her blond Mommy?). People smile at us wherever we go. They comment on how beautiful she is. I beam with pride as I thank them. My daughter is finally home. I treasure each day that I have her. But right now as I address those first Christmas cards with all three of my children and she helps me decorate the tree, I find myself with tears in my eyes again. Only this time, they are tears of happiness. My heart is absoltuely full this year with joy.


I am so incredibly grateful that we waited for you-Katie Ru! You are a jewel. So, to those who feel that longing that I felt last year... Please know that I am praying for your children and I hope they are with you soon. I know your pain and believe me you will soon know joy.


This month I want to reflect on the things Kate and our journey to her have taught me:


~God's plan is not always your plan. We did not have fertility issues (as many who adopt do) but God had a plan for us to have Kate. There were so many little curves in the road that led us to adoption. Now that Kate is here, I know God planned her to be in our family all along.

~ There is no one "right" way to parent. God humbles us too. I honestly thought that I had this parenting thing down pat. I knew babies needed routine. I knew they needed very consistent napping and bedtime rituals. I knew it was crucial to teach them independence and not to spoil them. Along came Kate! She did not fit into the box of parenting tricks I used the first two times around. She has taught me incredible sacrifice and endurance and patience and love. She has taught me not to question how others parent because different things work for different children and different families. Having said that...there are things that don't work for anyone (spoiling, over scheduling and so on).

~Katie Ru, you have taught me how to do household tasks while carrying a 25 lb baby (and the chiropractor LOVES you for that)!

~You have taught me that a heart feels love immediately even if a body did not carry that child. One always wonders if they will love an adopted child the same as a biological child (you are lying if you never wondered). Kate, you have taught me that love does not know the difference. My love for you is every bit as strong as if I gave birth to you. In some ways, our bond is even stronger because you needed me more at this age than the boys did.

~You have taught me that I can function (albeit, not well) on very little sleep. You have taught me that a Mommy will do whatever she has to do to make sure her daughter feels safe.

I love you Kate. You are a dream come true.

Here are some photos of the things you are doing now at 18 months old:

You love climbing up on your chair...

and jumping off of it!

Then, getting up and doing it all over again!

You climb all of the furniture.

It makes me CRAZY nervous and I call you "monkey."

Sometimes, you go to time out. You are such a good girl and you sit there. Then when I tell you to get up, you give Mommy a big hug! Isn't that a pretty picure? LOL

You love to wrestle with Daddy, the boys and Scout. 

You know what "pile on" means:)

You climb up to the table when you are hungry (even though you eat in the high chair;) By the way... that is not a sharp knife she is holding. It is one Harry uses and we were watching her carefully.

You love to "talk" on the phone.
 You say hi and bye to people on the phone and you even said Mimi's name on the phone to her last week.

And...your favorite book right now is "Is your Mama a Llama?"

Do I look like a llama?