All "Patched Up"

**Warning this is a picture heavy post!**

These pictures were taken about 5 months apart - you can barely even tell they are of the same girl! 

The pic on the right was one that our agency sent to us while we were waiting to go get Lily. It was sent to us by her orphanage the month we left for China (August 2014). The one of the left was taken by me this month (Dec. 2014).

It's been a little over a month since my last post and longer than that since my last update and SO much has happened. We have celebrated 2 holidays, traveled out of state twice and even had a heart surgery!  The changes in Lily's physical self has been pretty major. Her surgery was on December 3rd and though it was a very successful procedure overall it took her several days of recovery to even be able to keep down any food. Once she was able to begin eating and drinking her strength came back...... and then some.  Since then her physical abilities have been growing by leaps and bounds. It has truly been amazing. We have watched this beautiful little girl emerge from the shell of her former self. Where she used to sit in the same spot quietly for long periods of time and play she now almost never sits still. She used to lay completely still and quiet when you changed her diaper and now she "helps" and squirms all over the place like you would expect a toddler to do!  She walks almost all the time now on her own - though still with not great balance she will take the occasional spill she is still trying to do it all the time now. Before she would mostly hold onto things or just refuse to try and walk all together. We had actually written down that our goal was for her to be walking by Christmas and that she did! No more counting steps she takes because now her taking steps wherever she wants to go is the norm. Next goal: running!
I am just so excited to see her all "patched up" :)  We also got great news on all other MRIs and tests that we had run the same day as her surgery. All systems are a "go" and everything looks PERFECT!!! Now to get on with the business of healing and moving forward!

Our little patient a couple of days after surgery. We were reading the card that came with the "prayer shawl" that a friend brought us. 

At Lego Land during our trip to Florida (all the siblings together for a pic!)

 My loves at Indian Rocks beach, Florida 

Lily's first time at the ocean!

 Enjoying the pool at our condo in Florida

4 of the 5 kiddos at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium - had to go see Winter and Hope from Dolphin Tale :)

Along with the physical endurance she has clearly gained the heart procedure has clearly helped make her feel better able to take deep breaths and really use those lungs. We had a difficult time getting her to vocalize just a few weeks ago and now she yells and laughs and talks all the time. It seems that she really likes to hear herself growling since that is what she does most often - through a clenched smiled that usually ends up with her chasing one of us and laughing! She also has a pretty good line up of Mandarin words and phrases and a handful of English words as well. Lily is so observant and if she watches someone do anything just once you can bet she will be trying to do it on her own very soon. She is also very tidy and likes to put her things where she knows they belong. Like when we come inside she will take her shoes and coat and walk them into the mudroom and place them in her cubby. Or if there is a book sitting on the floor she will pick it up and place it on the shelf. Or in her room she will pick up her pajamas and put them on the rocking chair where we always set out the girls pjs for that day.

She is still just a super great sleeper, too. She takes a nap easily every afternoon and is always easy to go to sleep at night and stills sleeps a full 12 hours each night - I wish she could teach her big sister, Gabby, how that works! :)

We are also seeing such a blossoming in her personality. Where she used to not voice an opinion on most things she is now very vocal.  I love to see her shake her head no or get excited when she sees something she likes. It is wonderful to see her realize that she is accepted no matter what and that she can tell us what she needs and wants and we will meet those needs.

Rolling out Christmas cookies

 Christmas morning  - playing on the new "rollercoaster" that was left under the tree ;)

Just waiting on breakfast to arrive :)

Christmas Eve at Grandma Jeannie's

Her relationship with her sister is growing stronger every day too. Gabby is one of the only people she will give a kiss to anytime she is asked. She also loves to hug Gabby. Surprisingly Gabby has really been so sweet to Lily (I only say surprisingly because I thought there would be a lot more competition from the very outgoing and bossy Gabby! ;) and I love to see that relationship developing from it. Gabby speaks so sweetly to Lily and is always hugging her and kissing her. As a result anywhere that Gabby goes Lily wants to go and anything that Gabby does Lily wants to do also. One of the best examples of Lily learning from Gabby I discovered the first time I yelled Lily's name from another room. I yelled for her like I yell for Gabby when I am not sure what room they are in. I was in the kitchen making dinner and just yelled, "Liiillllllyyyyy!" Lily yelled "Whhhhaaaatttt!" from the other room just like she had heard her sister do so many times before. Seems like such a little thing but was a defining moment for us :)

The sweetest things I have ever seen! So blessed :)

Having fun and waiting to see Santa at the Montgomery Christmas celebration (this was the weekend after her surgery!)

Just getting another hug from big sis!

Being goofy!  I LOVE this girl's sense of humor!! 

Holding hands........

I am just so amazed every day by all the progress Lily has made an continues to make. It is truly nothing short of a miracle. Seeing her experience so many things for the first time with our family is just incredible. And watching her learn new things and master them is exhilarating and so rewarding! To think that just about 3 months ago she couldn't even stand on her own is unbelievable. I know that 3 months from now we will not believe what she will be doing on her own.  I am confident that she will continue to amaze us!

Look at this bunch! Lily, Morgan (Au Pair & "big sis" :), Parker, Tanner, Max, Daddy and Gabby - Snow Ice Cream is on the menu for tonight :)

Now for a list of UPDATES:

• Lily has gained 3 more pounds since my last update about 2 months ago. She is now up to 31lbs! That's only 3lbs behind her big sister! She is now pretty much completely average in her height and weight for her age - amazing :)
• We no longer "count" the number of steps she takes (which was 8 in a row at the last update!) because she walks on her own almost everywhere! While still a bit off balance she now walks considerably faster than before and with much more confidence.
• Lily's favorite foods right now are yogurt, scrambled eggs, mac n cheese and stir fry veggies with noodles or rice.
• Lily's English words are: "bye bye", "mom", "mama", "mao" (our cat's name), "more", "hi", "what" and "shoes" 
• Lily's Mandarin words are (I am putting them in English, but she speaks them in mandarin): "shoes", "cat", "dog", "eat", "baba" (means dad), "door", "stop it" (what she yells at Gabby often!) and many other things that we don't completely understand but are parts of Mandarin words according to our Chinese Au Pair. :)
• Although Lily has long loved hair bows, jewelry, shoes, etc. we had been unable to get her to "dress-up" in a princess dress when Gabby plays dress-up until Christmas day. Aunt Sarah bought her an Elsa gown and she wore it proudly that day while playing :)
• Lily loves to worship at church and wants to go up front where she can stand and dance while the band plays music. This weekend we gave her a banner/flag to wave with the other kids up front and she loved it. She walked back and forth laughing and waving her flag during the worship songs! A girlfriend even snapped a picture of her doing it which I included below :)
• Lily understands everything you tell her whether in English or Mandarin. Morgan (our Au Pair) speaks to her in Mandarin and we speak to her in both English and Mandarin and no matter what language you use she understands and demonstrates it by following directions easily. Even Gabby speaks to Lily in both languages as she has begun to pick up Mandarin and Lily understands Gabby easily :)
• Although Lily couldn't even fill out size 2T clothing when we first picked her up in China she is now fitting quite well in size 3T and has even outgrown most of the size 2T clothing that she was wearing a few months ago! 
• Lily is still the best behaved toddler we have ever seen! Even though she has found her voice and now has her own opinion about most things if you tell her no or ask her to sit quietly she will readily listen. She does like to please and just has a very sweet and quiet personality. 
• Lily is quite good at feeding herself now. She can use a spoon to "scoop" up foods like oatmeal, mashed potatoes, yogurt, etc. And is pretty good at getting most foods on a fork. She is a neat eater and will clean her face and hands with a napkin if need be. 
• Lily rode the animals on the carousel at the zoo for the first time about a month ago! Prior to that we had been on about a dozen times and she would only sit on my lap on the bench while Gabby rode on of the many animals that go up and down and around and around. Lily indicated to me that she wanted to sit on her own animal and when I put her up there she laughed and laughed. We rode several times that day - glorious!! (see pic below)

We are just so blessed by this amazing little girl and enjoy sharing our experiences so much with you all. Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers and words of encouragement! We know how loved Liliana is, not just by us, but by all the amazing people God has surrounded our family with :)

God Bless!

Jessica (and family)

 First time riding the carousel animals! :)

Look at that smile!!!

First time worshiping with a banner up front at church :)

Philippians 2:13 “It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (NIV)

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (KJV)