105 days ago we stood in a police station in Changsha, waiting not-so-patiently for the first real-life glimpse of our daughter.
And as I have shared, that first meeting was far from storybook.
Amazing what 105 days can do.
And so, in an effort to record how far she has come and all she has accomplished, buckle up for a voracious brag on our girl.
Clementine was non-mobile when we met her. She could sit, but she wasn’t going anywhere.
105 days later she can scoot (not crawl because what she does to locomote is not crawling, but I digress), pull to stand, cruise along furniture, walk in her walker and stand to play without holding on.
She is a girl on the move.
Clementine was able to hold only one thing in one hand when we met her. No concept of using both hands, much less both hands together.
105 days later she can use both hands together to do a multitude of things (including, but not limited to, all kinds of mischief). Just recently she has learned to use her pointer finger to press buttons and can now do things on my iPhone I can barely undo.
She’s a girl who is learning that she can make things happen.
Clementine almost never cried when we met her. Only two times in China did she cry and then very rarely in those first few weeks home. She just seemed content no matter what.
105 days later and the girl can fuss. Fuss to be picked up. Fuss to go outside. Fuss to get a bottle. But she’s fussing, y’all. She knows what she wants and she feels safe and loved enough to ask for a snuggle or a bottle.
She’s a girl who is learning to express her feelings.
Clementine had no concept of self-feeding when we met her. In fact, if you put a cheerio in her hand, she dropped it immediately.
105 days later and she is feeding herself like a pro. I still get to help her with bottles and the majority of meal times, but she can hold a cup of cereal in one hand and grab them out one by one with the other.
She’s a girl who is learning to be independent.
Clementine was quick to turn away to play alone when we met her. In fact, our presence was more of a negative than a positive when she had a plaything she didn’t want to share.
105 days later, Clementine shares willingly and spontaneously. She shares toys, kisses, even her beloved Goldfish. When she feels like it.
She’s a girl who is learning what it feels like to have enough to share.
Clementine was almost non-verbal when we met her. We had been told she could say mama and baba, and believe that to be true, but she made no efforts to communicate with us.
105 days later and she is babbling up a storm. And can sign dada, mama (on occasion), more, please, choo-choo, dog and outside. Okay, outside and dog look pretty much identical, but she’s signing. And learning new signs all the time.
She’s a girl who is learning she has something to say.
Clementine was 30.75″ long and 17.6 pounds when we met her. 105 days later she is up almost 2 inches and 3 pounds – to 32.5″ and 20.5 pounds.
She’s a girl who is growing like a weed.
I was scared and anxious and not at all sure I could mother Clementine well when we met her.
105 days later, I have no doubt. I can mother this child.
I’m a mama who is learning that, even with a fearful, wobbly-kneed yes, God can do beautiful things in this heart of mine.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. — Psalm 37:4