Leaving

I haven't done a great job of keeping up to date here... All visits stopped in July I think, which was good for everyone as parents just stopped trying. I pray that they will get their lives turned around for themselves, and sad that they didn't choose to do it for their child. I will continue to pray for them, but it gives baby a chance at a normal life with loving adoptive parents (who are family!) and not to stay in limbo for as long.

She turned one in August, and continues to be the sweetest, funny, content adorable little thing she always has been! She began truly walking at 14 months, and toddles all over and is quite proud of herself. She has a baby friend she plays with twice a week at the school playground and they toddler and crawl and climb and eat woodchips and steal snacks and give each other high fives and chase balls. It is super cute!

https://flic.kr/p/NSsa4B

She loves music, and will repeat the sounds of the words. She says "bless you" and "thank you" in the same way- intonation more than actually letters. She sleeps well and will entertain herself well when she wakes up if we are in the shower or getting ready, etc. So happy! The teachers at Zuri's school call her "smiley baby" as she greets everyone with a smile and a wave- but still a mama/dada's girl and wants US.

And the time has come that she will be leaving us. Soon. We will no longer be called Mama and Dada by that sweet little voice. Court is Nov 21 and it is the tentative 90% plan that she leaves the morning of Thanksgiving Day. It is the best for her to move as soon as possible to not become more attached to us, and to start life with her forever family. But she will be dearly and truly missed. We have been preparing for this a long time, and were never told that she would staying with us indefinitely, but she is bound to leave a hole in our hearts.

https://flic.kr/p/LZ4DKK

https://flic.kr/p/NPcL6Q