Summer travels have come and gone. Honestly, I have to say that traveling with Libby for summer camps proved to be a bit more difficult than I had expected. The long days and constant action were pretty exhausting for her and me. And sharing a hotel room with a baby has it's complications. But we survived and we're all doing well. For our last 3 camps we traveled to CO, TX, TN, TX again and then PA all in 17 days. Yes, and that means 3 different time zones in 17 days too. Poor Libby! Poor Mommy! Poor Daddy!- Okay - enough self pitty. God did some amazing things in the lives of students this summer. Many students became believers and many others were set free from whatever strongholds they had been battling. A little exhaustion on our part is so worth being a part of that!
Kristie (Libby's summer nanny) was with us until the last week of camp and she was greatly missed that last week! Kristie was/is AMAZING!! I probably said that in last month's post, but it's worth saying again. We love Kristie!!! The last week of camp Libby came to the services with us. She would sit in her stroller and raise her hands during worship and clap when everyone else clapped and just watch mommy and daddy at work. It was really adorable. Prior to every service Libby insisted on singing in the microphone (which is a new love for her (making mommy proud)!) and by the end of the week she just had to beat on the drums. She would bang on Kevin's drums for hours if I let her and she's really good at it too!
We've been home for a week now and Libby is back to her normal, pleasant, secure self. It's amazing how babies know when they are home. Such a peace came over her when she realized we were staying home for a while.
Libby is a very good talker. She speaks very clearly for a 20 month old. She is a VERY focused girl. She can watch a 50 minute Boz the Bear movie without once taking her eye off the tv screen. So, mommy quickly created a 1-movie-a-day rule. Libby's becoming quite independent and trying to figure out ways she can show us that she can handle whatever she's trying to do. Libby also wants to help mommy do everything - stock the frig, empty the dishwasher, sweep the floor, etc. She'll start helping and she'll say out loud "help, help". Love it! Libby's also entering that repetitive, don't know what you mean by "wait a minute" or "later" stage. When she decides she wants something, she'll repeat it over and over until you feel absolutely insane. And if you ask her to wait she has no understanding of that. "NOW" is all she knows.
I have to share 2 things that Libby did in the last week of camp that, in my mind, are evidence of complete brillance in Libby Song. One morning Libby woke up and kept saying a word that sounded like "juice" or "this". She and I both got frustrated that I couldn't figure out what she was saying. Later in the morning I asked Libby if she'd like to watch cartoons and she said the word again. I realized then that she was saying "toons". But that's not the amazing part. When a commercial came on Libby wanted to know where the cartoons went. Knowing that I had a hard time understanding her before Libby simply signed the word "car" (which is like pretending your moving a steering wheel) and then said "toons". Complete brillance!!! Also, we've had to spell the word "movie" so many times around Libby that now when Libby wants to watch a movie she'll try to spell it. She'll ask "M-O?" Meaning - can I watch a movie? See - I told you she's brillant. Libby can also count to 4 now. She is so smart!
Yesterday we had the opportunity to attend an adoption seminar that our agency put on for those interested in adoption. Billy shared our adoption story with interested families. Amanda Clark (an awesome, beautiful woman who works for AWAA) stayed in our home for the weekend as she was in town to train Doug and Cristie Martine who are now associates for AWAA. Doug and Cristie actually administer and direct the entire seminar every quarter. Doug and Cristie are such an amazing couple and we cherish their friendship. In fact, the Martines just hung out at our house with us all day today and our two families fellowshiped and had dinner together. Cristie and I never run out of things to talk about and we cherish watching our precious girls play together. It was a blessed day being with them. We also managed to get a few great pics from the day as well.
Speaking of pics - here they are.
Until next month,
Cindy
