Eight Months Home

     We are now at almost 3/4th of a year with Willow as our daughter.  She has had a summer with vacation, autumn with school and thanksgiving and now the beginnings of winter and her 1st Christmas.  There have been many moments of growth but this month we have seen some huge leaps in Willow's physical abilities.  She has been out of her arm splint for 3 weeks and this has allowed her to use her legs and arms to balance and walk and lift herself.
      She can now stand at the sink to wash her hands; what a moment that was as I realized this had been a distant thought only a few months ago.   She is quick to get on and off chairs by herself and I sometimes find her in places unexpected as she doesn't like to wait for me if she can do it herself. Yesterday, I went outside to do a few chores leaving her inside with my other kids and when I got back in, she told me she had come down stairs by herself, gotten herself to bathroom including washing and into the living room.
        Last week at the YMCA while in the shower (where she usually sits until I turn off water and carry her out) I heard her turn off water and found her standing. She had gotten herself off the stool/table onto wet tile. Eek!  We are thrilled she is becoming independent yet not always sure how to keep her safe.
                 I sometimes find her standing cheering herself on! 
   
      Christmas was a wonderful time with her. We celebrate advent and so had lots of opportunities to talk about the old testament and how and why Jesus was born. She loved shopping for gifts for her siblings and did remarkably well at keeping secrets. She loved the tree and all the traditions, each day asking if there were more decorations or what she could bake. It is always fun picking out that one special gift for each child and for Willow, Dan found a bike. It is really a pedal go cart; sitting low with a wide seat. She is learning how to pedal and finds it easier to go backward rather than forward.
     There are days when she is very active and then those others when she wants me to carry her everywhere and says she doesn't feel like standing. She still thinks all things are possible and I believe right along with her. Only God knows how far she will go.