Laikyn Update- Four months

Sometimes when she looks up at me, I flash back to the first time I saw her serious little face staring at me from the computer screen. She still has that same expression and the picture pops into my mind every time she gives me that look. Loving her up close is very different than loving her from a computer screen. I now know what all those little expressions represent and usually can predict exactly what she is going to do after making a certain face. The four months since adoption have sped by at warp speed! I just noticed in my blog that I haven't updated her progress in a while. We went back to the doctor about three weeks ago. Her development is right on target in every area except for language, so she wanted her to come back after 3 months home to check on the speech progress. Two year olds should be able to say 50 words, and begin to put 2 words together. Laikyn says about 25 words and is adding words rapidly. She also says " jie jie go" so is beginning to put two together. Some of her words are light(lie), bye, hi, Halli (she is really good with l's), cookie(kiecoo), peepee, mama, dada,bubba, love you(laooo), bottle(babo), baby, Gdad. SHe is better with the beginning than word endings. The doctor felt she is progressing very well and said she likes for them to be caught up by one year, but feels Laikyn is progressing more rapidly than that. I asked about how she yells my name and then yaps away in her own little language. Rob says she and I will have very long conversations in the futture!! The doctor feels she is trying to speak and is approximating English by just putting together sounds she knows. She said to just keep talking, naming things, singing songs (She tries to sing Jesus Loves Me with sign language) and reading books. She obviously wants to talk, so the motivation will help. Her receptive language is awesome. She says "yeah" when we asks her questions and will correctly obey instructions for tasks like pick up your toy, throw it in the trash, bring me a diaper.We are going to check back again when she turns three in February, but at this time she doesn't recommend any intervention since she is doing so well. I wasn't planning on
Working on potty training until Christmas but little Ms Jillbug jumped the gun and took her to potty a few weeks ago. She went the first time and has now pooped on the potty about six or seven times over the past 2 weeks. She isn't telling us yet, but is very comfortable with the whole thing, and loves the praise, so we are going with that and asking her often. I don't think it's going to be as hard as I thought. She's so stubborn that it all depends on what she likes. Her comfort is growing in new places like the nursery at church. She now goes in to play without clinging and crying. She loves to help with chores like helping load and unload the dishwasher and throwing clothes in the dryer. She doesn't like to have help doing things. When we are in a hurry and put her shoes on for her, she takes them right off as soon as she gets in the car and puts them right back on. She also
doesn't like for me to turn her book pages for her when we are reading. I would describe her as fun loving with a serious stubborn streak, curious, and very smart. Problems? Well, she is two!! The biggest problem is tantrums with hitting and throwing things when she doesn't get her way. We notice it happens more often at Grandads where she like to get in his things. Not exactly baby proofed! Also she sleeps great, but I have now allowed her to sleep in our room. Ive not been feeling great and it gets me a better night sleep. I know I'm setting myself up! Hoping to get her in with Jillian by Christmas. Probably wishful thinking. I am attaching a couple of our latest family pictures we had made in August before Big Bro left for WKU. I just love them and think the photographer captured my kids perfectly.