On Wednesday a new season began for us. I am no longer homeschooling, and so all of my school-aged children are at school. We made the decision to not have Karleigh Mei go to a mother's day out program for now. 1) because of the $$, but 2) and more importantly, I have this awesome opportunity to spend lots of time, one on one, with Karleigh Mei. I'm praying that this time will really, really, REALLY help her bond even more with me...as her mother.
One way to bond with an adopted child, is to feed them a bottle. The time spent holding/cradling the child and gazing into their eyes is soooo important. I may never know if Karleigh Mei had this kind of bonding with anyone while in the orphanage. I do know that for the first 10 days, Karleigh Mei's mother kept her. I'm sure she either nursed her or gave her a bottle, so I know at one point she did get this, even for just 10 days.
I had never given Karleigh Mei a bottle before, but she's always had a fascination with them. I did buy some and had them with us in China, but she was not interested in them at the time. The past couple of months, Karleigh Mei has talked a lot about how she is my baby. Whenever she sees a child with his/her mother in the store, she's always quick to hug my neck and say that she is my baby and I'm her mother. I love it. I can't get enough of it! We hug and kiss and declare our love for each other wherever it is we are!! She also at times wants me to hold her like a baby. And she has hinted to the fact that she wants me to give her a bottle.
And so today I did. :) We snuggled up on the couch and I held her like the baby that she is. We gazed into each others eyes and talked about how she is my baby and I am her mother. And we were quiet and just gazed at each other as she drank from her bottle. I would kiss her and give her "butterfly" kisses on her nose. And as she was sucking from the bottle, I could hear her drinking and breathing, and for a second I was taken back into time. A time when she was a little, tiny, baby. It was just a glimpse, but I am so very thankful to have that. My sweet little baby Karleigh Mei.
12 Love Like Crazy Comments:
Oh my, how precious! I'm sure you wouldn't trade that for anything! Thank you for sharing this! We have been going back and forth on what we should do about Darcy and your post confirmed that while it defies logic that a bottle may be the best choice.
Wonderful!! We just did this too. But with a sippy cup. Thomas curled up in my lap and drank from it like a baby. I told Tom I was going to buy a bottle so we could have that time together.
And, you are right, it was amazing. We were taken back in time.
Enjoy your time alone with KM! Precious times...
What sweet time. Ruthie drinks out of a cup all day, but I give her a bottle every night right before bed. You gotta love that sweet snuggle time.
Jenn-this an awesome time to just pour into sweet Karleigh Mei! I love the "baby time" you did...sounds like you both really enjoyed it. :) it's such a sweet time of bonding for you both and will go a long way in healing her sweet little heart. :)
I adore this post! So glad God gave you that moment.
What a gift! I am so glad that you & KM will have your days together - I, too, am looking forward to Mya r-e-a-l-l-y understanding that *I* am HERS. I am her momma, she is my baby. It has been a fast & furious 8 months and while she HAS adapted well, I think there are many holes, gaps; that I hope to have filled in (a little more) in the months to come! Maybe *I* will go bottle shopping :) I think she would LOVE it 9for Mya it has always been pacifiers - she is infatuated with them!)
Oh my goodness Jen, tears are spilling as I type, and I'm not even sure why . . . Some I guess for the knowledge of what our girls have missed, some for the pain of knowing what their birthmothers have missed, many in gratefulness-- Oh that the Lord has allowed us the privilege of being mamas to these precious treasures . . . and more tears for the way they love us and trust us back.
Oh how He loves us! Oh how He loves our girls!
Thank you for sharing your sweet glimpse back in time with me. It was precious. I hope there are many more like it between you and your beautiful baby girl!
I too look forward to afternoons this year when Teddi will be done with school at 11:00 and Brogan will go until 3:00. I am going to miss my little man, but these will be the first precious moments alone with my sweet girl, and I know it's going to be good! :)
We'll have to meet up for lunch one of theses days.
Thanks again for sharing your heart, you blessed mine!
Love,
Tina
What a tender and beautiful post. I had no idea it would affect me so much, but it just completely choked me up! I think in part because I know the months and milestone moments of Khloe's life that I am missing at this very moment, while she waits for me in China...but also for her birth mother, who will never again have these moments with our mutual daugther.
I love that you took KM into your arms and allowed her to be that 'baby'girl...YOUR baby girl! I'm sure it meant as much to her, as it did to you. Such a precious and tender moment as you looked into one another's eyes. And a total tear jerker for me! (I'm such a sap!!!)
Thank you for sharing this private and precious moment with all of us! Have a blessed weekend!! <><
Beautiful, Jenn. How wonderful that you have this time with your special girl. She is a treasure.
Blessings,
Sarah
Oh, I've read that this is awesome...thanks for the encouragement. I'll be trying it with the cleft palate bottle that I have soon! What a great way to bond and remind Karleigh that she is so precious!!!!
Thank you so much for posting this. I was totally wanting to do this with Sydney but thought I was crazy. Enjoy this one on one time with your sweetie!
You are one smart Mommy!!!! And it looks like she really enjoyed the contents of her "baba" too. That is what S calls her sippys! She can't suck but we call them her bottles and no doubt she loves them too! And we too get all snuggled up and rock and enjoy them in the quiet!
I love the "work" photos!!! And the book! I need to get caught up!
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