Bella, Post-Adoption: Month 11

It is so hard to believe that at this time last year, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off - buying what we needed for our China trip, finalizing the girls' bedroom; making sure all documents were prepared, mailed, ready, and prepped as needed; packing for our last beach trip as a family of five; spending time with each kiddo, individually, to ensure they felt loved, prepared, and ready to add another Lu to the Crew; etc. But here we are, one year later, now having had our Bella for 11 months. Here's the latest on what's new with our littlest Lu, 11 months post-Gotcha Day:

Language. I continue to pray for language progression, and it is coming along. Bella is very slowly starting to put two words together. One of her first two-word phrases? "Love you!" taught to her by her Daddy. It sounds more like "Wuv....woooo," but it is the cutest stinkin' thing and we'll take it! <3 She is mimicking all sorts of sounds, and we continue to focus on trying to get her to add the endings to words (e.g., saying Bella, not just Bell). She is getting there, slowly but surely, and we are so proud. Her receptive language continues to thrive and we can't wait to watch her language output continue to improve. <3

Motor. Bella is just all over the place the days! She has gotten SO much stronger, sturdier, and more confident in her motor abilities under the guidance of our new, amazing physical therapist. Until this month, her gait was very wide-based and very immature. Now, as her hips continue to get stronger, her gait is looking much more typical! Again, we have a ways to go with many of her gross motor skills, but the progress she has made over the last month has been so awesome! 

Bella also continues to make gains with her fine motor skills, thanks to our beloved occupational therapist. Her assisted cutting is getting better, she has been rocking some puzzles, and she love, love, loves to color! We may just have a little artist on our hands! :) 

Cognitive. Several of Bella's therapists have remarked that it just seems as though a switch has flipped over the last month, as though a lightbulb's come on. Bella just seems to cognitively understand so much more all of a sudden. From completing multiple puzzles with ease to identifying colors to "reading" books, it has been amazing to watch. Hopefully, this is the start of the acquisition of so many new skills. Go, Bella, go! 

Out and About/Playing. We dove headfirst into Bella's first full month of summer with no looking back! Over the last month, she has been on her first family beach trip with the Luton "side" of the family - and had the best time! She also had no problem being under my parents' care for the five days my hub and I were in Cabo, shedding not one tear in our absence. This is night-and-day-different from how scared she was to be away from us when we got her 11 months ago (I couldn't even walk out of the room without her crying)! We have also had plenty of pool days, trips to the baseball fields to cheer on our All-Star, Banks, and lots of time with family and friends in between. This girl continues to roll with it all! 

Etc. Well, this is new: we only had ONE extra appointment over the last month!!! She received a brand new pair of MUCH better orthotics earlier this week (after being measured and casted for them back in May), and that is IT! Not going to lie - it has been so nice to have a break in the doctor appointments and evaluations. We only have ONE more left on the docket for now, which will be happening next month, and hopefully that will be it for awhile, aside from her weekly therapies, of course! :) :) 

And here we are, just one month out from Bella's Gotcha Day anniversary. So hard to believe. I have something very special I will be sharing next month. For now, we wait and watch and work hard to continue to see our girl shine. We love you with all our hearts, Bellaboo. Month 12, we're ready for you!