First Easter

Here is Lilly, walking into church on Easter Sunday. Baby comes along almost everywhere!

Contemplating her first chocolate bunny...

Yes, she is definitely in the right family...she likes chocolate!

Anna with her favorite dyed egg on Easter morning. The big kids dyed the eggs; Lilly ate most of them!

Pretty girl, ready for church

First egg is found! She had just awoken from her nap so the banana is the post-nap snack...

Another one in Lilly's color!

Sisters looking cute together...

Assessing the eggs' contents. She decided she doesn't like skittles, but she had to taste (and then spit into mama's hand) each color to be sure.

Lilly is getting braver about the pool...I think we'll be spending some time in it together this summer!

Every day seems to get a little bit better with Lilly these days! She is learning more English words, more sign language, and is even putting more Chinese words together to communicate. We are finding fun things to do at home and out and about, and have even had a playdate or two with other kiddos (and their mommies, which makes me happy!) Lilly had about a week or so of awakening with night terrors early in her sleep cycles at night, which were usually occuring just as Tom and I had finally started to drift off to sleep. She has had a few nights in a row without any, and I am hopeful we may be winding down on those. She is mostly sleeping through the night and taking good naps during the day. I have returned to my "nap nazi" ways which I guess is just a part of who I am, but I have to say that a well-rested baby is simply a happier baby (which makes for a happier mama!)

The big kids have settled back in at school, and are doing great. They came home from their long trip and, instead of finding themselves far far behind in their work, they are actually ahead of their classes in most subjects! Anna is back at the pool for swim team (albeit without mom as coach) and Jared is back at the track after school. Jared is really relishing his role as big brother and Lilly enjoys playing with him a lot. He has taught her to "high five" and do "thumbs up." Tonight as we walked Tad, she held up her hands for a high five when someone happened to say the number "five" in the course of conversation. Pretty cute.

Anna is most definitely being stretched by this whole experience, as she has lost her status not just as the only girl but also as the youngest. She loves Lilly and loves to show her new sister to everyone, but she struggles to always know how to appropriately interact with her (toddlers can be quirky and Lilly doesn't always appreciate Anna's tight squeezes or her efforts to play) and Anna is definitely on an emotional edge much of the time lately. I am trying my hardest to be sensitive to her, to draw her feelings out in conversation (she is beginning to open up), and build her up verbally as best as I can. Most of all I am praying for her that God would help her to take joy in her new and important role as older sister.

Here are some photos from our lovely Easter celebration, including a neighborhood egg hunt on Saturday and church on Sunday. I failed to take any photos of our Bible study/LIFE group at our place on Sunday afternoon, unfortunately. But it was great to have everyone here and enjoy a potluck Easter dinner together after finishing our study of Malachi.