20 months

Dear Cate,

You're really growing into such a big girl. You keep Daddy and me laughing on a regular basis and amaze us with everything you're learning. Your vocabulary has exploded, with a new word pretty much every day.

And you give the best kisses. That picture above is a frequent face you make. You'll be across the room and decide you want to give kisses, so you'll start with this face and move toward whoever is the lucky recipient of your kiss. And you go for the lips.

You like horses, purses, balls and dolls. You dance -- by shaking your head from side to side and usually squating while moving your body from side to side -- whenever you hear music, rather it's my CD, a commercial on TV, the marching band at a ballgame or a song on something you're watching. "Finding Nemo" is at the top of your list, and you request it by sitting in your chair and saying "fish."

You ask me, Daddy and Gran-Gran to take off our coats -- "off, off" -- when we come in the house. And you want yours off too. If you have socks on, you want shoes on, otherwise, it's bare feet in the house.

You can say "diaper" and tell us when you've pooped. I listen to friends tell stories about potty training your friends and I wonder if I'll know when it's time to start.

Since we were at Grandmom's for Christmas, you've often said "Cassie" and "Zac." I'm assuming you want them to come play. I'm glad you learned their names before they moved to New Zealand, so you can say them again when your aunt and uncle come to visit you here this coming weekend.

Daddy asked me not too long ago when we were going to stop telling people what a blessing your adoption process was for us. I told him I don't think I ever will because you are a blessing and that process is part of your story, our story. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for your birthmother and praise God for fitting you with us perfectly.

You have blessed us -- and so many others -- these past 20 months. I love watching you walk around, lips puckered, loving life. And each day I'll take your hand and see where you take us next. So far this is the best adventure yet.

I love you.
Mama