TheJoysofLife: I have an opinion and I know how to use it!

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20
The last several days have flown by. I can not believe we have already been home almost two weeks! We have had a lot of major activity over the last few days. The boys have been home, daddy has been home, and we have had visits from lots of family and friends. Steve's sisters and their families came for a visit. Ai-Le is slow to warm up, but eventually she does in her own terms. Nap time has not been fun but she is still sleeping all night and I've always said sleep covers a multitude of sins. Doesn't the bible say that? Maybe it says love-either way-I say that and I know if Steve and I can sleep through the night, the day will be much better for everyone. We actually went to church for Easter-all of us-early service-and were there on time! Can I get a hallelujah!?!?! Seriously, not too bad for one week home. I've missed corporate worship and was ready to get back. Can I just tell you-the music was amazing(even from outside the worship center). I guess the music was too loud for her so we left and toured the outside parameter of the church. We stopped by B group to say hey. Not just to show her off- but I know people wanted to meet the part of our family they have been praying over for a year and a half. I know it's amazing when we get to see the results-and positive results at that-of our prayers. We took Ai-Le Kate to the purple park so the boys could stay for B group and then we met dad at El Compadre for our Easter lunch! After a brief nap we headed to some friends for some play time. I was actually able to sit down and breathe a little while she played. Ai-Le Kate was great-Will and Luke were the ones having a meltdown. Go figure! I've noticed and I may have said it before;she asks for food when we are in the car-she's bored or when she is anxious. I think most of the anxiety is dissipating and frustration is taking its place. She will grab my hand and whine, trying to make me understand what she wants or needs. I run through the list of words-English words-I know she can say hoping she will hear the word and recall its meaning. For my own benefit these are some of the words she can and/or will say: mommy, yummy which sounds a lot like mommy, daddy, ge-ge, Will, ook is Luke, Nana, Papaw, yellow-as of today, blue, Amen.yay, uh-oh, bye-bye, and my favorite bc of the way she says it-hello. I know there are more words, she said buckles after looking at Logan and Kelsey's pic with their dog Buckles-did I mention she is freakishly afraid of dogs, not sure why. I know several kiddos with a fear of dogs without any hx or experience with dogs so I'm not jumping to any conclusions.
I decided to try taking her to bible study with me Wednesday. Allison had her village of Little People out for Ai-Le to play with. Can I tell you, she didn't make a sound for an hour and a half. The only reason we knew she was there was because of all the animal sounds the toys were making. After bible study, we went to visit Nana and ventured to Counter Culture for a Humphrey. Needless to say, she loved it! I had to fight her for a bite!
Luke is warming up to her a bit more. Will is still smitten with her. Ai-Le wants them around and "talks about them" all day,however, I think she still isn't quite sure what there role is yet.
She is still loving her shoes. Sometimes she changes three times a day. She is letting me-letting me-ha-she's not even three yet- pick out her outfits, so I'm not going to battle over shoes! Luke had an opinion early on-he simply wanted boy and comfort! Will continues to let me dress him-not really but you know what I mean. Hopefully, her opinions will be limited to her shoes!
Ai-Le Kate thinks she is the star of the show but not just my show-everyone elses as well. She waves like she is on parade and tells everyone bye-bye and blows kisses to anyone and everyone. I had to have a heart to heart with her to help her understand the implications of handing out love so freely- Ha! especially when I have to beg and plead to get a kiss from her! Of course, just now as I'm writing this I realize- the meanings of her name-love and joy! Why do I try to limit God by thinking Ai-Le Kate can't make a difference until she gets older! I guess I'll let her blow kisses to whomever she pleases-even if it's the security guard at the library!

Once again, this entry is a combination of several days of writing. I'm still learning how to juggle life as a party of five! Now that might need to be my new email address!