What a Difference a Day Makes!

I didn't think anyone would believe it so I got it on video. I'm telling you this child is so smart! Yep, I'm biased!
Listen close, she repeats what the toy says. She also says Joe, Jackson and Ben!!


I cannot tell you what a change there has been in Olivia today. I expected her to wake up this morning and cry but she didn't. She looked all around the room and then at me. I picked her up and she laid on my chest and just cuddled with me. I was blown away! Sorry about the cut off face...it's hard to take a picture of yourself. Then, she talked to Daddy on Skype (which she absolutley loves!) and she smiled and said Baba! She also let me put her Crocs on her. Yesterday she screamed if I came near her with them. By this afternoon she loves them and won't take them off. Next we went to breakfast in the hotel. Mary was there and when I got up to go get juice she said Olivia pointed at me. Progress. She ate a LOT of food! Then it was off to the Civil Affairs office to do the actual adoption. I was very glad we were first. The orphanage director and the orphanage director of documents were there. They are the ones who brought her yesterday. I thought that Olivia would want to go with them because she knows them well. But, she didn't! She actually clung to me.

One thing that the director told me was that when Olivia first came to the orphanage the felt that she was very unlucky because she was so small and so sick and they didn't think they could help her or that anyone would want to take her. Then The director for Grace & Hope for Children came and they brought Olivia to him. He held her and said "Yes, we will help her". They found some people who sponsored her foster care and paid for her operations (more about them later) and they found a wonderful foster mother who was willing to take on the difficult task of caring for her special need. Now they believe she is very lucky! It's a beautiful story of how God took care of her. They said that everyone thought that Olivia was special.


So, back to the adoption.... Everyone kept saying how cute she looked. I sat at a table and the lady asked me a lot of questions like why we wanted to adopt Olivia, did I promise not to abuse or abandon her, would I give her a good home and education. I had to sign the papers and seal it with my thumbprint stamped with red ink. Then they put red ink on Olivia's foot and put her print on the document. After that the adoption was pronounced as official. I cried of course. They wouldn't let me take any pictures. I was very sad about that becuase I know that other people take pictures. After that we went to the Notary office and Wal Mart again. Every time we left a room or got out of the car, Olivia would look at me like she was wondering if she was going with me. Then I would hold out my arms and she would come to me. She's still so insecure. But the sweetest part of all was when she said "Mama, I'm sleepy!". I heard the mama part and Mary told me the rest. I cried again! Later she said something and then Mama, Baba. But let me tell you, when we got back to the room, it was as if she knew that now she was mine and she immediatley came out of her shell! She's been singing, dancing, playing, and talking up a storm! She's as happy as any child could be. It's miraculous! She minds everything I say, she puts her toys away when she is finished, and she's going potty in the potty chair. Enjoy these pictures....I'm enjoying taking them!


One more video