Bringing Olivia Home: November 2008

I love how she tries so hard to hold up three fingers
Today Olivia turned 3! She's been talking about her birthday for weeks. Almost every day she asked if it was her birthday. I thought a lot about her birthmother and how she must be thinking of her. We had a family only birthday party and I'm glad it was just us because it turned out that she's been sick with a stomach virus. She felt much better by the time the party rolled around but went downhill shortly after. The funniest thing is that when we ask her now how old she is she says "I 6". She INSISTS that she is six now!

I have to admit that shopping for her gifts was very emotional. The whole time I was in the store I was choking back tears. I literally had to give myself a little talk to make sure I didn't just break down and start bawling! I'm so thankful for my little girl. We are so very blessed to have her in our family. To celebrate her life is so special!

9 months ago Olivia joined her new family at home. We've been through so many changes since then and she is such a joy in our lives! In the last 3 months we've begun to venture out more and and meet new friends. Other than her deciding that she didn't like her dance class, everything else has gone smoothly. I believe that she feels safe and secure now.

She is really learning how to play with toys. For some reason she hasn't been too interested. She does love learning toys. She plays with Jackson's Leapster every day. She loves all things Leapfrog! She has learned all of her letters and each sound they make. She is also sounding out 3 letter words though she doesn't say the actual word yet. Letters are just about her favorite thing of all! Her favorite tv shows are Ni Hao Kai Lan, Dora, & Yo Gabba Gabba, though she would much rather watch a Leapfrog DVD. When a commercial comes on tv for toys, any toys, she says "I want that!" I just say "You do?" and she says "Yes!" She learned that from her brothers!!

It took her a full 6 months to become fully transitioned to American food. I remember it took Joe a long time too but not this long. She loves cereal, apples & peanut butter, spaghetti and her beloved chocolate!

She no longer sleeps with lots of toys, not even Bau Bau. She adores her "jamas" (pajamas). She loves wearing pig tails every day and begs to sleep in them. If you followed our journey while in China you know that Olivia was terrified of the bath. She only had one bath the whole time. Even after coming home it took a while for her to like it. Now it is a highlight of her day. She can't wait for her bath and even loves showers too!

Olivia has the sweetest personality and she is SO good all of the time. If she does anything wrong she instantly says "I'm sorry Mommy." She tells me at least 50 times a day "I lub you Mommy!" She and I are very very close. She gives me tons of hugs throughout the day too. She loves Daddy but will always choose to be with me. She cries and cries when he takes her out the door to go somewhere but stops as soon as they get in the car and then she has a great time. She woke up last weekend and turned to me and said "I want my Da". I was shocked! And glad!

Here are a few pictures taken in the last couple of weeks. She has changed so much from the day I met her but she's still has such a baby face! I love her so much and cannot even imagine my life without her!

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