Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Three Months Together!

Our Log In Date (LID) was 3-13-06. As the time dragged on to meet our daughter, I began to dread the 13th of the month. Marking that date was just a constant reminder of how long it was taking. Ironically, the day that we met our Olivia was July 13th, so now the 13th is a very happy marker for our family. It has been three months since we were united as a family of three. We still wait to be a family of five.
Here are pictures of our first meeting and pictures from September and October.
The first moment Olivia is handed to me - like my friend Beth said, "Those first few moments of ultimate joy and sadness colliding". That is exactly how I felt. We were so happy and she was so sad. Our tears of joy quickly ceased as we shifted our focus on comforting her.
Back on the bus
Who ARE you?
We recently received these photos from someone seated behind us - they bring tears to my eyes! Our poor baby. So confused. So tired. So shell-shocked. The girls had a six hour drive to get to us that day already and then to be handed to complete strangers who look different and sound different. It was so jarring.



Proud Papa. And finally she sleeps.
Back at the hotel, peering over the mattress (her crib was right next to my side of the bed). Such sad eyes. She didn't cry unless we picked her up. She just stared. At us. At the toys in front of her.

The very next morning she is like a different child and never seems to go back to that sad baby. She slept for hours and hours and it must have been what she needed. I find it so interesting how her eyes changed from day one to day two. From fearful to peaceful. Click here, here, here or here for more posts, or search back for even more, if you need to get caught up!
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Here we are in September. I just love this picture of Olivia with my Dad!
She likes playing with these rain boots that are too big for her so I couldn't resist adding the hat!
At her Aunt Sharla's wedding
She LOVES the computer.
She also loves Nutella...
Just before her first bite of Wild Rice Soup (she IS a Minnesotan, after all!)
And it's a hit! She devoured it!

At the dealership the day we bought the van. What a good baby...it took so much longer than we planned. Thankfully they had a play area!
I believe that this is the first of many looks saying, "Oh, MOM!"
At music class
Just a happy baby!
Such a good sleeper! We feel so lucky!
First pickle...not a fan.
This was after successfully pulling herself up on the couch. You can just see the look of accomplishment and pride, can't you?
Hanging out at the Mall of America

Music class again

She just loves it
And first snow. She isn't too sure what to think at first...(we aren't sure either! It is so early! But it was a pretty snowfall...)

But then she makes up her mind!

Olivia is a beautiful baby and we feel so blessed that she is our daughter. She is something else! For being a mere 15 months old, she seems to know exactly what she wants and when (no, she doesn't always get it!) She is tenacious, resilient and oh-so-feisty, but she is well matched. Bring it on, Olivia! hee hee! She loves music and taps her hands in her lap, claps and bops her head whenever she hears any music. She is walking with help (down to one hand now!) and says many words. She says, "Mama", "Dada", "dogga", "all-da" (all done), "guh ger" (good girl), tee tew (thank you), ett (eat), "dow" (down), "hi", and has said some other words along the way. She has grown a couple of inches and gained a fair amount since we got home and she just moved up a shoe size (stay little! stay little!) We love Olivia!! Thank you, Jesus, for this baby and for our many blessings!

20 comments:

Christy said...

It goes so fast, doesn't it? She is so sweet!

Jinglebritches said...

I MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathy Cassel said...

Wow. That's the same way I feel about snow. One reason I live in FL now.

kayder1996 said...

What a sweet little bug! May our kids always know in their hearts that their stories were written by God who has a plan and a purpose for their lives. May they know the first chapters well but be amazed by the way God has written the rest of the story.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the quick review. It was great to see how "love takes you in" Her eyes tell a beautiful story. When I check your blog or think of you I am still moved by the strong emotions I felt when I met Miss Olivia. I can not imagine how both of you must have felt as she was handed to you. Love exploding!

Blessings,
Cristine

Lisa said...

Wow, has it really been three months? It just doesn't seem possible. Olivia is as adorable as ever. Love the pic of her and your dad!

tiffany said...

i smiled the whole time i scrolled down this post. loved the pictures. she's yours! she's adorable!

AmyO said...

Great pictures! Congrats on 3 months!

DiJo said...

She is PRECIOUS!!!
Congratulations!

~Diana

Unknown said...

Love love love all the pictures. She is tooo cute!

I have a very similar picture of my daughter in the snow...screaming LOL She laughs when she sees it now ;)

Vivian M said...

Amazing how long the wait seemed and now time is flying by. Any news on Haiti? Why does it take so long?

Beth said...

I said that? :) It's so true isn't it? I hope I never forget that feeling/emotion and intensity of the moment we first met Hope. Absolutely incredible!!! Olivia is such a special girl. I know we adoptive parents always say that "we are the lucky ones," but listen to me Dawn, Olivia is so very blessed to be a part of your family. You and Lee were meant from the beginning of time to be her parents and how lucky she is that you followed directions and answered the call to become her mommy and daddy. Congratulations on your first three months! BTW, I think it is pretty stinking adorable that she Miss "spicery girl" Olivia has mastered the "whatever, Mom" look already.

Maddy and Zeke's Mom said...

Happy 3 months! She just gets cuter everyday.

Jenny said...

THis is my favorite post evah of yours!!!! great pics, amazing tale of O's transition... She's SO totally yours! It almost feels like she's been yours since day 1 of her life... Love you!

Jennifer said...

Thank you for the update. =) Love your happy growing fam. xo Um, I think you will need a dose of desert with winter coming so soon there. My house is yours (remember the playroom).. 90 degrees this weekend.. Come on out.. xo

mshel333 said...

One of my favorite posts! I keep looking at it over and over. Although it's almost too hard to see those first pictures,,,but I know the rest of the story! Such a sad little face then...and now such a huge smile! Give her a big hug for me today!

Katy said...

What precious, precious photos, and what a difference from that first day. Congratulations!

Julie said...

She looks like she is doing so great! Can't wait to here you are ALL together!

mshel333 said...

Seems like her smile gets bigger and bigger as time passes.

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

She is just as cute as a button :)!

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