What a week!

Well, it has been a very busy week for us. I am trying to get into a routine with Olivia. Little by little I'm getting there. It is a little hard because I am out shopping a lot for necessities and Christmas gifts and as soon as Olivia gets in the car she falls asleep, so it messes up her nap times, but she is still such a good baby. Very easy going.


We went to my office Christmas party on Friday and she was so good. No one could get over how well she was doing with all these strange people around and only having been with us for a short time. They also couldn't believe how cute and small she is. I wish I had a $1 for every person who said "she is so tiny, how come she looked so big in the pictures". I know I can't believe it myself. She is almost 11 months old and is wearing 6-9 month clothing. I even have a few 3-6 month clothing that fit her, but if she keeps eating like she is she won't be small for long. She is a bottomless pit.

Not only did she go to her first Christmas party this week, she also had a "photo shoot" for our local paper, The News and Observer, which is doing a story on adoptions with happy endings. I am not sure what exactly will be in this article but obviously it will have one story with a happy ending! We thought it would be in this Sunday's paper but it looks like it will be next week. I will try and post it if I can.

On Saturday we went Christmas shopping at the mall and my husband decided that we needed to get Olivia's ears pierced. In Guatemala it is customary for infant girls to have their ears pierced prior to leaving the hospital after birth. This is done to signify love for this child. Olivia was given up at birth so her ears were never pierced. We both agreed that this was something we would do when she came home. However I was too chicken to do it. So my husband was the brave one. When everything was ready he sat with her and held her. I just held her head and they did both ears at one time, it was over very quick. The worst part for her was being restrained. Other than that she did fine. She drew quite a crowd both inside the store and looking in the store window at us. There had to be at least 15 people all smiling at her and waving and saying how cute she was. She was waving back and smiling at them when it was over. It was funny. Although, I am getting used to it, everywhere we go she draws attention. Everyone stops to say Hello and say how beautiful she is. I love every minute of it!!!! I am one proud Mama!!!

I was trying to put a hair clip in so we could take a photo of her earrings and clean the rest of the marker off, but she was having none of that.

This is how she prefers to take the hair out of her eyes. Both hands and she pushes it all the way to the back of her head. It's hysterical, especially because as soon as she does it, it falls right back into her eyes.

Her pretty earrings!

She loves the flowers her Daddy painted down low so she could touch them.

Hot shot, walking behind her toy all by herself.

One handed no less!

Pretty girl, looking for trouble!

What a sweet, innocent face!