GREAT day

Olivia had a busy day today. First we went to Captain Carl's Sea Creatures at Outside the Box (www.otbee.com) where Olivia got to touch various different sea creatures including a baby shark.  I was so proud of her because she actually reached out to touch many of the different creatures with minimal prodding from me. Of course, after she would touch each one, especially the slimy ones, she would turn into me for some hugs (not that I mind).

Then, we went to one of my oldest friends daughter's birthday party who turned two this past week. Olivia had so much fun playing with new toys and hanging out in the bounce house.  She even showed off some of her new signs that she has been learning. Olivia was even fighting (ha-ha) with L over a toy and held her ground. It was kind of nice to see. We didn't want to leave.

I was so proud of her today, but the best moment was when her and daddy were playing peek-a-boo and daddy was pulling his shirt up over his head. She was pulling it down from his face and laughing.  Then he pulled her PJ's over her head, said where's Olivia and she pulled it down.  Then, she pulled her PJ's over her head and pulled it down.  It was so great because she took the initiative to do that.  I was SO proud.

I'm FINALLY blogging!!

Many people have said that I should start a blog so here I am. I won't say that I love writing, but lately I have had so many thoughts about life and about Miss O that I decided to give it a whirl.

For my first post I thought I would write about select moments with Olivia. She is growing up so fast and I just don't want to forget these times:

• Olivia must have been about three months old and I was sitting in my rocker feeding her and holding her. She was so tiny. I remember hearing the birds chirp and I didn't have a care in the world other than this precious baby. I remember thinking this is THE BEST. It didn't matter that she had Down syndrome. She was MY baby girl and I loved her to pieces.
  
  
• At one of Olivia's therapy sessions we were working on going down a slide. She got to the bottom and with a big smile on her face gave me the biggest hug ever. Over and over again. Her hugs can melt my heart.
  
  
• Hearing her laugh makes my day, week, month and year! We recently went to a gym for kids with special needs (but is great for ALL kids) and I was throwing into a foam pit. She laughed and smiled and LOVED it.