April 8-15

Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!

It's been a busy week full of family...

(In case it didn't come up in an earlier post, Grandma and Grandpa are Bryan's parents.  Oma and Opa are my parents.)

The sun is in my eyes and my
mom is taking pictures instead
of holding me.  :(

Two Fridays ago (Good Friday for most people), we traveled to visit Bryan's family.  Olivia started clapping that evening, which made Grandma and Aunt Keshia happy.  Sunday, after attending Easter services and participating in Grandma's new Easter traditions (an egg hunt in the dark basement using flashlights and then several contests to see who got prizes), we got in the car and headed up to see my family for the week.

This week we've been attending Holy Week services (because Orthodox Easter is today) and letting Olivia get used to my family.  She's finally to the point where she might let Opa hold her and the sight of Uncle Jacob doesn't immediately cause her to burst into tears.  Who knew poor Jacob was so ugly?

Eating Cheerios in her high chair at
Grandma's house.

Olivia has also been practicing crawling on the carpeting... Our hardwood floors lend themselves more to sliding than crawling.  Thursday, after some dedicated work from her Dad and Uncle James, she finally learned she could move with a purpose.  It's not exactly crawling, but she will hunker down, dig in her toes, and muscle herself forward army-crawl style if she sees something she wants just beyond her reach.  We discovered that Cheerios are a good bribe.

Our new favorite picture.
Photo and editing by Josef.

There has been speculation that "Mamama" has become directed enough that it means Olivia actually wants ME, but I'm more inclined to believe that it just means "I want."  :)  Apparently there's a slightly different sound when she's hoping to get to me, but I think that just means "I want... a lot!"

Today we're doing Orthodox Easter with my family, and then we're back in the car to head home.

Many more pictures get taken when we visit my family...

Oma and Opa were able to come up with a toy box, too.  :)

 During a card game:

Sometimes she just sat in the middle of
the table and tried to catch our cards.

Uncle James had a computer to play with.  And a Tigers hat that fits!

Practicing "crawling":

I made us matching skirts (it has been suggested that I should make Bryan a tie so that he doesn't feel left out).  In these pictures, Uncle Jacob was playing music so that Olivia could dance.

Enough dancing, enough
crawling, I just want to be held!

All dressed up for church:

Aunt Jillian took lots of pictures.  Here are her favorites:

She didn't like the headband so much...

Some photos by Uncle Josef:

With Opa: