A Happy Day

We had such a wonderful day today celebrating Amelia's second Birthday. We started out with a very special breakfast prepared by daddy. Then we took Sophia to school and ran into one of her classmates (who is also a friend) it was her son Henry's Birthday as well. In Montessori school they celebrate the child's life from beginning until the current birthday. So they have the child bring in a poster of their life. A sort of "lifebook" if you will done in story board format (we are currently working on Sophia's). Henry and his mom Erin shared his with us and it brought me to tears. I was a wreck the rest of the morning. You see Henry was adopted from Ethiopia. He is a beautiful child tall and strong handsome like I have never seen. His "lifeboard" was amazing and captured so much of who he is now and where he came from. I hope I can do something half as good for my girls when the time comes. Later when we went to get Sophia from school all the moms waiting to pick up there children sang Happy Birthday to Amelia, it was very sweet. She was so excited she smiled and clapped the whole way through the song. Tonight for dinner we went Cajun style with Popeye's Fried Chicken and red beans and rice. Oh and for her birthday cake she had a King Cake. It was loads of fun and she really enjoyed herself,we all did..



In reflecting on today I can't let it pass without remembering my father. Today was his birthday as well. I felt him all day looking down on us smiling and knowing that he has a very special granddaughter who will forever share this day with him. We found it very fitting that Amelia's first birthday with us falls on Fat Tuesday . My father lived for many years in New Orleans when I was a child. I have very fond memories of The Big Easy. I would spend part of my summer there with him. I spent all summer there once with my best friend and we got into way to much trouble but we had so much fun. Riz and I even spent our honeymoon there 20 years ago. So, today for us was something extra special a celebration of life that has come and life that has gone but will never be forgotten.



One more thing I have been thinking a lot about my friend Tamera who lost her father just recently. It is never easy to lose a parent or anyone for that matter. I know what she is feeling right now. I remember it well from when we lost my father 5 1/2 years ago. Her father passing and today have brought a lot of those feelings back up for me. Strangely enough to add to this my very best friend in the world Lisa's father's birthday was also today and he too is gone. But with Amelia joining our family it has brought us all something to celebrate again. We all love you sweet baby Amelia Grace Cimei .. Happy Birthday.