Her third birthday party, filled with all of her beautiful people — birthparents, grandparents, birthgrandparents, aunties, uncle, birthsiblings, cousins — all of us here together, all family now. In my wildest dreams I couldn't have imagined how it could be, and yet it's better than anything I might've hoped for. Anything. It amazes and humbles me daily, and yet on this day every year (though this year her party was not on her actual birth day), when we are all together again, all joined in so much love for our sweet girl, being part of an open-adoptive family overwhelms me with gratitude, amazement, and pure joy. How blessed we all are that she is here! How blessed we are that we are family because of and for her! How blessed we are to have each other, every one! I would not have it any other way.
She said goodbye to her guests outside in the afternoon rain, careening up and down the driveway with the giant umbrella, then zoomed back into the house to race around a bit more. Clover Meadow, who had been on her best behavior all day, went zooming back and forth between the living room and dining room about eight times, doing laps as fast as she could. Small ones were still zooming for quite a while; the rest of us collapsed in various heaps.
Parties are so crazy — there is so much going on and they go so fast and there are so many people and it's so loud and raucous and fun. I don't take many pictures during them, though I always intend to. There was a lot more to the weekend (I do have more pictures of that; we just got back from dropping Andy's parents off at the airport, in fact). I ran into some of my neighbors at the grocery store last week. We were all waiting in line and we started talking about our earliest childhood memories, which for everyone there started at age three. I hope hers start a few days before, and that she will remember what a magical time this weekend was. I know I'll never forget it. My sweet love. Your party was so, so nice.
Happy Birthday sweet MeMe!! I love your beautiful dresses and decorations.
Happy birthday, little one! Your mama throws beautiful parties! Three is so fun!
Happy birthday to Amelia!! Such a beautiful girl, and such a wonderful sounding party.
The baby years are gone, but I will let you in on a secret: it just keeps getting better. :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Happy 3rd Birthday, to all of you. All the mentions of all the families, Happy Birthday. So wonderful.
Happy Birthday Amelia!
Your party is a beautiful sight to behold! As is everything your talented Mother posts!
Note to Mom Alicia - You are a genius in writing, photography, culinary and crafts! You somehow bring this loveliness all to our doorsteps and hearts!
When I am stressed or saddened or just want some good old wholesomeness a rare find in this world I turn to your blog! It is my Zen! :)
It is the little things in life that you artfully transform into magic!!
Wishing her all the joy and happiness in the world! Happy Happy Birthday, sweet girl! <3
You have one of the loveliest and sweetest blogs I've stumbled upon in a long time. Thank you for sharing!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Such a beautiful family!!!!
perfect...
I am proud of myself because when I saw the lodge and outdoor photo I thought Multnomah Falls...never been there, but have been blog friends for enough years now. Now I want to take a drive there and spend the day. We live 2 hours away and it looks beautiful.
What a special Squirrel and quilt!!
Happy 3rd Birthday Amelia! :)
p.s. we celebrated my sweet chubby gbaby girl Fiona's 1st bday this past weekend. My diningroom was filled with streamers in peach, pink and green and pom poms made of tissue paper by her momma and auntie. Her momma even made cupcakes that looked like foxes. We love creative birthdays around here too :)
A home and hearts full of love. She is a very lucky little lady. xx
Look at you - you beautiful, gentle woman. What a wonderful family life you and Andy have made for Amelia and her extended families.
Hihi, my little girl even neglected my birthday 5 days after hers. Every morning she woke up she asked me - do i have birthday today?? So sweet! And she wants to through a party again :-)) But to be honest I am a little bit reliefed now, that party time is over ;-)
Happy Birthday to your darling Amelia. Thank you for all the amazing photos - yours always are - and especially thank you for the photo of YOU with Amelia. love to see the lovely face of the woman behind all the energy, creativity and love contained within your blog.
Your sweet Amelia looks like a little Scandinavian child. I always think when I look at your home it is so warm and cozy and homey. I love that your daughters parties are beautiful, yet simple. (My favorite kind) She has such a "old soul" to her but in such a charming, innocent childlike way.
Wonderful photos and how utterly, utterly unselfish you must be to include birth parents, what a lovely family.
girls is very pretty and cute. I want to have a child like this: D
#steveharvey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUUVapWe2NE www.ezfauxdecor.com
May I ask what the details of your party dress are? It's all so beautiful.