Birthday in Review

Thank you, so much, to everyone for the sweet birthday wishes for Alina :)!  

She was greeted last Thursday morning by her very own Mama & Papa and loving siblings, who were genuinely excited to celebrate her that day.  She LOVED her birthday--everything about it--and was beaming from the moment she got up. 

I went in to read to the preschool class that morning and to take a small birthday surprise for her classmates.  She was excited to see me, and ran right over with a huge smile to give me a hug.  She sat down in her spot when I began reading, but ended up standing right beside me as I finished the book.  

While the class sang to Alina, she looked around at each and every face in the group.  She was elated.  She honestly smiled and clapped the whole time.  And she got to wear a special "Birthday crown" handmade by her teacher (shown below).  It was a wonderful start to the day.

Alina received phone calls, cards and gifts from out-of-town family, and had her "special" birthday pizza dinner and dessert on Thursday.  On Friday, our extended family in town came over to celebrate, and she had more birthday fun and treats.

She truly enjoyed every.single.thing about her birthday--cards (she looked closely at each card), balloons, phone calls, gifts (she liked every gift, even the tissue paper in the gifts), singing, cake...all of it.  She really seemed to linger on every detail.  

It brings tears to my eyes, thinking about this little girl and how much her life has changed.

Celebrating Alina's fourth birthday, and her arrival into our lives, was more fun than any of us could have imagined.