Nadia's Birthday Celebration-Part 3

Nadia was celebrated and sung to by our small group, was taken out to dinner by her family, and was promised a birthday party to wrap up her 3-part birthday celebration.  However, when the mom got sick, everything that was supposed to happen last weekend got cancelled or put on hold.  Quite frankly, I was feeling so badly that I was leaning more toward cancelling the party rather than postponing it...

 But then I looked at this face and remembered that she has 2yrs. of NOT celebrating her birthday to make up for! 

So...Let's Get This Party Started!!!

We rescheduled, made sure all of the party guests could still attend, got the girls dressed in their matching outfits, ordered a cake instead of making one, and voila...Nadia's party was ready to begin!

Some of you out there who are in their late 40s and mid-50s like Jim and I are might have some trouble coming up with friends who have toddlers to invite to your toddler's party, but thankfully we have a diverse group of friends who are still having children either biologically or through adoption...so Nadia's guest list included 4 sweet friends.

One of whom is cutie-pie Milana who was also recently adopted from Ukraine and only lives 4 blocks away from us!  Josi loves Milana... and her sisters and Momma have become good friends of ours too.

Before the rest of the party guests arrived, Nadia decided to make up her own game...

...I think it's called "Crib Diving".  

She was actually reaching for the shape blocks inside of the crib and kind of fell in (the first time).

She thought it was such fun that she ended up trying it again...and again.

Then more friends arrived.  Atley and her Mommy have been praying since this past January for Nadia to come home to our family so Nadia holds a special place in their hearts. It's amazing to see how God has used our adoption to plant seeds even in the youngest of hearts like little Atley who is now praying for other orhans to find families as well. 

The "theme" of Nadia's party was ornaments so all of the girls got to decorate an ornament to hang on their tree.   The girls also received a Reece's Rainbow ornament so they can be praying specifically for an orphan who needs a family.  (It's not too late to donate to the RR Christmas AngelTree Fund.  Just click on this link and help one or more orphans in this very important way).

This is Kate's 2nd Christmas with her family after being adopted from Guatemala.

Nadia got some help with her ornament from big brother Michael, and cousin Jessica. (The brown theme wasn't planned but it kind of works doesn't it?) :)

Milana's working hard on getting those sequins glued on.

Atley proudly shows her beautiful Christmas tree ornament.

Allen was put on baby rocking duty and although it doesn't look it, sitting on the couch occasionally rocking the car seat was much more of his 'thing' than helping with the craft.

Nadia still doesn't get the blowing out the candle part of all of this...

...but she sure has the smashing/eating part down just fine!

Guess this part comes naturally to all children!

This is Bella, our God-daughter (whose baby sister Allen was rocking).

I think her green lips go quite well with her pink bow and polka dots!

Kate is the only one who missed the class on 'getting messy' while eating cupcakes. I'm sure her mom is glad she was absent that day. ha ha

This is the best shot I could get of the party crowd, which considering they are all between the ages of 2 and 4, is pretty darn good after all!

My Dad asked me how much I thought Nadia 'got' of this being her birthday celebration. I'm not sure of the answer to that.  She still doesn't seem to completely 'know' that we are her mommy, daddy, sister and brothers, BUT based on the blossoming we see each day, I believe she is definitely 'getting' how much we love her and that she is safe and taken care of. 

The important thing is that we get to celebrate with her and that we keep giving her every opportunity to understand how special and loved she is.

Happy Birthday Nadia Irina Ferguson!!!