Michael, Alec and I just returned from San Jose this evening--we were celebrating the first birthday of Celia Rose, our beautiful niece and cousin who arrived three months early a year ago.
This precious angel is so amazing! Born at just short of 28 weeks gestation, she weighed only 2 lbs 7 oz. The first 10 weeks of her life were lived in the NICU of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, CA, where Lisa and Bill were able to spend only an hour or so per day with her. When she finally came home life did not become normal for this new family--they slept with the lights on for many months to help Celia's eyes continue to mature and continued to drive into Palo Alto for constant doctor's visits.
To see Celia today, you would never believe that she is that same baby so small and fragile from a year ago. These days she is a sturdy, bright-eyed, joyful and giggly girl who is happy every minute of every day. She adapts to every situation and loves to be around people-adults and children. She loves to try any new food-and then eat lots of it!
Her birthday party was so much fun! My sister, Lisa, is truly an amazing hostess. The party was held at Hummingbird Park in San Jose. The kids received party favors of butterfly stickers, a stuffed butterfly and a toy butterfly net.
With the butterfly net, they were then encouraged to find "bugs" which were actually bags of candy that Alec had put bug stickers on and hidden around the park! What pure delight to see the children go on this "bug hunt!"
Next, the kids were treated to a "bubble parade," courtesy of Alec. He led the kids around the park like the Pied Piper with bubbles pouring out of a bubble
machine while the kids followed, chasing the bubbles as they went. Some tried to catch the bubbles with their butterfly nets, some tried to catch them on their tongues like snowflakes! They were so precious!
Finally it was time for cupcakes. There was a beautiful selection of bakery cakes from which to choose~chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, white cake with
chocolate frosting, white cake with white frosting or banana cake with cream cheese frosting~mmmm! Celia seemed to enjoy her choice :)
We had such a great time seeing Lisa, Bill and Celia this weekend. This past year has been difficult, it has been scary, and it has been stressful. But to see the happiness and to sense the calm and peace that surrounds this family, I know that everything is going to be just fine.
I am so honored to have had the opportunity to have spent so much time getting to know Celia this past year. To see her grow and develop
has been one of the most amazing things I have witnessed in my life. We love you, Celia!
