Happy 3rd Birthday!!!

I look back on January 10, 2010, with such sweetness, appreciation for such wonderful family and friends, a dose of party-planning stress, and a whole lot of love for a little girl who means the world to us.

I also think of a young woman located thousands of miles away and wonder "Is she thinking of the little girl she gave birth to 3 years ago." I have to think so. And how hard it must've been for her to let go and trust in God's plan that Kristina was born into this world for a very special reason.

We hide nothing from our little angel. She was born in Russia and this was her homeland for the first 2 1/2 years of her life. I'm often asked "Will you tell her she's adopted?" and the answer is "Of course, it's our reality and there's no reason to hide God's will or plan."

I truly believe that since we could not have children that God hand-picked a woman across the world who was able to have a child but unable to raise this child and give her the care necessary. So God matched us together and forever we are united, anonymously for now, by a special girl.

Today, we celebrated Kristina. When I started to plan Kristina's 3rd birthday gathering, we only wanted immediate family and lifelong close friends. Afterall, we didn't want to overstimulate Kristina for her first birthday (we'll have time to do that for future birthdays!). We invited 3 other little girls (ages 2-3) who Kristina plays and goes to school with. Laura came with Tricia (11) and Riley (6) plus our neighbors who watched us go through the process for the last few years. Final talley: 33 birthday party attendees. I stress when I'm having 2 people coming over for dinner so can you imagine why I didn't sleep the week leading up to the shin-dig? This party nearly gave me a heart condition!!

But everything went great and we were so appreciative for everyone's outpouring of love and generosity for Kristina.

So now, without further a-do, here are some photos of our vibrant, out-going, fearless, devious, loving, empathetic, strong-willed, independent (and the list goes on) little girl at her very own first birthday party.

Oh, and the theme? Sorry Elmo, Thomas the Train, Disney Princesses... It was a Garden theme...with flowers, ladybugs, and butterflies!

Kristina: The party greeter.

Kristina playing with Andrea (left) and Gaby (right) with Maria, Andrea's mom close by.

First party activity: Making foam picture frames by sticking foam stickers all over them. A hit!

Kristina hiding her "Birthday Girl" pin. Mama ended up wearing it. Kristina's friend, Kira, is on the right.

Second party activity: Pin the spot on the ladybug! Here is Kristina trying to hit the mark with her friends looking on and giving advice.

Good try, honey.

The men's table....Carl, Poppy and Grandpa.

The ladies table (why does it work out like that???): Laura, Grammy and Nana.

Getting ready for cake time: Kristina with cousin, Griffin, ("Giffin") on the right, Uncle Bryce and cousin, Alex, ("Axe" or "Ike" as Kristina calls him) on the left.

Kristina's birthday cake. Note: The Matryoshka nesting doll in the corner represents not only her heritage but the young woman who made today possible.

Our little girl enjoyed hearing 35 voices singing "Happy Birthday." This became the song of choice for weeks after her party with Kristina singing "Happy Birthday, Tina."

Mama and Papa helping Kristina blow out the candles.

Now onto the family pictures!

The Cassidy Clan

And the Deary Clan. Kristina's ready to move onto EATING the cake!

Perhaps slightly overstimulated, Kristina took her piece of cake outside to sit at her own little table. Here, she's enjoying cake with her BFF, Gaby, while Papa and Gaby's mom, Tere, endulge in some cake, too.

Kristina sharing cake with Nana and our friend, Tracey.

Kristina has graduated from opening gifts with scissors to ripping them open! (Thank goodness, or the party would still be going on....)

The loot. Boy, this girl is so blessed with generous friends and family.

Mama finally taking a breather with longtime friends Dawn (left), Laura, and Tracey. Now I could use that drink!

Kristina having some post-party fun with Riley and Tricia.

With her leather boots, Kristina is ready to hit the roads on her Radio Flyer tricycle.

Friends dating back to high school, with Fred, Tracey and Laura -- now with 5 kids between us...and all girls!

BTW: The most frequently asked question at the party was "Is her dress from Russia?" The answer: Nope! It was a gift from some friends (thank you Monica, Dave, Alec and Katie!) and from the Gap. It is gorgeous.