Sunday - a shared birthday celebration

We spent all day Sunday with Paul's family. Sunday was not only Easter Sunday but also Paul's dad's 64th birthday. Since Claire's birthday is tomorrow, he shared his birthday celebration with Claire, which was really special.


Highlights of the day include:

• Claire's stellar reaction to gifts. For example, when she received a large stuffed toy kitty from her Great-Grandma Pauline, she broke out into a huge grin, said "Kitsya" (our cat's name - which she spoke aloud for the first time last week) and gave it a big hug and kiss.
• Claire tasting cabbage rolls (well, the rice filling) for the first time ever.
• Meeting several great-aunts and uncles.
• Watching Claire squeal and giggle when Great-Auntie Ruth played peekaboo with her.
• Claire's reaction to her first birthday gift from Grandma and Grandpa. They gave her a beautiful porcelain Chinese doll which happens to be pretty much the same size as Claire. When I lifted it out of the box and held it, Claire's face turned angry - she was jealous!
• Grandpa holding Claire and blowing out their birthday candles.
• Claire receiving a beautiful Ukrainian Easter egg to celebrate her first Easter with us.
• Dorian and Sylvie agreeing to be Claire's godparents.
• Watching Claire giggle like crazy while playing with Grandma and Grandpa.