Amaleah's first birthday in America!

(slideshow above) Yesterday, April 27, our daughter Ama turned 11 and we spent most of the day celebrating! A couple days before we also took Ama, best friend Ayanna and Shayley to the American Girl Cafe/Store at The Grove in Los Angeles. Coincidentally, it was also Ama's American Girl doll, Molly's birthday on April 25 so they had a double celebration ;-) It was the first time to AG Place for Amaleah and Ayanna so they were in for a treat. Ayanna also bought an American Girl Just Like Me doll that day and named her Summer. We spent some time doing a craft when we arrived, the Molly Stand Up Star Craft, and then the girls wanted to get their dolls ears pierced. We visited the doll hospital (yep you read that right) to make sure they were "healthy" and everything checked out fine. Then we looked around the store and they bought a few things for their dolls like outfits and the Molly movie. At 4pm we had a birthday tea for Ama and her doll Molly. Some of the treats we shared were blueberry scones, herbed cream cheese & ham/cheese sandwiches, egg salad daisies, turkey stars, chocolate-dipped cheesecake and a chocolate mousse flowerpot to top it off. It was a special day with great memories. On the 27th, we celebrated with a birthday breakfast and then for dinner we invited the family to join us at Joe's Crab Shack. There were buckets of crab, lobster and shrimp that all 23 of us gobbled up. Then our servers dressed up Ama as the Birthday Fairy and had her flutter around to the other tables to shower them with birthday magic. It was lots of fun and laughs and Ama was a good sport to put up with the fun. A wonderful evening and so encouraging to see all of our family there to support our sweet Ama at her first American birthday party. Ama, the past 8 months have been amazing watching you adjust so beautifully and embrace the changes in your life. You are an inspiration to so many people. We are so excited to watch how God moves in your life as you continue to live out your Faith. Your gentle spirit and strength is a testimony to your love for Jesus. We couldn't be more proud of you and we're so blessed and humbled that we have been chosen to be your family, we love you more than words. Happy Birthday precious girl, Mommy