Juana's First Birthday

23 August 2005

What a Day !!
Our beloved daughter Juana Teresa is now one year outhere in the open.
What a year !!!

It's now 21.30 and my daughter and myself are going to pick up our beloved Mother & Wife.
Georgina is at her 2 weekly dutch lesson facilitated by the ' inburgeringscursus'. We'll be back shortly...

Back at 22.30 Juana fell asleep in the car - Georgina can now order food and drinks in fluent dutch.

Juana is in her little bed deeply asleep and dreaming of her birthday visitors and all the beautiful presents.

The day started with Dora calling from BsAs, how wonderful.
The first ones to arrive this morning were Opa Lancelot & Gisela (good to see each other again) - after they left Yehuda & Galahad by on a surprise visit (How Nice) then Oma Christine and another surprise visit from Amira & Patanjali and quickly after them Opa Otto came in. We all had tea and waited for Juana to wake up from her early afternoon nap - normally 20 to 40 minutes this time 1,5 hours...however when she woke up and happily smiled her way back into the world of the non dreamers the two of us went downstair were a choir of familly members welcomed her with her very first birthday song potpourri. How she enjoyed that...

We had a beautiful lunch (rice & mosaice de verduras) and even a real birthday cake that abuela Christine had provided for.

after some more tea - all the guests left as fast as they streamed into the house and we were back with the three of us. Later that afternoon Eveline came by with a basket full of presents and joy and laughter - so much fun.

After reading the birthdaycards from Auntie Mies & Uncle Dick, The neighbour Brigit & her sun Kenji and after reading the emails from (amongst others) Veronica all the way from Ushaia we were preparing to drop Georgina off at her lesson when the telephone rang again and it was BsAs now with Grandpapa calling - how moving, loving and great.

It was a remarkable and moving day realising how fast life runs by, what a growth and learning for all of us. Some results we see very obvious like:

Juana took her first real walk (accompanied by Patanjali) and makes 3 to 4 steps by herself, she's funny, flirty, witty and ever so charming - musical, joyful and .... herself.

And what about Georgina and myself? What a rollercoasterride this year was.

Late at night we finally had the idea of wanting to see the video we made exactely one year ago. I looked all over the house remembering I put it in a real good place and after 45 minutes of intense searching I found the video and at 02.00 in the morning we started watching - soooo many memories and emotions, to see us leaving our old house, picking up Pablo at Christine and Otto's house and even meeting Eveline on the way.

Then arriving at the Hospital in Delft, preparations and then into the delivery room witnessing the Birth of our beautiful girl. What a miracle us human beings!! After that it was time to call Padrino Tio Pablo in BsAs. Georgina had a long talk while I prepared to get some Zzzz's - I never heard her get into the bed as I was already dreaming of butterflies and zebras. (04.00)

Now the next morning I'm posting this blog as a remembrance to a great and loving day and looking forward to the Birthday lunchparty we will have coming Saturday - all kid's invited. Till then
Joshua