A year ago today, I was trav­el­ing from Chicago to to have a “Wicked” cousin week­end. The three US cousins joined up with the three Cana­dian cousins on my Dad’s side to watch the musi­cal “Wicked” at the Canon The­atre in Down­town Toronto.

While on the stretch of 401 that con­nects Wind­sor to Toronto, I received a phone call from Dr. Bro. “We’re in L&D,” he told me. “Dr. SIL will be deliv­er­ing Baby Em tonight.”

It was a shock for every­one, since Baby Em was tech­ni­cally not due for another week. But due to pre-​​eclampsia, Baby Em would be born that night. So shortly before mid­night, a year ago today, Emilia Grace … my first blood-​​related niece … was born.

Today, my Mom and I are in Dal­las, cel­e­brat­ing Emilia’s first birth­day. It’s been a won­der­ful day filled with love and laugh­ter, and sounds of children’s excited lit­tle voices. We’ve also heard the sounds of Emilia’s lit­tle feet as she crosses the room, walk­ing on her own for only the 6^th day of her life.

I’ve had the chance to watch her “blow out” her can­dles and devour her birth­day cake with such “finesse.” I’ve even had the chance to watch her “open” her gifts and be sur­prised with what she found. And it has been an absolute joy to be around her; sur­rounded by those who adore her unabashedly.

As the night winded down, Emilia’s fam­ily — her Mom & Dad, her Grammy & Great-​​Grammy, and her Lola & Aun­tie Em — found them­selves around the cof­fee table, feet up and relax­ing after such an activity-​​filled day. At one moment, we all sat qui­etly, rel­ish­ing the seren­ity that descended unto the house. I, myself, felt con­tent with the world; happy in the moment.

It was at that moment I knew that Lolo Medi had come to wish Emilia a Happy Birthday.

Happy 1^st Birth­day, Emilia Grace. You are loved and cher­ished by those who sur­round you.