Alia Caroleen...

Is one year old!

Alia is much loved and been long anticipated ...

Amber and baby at 34 weeks:

The anticipated day finally came! Labour began on Monday April 20 (Oma's and great-grandmother's birthday). Alia Caroleen emerged - 7 lbs and 20 in. long - 8:00 am Tuesday 21 April, 2015.

Alia is the name of a strong and compassionate woman in Lebanon working to support Syrian refugees Ben and Amber met when they went to help last summer. They discovered Amber was expecting during this visit.

Caroleen is a conflation of Alia's two grandmothers: Carol and Colleen.

And here she is! With a first kiss from Mom:

And more of the joy! (Click on any picture below to enlarge.)

More pictures here!