Friday, April 16, 2010

My Little Roma

Today, I dedicate this post to my little girl, Roma Aida. Today, she turns 5. It seems only yesterday she was born a bit undercooked (she was not due for another 5 weeks), but as she has proven to be, she was determined from the very start to be part of this world and brighten it up with her smile. She's always been on the petite side (just like her mama) and in pre-K, she is the smallest girl in her class. But wasn't Madeleine the smallest and most vivacious one of the 12 little girls that lived in a house in Paris and walked in two straight lines?

When she was born, she had no eyelashes and no eyebrows (did I tell you she was undercooked?) and I thought I had been punished for wishing for a beautiful little girl. But here she was and I looked at her and she looked back at me with her hairless eyes and we decided to get along. I still cried. My husband thought she was the most beautiful little baby in the whole world. The jury was still out on my case. I waited, and I waited. But in her defense, I tell you, she was the most wonderful, sweet baby ever (as though to make up for what she was lacking in looks).

Roma grew up to be the most beautiful little girl ever and I am so ashamed that I ever doubted it. She can light up a room with her smile and bubbly personality. She's sweet, caring and very responsible for such a small person. She has stolen my heart and my life. My sweet Roma tomato, named after the most beautiful city in the world -- Roma (Rome).

When she was about to be born, I had a dream. I had already decided that if I ever had a little girl, I would name her Roma. But in this dream, my maternal grandmother Aida showed up. I loved my grandmother and she taught me so many things that I hope to pass down to my own children. She was a small, petite, Italian woman with red hair. Humble and loving and oh, so giving of herself. When she died (two weeks after we moved from Argentina to the U.S.), the Catholic Church gave us a special dispensation to have her body cremated so that we could take her with us wherever we went (because as immigrants, we did not know at that time if we were going to stay in the U.S.). My father thought long and hard for the perfect inscription for her urn that would capture the essence of who she was. After deliberating for a long time, he came up with the perfect epitaph.

In this dream, Abuela Aida came up to me. She smiled and hugged me. She took me by the hand and led me to her urn. She pointed at it and I looked, not quite understanding. She pointed again at the epitaph and said, "look." I read the epitaph that my father so lovingly wrote on her urn. It reads, "Amor, Amor, Amor" (Love, love, love). I woke up and knew that even my grandmother approved of my soon to be born little girl's name as I realized what she was telling me in my dream. "Amor, Amor, Amor" afterall is "Roma, Roma, Roma" backwards.

My sweet little girl through her five short years.
























Happy Birthday to my sweet, beautiful angel.

10 comments:

  1. What a beautiful story. Your posts are always so interesting to read with real depth and meaning. I love the name Roma and now I am happy to know the meaning behind it.
    A Happy Birthday to a special little girl!
    And, yes, she is very beautiful!

    Mandy

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  2. Dear Karina!-)*

    ***Happy,happy birthday to Roma!!!***
    SO amazing,beautiful post about you little angel Roma...
    She is a really petite,lovely girl,and what an wondeful story this is!-)))*

    Have a beautiful weekend,dear Karina with you little Angel and you familie!!!

    Much Love,
    ***Violetta***

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  3. She has the best hair. It's so thick and lush! But I love her smile even more.

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  4. Please give dear, sweet Roma our best on this special day of hers (and yours!). The most wonderful gift we can receive...our children. Best to you both and Happy Birthday, Roma!

    Dorothy-

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  5. omygoodnessgracious!!!

    she is beautiful ... no wonder you rush home each and every night ...
    kisses and hugs

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  6. Karina
    Your little girl is gorgeous! Congratulations to you Roma on your very special birthday... I hope you have a wonderful day full of lots of surprises! Don't forget to blow all the candles out! Karina such a beautiful post and have a wonderful week-end!

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  7. Your Majesty,

    what an amazing story. The dream is real. I was actually so captured by it and I too believe deeply in messages given or sent to us in a dream. Happy birthday to your beautiful Princess Roma Aida!! May she live a long and fulfilling life.

    Royal wishes,
    Daisy
    LaPetitPlume.blogspot.com

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  8. What a wonderful dream, and such a special heritage for your beautiful Roma! I wish I could have had such a meaningful connection to my own grandparents. Dreams have always had a very strong influence on my own life; I have never had an experience like that, but all my life I have had very powerful recurring dreams that inspire my writing. Happy birthday to your gorgeous girl; I hope it is a joyous day for your whole family! I'm sure your grandmother is looking on as well and sending her own birthday blessings!

    xoxo
    Hope Ava

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  9. Hi Karina,
    she is beatiful princesse!!
    Your Photos is Wonderful!!!
    Have a nice weekend
    kisses :)
    Daniela
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/DREAMSHABBYCHIC

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