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She then pretended it was my birthday ( I was turning 4) & made a pretend cake ...
Showing posts with label Tara. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tara. Show all posts
Saturday morning {Rebecca Doyle Photography}
My girl & I had a quiet morning at home, hung out in our PJs & danced.
She then pretended it was my birthday ( I was turning 4) & made a pretend cake ...
She then pretended it was my birthday ( I was turning 4) & made a pretend cake ...
Happy Sunday
We had a happy Sunday, enjoying the sunshine that has arrived with the start of Spring....
.... she made me a birthday cake of dirt in the backyard and sung me a very unique version of "Happy Birthday" (it's not my birthday - but that didn't matter)....
I taught her how to roll a frisbee on the ground and we planted some flowers......
And today Tara taught me how to play a new app that I had installed on my iPad and did her own hair ..... this little girl of mine is growing up right before my eyes......
50 Things I Want to Tell My Daughter
Two things have recently prompted some reflection on the messages I want to pass onto my daughter, the values I hold strong, the beliefs that form a strong foundation of who I am, and ultimately, things I want her to know.
She & I were wandering through a book store, flipping through many pages and adventures, when I took the opportunity to purchase some 'classics' - she is already a devotee to 'Cinderella' so to her collection I added 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Snow White' and 'Beauty and the Beast'. She is three, she loves pink, wears dresses all the times, plays dress ups with frills and wands and tiaras, so she adores the princesses abound in fairy tales .... but when reading these books, I found that all three had the exact same concluding line ..... "...and they lived happily ever after.". Naturally, fairy tale endings make you feel all happy and warm and loving, but I have started to notice that in these 'classic' stories that I read an oft helpless woman is literally rescued by the knight riding in on a flashy white horse. Whilst I do want her to always believe that greater things may happen, and beautiful endings are around the corner, I am also adament she doesn't see fit that a prince needs to appear into the scene to 'rescue' her and make this happiness happen. I want my daughter to play an active hand in her life story and the choices she makes.
Last week, I took Tara along to an appointment I had with an accountant. She happily sat in the room occupying herself whilst I busied myself with tax returns and share portfolios. That was, until the accountant said to me "Can I have your email address?" ... then little Miss Three looked up abruptly with great concern and shock on her face, placed her hand on her dress and rather firmly said "No. You cannot have my dress!". Apparent from a very early age, was that this little girl of mine is always going to stand up for herself, and for that, I am very grateful and proud.
Something happens when you become a parent. Never before have I felt the intense desire to show someone else the world, to make sure they have the best of opportunities, the chance to experience different cultures, lives and interests. This sometimes competes with my need to protect her from all the bad and evil in the world, and basically just to know that she is okay and happy at every minute. At age three, I can cuddle her in close (and generally refuse to let go!) and feel, for that part, I am protecting her as much I can. I sometimes fear the times when she doesn't cling to me when she is near, and no longer needs me by her side to do everything. I want to know she is going to be okay in the world.
So my thoughts have moved to those things I see as important and wish to impart to my little girl.....
1. You play a role in having a life story that states "... and they lived happily ever after". Please don't sit around waiting for a fairytale.
2. You are loved more than you perhaps can possibly even imagine. You are an absolute light in the lives of your Daddy & I. Not a day goes by where we don't think about just about how much we love you ... carry this knowledge with you each and every day.
3. No matter how old you are, there will always be room on the couch next to me for you to cuddle in.
4. From the time your ability to form sentences emerged, you have generally always questioned and challenged things. As a Mum to the toddler you, I will not lie, this has sometimes been very frustrating, but I plead with you to never let this enquirying and questioning mind go.
5. Your love of books is something that I love to see. Keep your love of reading and always explore the world through words.
6. Never shy away from the things you love and never be afraid to share these passions with the world.
7. Never let anyone stomp on your dreams.
8. Your body and mind are strong. You are capable of anything. ANYTHING.
9. Always let the music move you when you feel it. Keep on dancing. Keep on dancing in crazy circles in the loungeroom.....
10. Nothing you will ever say will EVER make me not want to hear from you and hear your voice.
11. Hug lots.
12. Always remember how you would excitedly shout out 'FAMILY CUDDLE' and you would hold Daddy and I close.
13. Always be the friend you want others to be.
14. Don't neglect those that are important to you.
15. From the moment you were born, your Daddy and I always tried to surround you with people that were important to us, that helped us to be better people and taught us things. Continue this and know that people have many wonderful, different and important things to offer.
16. Everyone has a story to tell.
17. Raw sugar on the top of a hot bowl of porridge is the way to go.
18. Drink lots of water, every day.
19. Always keep a jar of vegemite in the cupboard.
20. See the world. Already, at three years old, you can point out and name several countries on your world map. Your curiosity amazes me, and when someone mentions a country you ask me to point it out on your map. Keep asking questions about the world and see as much as you can through your own eyes.
21. Womanhood is a gift.
22. Study hard. Work hard.
23. If you don't risk, you'll never know.
24. Enjoy what you are doing, in the moment you are doing it. Don't wish years or times away.
25. Your heart will be broken. Bad things can happen. But you will be okay.
26. Listen to your body. Treat your body with respect.
27. Celebrate your uniqueness. There is NO ONE else in the world exactly like you.
28. Celebrate the uniqueness of your friends, family and those around you.
29. You have the right to use your voice - no matter where you are, or what the topic.
30. There is no such thing as failure. Learn and grow from every experience.
31. You have the right to choose whatever football team you wish to follow. You know how your Daddy & I feel if you choose Collingwood.
32. You have so many family members that love you. Remember how important your family is, and how important you are to them.
33. Good manners are important.
34. Always accept blame for your actions. Learn and grow from this.
35. Laugh. Every day.
36. Look for, cherish and enjoy all the little things around you.
37. If, like me, your hair goes curly as you grow older, always remember a good conditioner works wonders. Don't fight the curls, just go with them....
38. Make exercise a part of your life.
39. Good things come in small packages ..... just as well.....can't do much with the genetic influence of your Daddy & I.
40. Create your own traditions.
41. There will always be a birthday present hiding under the doona for you.
42. Challenge yourself.
43. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't. Don't be the one to tell someone else that they can't.
44. When I became your Mum, I suddenly realised how my Mum feels about me. I wish the same for you, and know when you become a Mum yourself that you will realise how insane the strength of my love for you is and how I would move heaven and earth for you.
45. Take photos.
46. So many of my smiles begin with you.
47. You are here because two people fell in love.
48. The world is a better place with you in it.
49. I am ALWAYS doing my absolute best for you. You are my world. You are the beat of my heart.
50. You will always be my little girl.
What would you add to your list?
And I'd like to share a couple of images .....Every now and again, Tara is accommodating in letting me pick clothes from her wardrobe other than a bright purple tutu and pink gumboots .... and when she did last weekend I made a dash for the tripod and got a rare photo of the three of us together (well, four, if you count teddy). I love this photo so very much.
Linking up with:
She & I were wandering through a book store, flipping through many pages and adventures, when I took the opportunity to purchase some 'classics' - she is already a devotee to 'Cinderella' so to her collection I added 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Snow White' and 'Beauty and the Beast'. She is three, she loves pink, wears dresses all the times, plays dress ups with frills and wands and tiaras, so she adores the princesses abound in fairy tales .... but when reading these books, I found that all three had the exact same concluding line ..... "...and they lived happily ever after.". Naturally, fairy tale endings make you feel all happy and warm and loving, but I have started to notice that in these 'classic' stories that I read an oft helpless woman is literally rescued by the knight riding in on a flashy white horse. Whilst I do want her to always believe that greater things may happen, and beautiful endings are around the corner, I am also adament she doesn't see fit that a prince needs to appear into the scene to 'rescue' her and make this happiness happen. I want my daughter to play an active hand in her life story and the choices she makes.
Last week, I took Tara along to an appointment I had with an accountant. She happily sat in the room occupying herself whilst I busied myself with tax returns and share portfolios. That was, until the accountant said to me "Can I have your email address?" ... then little Miss Three looked up abruptly with great concern and shock on her face, placed her hand on her dress and rather firmly said "No. You cannot have my dress!". Apparent from a very early age, was that this little girl of mine is always going to stand up for herself, and for that, I am very grateful and proud.
Something happens when you become a parent. Never before have I felt the intense desire to show someone else the world, to make sure they have the best of opportunities, the chance to experience different cultures, lives and interests. This sometimes competes with my need to protect her from all the bad and evil in the world, and basically just to know that she is okay and happy at every minute. At age three, I can cuddle her in close (and generally refuse to let go!) and feel, for that part, I am protecting her as much I can. I sometimes fear the times when she doesn't cling to me when she is near, and no longer needs me by her side to do everything. I want to know she is going to be okay in the world.
So my thoughts have moved to those things I see as important and wish to impart to my little girl.....
1. You play a role in having a life story that states "... and they lived happily ever after". Please don't sit around waiting for a fairytale.
2. You are loved more than you perhaps can possibly even imagine. You are an absolute light in the lives of your Daddy & I. Not a day goes by where we don't think about just about how much we love you ... carry this knowledge with you each and every day.
3. No matter how old you are, there will always be room on the couch next to me for you to cuddle in.
4. From the time your ability to form sentences emerged, you have generally always questioned and challenged things. As a Mum to the toddler you, I will not lie, this has sometimes been very frustrating, but I plead with you to never let this enquirying and questioning mind go.
5. Your love of books is something that I love to see. Keep your love of reading and always explore the world through words.
6. Never shy away from the things you love and never be afraid to share these passions with the world.
7. Never let anyone stomp on your dreams.
8. Your body and mind are strong. You are capable of anything. ANYTHING.
9. Always let the music move you when you feel it. Keep on dancing. Keep on dancing in crazy circles in the loungeroom.....
10. Nothing you will ever say will EVER make me not want to hear from you and hear your voice.
11. Hug lots.
12. Always remember how you would excitedly shout out 'FAMILY CUDDLE' and you would hold Daddy and I close.
13. Always be the friend you want others to be.
14. Don't neglect those that are important to you.
15. From the moment you were born, your Daddy and I always tried to surround you with people that were important to us, that helped us to be better people and taught us things. Continue this and know that people have many wonderful, different and important things to offer.
16. Everyone has a story to tell.
17. Raw sugar on the top of a hot bowl of porridge is the way to go.
18. Drink lots of water, every day.
19. Always keep a jar of vegemite in the cupboard.
20. See the world. Already, at three years old, you can point out and name several countries on your world map. Your curiosity amazes me, and when someone mentions a country you ask me to point it out on your map. Keep asking questions about the world and see as much as you can through your own eyes.
21. Womanhood is a gift.
22. Study hard. Work hard.
23. If you don't risk, you'll never know.
24. Enjoy what you are doing, in the moment you are doing it. Don't wish years or times away.
25. Your heart will be broken. Bad things can happen. But you will be okay.
26. Listen to your body. Treat your body with respect.
27. Celebrate your uniqueness. There is NO ONE else in the world exactly like you.
28. Celebrate the uniqueness of your friends, family and those around you.
29. You have the right to use your voice - no matter where you are, or what the topic.
30. There is no such thing as failure. Learn and grow from every experience.
31. You have the right to choose whatever football team you wish to follow. You know how your Daddy & I feel if you choose Collingwood.
32. You have so many family members that love you. Remember how important your family is, and how important you are to them.
33. Good manners are important.
34. Always accept blame for your actions. Learn and grow from this.
35. Laugh. Every day.
36. Look for, cherish and enjoy all the little things around you.
37. If, like me, your hair goes curly as you grow older, always remember a good conditioner works wonders. Don't fight the curls, just go with them....
38. Make exercise a part of your life.
39. Good things come in small packages ..... just as well.....can't do much with the genetic influence of your Daddy & I.
40. Create your own traditions.
41. There will always be a birthday present hiding under the doona for you.
42. Challenge yourself.
43. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't. Don't be the one to tell someone else that they can't.
44. When I became your Mum, I suddenly realised how my Mum feels about me. I wish the same for you, and know when you become a Mum yourself that you will realise how insane the strength of my love for you is and how I would move heaven and earth for you.
45. Take photos.
46. So many of my smiles begin with you.
47. You are here because two people fell in love.
48. The world is a better place with you in it.
49. I am ALWAYS doing my absolute best for you. You are my world. You are the beat of my heart.
50. You will always be my little girl.
What would you add to your list?
And I'd like to share a couple of images .....Every now and again, Tara is accommodating in letting me pick clothes from her wardrobe other than a bright purple tutu and pink gumboots .... and when she did last weekend I made a dash for the tripod and got a rare photo of the three of us together (well, four, if you count teddy). I love this photo so very much.
Linking up with:
Quarterly Top 5 Photos of Tara
Linking up with the gorgeous Ashley over at Ramblings and Photos, and her combined 'Quarterly Top 5 Photos' party. The five pics to be chosen must be those taken of your child/ren, and even though it was only over a 3 month period, I enjoyed the moment to pick the photos and reminisce on all the changes. Hard to believe that in a 3 month period there has been many changes .... but there definitely has.
For one, little Tara has turned 3. She continues to learn so much, and contest so much more too! Some days can be so tiring and she questions each and every thing I say or request.
For the most part, I am happy that this will hopefully mean as she grows and matures, she won't be a person to just accept something because someone else said so. I like to think she will constantly be on the search for better solutions or other options, a better way to do things, or a more viable solution. I am sure this trait will stand her in good stead for the 'real world' ... however, in the day to day world of merely trying to get clothes and shoes on and out the door, it can be hard going sometimes!
Here are my five pics for the last quarter.....
I chose this first one, taken in April, for two reasons - one, because I have been DYING to get a photo of her looking up at the camera (I think it is such a beautiful angle - but she NEVER stands still long enough!), and two, because this is the first photo where I really have noticed the little round face disappearing as she starts to look older (which of course makes me happy and sad all at the same time!).
This collage quite simply makes me smile. I had just received an iPod for my birthday, and with an adeptness I would have thought beyond her tender years, she quickly figured out how to scroll through the apps I loaded for her. My Dad came to visit for the weekend, and she took it upon herself to teach him a technological trick or two!
This picture I love for what it represents:
- her curiosity
- her love of playing outdoors
- my snazzy binoculars made from toilet paper rolls
- the fun times her & I have
- making up games, getting down on the ground and exploring
- her imagination
And if this last picture didn't represent the fun times we have .... I think this one will definitely do that! Here is what happened one rainy afternoon, whilst we were stuck indoors ......
And this last one I love, because it typifies her at the moment ..... a dress and gumboots .... no matter where we go!
*EDIT* Thanks for the feature Ashley :)
For one, little Tara has turned 3. She continues to learn so much, and contest so much more too! Some days can be so tiring and she questions each and every thing I say or request.
For the most part, I am happy that this will hopefully mean as she grows and matures, she won't be a person to just accept something because someone else said so. I like to think she will constantly be on the search for better solutions or other options, a better way to do things, or a more viable solution. I am sure this trait will stand her in good stead for the 'real world' ... however, in the day to day world of merely trying to get clothes and shoes on and out the door, it can be hard going sometimes!
Here are my five pics for the last quarter.....
I chose this first one, taken in April, for two reasons - one, because I have been DYING to get a photo of her looking up at the camera (I think it is such a beautiful angle - but she NEVER stands still long enough!), and two, because this is the first photo where I really have noticed the little round face disappearing as she starts to look older (which of course makes me happy and sad all at the same time!).
This collage quite simply makes me smile. I had just received an iPod for my birthday, and with an adeptness I would have thought beyond her tender years, she quickly figured out how to scroll through the apps I loaded for her. My Dad came to visit for the weekend, and she took it upon herself to teach him a technological trick or two!
This picture I love for what it represents:
- her curiosity
- her love of playing outdoors
- my snazzy binoculars made from toilet paper rolls
- the fun times her & I have
- making up games, getting down on the ground and exploring
- her imagination
And if this last picture didn't represent the fun times we have .... I think this one will definitely do that! Here is what happened one rainy afternoon, whilst we were stuck indoors ......
And this last one I love, because it typifies her at the moment ..... a dress and gumboots .... no matter where we go!
*EDIT* Thanks for the feature Ashley :)
Her birthday!
We recently had a pink-filled birthday weekend of fun at our home, celebrating my little girl's 3rd birthday.
And it was oh so Pinkalicious. Pink balloons. Pink tissue paper pom-poms (I channeled a bit of Martha Stewart craft action). Pink cake. Pink cupcakes. Pink serviettes. Pink biscuits. Pink drink. A bit of pink heaven, right there in our house. There was excited running up and down the house all weekend, Grandparents visiting from interstate, and thus to Tara's delight she had her pick of family to assign all the tasks of playing with her, bathing her, dressing her, getting her drinks - she was in her element & I got a small reprieve! It was lovely to have just a small gathering to celebrate a day special to her, and so very special for my husband and I too.
Birthday morning she awoke with the excited exclamation of "I'm three! I'm three!", and asked me a few times during the day if it was still her birthday. The day after her birthday she woke up and tentatively asked if she was still three. On positive confirmation there was an excited hand to her mouth and a bit of three year old jumping around. Shame I don't wake with the same excitement when I realise my age each morning. (Groan, slowly wake, stumble along from bedroom to bathroom, creaking joints, shower, breakfast, coffee...... "Oh, I'm that age! Now I remember why I feel like this!").
Here are some pictures I'd love to share with you all. Happy Birthday to the little girl that I love so very much.
And it was oh so Pinkalicious. Pink balloons. Pink tissue paper pom-poms (I channeled a bit of Martha Stewart craft action). Pink cake. Pink cupcakes. Pink serviettes. Pink biscuits. Pink drink. A bit of pink heaven, right there in our house. There was excited running up and down the house all weekend, Grandparents visiting from interstate, and thus to Tara's delight she had her pick of family to assign all the tasks of playing with her, bathing her, dressing her, getting her drinks - she was in her element & I got a small reprieve! It was lovely to have just a small gathering to celebrate a day special to her, and so very special for my husband and I too.
Birthday morning she awoke with the excited exclamation of "I'm three! I'm three!", and asked me a few times during the day if it was still her birthday. The day after her birthday she woke up and tentatively asked if she was still three. On positive confirmation there was an excited hand to her mouth and a bit of three year old jumping around. Shame I don't wake with the same excitement when I realise my age each morning. (Groan, slowly wake, stumble along from bedroom to bathroom, creaking joints, shower, breakfast, coffee...... "Oh, I'm that age! Now I remember why I feel like this!").
Here are some pictures I'd love to share with you all. Happy Birthday to the little girl that I love so very much.
Going with my heart
There is definitely something that happens when you become a parent - I don't know whether it is a change to your DNA, neurons firing differently, celestial rotations or a change in alignment of the planets, but whatever it is, that instant I became this little person's Mummy my life changed forever.
I distinctly remember the day, the afternoon, the exact moment, nursing this tiny precious life. When she was 4 weeks old I was hit with an all consuming, overwhelming, encompassing love for this little person.
A love like I never knew.
I was always prepared for the moment that she was born that I may not instantly love this little being. I mean, how could I? I didn't know her? I hadn't yet met her so could I love her straight away.
But I did. Oh my goodness I did.
I remember lying there mere minutes after her birth, just holding her and stroking her little cheek as she nursed (and just HOW did she know to do that straight away??) and telling her over and over how much her Daddy & I loved her.
But then something happened at 4 weeks. A different love. A love I didn't know existed and I never would have been able to comprehend if anyone had told me about it before hand. In this instant I knew I would do absolutely anything in my power possible to protect her. It was there. Instilled in my heart. Unchangeable.
Suddenly I realised I could cause physical harm to anyone who threatened her. Who was this person? I am not a 'hurting people' kind of person - how could I feel so driven? My gosh how could I love someone so much?
When this bolt struck me, I was home on my own with my girl, and I remember sending my husband and my Mum a text message saying "Oh my gosh I just love her so much". I needed to shout it from the roof tops, but at the same time, just didn't know how to comprehend it or wrap my head around
the magnitude of it. My Mum rang me. She understood.
And now my little girl is a few months away from turning 3 (or as she says, "I am two of a half"), and I often find myself reflecting back on the moment, and all the moments that followed when the intensity of my love and my fierceness to protect her started defining me and my relationship with her.
My daughter has been in childcare for the last 18 months, just 2 days a week. For some reason, the last 3-4 months she hasn't been going too well with this. My husband & I were picking up on little cues from her, and always asking more and more questions at the centre about how her day was. We were told she had a good day - we couldn't work out why she was getting so sad there.
We started to think about taking her out of the centre. Perhaps it wasn't the best fit for her? It is tricky when you are the parent though isn't it? There are emotions involved. And of course you want them to be the best possible little individual they can be. I found an inner conflict of wanting to teach her resilience and strength of character, and knowing that the socialisation was good for her. But I am her Mummy. My number 1 job is to look after her. I just didn't know what to do.
The last couple of weeks we have found out she has had some really miserable times there, and for the last few months the carers have been worried about her because she was so different to her usual self - very quiet, sitting on her own, eating less, standing at the door with her little bag on her back waiting to be picked up (I can't even write that without blubbering at the thought of that) - but they didn't share their concerns with us. None of them. And that gives me a pain in my stomach.
All kind of variables started to work their way into me trying to figure out the situation - should I change her routine, should I give up work, we have mortgage payments, am I not giving her enough time to adapt......
But then I knew the answer - I needed to go with what my heart and my gut were telling me.
It then became easier to know what to do.
It is a bit sad to have to finish her up at a place where she has little friends and has been going for some while, but my heart just breaks at the thought of her being miserable there. I am not for a moment saying that anything sinister or evil has happened there, but there has been several things concern us and she has certainly been enduring a bad experience for a few months.
I guess as she grows I am going to be faced with many more decisions, and will no doubt often spend countless hours working out what is the best thing to do. Where are her best interests? How can I look after her? Some decisions will be easy (I hope!) and I'm sure some will pull on all my heart strings and emotions.
I think I need to remind myself that if I listen to my heart, and to my gut, all will be okay.
And I wanted to share some pictures with you, that are very special to me - some moments in the hospital when we welcomed Tara into the world. (My personal fave is taken just a few hours after she was born, when my she and my husband lay down on the bed together and had a sleep - I could not resist taking a photo of brand new Daddy's protective hand).
I took a series of photos about a year ago, playing around with the self-timer on my camera - these are two of my faves :)
And this one I took about 6 months ago. Oh that face!
![]()
I distinctly remember the day, the afternoon, the exact moment, nursing this tiny precious life. When she was 4 weeks old I was hit with an all consuming, overwhelming, encompassing love for this little person.
A love like I never knew.
I was always prepared for the moment that she was born that I may not instantly love this little being. I mean, how could I? I didn't know her? I hadn't yet met her so could I love her straight away.
But I did. Oh my goodness I did.
I remember lying there mere minutes after her birth, just holding her and stroking her little cheek as she nursed (and just HOW did she know to do that straight away??) and telling her over and over how much her Daddy & I loved her.
But then something happened at 4 weeks. A different love. A love I didn't know existed and I never would have been able to comprehend if anyone had told me about it before hand. In this instant I knew I would do absolutely anything in my power possible to protect her. It was there. Instilled in my heart. Unchangeable.
Suddenly I realised I could cause physical harm to anyone who threatened her. Who was this person? I am not a 'hurting people' kind of person - how could I feel so driven? My gosh how could I love someone so much?
When this bolt struck me, I was home on my own with my girl, and I remember sending my husband and my Mum a text message saying "Oh my gosh I just love her so much". I needed to shout it from the roof tops, but at the same time, just didn't know how to comprehend it or wrap my head around
the magnitude of it. My Mum rang me. She understood.
And now my little girl is a few months away from turning 3 (or as she says, "I am two of a half"), and I often find myself reflecting back on the moment, and all the moments that followed when the intensity of my love and my fierceness to protect her started defining me and my relationship with her.
My daughter has been in childcare for the last 18 months, just 2 days a week. For some reason, the last 3-4 months she hasn't been going too well with this. My husband & I were picking up on little cues from her, and always asking more and more questions at the centre about how her day was. We were told she had a good day - we couldn't work out why she was getting so sad there.
We started to think about taking her out of the centre. Perhaps it wasn't the best fit for her? It is tricky when you are the parent though isn't it? There are emotions involved. And of course you want them to be the best possible little individual they can be. I found an inner conflict of wanting to teach her resilience and strength of character, and knowing that the socialisation was good for her. But I am her Mummy. My number 1 job is to look after her. I just didn't know what to do.
The last couple of weeks we have found out she has had some really miserable times there, and for the last few months the carers have been worried about her because she was so different to her usual self - very quiet, sitting on her own, eating less, standing at the door with her little bag on her back waiting to be picked up (I can't even write that without blubbering at the thought of that) - but they didn't share their concerns with us. None of them. And that gives me a pain in my stomach.
All kind of variables started to work their way into me trying to figure out the situation - should I change her routine, should I give up work, we have mortgage payments, am I not giving her enough time to adapt......
But then I knew the answer - I needed to go with what my heart and my gut were telling me.
It then became easier to know what to do.
It is a bit sad to have to finish her up at a place where she has little friends and has been going for some while, but my heart just breaks at the thought of her being miserable there. I am not for a moment saying that anything sinister or evil has happened there, but there has been several things concern us and she has certainly been enduring a bad experience for a few months.
I guess as she grows I am going to be faced with many more decisions, and will no doubt often spend countless hours working out what is the best thing to do. Where are her best interests? How can I look after her? Some decisions will be easy (I hope!) and I'm sure some will pull on all my heart strings and emotions.
I think I need to remind myself that if I listen to my heart, and to my gut, all will be okay.
And I wanted to share some pictures with you, that are very special to me - some moments in the hospital when we welcomed Tara into the world. (My personal fave is taken just a few hours after she was born, when my she and my husband lay down on the bed together and had a sleep - I could not resist taking a photo of brand new Daddy's protective hand).
I took a series of photos about a year ago, playing around with the self-timer on my camera - these are two of my faves :)
And this one I took about 6 months ago. Oh that face!
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