February 14, 2011

From little things big things grow


March 2008

February 2011

I always knew that this babe of mine would be born on Valentines Day. A Valentine cynic, I had bah-humbugged this day since I was a girl. Now our day is consumed with her celebrations and there is little time to think about ourselves and what this day might mean if we didn't have a child born today.

For our first Valentines, Tools posted me an enormous banner with the words "Joy of my Joyfulness". I have it stashed in a box somewhere in our roof. I sometimes think I should dig it out, along with all those other mementos tucked away and long forgotten. However, I don't need to look far to evoke that memory.

This girl is the joy of our joyfulness. She is kind and thinks of others before herself. She is generous and loyal. Confident and yet very shy. Missy wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. She is a best friend to her brother, the Lola to his Charlie and we often think how lucky he is to have a pal like her. She is the greatest companion to her peers and her elders.

Her chatter and inquisitiveness exhaust me but I will never yearn for quiet. Her day runs at high speed, always engrossed in whatever has captured her imagination. She paints and draws and loves to listen to music. And, when she is satisfied that she has squeezed every drop of goodness from the day, when she finally allows herself to be still, our Missy drops off exhausted to recharge her senses for what will come the next day.

Happy Birthday my Ellie Mooch. May this year be full of happiness and love and laughter and cuddles.

February 10, 2011






My girl is missing her brother and often asks how long until it is until we pick him up from school. She needed a new project, something to keep her busy in the time when he is gone. Missy can't stand being idle. She is always on the go; exploring, investigating, discovering with an endless narration in place.

Her new flower garden is her pride. She took the Rooster and Tools out and explained carefully the process she would take to water her new plants. Moving the stool to help her reach the higher shelves and filling her watering can from the bucket nearby. She finds the smell of mint intoxicating and loves to throw her face in its big green leaves and inhale deeply. She was mindful of the order of her flowers, choosing carefully where each bloom would go. She has adopted the larger plants in pots as her responsibility too, knowing full well that I am too busy to water them with any sort of frequency.


February 2, 2011







Today was much harder than I expected. It was very emotional and I was quite shocked by that feeling of letting go. It hurt.

My guy was so prepared. He was calm but excited and, like thousands of 5 year olds, had been counting down the days for about a week. Mama on the other hand was not so ready for the wave of emotion that overcome her. I have been cool all week, not really thinking about what was to come, focussing on my first day back at work. I had payed little attention to the significance of that moment.

Today really marked the end of an era and a change to our days. And I felt it. I will only be privy to such a small part of his life, much of it going on inside the gates of his new school. I will miss the times where the adventures would unravel as the day progressed. I am so proud of the little boy who walked confidently and proudly into his new classroom. Who waved goodbye with such little ceremony.

There were so many best bits about the Roosters day but for me the best bit was collecting him, feeling that little hand slip so neatly into mine and of hearing all the tales of this very first day.