One!

My dearest darling Vada,

There is nothing...
not one thing...
not one single item...
nothing tangible, physical, home made, store bought, handed down item that I can give to you that expresses just how I love you.

I have thought for a long time now what I can get you as a special gift to celebrate this momentous occasion. I have even resorted to asking other mummies and close friends to see if they could think of the perfect thing...something that you can keep and remember as your 'special' gift. The thing that reminds you in years to come that you had a loving, caring, happy childhood. But there simply is nothing!

Sure, we got you a few little presents...presents that I'm sure you will love and enjoy and create cute memories with (I can't go into any further details about them now though as it is not officially your birthday until 9:51am tomorrow). But in time, they will be lost, or broken, or drawn all over, and they will lose some of their 'special-ness' and I wouldn't ever get you something that I put up high in a cupboard that you can't appreciate and enjoy and create those memories with.

I looked and I looked, I promise I looked...I looked high and low, far and wide, I searched all the corners of my brain and my heart for a brilliant idea...

And then I stopped looking for this illusive perfection of a gift!

It doesn't exist!

Because the only thing I can give you that won't be tarnished is my love.

So you see my angel...this is my gift to you...

my love
my time
my attention
my wisdom, for when you know no better
my strength, for when you are down trodden
my comfort, for when you are sick or sad
but most of all my love!
I will love you with every breath in me.
the kind of love that has no conditions,
the kind that is firm yet soft and gentle.

You are my sunshine,
you make me happy when skies are gray.
You'll never know exactly how I love you,
please don't ever go away.

Happy Birthday Vada cakes,

Love mummy.

Moo

127/365 (Vada)

This is Vadas new favourite toy. It is a farm yard magnet set (that was Zavias). It makes animal noises and Vada has started 'mooing' along with it. Very cute.

BUNNY TEETH!!!!

98/365 (Vada)

This is turning into a week of milestones...yesterday it was sitting on her own, today it's two little teeth peeping through her gums.

Clever girl

97/365 (Vada)

Of course in my last post for Vada I had to mention that she wasn't sitting up on her own yet...she had to prove me wrong.

First food

93/365 (Vada)

She has sucked on an apple, had a spec of mashed potatoe off Bens fork, but today was officially Vadas first day of eating solids. We are starting with pumpkin...she is NOT a fan. After the novelty wore off of being allowed to eat what was on the spoon she was grabbing it was all down hill from there. The scrunched up faces, the shivering in disgust...it begins. She was quite pleased to look at her grubby face in the video camera though.

Look at meeee!!!!

70/365 (Vada)

The first year of life truely is remarkable. So much is accomplished in such a short space of time. I marvel at how clever she is getting each day. With each new day she is pushing up higher and higher...before we know it she will be on the move and placing her in the middle of the bed will no longer be a good idea.

roley poley

68/365 (Vada)

She's getting good at rolling over on her own. I wish I could experience joy from such little things. She hasn't quite mastered the rolling back over onto her tummy...she lays there wriggling like a bug stuck on its back.

Bed-bug

42/365 (Vada)

She is starting to roll over. Today she had tummy time on our bed and roled over half way and got stuck...but was happy to just lay there, following Zavia around the room with her big eyes as he pranced around.

Naughty daddy

41/365 (Vada)

She is NOT ready for solids...
I REFUSE to give her solids yet...

If only daddy got this memo.

It was just a lick and she did love it very much.

Teething faces

20/365 (Vada)

I've known for some time now that Vada is teething...not because of any grizzling but because of the constant chewing. Put anything in her reach and she will grab it and start 'mungin' away. Today was the first day of actual pain though...she pulled many of these faces. These photos were taken just after lunch and by dinner time she had one tooth broken through.

Little sucker

3/365 (Vada)

It's official...at three months of age Vada is teething.

She isn't at all interested in teething toys, or her own fingers, but she has taken quite a liking to my thumb. She likes it so much that she has chewed right through my skin and I have a permanent red welt on my knuckle. Even as I type this she is mungin away. Im more than happy to oblige though if it brings my baby girl some relief.