8/52

elsa...on a walk round the block as we call it. brrrr.
more freezing days just when it seemed there was a promise of spring.

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project.

thank you to everyone who left me such great comments on last week's portrait. i was delighted and suprised to hear from so many of you. xx

7/52

elsa...palest of the pale. you love being a mermaid in your milky bath.

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project.

6/52

elsa...in these cold days of winter you are always happiest barefoot and sporting just your vest. may your wee toes always be as warm as they are now and not forever chilly like mine.

{thank you so much for the get well wishes in the last post...all is good and back to full play!}

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project.

5/52

elsa...under the weather. 

exhausted and flushed and seeking comfort in the big bed.

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project.

She'd make a Good Friend

a long time ago...and it is quite scary to think it could be more than 18 years now...as i arrived in a big new city to begin my university adventure i will always remember my mum whispering to me "she'd make a good friend" as hilary walked in to the kitchen.

yes mum.

i was probably half listening. scanning round faces and gazing out the windows at the different world i'd chosen to be part of. (manchester you excited and scared this small-town-girl in equal measures!) listening to a hundred different accents and trying to catch what music was being played in the room next to mine. but you were right.

i really can not imagine now what it was like for my parents to leave me there that evening. driving me from  the other side of the country...and leaving me really for the very first time on my own. even though i had been a child who went to boarding school and so was no stranger to being separated from them this time there was no one to be in charge of looking after me.

it is safe to say that i was pretty much oblivious to what it must have taken for them to say goodbye and go.

so seeing a tall pretty and warm-smiley girl walk in to the shared kitchen with her own lovely mum was something i am sure now made my own mother sense a little bit of protection to be had in a potential new friendship.

and naturally we became great friends. some people are there all the way along...you may not see them often but you hold them close to your heart. and i think it is wonderful now that i can look back and think that we have shared some monumental times together. dancing at the hacienda...dancing at each other's weddings.

and now we can delight in our babies! i can not wait to meet wee oscar for real.

4/52

elsa...talking to the girl in the smeary mirror. you kiss her and make her laugh.

where have your curls gone? shiny spun hair whipped up most days now.

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project.

3/52

elsa...this morning you woke up next to me and said "am i 3 now?"
and at last i could say yes!

we've had such a lovely day. highs of the dolls house and cake and candles. so much snow. singing. and then quiet times staying cosy in the big bed.

"a portrait of my child...once a week...every week in 2013"
linking up with jodi (and many others) for this project.

brilliant number three top from the brilliant tinkers and belles.