Violet

Happy Belated Birthday Violet. Your first year has been nothing short of amazing. Who knew you could love something so small so much?

I’ve had lots of requests to share Violet’s first birthday. I’ve really been meaning to post this since her party (2 months ago!!) but I always feel guilty working on personal stuff when I’ve got clients patiently waiting for their orders. I need to get better at balance though- Violet does not have that many pictures of herself and the ones I have taken aren’t printed or even organized. Agh!  So here is my first attempt at sharing more Violet. We had a very girly purple and pink party for her (okay so it was mostly for me and Tim, but that’s okay). I love throwing parties- just ask the poor kids in my neighborhood who got invited to a party every week when I was 8.  As a kid I’d plan parties for any reason I could think up (and they were bizarre reasons) and I’d even invite the neighborhood  teenagers to come. I’d make the invites and food….I’m embarrassed thinking about it now (but really it is the teenagers who came  to my “Barbie” themed party who should be embarrassed).  But now I’ve got a daughter I can throw themed parties for, lucky lucky me!

Enjoy a little glimpse!

I heard once that your children will teach you more then you could ever teach them. The older Violet gets the more I learn. She’s fearless and funny. She’s charismatic and lovable. She’s everything I want to be and when I’m with her I’m automatically a better person.  She teaches me lessons every day and I want to share what I’ve learned from her with you.

1. She forgives quickly and never holds grudges (even when I make her cry it out at night.). She’s taught me to let the little stuff go.

2.  She smiles at everyone, everywhere. She makes friends instantly. I’ve started smiling a lot more and funny thing is, I’ve made new friends too. In fact, I was riding the train alone last week when a man sat across from me and smiled quickly. I  gave him a large smiled back. He gaped at me and said ” No one ever smiles back at me anymore. Everyone is so cynical.” I was able to answer that my one year old taught me to always smile at strangers. We both left that train a little happier and now I try to be the one that smiles first.

3. She doesn’t judge. She wants to find out who you are and she doesn’t care what you look like or what you’re wearing. We were in an elevator with a homeless man at City Centre Mall this winter.  She kept babbling to the man until he knelt down beside her and sang her a song right there in the elevator.  She was beaming. So was the man.  While I had ignored him Violet had engaged with him,  eager to make him happy. Everyone has worth, sometimes it takes a child to help us remember that.

4. She laughs at simple things. Like really simple things. Can’t blame her though- brushing your teeth does look fairly hilarious.

5. Violet doesn’t take things for granted. Getting a bite of ice cream is enough to make her clap her hands and cheer. I’m learning to appreciate little things more.

6.She’s taught me that nap can make your bad day a lot better and there’s nothing wrong with taking time to snuggle in the middle of the day.

7. Violet has taught me what unconditional love is. She has made me understand what “as long as you’re living my baby you’ll be” really  means.

8. She teaches me patience. Over and over again 🙂

9. Violet reminds me everyday to experience life like a child. Every day is exciting  with so much to learn. Every rock is worth picking up and examining. And every puddle is worth splashing in …just ask the soaking wet kid who just came in with Dad.

And just because I love her sooooo much, here is a look back at some highlights over the past year….

xoxoxo,

Kelsy