2009!

Blogging has been sadly neglected in the last year.. perhaps not so much on the pics side of things, but on the writing updates. Time!!

2009 has been a whirlwind of a year! A fast paced treadmill with all of life’s demands!

It has not been a bad year, more challenging for me ito personal growth. I really feel like I gained so much perspective and clarity and can clearly see where I want our future to take us. I cleared out clutter and have really managed to get clear focus on the important stuff. Its allowed me to grow personally and professionally. Its been the start of a good and rewarding journey that will continue next year!! Life takes you paths for a reason, I believe you should always trust in them.

2009 saw Hayley become a little girl, and I stress more than ever that time is so precious and I just don’t want to miss a single moment!

Madam #1 as she has fondly become known [mostly due to a fake number plate Dave made for her bike] is really just that. A little madam.

I can no longer say her vocab is developing as there is little she cant say! She strings full sentences together and can hold a pretty decent conversation – albeit about big trucks, taxis driving habits, crèche friends or her party place in April [which is already creating a big stir even though it is 5 months away!!] She continues to amaze me, melt my heart and make me laugh. She always grounds me and keeps me focused. “Don’t sweat the small stuff” is a phrase surely coined by a parent.

She lives and loves life everyday. Admittedly she is like mom and likes to take the waking up process slowly.. but she leaps into activity with full enthusiasm and wastes nothing in a day. She continues to be like a little sponge just absorbing and it’s a wonderful process to see it all coming back! She really is a loving little girl – lots of ‘loving’ for daddy, the ani’s and all her toys. Temper tantrums are not uncommon, but she is good at finding her ‘happy place’ and then dances back into the room proclaiming she is ‘better now!’. Its just the little girl understanding life and learning its ways. Emotional intelligence in the making. Inherently she is good, and untainted. Her actions and comments come only from a pure place and I hope she holds onto that for a lot longer.

Its about music, books, dollies, bikes and outside time. The plot, I maintain, continues to be such a wonderful environment. Space is unlimited and if she is not pushing a stroller up and down the driveway she is in a swing, on a moneky bar, ramp or “peekabooing” as she goes down the slide. The horsies continue to be firm favourites and of course daddy chasing her round the house always prompts squeals of delight and laughter. We have a great veggie patch this year with carrots, beetroot, baby marrow, potatoes, spinach, cabbage and tomatoes and Hayley takes and active interest [except when large bull frogs come leaping out the carrot patch!!]

Hayley now likes to choose her own outfit for the day [limited by mom for ease sake!!] and is quick to accessorise with her costume jewellery. Obviously the female obsession with shoes is genetic as Madam has no issues with stating her preference!

She is mostly potty trained and constantly tells us what a “beeg girl” she is!

Food. We are so blessed. Hayley will eat anything. She has a great appetite and will always try anything we eat. “pasta, sausie and broccoli” are always on request! She has become a good help in the kitchen mixing eggs for French toast or making jelly. “Baby chinos” are on order when Mom and Madam head out for coffee or have a wait for take-out!

This Christmas season is a great one. Hayley is old enough to partially understand and really get excited. “Santa come down the chimney and leave presents under the tree mommy”. “Christmas is coming”. No issue there. Its allowed us to relive that spirit and excitement of childhood all over again and its truly wonderful! The tree has been put up and decorated by all, Hayley giving instruction and bossing everyone about in her normal fashion. She sings her carols with all sincerity. May it live up to her expectation and may she understand what a lucky girl she is!

Yip. 2009 has been a whirlwind of year, but it has not been a bad one. For Madam #1 it has been a wonderful process of development, learning and experience. She is so blessed to be so loved by all and to have everything that she does. She has a natural head start in life just for the sake of our opportunity and I am so grateful for that every day. May 2010 continue her happiness, health and love.

So.. with that brief update on 2009.. Here’s to a peaceful, fabulous festive season filled with only good things.. and to a prosperous 2010!

xxx