FOUR YEARS ONE WEEK ONE DAY

Last week Alicia-Rae had her birthday. She’d been waiting an awfully long time for ‘Naugust’ to arrive, and for the Cinderella dress she believed she was getting, even though we never once promised it to her. But we figured this probably wasn’t the one day in life she should be learning a lesson on not always getting what you want.
So she got her Cinderella dress.  And she wore it to breakfast, to Jaedon’s kinder drop-off, to the post office to collect her birthday parcels, to the shops when we collected her birthday cake, on the couch as we watched her birthday movie together, as we made the pink jelly she’d begged for, all afternoon as she danced around the house, stopping every now and then to admire herself, to the door to greet daddy when he came home early for her birthday, to dinner at McDonalds, as we lit the candles on her cake and sang happy birthday, then as we danced around the yard, in the dark, with sparklers. She wore it right up until bedtime, when we forced her to put her pyjamas on. And then she wore it for the next three days straight.
I’d say it was a very happy birthday, as far as I could tell.

And, inspired by a blogger I follow, I thought I’d take this opportunity to pass on some random thoughts, or advice, to our sweet little princess.  Perhaps she’ll read this herself one day, if she hasn’t figured most of it out for herself by then anyway.

Do things for the sheer joy of it.
Try things at least once. Then you can say you don’t like it.
Dance, even when everyone’s watching.
Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t.
Always find a best friend in your brother.
Guard that generous heart.
Walk on the tips of your toes, just because you can.
Go places.
Wear what makes you feel beautiful.
Know that you will always be your daddy’s princess.
Puddles are there to jump in.
Learn how to change a car tyre, but if a guy wants to do it for you let him.  You have nothing to prove, or lose.
Remember, everything in moderation. Except chocolate.  You can never have too much of that.
Travel.
Live life, don’t just experience it.
Always listen to that small quite voice inside of you.
Surround yourself with happy people.
Stand up for your beliefs and choices.
Be true to yourself – you deserve it.  And be proud of who you are.
Eat cake. It’s good for you. But so is exercise.
But most importantly, stay you.
Beautiful you.

Love your mummy. xoxoxo