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Wellington, New Zealand
welcome to my corner of the blog world! i love step, boxing, zumba, scrapbooking, photography, watching movies, walking the hills of my suburb, my family, and life in wellington. take some time to have a look around and be sure to say hi!

Friday, August 26, 2011

photostory friday - thoughts on motherhood: A RE-POST

i've never re-posted before, but i just love seeing pictures of my girls when they were younger, and i figure there's no better time for this kind of sentimentality than on their birthdays, when we as mothers - marvel at how the years have flown by.

this is a re-post from when my [now] 22 year old was turning 19

i've added a couple of her most recent photos at the end.

my eldest baby is now living away from home, has a wonderful boyfriend, is close to finishing her degree in design where she is on track for FIRST CLASS HONOURS.

i'm so proud!

love you sweetie!!!


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19 years ago today, i was 3 days from becoming a mother for the first time. i was 5 days overdue thinking (like all first time mothers do) that this baby was never going to come! i had waited for this day for 26 years and was so full of hope and anticipation for what lay ahead.

ever since i was a litle girl, i had dreamed of growing up, getting married and having babies.

i'm sure there would be plenty of pioneering career women clutching at their chests reading this, but i for one believe it's an honourable profession to raise your children well and set them loose on the world in the hope that they will leave their mark on the planet, just as we hope we do.

as i looked through the rose coloured glasses of my final days of my first pregnancy i had no idea of the tiredness, angst, fret, exhaustion, worry, anger, happiness, pride and sheer joy that the next 19 years would produce, and i am constantly in awe of my daughters.

as i write this however, i am quite sick of my family! well, to tell the truth, i'm sick of the sound of my own voice: get in the shower, go to bed, shut the door, don't say shut up, did you brush your teeth, empty the dishwasher, say please, give me a kiss, don't slam the door - you get the picture!

come monday though, all that will be (temporarily) forgotten as we bask in the glow of yet another family birthday.

i think we've done pretty well with our first born. got her to 19 years OLD (to quote her!) with only a few cuts and bruises and i just wanted to share these pictures with you all.

i never would have complained about my clearly tidy little bump if i'd been able to see myself 9 months pregnant with my 4th child 8 years later!

i remember thinking what a beautiful colour she was. pulled from me (footling breech) arms flailing all 8lb 12 1/2 oz of her!
no words are necessary...

tripping climbing onto a kiddy chair was all it took for these 8 stitches.
she used to have such a high pain threshold she didn't even realise she'd broken her arm til a week later leaning on it, she thought 'it was a bit sore'!

apart from that - she's in pretty good shape, although she now needs reading glasses to go with her distance glasses. i have to laugh because when we went to the specialist together, she was CERTAIN i would be the one needing glasses!

yes, that's an american school she's standing outside of! i guess it was their open day?
first day of kindergarten. not sure what ever became of 'girl-who-does-weird-things-with-her-headband-'
fast forward 14 years, and all it takes is the blink of an eye...
happy birthday darling. love you lots!





and a couple of recent pics:

3 generations


me and my eldest 2 girls two weeks ago as we were heading off to the chocolate festival
oh yeah!!!








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40 comments:

Paula Clare said...

Hi Sue!
You're right...it goes by in a blink...what a joy motherhood is...even when it's x4!

Happy Birthday, birthday girl!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Sue, this was beautiful and an awesome tribute. Each shot so memorable in its' own way (INCLUDING the scratch).

Happy Birthday!

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

She's a beautiful young lady! Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

I am on the same page as you are. I think being a wife and a mother was the best thing that could ever happen to a woman.

Your daughter grew up to be a very lovely woman. Happy birthday to her!

My PSF is HERE.

tiarastantrums said...

awww - great story! man youwere tiny - you sure that was anine month bump?? Those stiches - I winced!!! Adorable girl!

Debra (a/k/a Doris, Mimi) said...

Love the story, Sue. Childhood goes by in the blink of an eye. Suddenly you're married with children of your own. Blink again and you're watching your babies with their babies. And the cycle continues. Life is fragile and short. Your birthday tribute to your daughter is touching. She is blessed to have you for a mom.

Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings said...

You do not look "old" enough to have a 19-year old.

Awesome post though. And your daughter is beautiful.

Congrats!

Pdyrholm said...

happy birthday...

That one with the stitches is scary...

imbeingheldhostage said...

Oh, I was thinking what a gorgeous baby she was, and then you end with this stunning young woman photo. Great PSF, and Happy birthday!!


P/S I'm with ya' about the sound of your own voice, I am currently looking to buy a false identity to run away from home with.

Anonymous said...

Sweet tribute to her and yourself there Mum!
Her stiches look so painful and yet look how innocent and adorable she looks!!
I agree that being a Mom is the best job I will ever have and to me one of the most important marks to make in this world!
Great post Sue

Chris said...

This was very touching. Parenthood is the hardest, most rewarding thing we can do in this life. God has installed in us some kind of anesthetic that causes the hard times to seem not so bad, and enhances the joy of the good times.
Looks as though you have done well.

Amanda said...

Happy birthday, Miss 19!! She's beautiful. Nothing else in life ever feels the same as being a mom. They'll always be our baby's, won't they?

gigi said...

I agree with you that motherhood is an honourable profession. And it's one that has brought me much joy and satisfaction! This was a beautiful post. Happy Birthday Miss 19!

Supercool Hotmama said...

It is amazing how fast the time flies! My oldest will be 19 in Oct. and I can't believe I'm that old. What a beautiful daughter you have!

Anonymous said...

How precious!
I love the photos over time.
What a loving mama you are.
Thank you for sharing this with us.

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Happy birthday to your beautiful daughter.
You Looked THAT good overdue?! I looked like a beached wale at nearly 2 weeks over due with my first!

scrappysue said...

thanks for your wonderful comments ladies. it's a real sisterhood isn't it?

firstly, i think i was only around 7 months in that photo, so don't hate me too much! i was NEVER that tiny again at 7 months pregnant tho!!!

whoever said i don't look old enough to have a 19 year old (johnny's momma) - you are my new BFFL!!!

and amen to chris's comment!!!

tommie said...

what a gorgeous young lady she is becoming!


But you also made me realize my little girl will be there in a heartbeat. Tomorrow we are doing a girl day: nails, toes, a little shopping, and just generally anything she wants to do.

At your daughter's age, do they still want to do this?

Robyn said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter. The one of you breastfeeding almost knocked me off the chair. I was so with you on that. Also a little deja vu, my daughter was breech and born on the 24th.

the mama bird diaries said...

Oh my gosh... what great snapshots. Happy happy to your daughter!

Anonymous said...

Gosh, that was indeed an AWESOME post! Happy birthday to your eldest. She's so gorgeous, just like her mama..:-).

auntiegwen said...

From one mother to another, I really do understand !

What a beautiful post, wriiten with such love from a beautiful mother to her beautiful daughter.

have a fantastic birthday celebration.

Love from auntiegwen xxx

Pondside said...

Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter - and congratulations to you for surviving it all!
It must be nearly time for your NY trip - or am I off with my timing?

scrappysue said...

42 days and counting to NY!!!

Kristi Smith said...

I hope she has a great birthday!!! That photo of you breastfeeding is hysterical . . . priceless!!!

Casey's trio said...

What a sweet-sweet post. Happy birthday to your daughter:) I know that in a blink of an eye, the next 16 years will fly by and my girls will be 19.

Unknown said...

Oh Happy late Birthday to your young one!! She is a beautiful young lady!

I know how it gets so old to have to instruct all the , no I mean, ALL the time. But I only had the same desires as you, have a family, be a wife and mom. :)

Daryl said...

beautiful post, beautiful b irthday girl, er, young woman!

:-Daryl

Daryl said...

beautiful post, beautiful b irthday girl, er, young woman!

:-Daryl

Working Mum said...

Great post, funny photos and a beautiful daughter. You did good!

Sass said...

Footling breach - I'm sure that makes for pretty babies.

That was a very weeny bump - and you only looked about 16, were you really in your twenties?

Congratulations to Miss 19!

scrappysue said...

i guess i did look young huh? 26 and a half years young i was! the pregnancies after i turned 30 were MUCH harder than the ones before!!!

Anonymous said...

when i read this, it makes me tear up. My baby girl is only one- and I can't believe she is going to grow up. I want her to stay little, but just like a priceless vacation that we never want to forget- I will capture the moments. Great post.

Undercover Mother said...

My eldest is about to turn ten, and yes, it does happen in a blink of an eye. And there are many nights that I wish I could poke out my eardrums with knitting needles just to get a little quiet. Of course, after it's over and I have all that quiet, I'll be wishing it was like this again. I'm not going to be good empty nester.

Anonymous said...

You're such a great mom.


And the time really does just fly by doesn't it? zoom.

Anonymous said...

Motherhood is quite an adventure! It is amazing how quickly they grow up! Beautiful girls you have!

Momma@Live. Laugh. Pull your hair out said...

she has become a beautiful young lady

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

That nursing pic cracked me up! :) What a special post. And a chocolate festival? Sounds like my kind of place!

mandyb said...

so cool to see these pics again!!! loving the pics of you too xxx

Honey Mommy said...

Your daughter is lovely! Hope she had a happy birthday!