i'll always be with you | seven. xo

if ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. but the most important thing is, even if we're apart... i'll always be with you.” 

[A.A. Milne - Winnie the Pooh]

happy birthday annie viola. my gal has turned seven today. i can hardly believe it. how lucky i am that i can say this. when there are so many who can't. so many who won't see their 7th birthday. so many sweet little hearts. so many brave women.

i can't honor my girl without honoring them - forever in our hearts. our precious children. our precious teachers. xo

Ana M Marquez-Greene

Dylan Hockley

Madeleine F Hsu

Catherine V Hubbard

Chase Kowalski

Jesse Lewis

James Mattioli

Grace McDonnell

Emilie Parker

Jack Pinto

Noah Pozner

Caroline Previdi

Jessica Rekos

Avielle Richman

Benjamin Wheeler 

Allison N Wyatt

****

Rachel Davino

Dawn Hocksprung

Anne Marie Murphy

Lauren Russeau

March Sherlach

Victoria Soto

[a.v.s.] | isn't she lovely. xo

she may be the reason i survive

the why + wherefore i'm alive

the one i'll care for through the rough in many years

me, i'll take her laughter + her tears

+ make them all my souvenirs

for where she goes i've got to be

the meaning of my life is she.

{c aznavour + h kretzmer}

my sweet annie viola xo 

september 2012

grade one

a lime slice [necessary ingredients]

my daughter asked me how to fly, never thinking she could not learn. she thinks i have the recipe for flight. so we climb a tree and watch the evening sky. and wait for the necessary ingredients. [m. duval]

she's officially four and a half today. amazing where the time has gone. she is such a funny little girl. so aware of time but not really understanding it at all. she announced this morning that she felt just a little bit older. "like pluto....just a little little bit." how can you not love her completely, her  heart, her soul, her breath. she is everything i've dreamed of and everything i thought possible in this world. you CAN fly annie - i see you do it every day! happy half birthday you silly little tallulahbelle. i love you so.

a lime slice [lucky so very]

i work part-time at annie's school. in a different classroom, three days a week. i didn't think i would love it as much as i do. i really love it.
but the best part of my day is when i am at the end of the line of 21 4/5 yr olds marching outside to be picked up by their moms, dads, nannies or grandparents and i pass annie's classroom. i know she is looking out the glass window as we walk by waiting to get a glimpse of me and just like today sure enough her eyes just opened so wide and that smile that melts my heart shines on through. she blows me a kiss and gives me the peace sign (i do the same back - it's our "thang") and all is right with the world once again. i have a major crush on my child. i adore her - from head to toe and everything in between. even when i trip over her crayons on the floor that i've asked her a thousand times to pick up. i adore her. her heart, her smile. i am so incredibly lucky. period.



[annie is very into her music. this shot just kills me]

[a lime slice] - annie.friends.manicures.pizza.smiles.laughs. xo

annie had a blast at her birthday. a special thank you to alice and ava and ellie for being such good friends!! xo

(spa paradiso was wonderful to the girls - hot chocolates and cookies and wine and cheese!![for the moms] - thank you so much!) + (oregano's was great - delicious pizza and lots of patience! - thank you.)

shout out: to my dear friend jennifer pinkerton for making annie her skirt. you are so talented!!

annie has worn this crown every birthday of her life. i will have to do a collage of years.


ava......let's see what color......


alice enjoying her massage - the best part of the manicure!


ava patiently waiting her turn!





alice look! i chose silver....ooooooo!


a moment.








showing off the red!


the final product. ta...da!!




it was a very dark restaurant! miss ellie.


happy birthday sweetie!


i really loved the intimacy of this party and this moment is a fav. 4 year old girls are the best!!

a lime slice - [you are my sunshine]

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey

You'll never know, dear

How much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

annie viola
words cannot express how much you mean to me. i know i tell you every day how much i love you. but do you really really know?! you are such a delightful little girl. you make me laugh with your wit and your joy brightens every room in my heart. you are my sunshine. you are my heart. you are THE very best thing that has ever happened to me and i will never imagine my life without you. i am so lucky to be your mommy. i can't believe four years ago you arrived in my arms - you were such an easy baby and i adored taking care of you. i miss the baby annie but am thrilled at the little girl annie that greets me each morning. i love how you climb on my lap every morning and put your head on my shoulder. i love watching you grow. thrive. discover the world. your world. i look forward to this next year and to all the milestones you will reach. i hope you know you are loved. so very much by so many but most of all by me (and daddy too!)
i wish you my precious annie viola a very happy 4th birthday.
let's party.

  [annie + me - 4 months old]

       [annie + me - 4 yrs old]

[photo by: mariah gale]