This week & weekend we have been celebrating Charlotte's 17th birthday!!! I can't believe she is seventeen now, it somehow seems so much older than sixteen.
I have also been reflecting on Charlotte's life so far, as a baby, as a child and now that she is almost an adult.
It only seems like yesterday that I was living in Darwin, having left my family, my job and the boy I was seeing. I had gone to the Northern Territory to continue studying a Professional Writing & Literature degree and spend some more time in another part of Australia. I was staying with a cousin of my mum, and didn't really know anyone else.
It was Valentines Day when I found out I was pregnant.
At first I was amazed, shocked and teary.
I was on my own, a long way from home, without a partner, without my family.
But when I calmed down I realised it was going to be ok.
I can clearly remember thinking,
it will be fine, I will make it work, we will be a family,
the baby and me.
And it was, and I did and we were.
Not only was it fine but it was wonderful.
Charlotte & I had so much fun together when she was little. She was a sensitive little girl who loved weddings, playing with her friends, the tv show Heart Beat,
(we had budgies called Nick and Kate).
She was obsessed with the book
Charles and Diana, The Royal Wedding".
She was scared of loud noises, she was funny,
a mimic, a dancer and did amazing drawings.
Charlotte also was very close to my mum & still is today.
it could be hard & lonely at times.
But for me though it really gave my life purpose and meaning, I really wanted to be
the best parent I could and from the first day I just loved
being Charlottes mum. Because of those early years together I feel a bond with her,
a special connection, it's a beautiful thing.
I met Mark when Charlotte was about four and a half & it wasn't long
before our little family got bigger, and bigger
and bigger.
Yesterday we had a tea party
to celebrate the birthdayof our
lovely girl.
champagne, fairy bread, strawberries
and cups of tea.
Like all our family parties there was
a show, lots of dancing,
tears & laughter.
It was delicious, fun, mad and just the best way ever to say
happy birthday to
Bunny, La-La,
Guk Guk's,
Lotta,
to our Charlotte.
We love you Charlotte xo
