Chardin says happy birthday!

Scroll down and start at the bottom. I apologize for the upside down and sideways photos, Blogger was being uncommonly obstinate.

Now, you can see how much you've grown (doubly shocking when I've had four hours of sleep).

I could say a lot but the expanse of years is larger than that. There's a picture of you pink, scrawny, freshly-out-of-the-womb. Your one arm is thrust upwards, your legs bent, and you face the camera with closed eyes and drawn cherry lips. I am so curious what mom and dad thought at that moment - but then what could they think? You, just entering, hardly getting your bearings, but undeniably there.

your birthday today! plus the hideous eighties... (note character development)... and you contemplating

last year's birthday and recent-ish photos

young and... less young

more birthdays, where you turned nine and ten and eleven and twelve... with some missing inbetween

8

it's a blessing that as a child, life's newness was to be expected

seven as the queen fairy, rock climbing

six

first time reading, first best friend, first halloween

blogger is being extremely annoying, switching around my perfectly upright photos. she's the one wearing the (you guessed it) fairy outfit.

fairy time again (i always had to play the male role... can't wait -- can wait for that lot to be filled appropriately)

5

hannah's first date, hannah's first wave-dancing, hannah's first writing attempt, and hannah's first horse

fourth birthday

still hasn't lost that supercilious air

black shoes, black shoes,

Choosing Shoes
by Frida Wolfe
New shoes, new shoes,
Red and pink and blue shoes.
Tell me, what would you choose,
If they'd let us buy?

Buckle shoes, bow shoes,
Pretty pointy-toe shoes,
Strappy, cappy low shoes;
Let's have some to try.

Bright shoes, white shoes,
Dandy-dance-by-night shoes,
Perhaps-a-little-tight shoes,
Like some? So would I.

BUT
Flat shoes, fat shoes,
Stump-along-like-that shoes,
Wipe-them-on-the-mat shoes,
That's the sort they'll buy.

flower girl

hannah's first swimming lesson. only then, she tried to run away but clinging to the bars of the gate and screaming was not successful.

third birthday, first fairy birthday

If there is anything Hannah liked doing - and still does - it is dressing up, from the day she realized she could wear pink shorts as opposed to red ones.

second birthday.

first birthday