dear Mikki and Katie….
i felt embarrassed walking up to the librarian’s desk with it in my hand. seriously…who checks out the book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” when you aren’t actually expecting? my face was flush as I handed her the book. she smiled at me sweetly, and asked “Oh how exciting! When are you due?” i looked blankly at her; i thought about lying to her for a brief moment and giving her some false due date in the dream of hypothetical i live in. thinking that somehow it might vex me and my future fertility, i told the truth. “I’m not actually,” i stayed to the point and didn’t elaborate. she looked at me questioningly, but said simply “Oh”, and handed me the book. when Daddy arrived home from work and saw me pouring over the beginning pages, he laughed at my eager hope for preparedness.
a month later when the 2 pink lines appeared on the white stick, he wasn’t laughing anymore.
when we called our parents, i honestly think they were skeptical at our naive parental optimism. after all, I was about to enter my 3rd year of college, Dad was still in college, we were living in the city, and we didn’t have any money. the “what are you thinking?” question was never actually said, but definitely implied. i was 23, so i knew everything there was to know about everything, just like I do now. plus, I had read the book.
the trip the library, and the 2 pink lines (okay…more like 6 lines and a plus sign because I took 4 tests to make sure) , was just the beginning of your story, Mikayla. two days from now, you will be SIX years old. how did that happen? six years ago on a snowy April day, we brought you home to our little apartment in the city, and we started our life as a family. and ever since that day, i have gotten to walk around the earth knowing that i helped bring the most sweet, caring, and loving little girl into the world. happy birthday, baby.
all my love darlings,
p.s. sorry katie…i will make it all about you on your birthday.
p.p.s. daily mantra: “half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save”…..{will.rogers}
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What a sweet post! I love the processing on the accompanying photo!
Beautiful, beautiful journaling! These posts are such treasures!
Beautiful post! Gorgeous photo!
Thank you for sharing such a sweet story. I loved reading it. Tell your beautiful little Mikayla that I hope she has a very happy birthday.
You write SO well! I LOVE the PHOTO! So fun, and classic!
Mandy, I haven’t commented in awhile, but I just had to let you know that I still enjoy visiting here every time I come. I love the way you share your heart and your creativity in photos never ceases to amaze me. I love your work. Your Wednesday Whistle is something I look forward to, and this “Mikki week” tops my list of favorites!
thats a very cool shot, love the angle and the color process is really awesome!
What a cool picture! You’re the most awesome mom ever.
your mommy letters are the greatest!! what a treasure they will be!
<3 Such a fun photo. I love your processing too….looks very vintage/modern.
Just always love your work…
so so so sweet
your blog posts are always amazing to read
you are definitely an awesome writer
Love this shot!
I love your letters to your girls. Another beautiful shot too.
That is so cool that Wally Lamb was Michael’s teacher. I’m not that far into the book yet, but so far I really really like it.
With my duck photo, I really wasn’t that close–it’s a cropped shot. If ducks are fed by people a lot, though, they’ll let you get really close. I’ve even hand fed them before. I’m the duck whisperer ha ha.
Mandy, this is beautiful as always. I wish I had your gift of the written word.
Gorgeous capture! I love your post. The day I got my results, I went and bought the book and read the whole thing that weekend. Bit of a nut job I was.
what a gorgeous images and an amazing story for them! I love reading your blog!
Lovely journaling as always! Great angle for the shot!
Mandy – What an awesome post! I just love reading blog:)
Shawna
Your stories are always amazing, I have booked you as another blog I stalk. Love the pping!
Amazing shot!
awww you just made me tear up. What a beautiful story for her to read. Happy birthday to your sweetie! Great shot to!
What a fun composition!
I so enjoyed the story too and happy birthday sweet girl!
I have to be honest when I first started reading, I thought you were making a new announcement:)
P.S.. I became a mommy about exactly one month (March 5th, 2003) before you did and I feel just the same about my baby boy! Where did the time go?? Who pressed the fast forward button??
Love that story Mandy and the shot of M
Ok I am crying…. that was perfect.. when Tonni and I were deciding wether or not we should make a 3rd my heart kept yelling at me…. you are the deciding factor to wether or not you bring another little being into this world…voila we now have Quinn. Arent you glad you brought her into this world!!!
Amanda your shots are gorgeous. I COULD and have spent all day looking at your blog, (actually I did) with my soon to be six year old (she is your newest and biggest fan)!!!
Amazing words Mandy – you brought tears to my eyes… again! And such a fun fun shot!
I know I say this all the time, but I ADORE you! Seriously! This shot is awesome and your words are always so heart felt and touching!
Great perspective! I really enjoyed the story! Happy Birthday!
okay, how did you teach her how to make a bubble?!
my girls are 9 and 7 and can’t do that yet!!!! HELP!
that’s an awesome photo and an even more awesome letter!
LOVE IT!
still think you ought to bind these letters in a book for them one day with photos too of course !
tara
Very cool! Happy Birthday!
What lovely journaling these Wednesday Whistles are, your girls are so fortunate that you do this! Great shot too, what a fun bubble!
What a lovely story, and a cute little girl to boot.
LOVE that shot. The comp and the processing rock.
you are so wonderfully talented. i think i’ve been on the blog for like 30 min now… just going back and back and back.