This week has been trying. At the beginning of the week, Neve was out with a fever. She needed her maman. There were lots of snuggles and kisses and sweet, sweet moments that made me catch my breath and thank God for my little girl. But, as any parent will tell you, caring for a feverish toddler also has its difficult moments. When Neve's fever broke, she was back to her old self again. Which these days, involves a lot of power struggles and cries for independence balanced with wanting my attention every.single.second.of.every.single.day. I'm thankful that the little tantrums and fits of "NON MAMAN!" are short-lived and quickly followed with hugs, kisses and requests to read books in my lap. She's still my sweet, affectionate, hilarious, adorable girl. But boy, is she ever spirited. Which is a nice way of saying she knows what she wants and when she wants it (hint: it's usually NOW). Which is a nice way of saying she is stubborn. Which is a nice way of saying she can throw it down with the best of them. Which is, really, just another way of saying she is sort of like her maman. Lots of deep breathing, lots of hugs, lots of letting her try things on her own and giving her opportunities to make choices and practice independence, even if it means everything.takes.double.the.time.
Of course, part of Neve's strong personality is her love of exploring and learning, which are qualities I am thankful she possesses. As soon as she was feeling up to it, I took her to the woods near our house and let her run, play, touch, pick up, feel and collect bits and pieces of nature all around her. She loved it, and I loved watching her. I actually brought my big girl camera along for the ride, and I've shared some of our little moments below. Oh, how I long for the warm, golden Summer evenings when the sun comes out to play. But even despite the lack of a "golden hour" and the heavy grey skies, I kind of love these photos. To live in Canada is to embrace each season, so consider this my glass-half-full attempt at making a muddy, gloomy Spring day a little brighter.
-xo
