Flea is seven.
But only for another day or two.
It’s true. My girl is turning eight. EIGHT. How the jimminy did that happen? It barely seems five minutes ago I woke up from the anaesthetic and asked my husband why he was holding that baby.
Seven has been a great year.
- Seven is the year Flea decided she wanted to walk into school on her own, and ride her bike round the block without any help from me, thanks very much.
- Seven is the year she discovered fantasy books, and started devouring graphic novels and young adult fiction.
- Seven is the year Flea refused to eat tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, ketchup, herbs, spices and potato. But devoured calamari, prawns and mille feuille without blinking.
- Seven is the year Flea wrote her first three novels, and started her own blog. Which gets more traffic than mine, some days.
- Seven is the year Flea visited Disneyland, rode camels in Jordan, and learned to surf in France, and told me, “Everything we do makes me happy.”
- Seven is the year I lost my phone and scraped my car and both times Flea stroked my arm and said, “They’re just things, Mummy.”
She’s big enough to be negotiating about going to the park on her own, but small enough to sneak into my bed for a cuddle. Grown up enough to choose her own outfits, but still small enough to believe there’s no such thing as an outfit with too many stripes. She can read The Mortal Instruments in a week on holiday, then come home and spend an entire day playing on the floor with Playmobil figures.
She’s amazing (to me).
There are many days I suspect I don’t do her justice. She deserves the whole world, and she makes do with me.
But then every so often I look up, and I see a kid that’s just bursting at the seams with happy. And I feel very blessed indeed.
Happy birthday, Flea. Look at all the fun things we did when you were seven!
And because nobody says it better than Bob…
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Happy Birthday Flea! You are lucky to have your mummy and your mummy you… perfectly matched mother and daughter.
Aw, thanks Monika.
Gorgeous post, Sally. “Everything we do makes me happy.” That says it all, right there.
Happy (almost) Birthday, Flea!
Thanks Keris – having a happy kid is pretty much the best feeling ever.
Happy birthday to Flea. She sounds like an amazing little, or should I say big, girl xxx
SO big and grown up!
That’s so lovely, Sally. Happy birthday Flea. xxx
Thanks Wendy 🙂
Happy Birthday Flea! Hope you had a fantastic day. 🙂
You’ve grown up so much in the last year, haven’t you?
Sally, you know what? That’s all you that is. You’re the reason Flea is such an awesome girl. Because you’ve raised her the way you have. So massive pat on the back for you too! x
She’s grown up a frightening amount, I think. And pats on the back accepted, although I think I got pretty lucky with Flea, to be fair 🙂
Happy Birthday Flea. Though I have to agree that an outfit can never have too many stripes.
Stripes are Flea’s favourite and her best.
Happy happy birthday Flea! I love hearing about your adventures and my children do to. Hope you have a great birthday and another super year.
(Sally – bit teary! You guys rock.)
Thanks Kat!
Brilliant video, beautiful photos and a fantastic post Sally. Happy Birthday Flea, wishing you and your Mum every happiness 🙂 x
Thanks, I make these little videos every year for Flea, but I love watching them too 🙂
Hope she has a wonderful birthday, it is my little girls birthday in a couple days too, she will be 17, first driving lesson booked for Monday- where on earth did all that time go!!
Blimey, it really does zip by so fast, doesn’t it?
Awww! Now I actually feel guilty that my kids are only happy most of the time *resolves to make them burst tomorrow* 😉
Really lovely post. Happy birthday Flea
Thanks Helen, Flea is ridiculously chipper, it’s true.
Ooh, I was doing ok until you starting quoting Bob, got a bit tearful then. Hope Flea has a lovely birthday.
Gotta love a bit of Bob Dylan…
Sounds like the highlights of a pretty amazing year! Beautiful post, Happy Birthday Flea! x
A wonderful year, we’re very blessed 🙂
That’s so lovely – it sounds like you’ve both had an amazing year. Here’s to the next one being even better x
Happy birthday Flea may 8 be equally awesome!
Wow that is indeed awesome. So your little one is a blogger..hmm I wonder where she got that from 🙂 I cannot wait for my little one to be born and begin this incredible journey as a family. I truly admire you and I bet your girl is going to follow on your footsteps.