9/52

Josephine: Sitting on the steps, talking to me about all the important things in life - namely how tricky it is having so many (imaginary) horses to look after!

Coralie: Not a baby anymore. And one of my favourite ever pictures of Coralie.

treasures from a special place

A few days ago, as we rushed home from somewhere, Josephine asked me if she could pick something up that was hiding in the leaves in the gutter next to the pavement. When I asked her what she'd found, she held out a single, pristine bright pink petal and said:

"Look Mama, at this beautiful treasure. I think Grandpa dropped this for me from his special place, for me to find. And whenever we look at it we can think about him and it will make us smile and be happy."

The beautiful petal is now sitting in Josephine's flower press, ready to be tucked away in one of our scrap books alongside Josephine's story. I've never told her any stories like that before regarding my Dad, which only makes it more magical and more beautiful; that she thought of it by herself, in that fleeting moment.

That my Dad is always in her thoughts, always with her, is such a comfort to me. That he lives on within us all, even if he's not here himself. That he's never forgotten and remains a huge part of our lives and will do forever.

As happy tears filled my eyes, I cuddled my darling girl for giving that ordinary day a little bit of magic, for being so kind-hearted and seeing the wonder in the smallest thing; the beauty of that pink petal, buried in a pile of brown crunchy leaves. For talking about my Dad, and remembering him in her own such special ways.

WHAT PHINEY SAID...and Coralie too.

More priceless, hilarious observations from this brilliant girl. And a first from Coralie too! I love these posts. Definitely some of my favourites...

"Is it tomorrow today?"

Josephine: "I don't like playing with boys."
Mama: "What about Oliver, Theo and Bertie?"
Josephine: "Oh, they're my best friends. I mean all the other boys."

"A shark came, but it didn't eat anyone. That would have been a disaster!"

"Mama, am I a cartoon?"

Mama: "You're so cool, my Josephine."
Josephine: "I know I am."

Josephine (pointing at a picture of Mama): "That photo is of holiday. Was it before Coralie was born?"
Daddy: "Yes, it was before you were born too."
Josephine: "Cool...now, I'm a cowboy."

"I had tummy ache because my tummy needed some sunshine. And a poo poo."

Mama: "How many fish fingers would you like?"
Josephine: "11. No wait. Let me think about this..."

"Mama, you always smell fresh."

Mama: "What's in the garden Coralie?"
Coralie: "Bird!"
Mama: " What does a bird say?"
Coralie: "Hello!"

WHAT PHINEY SAID

I can't even tell you how much I love talking to Josephine. More conversations that I just never want to forget...

"Mama, I was SO late. I looked at my watch and it was TEN PAST FOUR!!"
*Tuts, shakes head and walks away. Moments later, she runs in, shrieking.*
"IT'S TEN PAST FOUR. AAHHHHHH!!!"
*Runs out again.*

Refusing to get her other shoe and sock on...
Me: "Josephine, you can't go to nursery with only one shoe on."
Josephine: "Yes I can. I can hop."

Me: "I'm so lucky to be your Mama."
Josephine: "I'm so lucky to be your girl."

Josephine: "I had to paint my eye last night."
Me: "Why?"
Josephine: "So the spiders didn't eat it."

Me: "You look like a little Christmas elf."
Josephine: "I'm not the elf. I'm Father Christmas."

"Spiders eat bugs and flies and plants and...bogeys."

Josephine: "Mama, can I have a cuddle?"
Me: "Of course!"
Josephine: "I love having cuddles with you."
Me: "Oh! I love having cuddles with you."
Josephine: "And I love that you stay at home with me when Daddy has to go to work."

"I wish I was a Playmobil guy and could drive this helicopter and do the steering wheel. But I'm not. I'm Josephine."

WHAT PHINEY SAID

A few more gems from the last couple of months. I could chat with Josephine all day, she amazes and delights me with the things she says...

On sitting at the table and me passing her her lunch... "It's so nice in this café!"

"It's exhausting walking in the rain, isn't it Mama?"

"That's hilarious!" (All the time!)

Josephine: "Our old house fell down!"
Mama: "Oh no!"
Josephine: "Don't worry, we weren't in it, and I've built us a new one, the same - look! Do you like it?"

"This milk is 20p. What a bargain!"

"You're good at chopping Mama, because you are grown. And cool. And Daddy and Coralie are cool. And I am cool."

After I've been singing along to Jay Z and Alicia Keys 'New York' in the car... "Oh! I really like your singing Mama."

Mama: "What do you like most about our house?"
Josephine: "That we all live here together. And Buzz Lightyear."

"Look Mama! There's Florence. Oh, no, wait...she has a different face."

"When I do quiet trumps, Mama, it tickles my bottom and leg!"  

WHAT PHINEY SAID

For the last couple of months Ben and I have been jotting down some of the brilliant things Josephine says, because - let's face it - some things we're bound to forget. And we just don't want to forget these gems. We need to do this more often, I love that we have a record of what she says and how she thinks at this age. Some one-off one-liners, some phrases we hear every day.

"Mmmmm, this porridge feels comfy in my tummy."

(To her PomBear crisps) "Come on, little one, your Mama in my tummy already!"

Josephine: "Coralie's a giant monkey!"
Me: "So what does that make you?"
Josephine: "A giant panda."

"We need to wash Coralie's hair this day?" (Every. Single. Bathtime.)

"I saw two diggers and two tractors. That's very impressive."

"I love Coralie. But I don't love her dancing."

Josephine: "I not want to be a big lady."
Me: "What do you want to be when you grow up then?"
Josephine: "A lion."

"Seriously...." (About everything. Teenager in the making.)

"Aw-right darlin'?" (In a cockney accent that makes her sound remarkably like Barbara Windsor.)

Josephine: "Thank you, Mama."
Me: "That's ok!"
Josephine: "Thank you, Mama. I say it twice so you don't forget."

She's wonderful, this girl of ours...

17/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week every week in 2014".

After a rainy trip to the Meadow, we sat at the dining table talking about the group of dogs we met. Conversations like this with my girl are the best. 

Taking part in Jodi's 52 Project.