Sunshine Lane Photography

My island girl,

We are moving soon – from our little home in the middle of the Indian Ocean, to the big wide world of the United States. Out of all us, I feel this change for you the most. You see, unlike your brother who arrived here at the advanced age of one, you were born in Mauritius. For your mommy, daddy and brother, this has been a lovely way to spend five years, one small mark on an always moving journey. But for you, this island nation off the coast of Africa will loom large in your life. It is your birthright. Whenever you fill out a form or answer the question,  ”Where were you born?” Your answer will be Mauritius. From school records to polite conversation – you will come back to this place again and again. It will forever be part of you.

And I’m so glad. You see, I’m an island girl too. Hawaii will always be my home and one of the biggest parts of me. The memory of salty ocean spray, the green vastness of sugar cane fields, deep mysterious rainforests, crashing waterfalls, and the highest mountain peaked with snow – it is in my heart forever, as Mauritius will be in yours, I hope. 

You are never as happy as you are around water. When we ask you if you are excited to move, you give a serious scowl and say, “No, I’ll miss my beach.” My heart hurts thinking of you without your sunset swims or twilight at the rocks. Without mid-day dips, dolphin watches, or seeing the fishermen walk past our house with their catches of the day. 

I am excited for this next phase of our life. But happy you knew, even for a short time, the magic beauty of islands far away, where blue sea blends with blue sky, broken only by a white sail gliding past. And where children play on the beach long past sunset, discovering all the ocean has to offer them after dark. If you are like me, this knowledge will stay in your heart, a little beacon of bright – through it all.

On the 10th day of every month, I will write a letter to my daughter and attempt to capture her essence in photos and words. A few other special ladies will do so as well, and we will link our blogs in a circle of  love and letters. After mine, please visit the blog of the lovely photographer, Heather Meyer, to read her touching and beautiful post.

My Big Girl Sofia Anela,

You are taking on the world, my girl. Have I told you lately how proud I am of you? All day long – you chatter about all you’ve done and seen and heard. I love our date days. We go, hand-in-hand, to the shops or for a cupcake and coffee – just you and me. It’s so lovely to find these pockets of time during the day now that you aren’t tied to your afternoon nap. They mean so much to me, and — I hope — to you.

The more you do and see, the more you shine. Your world is broadening – it’s before you – big and bright. And you love it all, especially getting older and doing more.

You turned four just last week, with a ballerina princess party. I had such fun decorating for it. When you saw it all, you gasped in delight, placed your hand in mine, and said, “Thank you mommy, for making my party so pretty.” You’ve always been so expressive. For a long time, that talent was turned toward fighting against the things you couldn’t do. But now, more and more, you are using it to express your joy, your delight, your charm, in the beauty that surrounds you. You wake me to open the curtains, “so I can see the pretty day.” You tell me how you love watching the sunset every night. I pray you keep hold of this deep capacity for delight.

The world is there opening for you, my girl. You are poised, watching, waiting.

And like most mothers, I have this worry. This fear. This mantra. And it is this:

Be shiny and bright. Please world. Be shiny and bright, for my girl. 

On the 10th day of every month, I will write a letter to my daughter and attempt to capture her essence in photos and words. A few other special ladies will do so as well, and we will link our blogs in a circle of  love and letters. After mine, please visit the blog of the lovely photographer, Heather Meyer, to read her touching and beautiful post.

My Littlest Sofie,

You are growing up. How is that possible?  As we race through the jumble of our days, so often I wish you and your brother were older. I think things like, ‘Won’t it be easy when they are bigger? They will be able to . . .  insert random developmental milestones here. . . and our lives will be so much simpler. Well, you are now officially “bigger.” And I’m feeling weepy about it. You see, you are my last little. So I know that these days of you wanting to hold my hand for everything, wanting me to sing you to sleep, wanting me to help you decide which dress Barbie should wear. . . these days will wane.

And the time has now come for you to go to big-girl school. We bought your school uniform today. You wouldn’t try it on yet (it is gray, not pink, so I don’t blame you).  I’m hoping we can convince you to wear it before you start proper school next week. You will look so small in that uniform. The world of just you and me, princess and ponies, our little make believe castles and fairies — that world will always be there for you, my angel. But you will be entering your brother’s world now. School and homework, playdates and best friends. The time when you may not always choose me as your best friend.

So you dream now, sweet girl. Dream of the sparkling fairy land. Dream of holidays and pool days. Dream of trips to the beach just because, and ice lollies in the middle of a hot day. Dream of your mama, loving you forever, no matter how big or small you grow. . .

On the 10th day of every month, I will write a letter to my daughter and attempt to capture her essence in photos and words. A few other special ladies will do so as well, and we will link our blogs in a circle of  love and letters. After mine, please visit the blog of the lovely photographer, Jessica Singleton to read her touching and beautiful post.