Birthday Girl!!

Nancy Last Year

2011- I, the Director of an orphanage, loving decorated the garden, placing banners and balloons everywhere, preparing a BIRTHDAY table for five very special children, all of whom we were celebrating their birthdays, I loving painted the faces of many children including a little girl named Nancy who would soon turn two years old, a joint party for very special children. Together with many others we sang Happy Birthday, making these children feel extra special at a special time in their lives, their birthdays, four were turning one and little Nancy was turning two. What a lovely party it was...

2011-I painted her face in Masai colours as she is from that tribe!

...fast forward a year...!!

2012-Presents

2012- I, a Mother, loving decorated our lounge, hanging banners, wrapping presents, writing cards, preparing cake, sandwiches, jelly etc. preparing a table in the garden which a lovely big pink cake would sit on, preparing lots of toys for all her friends to play with, loving making it special for that same child Nancy...just like last year!!!

BUT

there is a huge difference from last year, this year that child was MINE, I was her Mother preparing the party.

Birthday Girl

Last year that little girl had no Mother, that little girl had no family, that little girl received no presents, she was just part of a group celebrating her birthday, receiving attention for one hour out of the whole day. This year the attention was on her ALL day, she got many gifts and lots of love from the family that she deserves, a Mother, Brother, Sisters, Nanny, Grandad, Great Nanny, Great Grandad, Bibi, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins (although they are not all here, they all love her)

This little girl Nancy came into my life January of 2010, up until December 2011 she was a baby who I was looking after, that December she came to live with me as my daughter and oh how that 'baby' has changed. She has grown so much both physically and mentally, she is cheeky, playful, hilarious, gorgeous, cute and very very lazy and now she is not Nancy but Layla, Layla Nancy Irene Upshall (not legally!*!)...a new name for a new beginning.

Layla, I love you with all my heart, I am so blessed to have met you and so privileged to be your Mummy, I promise to love and protect you forever and always. The day you came into my life it changed, for the better, my world would not be complete without you in it. This year may have been your first birthday with a family but I promise you it will not be the last...for the rest of your birthdays, for the rest of your life, you will ALWAYS have a family.

I love you my girl...

Love Mummy xxx

CAKE!! Enjoying her birthday surrounded by family & friends

Layla with her pink 'Totobike'
which she is now obesessed with!

A new puzzle thanks to Nanny!

All the children enjoyed playing with the parachute!