Pink
In stark contrast to last month’s epiphany from Facebook (you can see my “Gold” Artists Inspired Blog post here to read up on this!), this month, surprisingly it came pretty quick to me what I would make this post about. First, a few ironies to share with you!
I’m not a huge pink fan. I don’t think I look particularly nice in pink.
It was a always a little too girly for me. And I still consider myself fairly “girly”…but not “pink girly.”
And then…I got pregnant 11 years ago with my first born child. My total surprise baby.
A GIRL.
At this point, PINK began to rule my life. I had pink on the brain. Pink dresses, pink shoes, pink room, pink stuffed animals.
Here’s a snapshot of this phase.
Whoa. My face put on a little weight in these…I didn’t realize that until many years later, thankfully. Just as a heads up, this was 7.5 months and 8-ish months pregnant.
Anyways, I came home from work one evening, and my sweet husband, Jason, had painted her (Baby Girl White) room pink. Like, it was really PINK. I was (and am still to this day) VERY indecisive. I had no idea what color to paint it. The choices seemed endless, but thankfully, my husband knows this about me, and just goes with it. He makes decisions when he knows I’m overwhelmed. A surprise pregnancy can do that to someone, especially while working until the day before delivery.
Clearly, we didn’t have a professional photographer…or even a good camera with us. But, at least I still have this. And no comments on how awful I looked, or that I wasn’t actually clothed. I thought pregnancy was rough with her (throwing up morning, noon and night for six full months)…but delivery nearly killed me. No, really, it did. A couple blood transfusions and a couple extra days in the hospital helped but it was a while before I was “me” again.
You might not be able to see it all…but that whole room is like Pepto Bismol Pink. My husband and I used to joke around that it “glowed” in the hallway…and, it did.
***By the way, don’t judge all of these images like they are “professionally” taken…some will just be old memories, thrown in there for your amusement.***
And then, as the years passed by…guess what?!! I became quite a bit more decisive, and she wore girly pink outfits from Gymboree. A lot.
These were actually at Gymboree Play and Music.
We essentially lived there, which was great since we made awesome friends!
Seriously, isn’t she the cutest?! No bias. AT ALL.
Fast forward about two years…my classic thumb sucking babe.
And then…this happened, and thankfully, I was still able to dress her. In pink.
This is First Grade…
As a few more years passed by, aside from the fact I seemed to be aging at the speed of light with a now 10 year old daughter, I had a huge revelation. Actually, I have them almost daily.
My daughter HATES PINK. She detests being “girly.” She’s not a fan of princesses and cares more about comfort than style. And, let’s not get started on how I have to beg for her to wear dresses or jeans (mostly jeans).
This is my little daydreamer. And, thankfully, she DID cooperate for a pink outfit for our Disney trip in 2015; however, she nearly bit my head off and ask how I could insult her by asking which princess was her favorite. Yep. My kid.
And do you know what? Although I have to remind myself sometimes that my vision for her was a *touch* different…she’s PERFECT.
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT IN HER NON-PINK, NON-GIRLY, NON-PRINCESS-Y ATTIRE.
She’s a Daddy’s Girl through and through. She loves Spartan Races (like mud runs with obstacles), she enjoys running and working out with Daddy. She hates doing dance, cheer and gymnastics.
My kid. She’s the GIRL in the white shirt, up against all those other kids. Her teammates (boys) weren’t even close to helping her out. She ROCKS.
Head to head with another…trying to run the ball!
And here she is…charging full speed. She has also learned how to head butt (??) the soccer ball on her own, and use her body to stop the ball too. SO CRAZY.
But you know what? She is her very own person. She’s not a mini-me or mini-person to mold in to how I want her.
At the OKC State Fair in September of this year. Isn’t she gorgeous?
My little dreamer.
Doesn’t everyone take a picture in the doctor’s office when then have a check up? When my kid looks like this, I sure do!
God designed her perfectly as she is — a true miracle — and a huge blessing with one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know.
Her baby brother ADORES her. Pretty easy to see that, even if you’ve never met them before!
She’s always been a Daddy’s Girl. He’s loved her for EXACTLY who she is. He’s always known she’d be amazing, regardless of life’s crazy demands (and Mommy’s crazy expectations).
Could she be any more amazing?
(aside from those pre-teen moments, of course 😉 )
I mean really, how many 10 year olds can do this?!
Yes, she took this amazing picture!
Here’s to my non-PINK child — one that I won’t try to mold or picture any other way than the perfection that she is and that she is meant to be.
You know what’s even more amazing? She loves me and accepts me for exactly who I am — her very flawed, very imperfect mother.
So thankful that God blessed me with the most amazing little girl.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above…”
James 1:17
I hope you enjoyed my take on {Pink}! Next up in our Artists Inspired Blog Circle is the talented Elizabeth Willson of It’s Still Life by Elizabeth Willson. Click here to see her take on this month’s theme – I assure you that you’ll love it…she’s one of my favorites to follow!
The Artists Inspired Blog Circle is made up of an exceptionally talented group of photographers from all walks of life, from all over the world. They are wives, mothers, friends, daughters and visual storytellers who draw from their own experiences to create art that is inspiring, unique, beautiful and thought-provoking.
