When you are five going on thirteen...

Lily

It is about time I updated how our little ones are growing for family and friends back in New Zealand.

That was then...

When I see photographs of our gorgeous nieces, nephews and godchildren back in Aotearoa, it never fails to shock me how much they have grown and changed.  When you are amid the day-to-day routines of life you do forget that home can seem a small lifetime away, and that time is still changing there too.

This is now...

The Lily who arrived in Abu Dhabi is pretty much the same Lily who has just turned 5.  She is a very bright, bubbly, out-going and assured little girl.  She is a non-stop talker (thank you Nanny Pam), and loves anything to do with reading, writing and arts/crafts.


Lily's memory for things is phenomenal; she remembers people and events from back in New Zealand two years ago, and aspects of every place we have travelled to, to date.

Lily continues to grow, and grow and grow.  She's very tall and towers above most her age.  This is an advantage in many ways, and at times proves to be quite comical when the arms and legs haven't quite caught up with the brain.  Her exploits on the rugby field have been both awesome and entertaining, and we have been impressed with her dedication. 

Of course, that dedication may have something to do with the fact that those who play in rugby tournaments get medals; and getting one of those medals is a definite carrot for Lily!  She is already talking about signing up for rugby again next season.

Sunflower School has proven a very happy place for Lily in Al Ain.  She has made great friends whom she loves very much.  Her teachers tell us how well liked she is and how good she is in class.  She is a natural leader.  Her school reports have been excellent; the stuff that makes parents very proud.  School has given Lily many opportunities to experience new things; class excursions, school sport, karate, Arabic lessons, ballet, yoga and of course the normal school-learning stuff.  Better still, it has given Lily the opportunity to meet and play with children from all around the world.  And that, you can't put a price on.

Lily has enough memories of New Zealand to miss it.  She especially misses the back yard, the trampoline, the local park and more importantly the people back home who are special to her.  She loves to see photos of Trinity, Ilze, Stevie, Shannon and Caelin.  She loves to follow what William and James are doing.  She has a story related to each of them. She misses her Nanny, Opa, Pops and Aunties and Uncles.  She is a real 'family' child and some days she emerges from her room to declare that she's ready to go back to NZ to see everyone.  She's even packed her Dorothy the Dinosaur suitcase on a number of occasions thinking she'd just head to the airport to go back.

Most of the time she's more than happy with where we live now and what we're doing.  Kids are so flexible, and Lily is definitely one of them.  She loves travelling around seeing new places in the world.  She spends time studying the world map and the flags below checking where she's been and where she'd like to go next.  She feels involved in our planning because she tells us what she wants to see next.  She's already prepared herself for the walking she'll have to do in Europe over summer, and the request to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa has been duly noted.


Lately Lily's passion has become reading...we'll the type that she does herself.  Since the beginning of this year Lily has been getting readers from school.  She absolutely loves reading new books, reading to us and reading to Ben.  She now tries to read magazines, road signs and shop signs.  Every new word is like being atop Everest for her.

Of course her other passion is something that reminds me she is still just a little girl.  She adores princesses, fairies and fantasy.  She makes up and writes stories about them.  She dresses up as them.  She dresses Ben up as them.  She draws and does puzzles related to them.  She devises plays and performances and creates her own craft outfits.  Recently we attended the Sunflower Prince and Princess Ball. She was almost apoplectic waiting for the day to come.  She was the most beautiful princess of all.  She loves to dress up and twirl and tell me how beautiful she looks.  I have to agree.  She is gorgeous.

Our little girl is growing up so quickly.  Sometimes what she does and says is well beyond her age. And that is scary.  It is an old cliche, but it is true: I wish I could save time in a bottle.  I wish I could slow it all down so that I could have her this way for longer.  She's at the most delightful of ages, and I wish it could just stay like that. On the other hand, I can't wait to see the next stage of her growing and what that might bring.


So for now I will try to savour every moment of this time with her at this age.  The cuddles, the kisses, the quiet and secret chats about all-things-girl.  The fact that I'm mama and that she loves me "one hundred, million, two, five, sixty, one hundred thousand times".