nycda – mobile, alabama

{waiting for day 1 workshop classes to begin…}

these last two pictures were taken while miss twelve was in one of her workshop classes this past weekend. the teacher was andy blankenbuehler, who is an incredible broadway choreographer. he is starting the choreography for the new “bring it on” show today. kiana loved his musical theater classes & he pulled her on stage a dozen+ times to help demonstrate his choreography. miss twelve was glowing. her love of dance radiates.

…sometimes while i am watching my girl dance–all twelve mature years of her–i squint my eyes from afar and imagine looking at her years ago…before I was a momma…and i wonder just how blown away i would have been if you told me she was gonna be mine someday. if i could have quite possibly believed that i would be so fortunate. or that i would have understood the magnitude of love motherhood would teach me…

if you would have told me the passions and spirit she would bring into our home. if you would have told me the level of commitment she would have with her goals. i could have never comprehended it. her love of success is contagious.

this chocolate-haired young woman with big brown eyes and a strong soul that fights her inner independence when we try to wrap our love around her. she’s growing up. fast. she’s been our guinea pig for almost thirteen years, as i attempt to conquer parenthood and miserably failed so often. she’s forgiving. and patient. she meets me eye to eye when i’m challenging her, and she stretches my soul to grow more often than the reverse.

she is amazing.

and responsible and ambitious and feisty and funny and predictable and surprising, all at the same time.

and, absolutely gorgeous.

and she’s ours.

i am her only mom, in the whole world.
the only one.

amazing.