Charlotte Mabel

Our daughter’s name is Charlotte Mabel. She is an early riser. At about 5am my husband can expect to get a kick in the back from her. I can feel her kicking inside me like she is saying “get up, get up”.

She loves bananas and strawberries. Just the thought of them makes her wriggle about.

Like her Mum, she doesn’t like the cold. When her belly home is wrapped up, she moves about happy, but when belly home is cold she will quieten down and curl up deep inside.

When I eat an iceblock, it makes her jump and I swear there is a giggle.

She hates her photo being taken. She will turn her back and move away. Once she even ‘mooned’ the doctor – very unlady like!

 

 

She has learnt to play ‘knock, knock’. I tap twice on my belly and she gives a big – well I don’t know what body part she uses but I feel the ‘knock, knock’ back. Sometimes she plays with Daddy, but she is still a little shy.

She doesn’t like it when I raise my voice. She will sit quiet and wait until I stop, then slowly give me little soft kicks and punches like she is saying “it’s OK”.

Our daughter could not stay with us for too long, just 29 weeks and 2 days. She had learnt what she needed for this life – what it is to be so completely and totally loved. She had already taught us her life lessons – how much my husband and I love each other, what great parents we make and the certainty that we can survive through even the most tragic times.

 

 

Until her very last moment inside me Charlotte was surrounded by love.

When she was born, she had such a look of determination on her face. Wherever she is now, they better look out, because here is a spirit that is a force to be reckoned with.

Charlotte means ‘free’ and Mabel means ‘my beloved’. I know she still sees us. I hope we make her proud. She has made us so proud to be parents of such a feisty, beautiful, funny, powerful, loving, smart, joyful girl.