For Eva on your 14th Birthday…

Eva,

It goes without saying that the year has gone too fast, I genuinely feel as though I have blinked and missed it and somehow here we are, fourteen. Usually I am an emotional wreck sitting here writing your birthday letter, wishing I could turn back the clock and relive each of these memories and hold onto every moment for just a little bit longer, but this year I feel different somehow. Over the last twelve months you have transformed into exactly who you are meant to be, doing all the things you love to do, and it has been one of the greatest honours to sit back and watch you blossom. At fourteen you are the most beautiful girl both inside and out and I am nothing but excited about what the next year has in store.

Despite the fact I have spent all of these years worrying about your shyness, this year you have completely come out of your shell, found the most supportive and kindest group of friends, and discovered a new found confidence which genuinely amazes me every single day. You hold your head a little higher, voice your opinions a little louder, your eyes sparkle that little bit more when you laugh, and where as so many of your peers are bowing to teenage pressures, you walk your own path, in your own style, and that outside noise goes straight over your head. I love that about you Eva, for a child who was crippled with shyness for such a long time, you are so quietly confident and it’s a wonderful quality to have.

The truth is, I have loved every single second of the first of your teenage years and although it’s always difficult to accept your children are getting older, I see just how wonderful it can be to have a teenage daughter to share so many moments with. Every weekend without fail you’ll ask if we can go for a walk and whether we’re just strolling around the park with your arm linked in mine, or climbing a mountain on an epic adventure, I love just walking beside you, having the weirdest conversations, and feeling so incredibly lucky that you would still choose to spend time with me over anyone else on this planet.

I have loved our weekends shopping (although, not so much the hours I sit outside Hollister waiting for you and Megs), cooking together in the kitchen (usually involving halloumi), our random drives out (that usually end with some kind of caramel iced latte) and snuggling up under the heated blanket binge watching Stranger Things together. I have loved our silly conversations in the car, the songs we make up after football, the crazy challenges we invent and the hysterics over placing our Mcdonalds order in a strange accent. The way you laugh in that funny hiccupy way never fails to make me laugh too, in fact watching you laugh is one of my favourite things in the whole word. 

This year has seen us travel far and wide from Canada to Thailand and so many places in between. Your love of travel is amazing to see, the ways in which you embrace new cultures and traditions, your interest in history and geography, your fascination with wildlife and your love of animals, it blows me away how mature you are in so many ways and how well-rounded you are in the way you see the world, not to mention your extensive knowledge on facts about sharks….

You talk so passionately about of each of our travels whether that’s a dream holiday or a weekend in Yorkshire and I love that about you too, the way in which you take it all in your stride with so much gratitude and so much enthusiasm. I have never once heard you say you are bored, complain that something isn’t fun or speak negatively of a single experience and that’s really special too. I sometimes joke that when I grow up I want to be just like you and really, there is a lot of truth behind that. 

Of all the things we have done together this year I think Canada was by far your favourite and somewhere you have dreamt of visiting for such a long time. Seeing Orcas in the wild was a moment I will never forget, walking the Capilano suspension bridge with your hand in mine, sitting beside you on the sea plane over Whistler mountain and seeing the look of absolute amazement on your face still brings a lump to my throat even now.

Our Summer road trip to France, Switzerland and down to Italy was such a highlight of our year and I know those evenings spent swimming in Lake Maggiore are up there as some of your favourite memories of all time. At thirteen I think you finally came to realise that Megs and Harry really are the best friends you will ever have and the three of you were as thick as thieves the whole Summer long, laughing and joking together, playing silly games and making friends, eating gelato side by side and basking in a whole summer of sun. 

Returning to Thailand for the third time in October was even more special as this year we got to bring Lewis with us and you loved every moment of sharing your wealth of knowledge from our previous visits. From quad biking through the jungle to kayaking through the mangroves; swimming with sea turtles to hand feeding elephants; rafting down the river to zip lining through the forest; rock climbing, bike riding, scaling waterfalls and countless boat trips, we packed so much into our time there and made the very best memories that I know you will always remember.

We started the new year in the Netherlands where a freak snow storm left us stranded and with all flights cancelled we started the long journey home by car. You joked that we were probably one of very few people who had already been to five countries that year and still didn’t complain once even when you had to go back to school just hours after returning home from a 36 hour drive. And that’s how you are through and through, looking for the positives in every situation and making the best of it, even when things don’t always go to plan.

Just like me, you are a memory-maker and these are the moments you will never forget. And that’s the thing about you Eva, I really do believe that one day when you are as old as I am now, you really will remember every single moment of this time because of how precious it was to you. I hope that one day when my memory starts to fade and I struggle to remember, that you will remind me of these moments too.

Eva, you are beautiful and kind, sporty and creative, loving and loyal, funny and quirky and oh so passionate about the things you love (mostly stray animals, sharks and ramen…). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, although you will never be the loudest person in the room you are hands down the most interesting and I hope you don’t you ever forget that.

Here’s to another year of weekend walks, iced caramel lattes, obsessing over Brie, hunting for crystals, car karaoke after football and saying “they don’t know” on repeat because we think we’re hilarious. And we are.

Happy 14th Birthday Eva Sienna.

We love you all the stars in they sky.

Mummy

xxxxx