Dream.
Oh heavy heart. Black, rolling clouds. I hear you, I feel you. I cannot think for too long, I cannot let my mind arrive in an older place. I cannot imagine eight.
Instead, I will wander to the morning you were born.
I will greet your dark wisps and your puffy nose and your olive skinned chubbiness.
I will watch you in your Daddy’s arms while he sings to you.
I will think of dancing with you in the kitchen, on my hip in a pink kerchief.
I will imagine you in your Grandy’s lap while he whistles and laughs and dotes.
I will remember hair clips and kneesocks and spotty shoes.
I will watch you skipping into kindy while I call out to slow down.
I will recall your long golden curls and your wide feet and the brown of your enormous eyes.
I will find you with your brothers and your sister, there will be four.
I will see you spinning in our hallway, I will hear you squealing.
I will answer to Miss Mummy.
I will put my arms around you and I will breathe you in and I will love you.
I will be right back there, with you.
Happy Birthday, my darling Ava.
66 shared sentiments
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oh Sheye! i have no words… sending you hugs xxx
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Darling Sheye. Your words are so beautiful. Thinking of you and Ava and all your family today. xxx
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Just listening to the music (one of my favourite songs) and reading your words and picturing every one of those things you wrote.
Happy Birthday darling girl xo
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Love to you Sheye. xoxo
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No words. Just tears…and love.
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Happy Birthday sweet Ava. Thank you for sharing Sheye, thinking of you and your beautiful family x
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I have thought of Ava & your family so many times today. I have watched my 3 year old daughter play with her dollies, cook with her playdough & do all the things 3 year old girls love to do & everytime I thought of you. So many people in this world have been touched by Ava without ever having met her & every one of us is sending our love & thoughts to you today. She would be so proud of her Mum & the message you are spreading. Thanks Sheye for sharing your superprincess with us all & Happy 8th Birthday Ava.xxx
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Sheye,
Your words are just beyond anything. You make me ache for you.
Much, much love,Kxx
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Holding your hand a little tighter today.
Loveyousomuch
x
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big love. to you, and her. xx
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xox
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My thoughts Sheye are with you and your family.
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lots of love today Sheye. you have been in my thoughts all day. my daughter… my cheeky naughty little daughter has never looked so sweet & cute today. sending huge hugs & i can’t wait to have cupcakes & let some balloons fly up in the sky to Ava this week with my little girl. xoxo
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Happy Birthday Ava. Sending you love on this special day Sheye
xx
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Happy birthday, Sweet Ava x
Your Mumma is one special lady who will ensure that your precious memory will always live on.
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I don’t begin to understand, You have come so far xxoxx
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Words fail me and tears well in my eyes instead. xxoo
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My thoughts and prayers for you all, especially today. xx
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We made chocolate cake today. We made extra icing. We licked the bowl. We laughed. We hugged.. and I said a quiet lil birthday wish. Sending special thoughts to your Mum, Dad, Brothers and Sister today ..
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love to you. and your family. on the very specialist of days. a birthday. her birthday.
happy birthday dear sweet ava.
xoxo.
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love to you all. today, and always.
jbxo
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i breathed in our kids and hugged them extra tight today. xoxo
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Darling Sheye and family.
A beautiful post where you have once again shared with us the joy, love and magic that is Ava. She lives on in all of our hearts.
Happy 8th Birthday Superprincess!
Hugs and love to you and yours, from me and mine xoxo
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Sheye,
You move me. You make me a better mother. You make me stop and take the time to enjoy every little moment. I cannot imagine how you are feeling today but I hope you feel my love for you, your family and for your Superprincess Ava.
Happy birthday to your very special girl x
Love always
Sim x
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Happy Birthday Miss Ava xx
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Love and hugs always xx Leanne xx
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Much love to you and your family today x
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Happy birthday sweet Ava.
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Thinking of your family today. Special birthday wishes to the Superprincess! xx
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so beautifully touching <3 love to you , Ava and your family xxxxx
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I held my babies just a little bit tighter today, while thinking of you and your gorgeous girl. I’m grateful for the gifts your sweet Ava has given the world… I’m grateful for you. Thank you for sharing your heart… mine will never be the same. Love to you and your family. xo
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knee socks and spotty shoes – oh sheye. I am sending you all my love all my strength – your baby is so very lucky to have you as her Miss Mummy xo
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Happy Birthday Super Princess.
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Happy Birthday, Ava!
8…. symbolizes endlessness, and that’s what you are. You were and you will always be!
All my love to you today, Sheye.
I know what mourning is about. Mourning the children I have never had, feelling them out there somewhere, as Ava is out there somewhrere.
Let’s have our new babies, Sheye, soon!
Let’s invite them again and find their way through to us.all my love,
Eva
oxo
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Sheye, I’m a longtime reader of your blog but I’ve never commented. Thinking of you and your family today…
Happy Birthday, darling Ava.
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I don´t know what to say… actually I don´t have nothing relevant to add to your words. But I just wanted you to know that I am reading your post and crying.
Sending Lots of love.
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My heart and thoughts are with you. ♥
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Thinking of you, family, and Ava today. With love xxx
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All my love & thoughts to you today.. Happy birthday sweet Ava. <3
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I was going to have a tea party over the weekend but I never got the chance! I did give my daughter and son an extra big cuddle though!
Life is just too cruel for words sometimes! Not that this is the right place but my daughters best friends father passed away a week ago yesterday he was 32 years old and leaves a 7 year old and 5 year old and a newly married bride behind and it just seems so wrong, no one should loose a child or a parent at such a young age!
I know time does not ease the pain or can any words bring her back but thank you Sheye for allowing everyone to share in the beauty that was and is Ava, always and forever!
Happy 8th Birthday Ava!
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Sweet Ava, Happy 8th Birthday.
Sheye, I found your blog in the summer of 2003. Somehow I managed to stumble across your lovely photos of your beautiful children. After reading a while, I learned of Ava and her short but beautiful life. You/She is what led me to truly appreciate a picture and a special moment and to cherish them forever. I went out and bought myself a fancy camera and even took your photography class. I daydreamed about becoming a mother oneday and now finally after years and years of tears and waiting, we are expecting our girl in November :) . I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought of your Ava throughout this pregnancy. How I hope to cherish every single second and on the days that I find it hard to keep my sanity, I hope to remember Ava and how priceless and precious our children are. I will tell my daughter of Ava and every time I dress her up for a pretty picture or sneak into her room to find a messy head of hair, I will be so grateful.
One little girl named Ava, with her family’s help, has indeed changed hearts all across the world.
My love to Ava on her birthday and to her family….. thank you.
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ava, you have impacted so many lives—including mine.
thank you for showing us how short life can be but how deeply it should be cherished.
no doubt you would have been the dearest 8 year old…
but together thousands of people are carrying you in their hearts today and always, and that is magical and unforgettable.sleep tight little one.
and love to you, sheye.
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Love and light to you all.
Happy Birthday to your dear Ava.
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As i read your heart on paper, i feel the string pull mine and i see my own daughter in the waves of warmth of who Ava will always be. I share your memories and keep the beauty of this little angel alive in mine. we will sit in the sun and wave our arms to the cool breeze and take in the celebration of your sweet baby! thank you for the open book on display to remind me that being a mommy to my daughter is the best gift TODAY!
Many Blessings and Hugs,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVA!
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Sheye,
Never before has a child (and a mama) I never knew owned such a large piece of my heart. Since the first moment I heard and ever since – I carry you both with me.Happy Birthing Day, Mama. Happy Birthday Ava. Holding you in my heart today.
J.
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You write with your heart on your sleeve, Sheye, and my heart aches for you. Your words always make me cry, describing the longing and the sorrow, but also the beautiful memories of your sweet Ava. Thank you for making me stop and take some extra time to just hold my kids today and for days to come.
Happy birthday, little Ava.
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I can’t imagine that she would be 8 here and now.
I am so sorry for the loss of such a beautiful girl, your darling
superprincess Ava….there are no words except for you to know,
you are thought of often, you are loved by many, and your little girl has touched my life in so many ways.
happy birthday superprincess.
tara
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been thinking of you and yours all week.
i can’t imagine your pain and grief.
if love were enough she’d still be here.
sending you lots of love
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I cannot imagine your feelings right now. So I pray.
I was putting together an Ava’s Tea Party together, and my son asked me why. I did explain what happened with your princess. He is only 5 yrs old but had so many losses in his life, that he understands a little about heaven. He became an old soul after April. Then, he helped me pick the most beautiful balloon for Ava and asked me “How are you going to send this photos to Heaven so this little girl can see?” After my answer he understood that we can see everything from Heaven and we can keep loving everyone from Heaven.
Happy birthday.
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I love seeing in frames, I love the beauty in the ordinary, I love my camera, I love that when I see images I hear too. I love the latelight, I love finding moments I didn’t imagine and I love creating moments I did. I love learning more every day, I love sharing what I’ve come to know, and I love making pictures pretty.
I’m so glad you stopped by. xx
Hi Sheye
I’ve been thinking of you all day today, wondering how you are faring and just sending you my love. This is a lovely post, and tears are streaming down as I read this. I send happy birthday wishes to your girl too.
Amber (workshop participant)