Little Girl and a Pony

"Thanks to Plum Organics for sponsoring my post about fun kid photos and the stories behind them. Enter Plum's "Babies for Yum Caption Contest" on Facebook and you could win a $100 gift card or Plum goodies."

ever elizabeth july 2011

Ever comes to work with me every day in the infant/toddler room of the same preschool that Lola attended her fourth year, and every summer the kids gather in the grass (ie: dirt) yard around chickens, geese, ponies, rabbits and a goat named Daisy. Daisy has curly strings attached to her tail and a surprisingly good attitude toward little people. The chickens and rabbits huddle scratch and screetch and sniff in their pen while tiny hands pat pat pat ( verrrry softly, the caretaker says over and over, squatting next to them ) the fluff and feathers. Summer brings sweaty babies and waterplay and snacks in the yard and farms to your school!

I had no idea when I dressed Ever in her little pony dress that this was the day an actual pony would come to school, and didn't realize the correlation until I sat her up on the kind and mopey pony and made the connection. Pictures ensued. Ever ( as you can see! ) loved the pony, and by this I mean she had no idea what was going on at all. My idea of her running thoughts: Hi Mom! Oh look at the trees! That nice lady is singing. My seat feels funny. My butt hurts. I'm wobbly! Hi Mom! Look at the trees! And at the very end, she looked down and looked back up and opened her mouth in a little oval and howled. Moooom! What am I SITTING ON!!??

I pulled her off the pony (oh my God LOOK at those fat fat little leggies!!!munchmunchmunch) and as we stood and petted the gentle creature, I had one of those peak moments where happiness is so shining and clear and strong that you become still like a little rabbit, straw stuck motionless in mouth, eyes fixed on nothing but the bright light of love for life. For my Lola, who was so recently the baby in my arms. For my children. For my place of work, like a second home. For my co-workers, so familiar, so comfortable. For my husband, always, always with me, wherever I am. For the little baby that we lost at 13 weeks, always, always our baby. For sunshine, green grass, dirt and little girls on ponies.




I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.