Tomorrow you are Two

Every family has different parts that make it whole, every member brings something unique and indispensible and you, Finn, are our smile.  I don't doubt there will be years where you are a moody teenager, that your tantrums will get worse, that you won't always be the way you are now, but right now you are the sunshine in our days, you brighten up even the darkest Monday morning and we couldn't love you more.

One to two has been a busy year, you have learned to walk independently and as with everything, you did it your own way.  It was your brother's birthday and after months of confidently cruising you were still refusing to let go and attempt it alone.  When you finally did, it was with a big audience, an even bigger grin on your face and you walked right out the room like you had been doing it for ages.  It took you a little longer than your brothers, but we didn't doubt you would get there.

This year you learned to talk and I have found it hard not to compare your progress to your brothers.  You are unique and you are communicating in your own way.  Your language seems to have started snowballing since Christmas and every day you are learning new words.  There are still plenty that I 

don't understand yet, but you understand me (other than when I say no or stop).

At nearly 2 you are strong willed and defiant.  You have refused to just slot in like I was told third babies do - we know you are around! You are interested in everything, put off by nothing and everything is a climbing frame.  You are a little whirlwind at times, but you can also sit and play beautifully for ages.  You are desperate to be big like your brothers but you also want to be a baby like your sister.  You adore her, she is your favourite person and I love watching the two of you interact.  

I still think of you as a baby but from the outside you are starting to look less like one.  Those wispy baby curls that framed your face have gone, you race confidently into new situations, you make your choices known, you are growing and changing.  You still insist on your 'daddit' (dummy) to fall asleep though, and you lay with your arms tucked under you and your bum in the air as only babies and small children can. 

One was the age you became a big brother, just two days after you turned 16 months.  You loved your sister immediately and you two have a special bond.  You watch how close your big brothers are and you get impatient to have the same fun with Cora - I think you two are going to cause so much mischief once she is really on the move!

I am constantly reminded of quite how far you have come, the odds you have beaten and the mountains that you are still desperate to move.  You will always be a little miracle to us.

Happy Birthday baby boy, Happy Birthday Finn.  You are loved more than I ever knew you could be

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Turning Two

Dylan is now two years old and he has been busy celebrating in style.  His birthday fell on a Friday this year and we had a lovely family day.

After opening lots of lovely presents, we watched the sunshine turn into a thunder storm and so stayed in playing with all the new Duplo.  As it dried up, we headed down for a stroll and to Pizza Express for some lunch

We were back home for nap time and then had a busy afternoon with visitors before going out for a short walk down to the seafront with Grandma and Granpa for a fish and chips tea and some cake on the beach.

With countless cards, gifts and messages and plenty of new toys, we took a very tired two year old boy to bed that night.

The birthday fun was not over, as Saturday was party day and we were joined by family and friends for a picnic in the park.  Dylan was spoilt yet again and the hours of energy and effort I had put into making him a special birthday cake were worthwhile when I saw his little face light up.

Spending the afternoon in the park meant skipping naptime, but when we eventually made it home, we did make time for a snuggle on the sofa and a little snooze as it was a tiring two days!

The adventure of two under two is now over, but we are definitely ready for this next chapter (once we have found space for all the new toys that is!)

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Nun-Night One Year Old

To my gorgeous boy,

It was a whole year ago that I wrote you this letter and I would never have believed how much can change in just 52 weeks.  You are now a walking, talking toddler with the cheekiest smile and the most beautiful eyes.  You are a fantastic big brother, including Archie in everything you do and you love to make him laugh.  You are still and will always be, my baby, but you are growing up before my eyes.

Your language has come on so much in the last year and you are now talking in sentences (non-stop if we are at home).  The baby talk is slowly phasing out but you still mispronounce the odd word and I love to hear you speak.  You know your colours, shapes and numbers and have an obsessions with puzzles.  You let us know your mind and it is wonderful being able to communicate with you so well now.

Despite having a broken leg that is stopping you walking, you are getting around just fine and it has taken you until now to perfect the art of bum-shuffling and crawling.  Despite having to spend weeks inside and having to watch your friends run around and play, you have not complained and I have never been prouder of you.  You brightened everyone's day in hospital with your smiles and laughs and kept me going even when things were tough.  The nurses loved you, the children loved you and we had so many visitors, it is clear to see how loved you are.

Your personality shows through more and more every day and I love learning about you.  You couldn't love your fruit more, one bowl of strawberries is never enough and you will often pick a satsuma over chocolate..  Your new love of airplanes and rockets mean that when you have finished with a toy you yell 'blast off' as you pretend to shoot it up into the air and no matter what shapes we make with Duplo, they are always airplanes..  

Your energy is infectious and everything is a potential adventure.  You can find a puddle to jump in, despite it not having rained for a week and we stop to examine leaves, trees and stones.  You help me see the beauty in the world around me when it passed me by before.  You make me appreciate what I have and the things we have done and you make me strive to be the best mother and the best me that I can be.

I want to show you things, teach you things but you are not even two yet and it is you that is showing and teaching me.  It was always you and me, (and Daddy at the weekends) but now we have another little person in our team and you are showing and teaching him too.

Somedays I look at you and see the child that you have become, the sociable confident little boy.  Other days you remind me that you are still only so young and when you cuddle into my lap and suck your thumb, you are still my little baby.

Tomorrow you will wake up and be 2.  Tomorrow I will wake up and be the mother of a 2 year old and baby boy, I am so happy that I am your mama.  

Your floppy blonde hair, your big blue eyes, your totally edible chubby cheeks, 16 teeth and still the chunkiest thighs I have ever seen.  There is so much I want to remember from this past year and I am so glad I have it recorded here.  

Sleep tight my gorgeous one year old, for tomorrow is a big day.

Love Mummy

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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