Jack my boy, today you are ONE. One whole year old. It is going to take me a few weeks, maybe even months to come to terms with this. It feels like yesterday you were born, and I was lying in my hospital bed just gazing at you and the miracle of life.
When I look back at this last year, I smile. It has been so perfectly happy and amazing. I am so grateful to have had this time with you. To watch you grow, develop, learn, smile, chat, eat, crawl, sit up, giggle, play and just spend time with you day in and day out which some Moms can't do. We are so lucky.
Some highlights which spring to mind are sitting in the garden in the sun, watching the butterflies on the Budleai bush, lying on the blanket on the grass watching the clouds in the sky, taking LOADS of photos, watching TV when I was tired, going to the village toddler group on a Friday morning, Grandad and Granny Chrissy meeting you for the first time, experimenting with food, falling asleep on the couch together, meeting lots of special friends at various groups, going on walks, gathering for my photos, having my mom and gran visit us, Aunty Amanda & uncle Jean coming over from South Africa, trips to London, flying to Ireland to see my Dad, our awesome holiday in South Africa. These are just a few of the precious memories I will treasure forever.
But let us also remember that this year has had its challenges. Recovering from a c-section is tough, well I found it very hard anyways. Breastfeeding is a HUGE challenge but once you get it down it is the most wonderful thing. I genuinely enjoyed breastfeeding and would do it again and for longer next time too. Then there was the colick, the reflux, the sleepless nights, the teething, the not eating, the tantrums, the dozens of exploding nappies, the tears, the bumps and falls, the first day at nursery, the sleep training and the endless bugs. The hormones, the "how am I EVER going to cope?" moments.
But all of these challenges that come with being a parent seem SO insignificant and minute compared to the happy and awesome times we have had and that are still to come. You are the most intelligent, gorgeous and happy baby any mom and dad could ask for and we love you to the moon and back.
We have had such a happy day today. You decided to wake up at 4am and not go back to sleep so I got you up at 5am with your bottle and we played downstairs. By 8am you were exhausted and ready for your first nap, as was I! I think you were just so excited that it was your birthday!
Then we ate cake, we played with balloons, we took lots of photos, we went for a walk and then we met up with your friend Lucy for a play at Darcey Bear which you LOVED. Oh it really has been such a fun! And the perfect end to my maternity leave as I go back to work tomorrow. JOYS!
Here is to the next year of your life and the MANY more to come.
Happy 1st Birthday Jack.
♥♥♥
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