Now That You Are Three

3 years ago today we stepped onto a rollercoaster that has ploughed us through the last couple of years. With each loop de loop we have flashed through many months all in one go, those months have turned into years and with each twist and turn we have continued to rocket through the atmosphere at an incredible pace.

At least that’s exactly how it feels. In reality we have been living our lives day to day and making memories together. I have seen you blossom before my very eyes and you are now a bright, happy little boy. All of a sudden these changes have happened, and yet again I am left wondering where the time has gone. I have seen you lose all of that puppy fat, and watched you shoot right up. You now look like a little boy, and at 3 years old that is exactly what you now are.

A little boy ready to take on the world.

At 3 years old your favourite story book is The Three Little Pigs, although the very first time you heard it you told me how the wolf scared you. These days you anticipate how the wolf will huff and puff in order to eat the Three Little Pigs.

At 3 years old your speech is coming on all of the time, and just last night you were so excited about your birthday today and you informed me that you would like a baby crocodile! This truly is the first year that you have grasped the fact that something exciting was about to happen. You were so excited that even when I got you to bed to read you your story, you hopped back up again when you heard Auntie Alice returning home. You got up and said 'Want to see Aiya!', because even though you can say Alice as clear as day these days, Aiya has kind of stuck around as her nick name. You ran down the stairs with your bear book, you wanted to show her how you could count the trains, boats and bikes on the inside of the book. You did just that and you counted the 4 bikes and the 3 trains all the while looking increasingly proud of yourself.

You ran around the house until gone 9pm, and your excitement was there for everyone to see. I told you how the birthday fairy would only come once you had gone to bed and succumbed to sleep. I told you that when you awoke in the morning that she would have been and sprinkled her magic everywhere just for you. This of course only added to your excitement! Granny told you that you had ants in your pants... Of course as you were ready for bed you were now in a nappy. So you corrected Granny and said 'No pants! In nappy!'

In the year since you turned 2 we have both come so far, we have made changes and moved forward with our lives. We have laughed, we have smiled and we have made some incredible memories. At 2 years old you took on your very first rollercoaster and loved it so much we had to do it again and again. It has seen us take on potty training and succeed! By 3 you were dry during the day, and this was such a fantastic achievement. It has seen you giving up your bottle and still absolutely adoring your blanket. 

Turning 3 is such a big milestone, those baby days are so far behind us now that it feels like it was a lifetime ago. Those toddler days are now fading away in the rear view mirror, and you are now officially a little boy. A little boy who this time next year will be turning four and starting school in the September. It is all absolutely crazy but it's happening.

Happy birthday beautiful boy. I hope you have a truly fantastic day and that your excitement transcends into the most amazing day for you. This years birthday theme is of course Cars, so keep your eyes peeled for that much coveted Lightning McQueen Cake!

Happy Birthday baby boy.

Lots of Love,

Mummy xx

Baby Days

I remember when I was pregnant, people were always telling me at every chance they got to 'enjoy the baby days, you will blink and that tiny baby of your's will be on the move. He will be into everything and those very first weeks will roll by, if you blink they will be gone. You will be left with the memory of the baby days, and a fully fledged toddler boy'.

I knew this was all true, I took their advice and took hundreds and thousands of photos and recorded hours of video footage. Although knowing that these people were all telling me the facts and that one day I would of course have a baby boy growing up, I had no idea that time would hit fast forward as soon as Leo made his appearance into the world, and those weeks have just played on fast forward ever since, and I cannot hit rewind.

I look back at photos and videos of those very early days with my boo, and I find it hard to in vision Leo being that small and that fragile. He is such a little bruiser now. Tall and full of puppy fat. My boy.

Back in June a year sounded like an eternity. A year off work and a year to spend one on one quality time with Leo, who is almost 9 months old now. A year is actually no time at all. I am now 3 months off Leo's first birthday and I will be the proud Mummy of a 12 month old, not a baby...as he will be hanging up his babygrow and graduating, becoming my right hand toddler.

The word toddler doesn't sound right. Leo is always referred to as 'Baby Leo' but 'Toddler Leo' does not have the same ring to it. Does it? Nor does this thought seem real to me, having a toddler that is. When I was pregnant I obviously realised that I would have a toddler at some point in the near future...But I never realised that it would happen so soon. My main focus was on giving birth to my baby boy. Leo's baby day's are well and truly numbered, and I find it difficult to comprehend.

I sit and watch Leo learning new things everyday and I can see just how far he has come in 8 and a bit months and I am so proud. He has mastered the control of his neck, learnt to roll, perfected the crawl, popped two teeth up, amazed us all with his Hollywood smile and his jelly belly laugh. I could not ask for a happier baby. It is not just those skills that he has developed though, he has also developed recognition of familiar people, learnt to play with his toys and learnt some social skills. There is a way to go yet in learning to share and playing nicely with other children but out of those baby days, Leo has become his own little person. As each day goes by, I can see more of his unique personality shining through.

As the weeks keep rolling forward, I know I am going to have my hands full, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

The baby days may be nearing an end, but I know that Leo and I have many adventures awaiting us.

My new found toddler will be making an appearance in 2012, and I will be welcoming him with open arms and looking forward to seeing his temperament develop, and his character jump out.

The baby days have been amazing, but I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us, and I enjoy Leo at every developmental stage. It is safe to say though, I do miss those early days. Where I could just hold Leo in my arms and watch him sleep so soundly.

I have a feeling I will long for every stage that passes us by. I am just glad I can re-live them all here on my Blog, which of course is what I started Blogging for in the first place.

Watch this space. I am preparing for Trouble. I am getting ready for the toddler of all toddlers.

Leo The Toddler - Arriving Summer 2012

Laura & Leo

xx