happy seventh birthday dylan aiden

Okay, lets just start by saying... Seven is so grown up! It seems crazy to me that I could have a seven year old; that the tiny little person who made me a mummy and changed our lives entirely could have been on seven trips around the sun.

You continue to amaze us every day with your quick mind and your thirst for learning. You blow us away with the things you remember, and you are constantly teaching us new things about space and science and geography. And we've learnt not to question your facts; because you are always right.

You cannot wait to become a big brother again later this year, and your excitement is contagious. You've always been an amazing big brother, and we know that you'll be amazing all over again when your littlest sibling arrives. You are just a natural at leading up your little team.

You rock my world little man. 

And I could not be prouder of you if I tried. 

Happy seventh birthday beautiful boy!

x x x

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happy second birthday ashlyn quinn

Well gorgeous girly, where did those two years go? Our little Quinny Quinn... two!

You are our ray of sunshine. You are our funny little girl. You are so quick to smile, and even quicker to laugh. Just the happiest little person that I've ever known. Your are cheeky and hilarious, and you have a way of making us all laugh that seems way beyond your years. 

You still don't say much, but what you do say is LOUD. And that suits you, you are a contradiction; loud but quiet, brave but shy. 

The girl with a million faces... seriously... so. many. facial expressions. And they each tell a different story. So effectively that you don't really need to say very much out loud, because you're saying it loud and clear in your own way. 

So happy birthday to my new favourite two year old. What an amazing year it's been, and what an amazing little girl you are.

We love you so very much Quinn.

Have a very happy second birthday. 

xxx

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happy fifth birthday everly grace

It doesn't seem possible that our little Everly is five. Five seem so grown up. But then it also seems crazy that you are only five, because you really do seem like such a grown up little lady. 

It's still kind of early days with school, but so far you are absolutely loving it. You run in each morning with a big excited smile. You already seem to know everyone by name; which is a bit of a special skill of yours. We're so proud of fantastic you've been. And as much as I miss having you at home, it's lovely to see you having a little independent life of your own and to see you blossoming before my eyes. 

You are a crazy, bubbly little character, and we are always laughing at the funny things you do and say. You're always singing and dancing, and making up little games and stories with your amazing imagination. And you often go off onto Planet Everly and are totally in your own world. I love just watching you being you; your innocence and confidence to just be what want to be. 

Every single day of the past five years being your mummy has been such a total gift. I feel so lucky and so proud to call you mine. You are quite simply a star and I love you with all my heart. 

Happy fifth birthday beautiful girly. 

xxx

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happy sixth birthday dylan aiden

Oh my goodness, happy sixth birthday Dylan, our amazing, thoughtful, gentle, clever, crazy little guy. 

All you wanted for your birthday was books, and that says it all really. You're such a little smarty pants, and there is nothing on this earth that you don't want to learn all about. 

Things are about to change massively, with us moving house, and away from the only place you've ever lived. It feels like a massive milestone to us, but we know it's a change that you'll take in your stride, like you always do.

It's hard to put into words what an amazing character you are. You just seem to get more and more and fascinating and funny with each year, and being your mummy makes me so incredibly proud every single day. 

You rock my world Mr.

And you have ever since you arrived in the world.

I love you so so much you fantastic little loon.

Happy sixth birthday beautiful boy!

xxx

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a beautiful first birthday party

I can't believe how long its taken me to sort through photographs from Quinny's birthday party. We held it a few days after her birthday, and considering she's fast approaching turning thirteen months I figured that this post was long overdue. We had a lovely celebration to mark the end of her first year, and our first year as a family of five; we were surrounded by friends and family, and our little missy just loved being the centre of attention.

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happy first birthday ashlyn quinn

Oh baby girl, how is it possible that you are one? It feels like you were only just born. And then at the same time it feels like I've always known you, like you've always been a part of our family. You honestly have been the perfect addition to our little gang, and you've made the transition from a four to a five far smoother than any of us expected it to be.

You are just such a total delight. From that very first day you have been the happiest, most chilled out, contented little person. People meet you and fall in love with you. There is just something so cute and irresistible about your smile and that twinkle in your eye. I'm just so beyond proud of you and the little ray of sunshine that you are.

Every parent will talk about how fast the time flies, especially that first year, and I'd be lying if I didn't say that it's bittersweet that we got here so quickly. It feels like in the time it took to breathe a year passed. But you've come so far in that time; from the curled up little baby with the downy brown hair, to the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, bundle of giggles you are now.

It's been an amazing year. A beautiful year of learning, and growth, of getting to know one another, and of so many smiles and so much love. I can't wait to see what the years to come will bring, and to see you grow into a little girl with each passing day.

Happy first birthday Quinny Quinn.

We love you so very very much.

xxx

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happy fourth birthday beautiful girl

YOU ARE FOUR!!! Four!?! Four sounds so much more grown up than three somehow I think. Maybe because a three year old is still a little bit toddler, but a four year old is a proper child. You're 100% little girl now. You are so ready to be four. 

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happy fifth birthday beautiful boy

Well Mr Five-Year-Old,

you've grown up so much this past year that it's crazy.

When I wrote your last birthday letter a year ago,

you had just really begun your first independent steps out into the world;

but this year, you are running around in that world,

with so much confidence, so independently, so happily.

I'm sure I've said it every single year,

but you really really aren't a baby anymore kiddo.

You love school.

And my god are you a bright little spark,

you continue to amaze us and your teachers 

with your drive to learn

and your clever brain. 

You'll move mountains kid, I just know you will. 

You have so many friends.

It seems like every single child at school knows your name

and you know all of theirs too,

and you have a smile and a laugh for every one.

I'm so proud of the friendly, confident and kind little man you are.

You are simply the very best big brother on earth.

And you got promoted this year, 

to big brother of not one, but two little sisters.

They both totally adore you and absolutely idolise you.

And it's pretty easy to see why when we watch you with them both.

Those girls are so so lucky to have you.

And how lucky are we?

Daddy and I still pinch ourselves on occasion

when we think about the fact that you are ours.

You are such a little mixture of us both,

and also totally becoming your own person more and more each day.

You make us beyond proud!

It's simply impossible to put into words just how amazing it is to be your mummy,

and I think I could spend the rest of my life trying to find those words,

and they would still fall short.

You rock my world,

my best boy,

my bright shiny star.

Thank-you for being mine.

I love you lots.

I love you more.

I love you most.

Happy fifth birthday beautiful boy!

xxx

You can read his first, second, third and fourth birthday letters and compare his birthday photos too.

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happy third birthday beautiful girl

And just like that,

in what feels like the blink of an eye,

our baby girl is three.

While you were still two

it felt like we could cling onto the last of those baby days,

but really, in actual fact, you left those behind some time ago now.

You are 100% a little girl.

And you have completely blossomed this past year,

in ways I knew you would

and in ways I didn't expect.

You are still the cuddliest, most affectionate little thing, 

who can always stop whatever you're doing to have some snuggle time.

But you have also gained so much independence over the last year,

you have dropped so much of your clingy nature

and you are so brave and friendly in new situations,

with a happy little approach to everything that gets thrown your way.

You are oh-so-caring,

and seem to want to love and nurture everything in sight,

but you are also our total little wild thing.

Right from when you were a baby,

we knew that you were going to march to your own drum;

and we weren't wrong.

You are so happy to be doing your own thing,

you dance to your own beat,

and you make it all up as you go along.

And we wouldn't have your free spirit any other way.

Not a day goes by where we don't laugh at something you have done or said,

and you love nothing better than pulling a cheeky grin

when you know you've done something to make us smile. 

You are messy,

you are creative,

you are super sharp and don't miss a trick,

you are silly,

you completely know your own mind,

you are our little sunshine,

you are more than a little bit chaotic,

but loving you is just the greatest adventure ever.

I love you so much,

my beautiful little girl.

And I feel so grateful and happy every single day,

that I get to be your mummy,

and that you get to be my girl.

Happy third birthday.

x x x


(Here are her first and second birthday letters... can't believe how much she's changed.)

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a birthday in london {52 adventures}

You only turn four once... so it pays to do it in style. Birthday days out are kind of a family tradition of ours, and we absolutely love them. Nothing quite celebrates a birthday like an adventure with your favourite people. And for the beautiful boy's fourth birthday he had very clear ideas about what he wanted to do to celebrate; he wanted to go to London, he wanted to ride the underground with his Uncle Matt, he wanted to go on a ferris wheel, and he wanted to have lunch at Planet Hollywood. Well we gave him all those things, and we threw in a boat ride and a wander around Docklands in the twilight for good measure.

9

happy fourth birthday beautiful boy

Just like that, you really aren't a baby anymore!

While three could still be considered toddler territory,

four is big boy territory,

and you are so ready to fill those big boy shoes.

Every amazing year seems to fly by

as we pack our days with fun and adventures

and this year has seen to you taking little adventures of your own;

adventures independently of us,

as you've started preschool and classes which are all your own.

You've embraced this opportunities with such excitement and enthusiasm

and words could never really express how very proud you make us.

You are so sensitive and kind,

so hilariously funny and cheeky,

so inquisitive about the world,

so keen to learn,

so polite,

so warm,

so friendly;

and I thank my lucky stars every day

that I get the pleasure of raising you,

and witnessing all the fantastic things you are becoming.

As you turned one, and two, and three,

it made me so emotional to think how far you had come from those baby days,

how far we had come together.

And this year is no different.

Four seems so big.

Four will see you start primary school.

And while you have without a doubt got the energy and personality to absolutely rule at being four,

sometimes I look at you and still see the baby you once were

and just can't believe that we have come so far

and how far your legs are going to take you in life.

You rock my world little man,

and I couldn't be prouder that I get to be your best girl

and your best friend

and your mummy.

Happy fourth birthday beautiful boy.

I love you more.

I love you most.

x x x

10

her second birthday

On Sunday 21st September 2014 

our beautiful girl turned two,

and we were sure to give her the best second birthday a girl could ask for.

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his third birthday

On Friday 7th February 2014

my beautiful little man turned three.

And special days out together

to celebrate being another year older,

are kind of becoming a family tradition for us.

Our beautiful boy had a great one

and we spent the day pinching ourselves

that our first born baby had got so big so quickly.

  

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happy third birthday beautiful boy

Your last two birthday flew round at a heck of a rate,

but my goodness this one seems to have crept up on me

even faster still.

You're three!

THREE!!!

That little tiny baby boy,

who I was terrified and elated to bring home from the hospital,

who taught me how to be a Mummy,

and showed me about a love I never could have imagined,

that tiny baby boy is three.

That tiny baby boy is certainly not tiny anymore,

although he does still like to be my baby occasionally

when he's wrapped up in a towel fresh from the bath

and he insists on being rocked and cuddled like he was all the time ago.

For a split second, it's almost like I'm right back there.

But I wouldn't trade that baby for the amazing little boy you have become

and are becoming more and more with every day.

You blow me away daily

with the things that you've learnt,

with the details you notice,

with your incredible memory,

with your understanding and kindness and sensitivity,

with your big chocolate eyes,

with your gorgeous cheeky smile,

and with the fact I get to raise you and love you and call you mine.

You make me prouder than I could ever have thought possible.

I said it on your first and second birthdays,

but it's still one hundred percent true;

you rock my world.

So happy birthday my super cool, super amazing little man.

I love you with all my heart.

x x x

7

a beautiful girl's birthday party

There was never any doubt in my mind

that we would celebrate my beautiful girl's birthday in style.

One whole year on the planet deserves to be celebrated,

and one whole year of bringing up a baby deserves to be acknowledged too.

Our little man had a big first birthday bash

and there was no way I was going to miss the opportunity

to plan an exciting party for our little lady,

and to scream from the rooftops just how proud we are to have her.

36

happy first birthday beautiful girl

Well baby girl, here it is.

Your first birthday.

Where on earth did that year go?

I actually cannot put into words

what an amazing privilege it has been

getting to know you this year

and getting to watch you grow

into such a fascinating, fierce, beautiful and sensitive little girl.

You quite literally amaze me.

I just can't believe that you are mine

and that we get to have this mother daughter journey together.

Our relationship has surprised me beyond words

because I full expected you to be a daddy's girl

but for some reason, you chose me

and it feels wonderful

to know that I'm your favourite person on the planet.

I know it won't always be like this

so I'm going to make the most of it while it lasts.

Thank-you.

Thank-you for being mine.

Thank-you for being you.

You light up our world.

I love you so much

my beautiful girl.

Happy first birthday.

xxx

27

a beautiful birthday party

On Saturday February 11th

we had a big party to celebrate our beautiful boy turning one.

And I have to say,

it was awesome.

We had a lovely time

and feel thoroughly blessed to have so many wonderful people around us

supporting us as we bring up our son.

19

happy birthday bunting

I love an excuse for a little craft project.

I definitely don't seem to have enough hours in the day

or days in the week

to have a go at all the things I would like to.

But when a special occasion looms

I like to use it as an excuse to do something crafty.

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