happy first birthday wylder heath

My little Wylder Heath. Our wild card. Our fourth and final. How can it be that we’re celebrating your first full journey around the sun already?

In truth, I don’t think I could ever find the words to do justice to what a total gift you are in our lives. It impossible to explain how incredibly happy and full of love this past year has been. I dreamed when I was young, of having four babies one day; two girls and two boys, and you have been that dream come true and more. You’ve filled a space in my heart that I never knew was empty. You’ve completed our family. You’ve slotted into our gang like you were always meant to be here, and it feels impossible to imagine life before you were here.

But just because a time before you seems like a distant memory, doesn’t mean that this past year hasn’t flown. It has. So so fast. Your hasty arrival into Daddy arms on the bedroom floor seems like a month or two ago, not twelve. And it’s always so bittersweet... to be excited for what’s to come, proud of what you’ve achieved, but also sad that those baby days are behind us.

As the fourth one I often feel like people might think it’s less special somehow, because we’ve done all these milestones before. But it actually makes it more special. Because I’m so acutely aware of how precious each moment and milestone is. And for every first of yours, it is a last for me... so I hope you’ll forgive me if I squeeze you a little tighter, hold you a little longer, and breathe in every last second. There’s just no escaping it kiddo, I’ll be clinging onto you as my baby as long as I possibly can. 

This past years has been such a beautiful privilege. You’ve fitted into our crazy life, like the perfect piece of the puzzle. You love your siblings, you adore being outdoors in the fresh air, you light up and grin wide for your daddy, you have the cheekiest smile, the twinkliest blue eyes, and the most adorable giggle. You’re just an amazing little human being that we are all loving watch grow and learn. But your favourite place, favourite thing, comfort blanket, safe haven; is me, and it’s a badge I wear with honour. 

Happy first birthday Wylder!

Thank you for being mine. Thank you for letting me be yours. I love you wildly with my whole heart. 

x x x x

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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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you're twelve months old {dear beautiful little lady}

dear Ashlyn,

Well I can't believe it my little Quinny girl... where did that year fly off too? And now you are whole year old. It really does seem like yesterday that I sat down to write you a letter at the end of your first month; I spent ages flicking through all your photos picking out my favourites, trying to put into words how much you amazing you were. And now here I am, eleven months later... I'm still not sure I've quite managed to put your amazingness into words, and every month you seem to get better. 

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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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thirteen months new

You had grown up so much since turning a year that it was scary.

14

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.

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me and mine {september}

Daddy is loving

* going on water flumes with the beautiful boy.

* the beautiful girl's birthday party.

* mini Terry's chocolate oranges.

* doing fantasy football.

* getting fibre optic broadband.

Mummy is loving

* our long weekend in Center Parcs with our besties.

* having a one year old girly.

* a chance to get all dressed up at the MAD Blog Awards.

* ice-cream birthday parties.

* what a daredevil the beautiful boy is in the water.

The beautiful boy is loving

* riding on the water slides at Center Parcs.

* having tea parties.

* reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

* playing with the Mickey Mouse game on the Daddy's ipad.

* eating lots of cake.

The beautiful girl is loving

* being one whole year old.

* stealing Mummy's milkshake.

* pushing her pram around.

* trying to walk.

* bobbing around in the water on holiday.

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{the ordinary moments} milkshake date

Milkshakes are one my simple pleasures.

I love a good milkshake.

So on what could have been a normal Saturday

we took our favourite little people

to go and have Mummy's favourite milkshake.

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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

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fifty-two weeks new

Fifty-two weeks. Three-hundred-and-sixty-five days. A year.

7

turning one

There is something incredibly inevitable about my feelings right now.

I'm pretty sure that most parents feel them as their babies turn one,

or as any major life milestones are about to be crossed off the list.

That feeling of life running away from you a little bit;

a mixture of happiness and sadness,

excitement for the future

and bittersweet feelings about the fleeting nature of childhood.

My baby girl. One.

...One!

One whole year old.

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hello september

It's here.

The month I've been simultaneously waiting for and dreading.

My baby girl turns one this month.

It just doesn't seem possible.

35

forty-nine weeks new

You were so strong and clever.

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one whole year

Dear Beautiful Boy is one whole year old.

What started as a series of letters to my little boy

some how turned into what you see today.

One. Whole. Year.

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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.

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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.

8

love from mummy on your birthday

 

Dear Beautiful Boy,

You are one year old. One whole year. Perhaps if I say it enough, then it might actually start to sound real and possible. One year, my baby. . .

2

happy birthday beautiful boy

One year ago, your life was only just beginning.
And in a strange sort of way, so was mine.
It was a wonderful new life for us both.
And over the past year,
all 52 weeks of it,
all 365 days of it,
I have loved every single, blessed second
of being your mummy.

Then six months ago I wrote all about how things had changed.
How big you were getting.
How clever you were.
How funny and grown-up and brave you were.

Looking back at that post now,

it's hard to believe just how much things have changed again.

In much the same way
that I could never really associate my baby bump, Dollop
with the baby that I brought home;
I now struggle to get my head around the fact
that that baby I brought home
is the same one that now makes me laugh at his giggle
and melt with his cuddles.

To put it simply;
You rock my world.

So happy birthday baby boy.
I love you with all my heart.
xxx

7

your fifty-second week

We just couldn't believe where a whole year had gone.

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inspired - smash cake

In case you're new to 'inspired'

it's a linky which runs every Monday

and is all about sharing some things you have seen

which have inspired you.

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