On a third birthday – Ru

Not so little Ru is celebrating his third birthday today. It has been said many times that we are all born so different, and never is this more apparent than when you have more than one child. It is impossible to predict how these personalities will bloom and grow. Ru is far more sensitive than his older brother, and a harder nut to crack. He doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve – he needs time, affection and understanding if you want to be his friend. He likes being at home, and really loves his own company, which is a huge change from Win.

Three is such a big age. Things in the world are really making sense, and any trace of being a baby are long gone. Starting nursery will happen in a few months’ time, and he is really looking forward to it. I don’t feel emotional about him getting older, I feel quite excited for him. He seems to have grown up a little quicker thanks to Win, and I’m ok with that. It doesn’t make sense to hold on to those baby days any longer than necessary – the world really is their oyster.

Little things I don’t want to forget as you turn three:

• The way you always tell me to “Go away” when it’s bedtime. You only ever want Daddy to cuddle you before bed, but during the day you love me.
• The way you ‘really like’ a couple of my friends. “Mum, I REALLY like so-and-so”. Do you now.
• The way you will just ask for a cuddle when you need one.
• The way you always ask one of the helpers to read you books in the corner at playgroup.
• The way you cry in films when there is a sad part – someone being left behind, someone getting lost, or somebody being mean. I look across and sometimes you look distraught. No matter how good the film is, you won’t like it because of that one part.
• The way you only ever draw one thing – racing cars with bullets and boosters.
• After you go to the toilet I will often pop upstairs to see where you are and you’re on your bed flicking through books.
• The way you have started getting really frustrated when Winston talks, and talks. You wait patiently, then all of a sudden you will get upset and shout: “But…I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING WIN!”
• The way you get slowly closer to me as we are watching a film. By the end I have you on one side, and your older brother on the other side.
• How you line up your racing cars and race them around the room – literally for hours. You told me recently that this is your favourite thing.
• How you always check I am watching you at football.
• The way you run and push Win when he is really winding you up. Sometimes your Dad and I secretly find it very funny!
• How difficult it can be to persuade you to do something, the usual trickery doesn’t work with you.
• How you are either in an independent mood and we daren’t offer help, or you are in a ridiculously lazy mood where you want us to do everything for you.
• How you look to Win for direction when you are playing ‘Stormtrooper families’, Paw Patrol, dressing up, or pretend (and real) fighting. You both talk with a low American accent.
• How you are the slowest walker on this planet!
• How some days you chat nonstop, and other days you barely say a word.
• How obsessed you are with Star Wars. You do Star Wars stickers almost every single day, and explain to me over and over again who is shooting who, who are the baddies and who are the goodies. Often you just look at them, and nothing else.  

E xx