On a first birthday – Otto

What a difference a year makes. It’s marvellous isn’t it? From a helpless newborn, to a moving, babbling one year old, full of personality. O was born on Easter Sunday last year – two weeks late and a healthy 9lb 11. He adds such peace to our home. He is calm. An observer and always watching us. I cannot wait for him to walk, it will give him so much freedom.

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

• The way you climb up to me on the sofa in desperation. Like you can’t wait to see me.
• They way you make beeline for the stairs, or the toilet as soon as you hear a door open, and the way you crawl faster as we start chasing after you.
• The way you shake your head when you’re just about to do something you know you’re not supposed to – like throwing your plate on the floor.
• How chatty you are. I feel like we have proper conversations – I say something, you reply, and it can carry on for quite some time. You remind me of Win, and I imagine that you are persuading me that putting your head down the toilet is a good idea, or that you should be allowed fruit for every meal.
• The way you sit right by my feet when I’m cooking dinner.
• How pleased you are with yourself when you stand up. You like to make sure we are all watching.
• At bedtime you always grab the front seat at story time. You climb over everyone to make sure you have the best view.
• They way you start flapping as I open the fridge, and you often point at the snack cupboard.
• How you love going in the bath and shower with your brothers.
• How you talk to the canvases of Ru and Win on the wall. I always imagine you are telling me what you like about each of them.
• How big your teeth are. Exactly like both of your brothers. You have six.
• How adventurous you are at playgroup. You have a go at everything. I’ve learnt that sitting in the ‘baby area’ is pointless.

E xx