One.

A few minutes old

Dear James,

Every time I’ve gone to write this letter, I’ve had to stop. Every time I go to acknowledge that you are turning one, I stop. I simply cannot believe you go from being classed as a baby one day to a toddler the next. But we both know that you will always be my baby.

James, today you turned 1. A small number but significant milestone.
You’ve been with us one whole year, but it feels like you’ve always been with us.
At 2.16am on the 27th April you made me and your father complete, and we didn’t realise we had anything missing until we had you.

You amaze me every single day. Every day I can say that you do something new. You are always challenging yourself.

Never stop doing that.

You are walking now, proper toddling. Pretty much running in fact.
You love your food, hence the chunky thighs and arms. And mummy milk is the only milk that will do.

I am very chuffed about this.

You exude a confidence that I wish I had an ounce of as an adult let alone a one year old. It must be your Taurean side. You are also a bit of a bull in a China shop too…definitely a Taurus.

James, you are a loving little boy. You welcome people with your infectious smile; you wave bah-bye; you kiss all your teddies good night, Oscar the Giraffe is a favourite of yours.

Your best friend is Minnie the dog, or ‘diggy’ as you call her. You are such a boy-boy, yet you give her the gentilist of strokes.

You are a sociable little thing, you have several friends already. Johnny is 2 months younger than you and I like to think you are looking after him in your burly way. I know you will make a wonderful big brother one day.

James and Johnny

James and Minnie (Diggy)

You love music. It captures your attention even more than Cbeebies. You even dance to it now, with your little bum wiggling away. Rizzle Kicks, Olly Murs and Jessie J are on your baby iPod.
You don’t have a security blanket or taggie, you are far too independent for that; yet you only like Mama or Daddy to get you to sleep. And that is alright with us.

You’ve tested my sleep deprivation to some lengths; So much so, I think a career in the secret service beckons.
You made me realise that there really isn’t any love like a love between a Mother and child.
Thank you for opening my eyes to that.

For all the hard, tiring, sad and trying times this year has brought us you have been the one amazing thing that was constant.

To wonderful, beautiful little boy.
You make me so proud to be your mother.
Thank you for choosing me.

I hope you have a wonderful 1st birthday.

Keep growing strong,
I love you with all my heart,
Mama
xox

Happy Birthday x