{Things to Remember} The Big Four

What a whirlwind, my baby turned four today. In some ways these past four years have gone in an instant, and in other ways, they’ve been slow and sedated. Motherhood is the ultimate call to slow down, and yet with children, the days are full and the years whizz by. I have reflected a lot on my journey as a mum recently. I’ve thought loooong and hard about having a third baby, the longing is strong but something pulls me back – the knowledge we’ve come so far and the monotony and loneliness of those early years are past me. The reality that our house feels full, bursting at the seams, and our budgets tight. I can’t picture how we would add another whole person into the mix of us. But then I shoot a newborn for work and I’m clucking like there’s no tomorrow…

This post though is not for me to weigh up the pros and cons of adding to my brood but to reflect and give thanks for our littlest one, the girl who stole my heart four years ago and who has kept me on my toes ever since. She’s been an absolute joy, she’s filled my heart over and over again and enabled me to bask in this thing called motherhood.

To Elsie, you light me up. When I asked you what the best thing about being three was, you replied; “Being tiny”… You’ll always be tiny to me little bird. And because time flies and you seem to be growing like a weed in mind and body these days, I’ve compiled a list of all your quirks so we never forget you at just four!

You….

• still call scissors, snizzers
• tell me I am your bestest, bestest friend
• have a love affair with pasta like a true italian
• adore looking through baby pictures of you and Raff
• enjoy a gherkin, mustard and pickled onions
• dote on your babies, you have three – Ruby, Molly and Maggie. They are the most kissed and cuddled dollies in the universe I am sure
• love to pretend to be a dog – not only for your love of animals but, more so, for your love of tummy tickles
• adore soap – especially soaping your hands; “bubbles mama bubbles”
• stomp through any puddle you come across. They are literally irresistible to you!
• would choose to wile away an hour reading books on my lap than watching cartoons – long may this last!
• have a magnetic draw to leaves and flowers – we can’t return home from a walk without a pocketful
• ask for cuddles countless times each day – long may this also last!
• want to be a princess, fairy, unicorn, ballerina – we have entered some kind of stereotypical girly stage and there’s no stopping you. I blame my reluctance to dress you in pink the past 4 years for this rebellion!
• call duplo, ‘buplo’ and TV, Teebee, it breaks my heart every time
• LOVE drawing and writing – you + art = one happy birdie. You can write your name already and your pictures of people are getting more detailed – you draw hair and fingers on them now and sometimes a flowery dress
• refuse to wear anything other than dresses, in fact, if you had your way you’d live in your princess outfit at all times
• love rainbows
• can get yourself dressed and undressed almost entirely on your own. This still amazes me given your brother still asks me to do it for him
• enjoy sounding out words like Bal – Urh – Reee – Naaah
• often creep into our room at night for a quick snuggle before asking me to tuck you back in
• love to giggle – the sound of your giggling will stay with me forever

Keep being you little bird, we love you so xoxo