For the last 5 years my house has been full of babies and toddlers. When my third baby was born my eldest was just three and half. I’ve been changing nappies for almost a sixth of my life.
Today I looked at my littlest baby girl, and realised that at 21 months, she is no longer a baby. She will always be my baby girl, but she is most definitely now a toddler. She can scoot, tell me when she is scared or hungry, ask for cuddles and kisses and stall before bed time. My children are growing up faster than I ever thought possible.
Everyone who knows me will tell you I am over protective, not in a wrap up in cotton wool way, but in that I don’t like to leave my children with other people. Z is 5 now and I have never left him overnight, no one else apart from his Dad, nursery and school have looked after him in waking hours. I just hate the thought of missing out on time with him. I know these early days when children like their parents and want to spend time with them are precious and I want to enjoy every moment. Even if that means reading the same book 10 times over, playing chess and letting him win or having races around the garden. These are the memories I want to hold onto and treasure.
So many milestones have already passed that sometimes I feel a little sad that my biggest child has grown up so fast. It feels like I have known him forever, yet time has raced by. I have held three first birthday parties, cried at leaving two children in nursery for the first time and worried as a child started school.
My three children are each so different, but all absolutely perfect. Z is reserved, very clever and loves nothing more than running around the garden or going on a long bike ride with his Dad. I have watched him take every new step in his stride. He has blossomed at school and become very confident and sure of himself. S is funny, feisty and cheeky, she brightens up a room and stands out from the crowd. My lovely little H, is beautiful, sweet and very loving. Everytime she wraps her little arms around my neck and says ‘cuggle’ my heart melts.
Whilst I am sad that we have already at lightning speed passed so many stages in their lives, I know there is still so much to look forward to, a first school sports day, first piano lessons and first dancing shows. I look forward to them all and will treasure every single second. I know there will be times when I will be cross and when we won’t always be best friends, but I hope I can bring all three of them up to be kind, loving, successful and most of all happy.
This video from Volkswagen Polo made me cry. I remember first holding all my children, not being able to take my eyes off them for one second, trying to freeze every little burp and smile into my memory forever. I remember watching them learn to roll over, to crawl and walk. I’ve watched three little people develop personalities and I can’t wait to watch them grow into adults.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeKuFs0KxO8]
This is an advertorial post
Oh my god Emma that advert made me properly cry! I am such a sap, I am sat here with tears down my cheeks. I am well aware of life passing by too quickly and not missing a moment. I didn’t realise that you had never stayed away from them, that is lovely. I have had to go away from Mads a few times for work and things- I miss her like crazy but I do also enjoy the me time. x