Letter to Tricky - Twelve months old

Dear Tricky,

Happy Birthday!!! You are one today little guy!!!

You made it and more importantly we made it. Together. Our little family of three.

Yesterday we had a little party for you at your Perth Nanna and Pop's house and you had so much fun, even if you did fall over and bop your head. It was such an exciting day with everyone dressing up as pirates!  You were so exhausted and had a little bit of trouble falling asleep because you were over tired - I sat with you and watched you sleep and got all emotional just staring at you. You're so perfect it hurts.

This month you've been paying a lot more attention to your furry big brother Sprocket - you put your hand through the gate to let him lick your fingers then make woof woof noises (though you do make woof woof noises for every animal, except for your favourite animal, birds, which are 'Bir bir bir'). If he's inside at lunch time he likes to sit underneath your highchair and catch the food you drop, but that's going to be a thing of the past since you have started leaning over and offering him little bits - I love that you're sharing, but please, eat your own lunch.

Speaking of food, you are still munching your way through adult sized portions (and enjoyed your first taste of cake yesterday!) and not surprisingly, you have started signing for food now too! On top of still signing for milk you've started to sometimes sign 'finished', 'drink' and 'where' - I cannot tell you how proud I am!

You seem to have found your funny bone because lately, everything is hilarious to you and you have turned in to quite the giggle pot - especially when Perth Pop tickles your knees! I love listening to your cute little laugh; when you've just woken up and are talking to your toys and it's soft and sleepy, or when you're bouncing up and down on Albany Pop's knee and it's so hearty and infectious.

Every morning you sit at the front window and wave goodbye to your Daddy as he goes to work - it's the cutest thing. Then in the afternoon you sit back down there and wait for him to come home again while you chew on a triangle block. I'm not sure why you like the triangles so much, perhaps three is your favourite number too?

It's been an eventful year, my little man; after two lots of surgery and having no idea if your craniosynostosis would cause developmental delays, we are so amazed to see you reaching all your milestones early, just like your Dad did. You are in every way, shape and form, a little clone; rolling at three weeks, crawling at five months, standing at six months and walking at ten months - you're a super star.

This rollercoaster of a year has dragged on for so long and gone by in the blink of an eye at the same time. At times I wished away the sleepless nights and bags under my eyes, but if given the opportunity to go back and not have you, to slumber peacefully and not require a gallon of concealer daily, I wouldn't take it - I would not swap you for anything in the world.

Thank you, my sweet little cherub, you have brought so much joy to my life and it has been an honour and a privilege to be your Mama. You have made me realize what is important in life, made me a more patient person, and made me love more fiercely that I ever thought possible.

I hope you've enjoyed the ride as much as I have.

Love Mama xxx