Autumn baby

Dear Matthew

Every autumn the beautiful deciduous tree in grandma and gramps' front yard sheds its leaves. I took the opportunity to put my amateur photography skills to the test while you tried to eat every one of the thousands of leaves that had fallen onto the grass!

Some are funny, others are crazy. One or two are gorgeous, even frame worthy. Plus you got to have fun rolling around on the golden carpet :)

Next year, we'll run through them together. I can't wait. 

Love, 

Mum xxx

Big boy seat

Dear Matthew

A few weeks ago you grew out of your capsule seat so we upgraded you to a forward facing, big boy car seat. 

I had visions of you smiling and laughing now that you weren't rearward facing during every car ride... But things are pretty much the same when we go I'm the car- you hate it. Oh well, we tried! 

What did make me smile was taking these awesome photos of you, especially the one of you in your big boy seat, you're really rocking the arm rests!

Love, 

Mum xxx

Your first Easter

Dear Matthew

Last month we celebrated your first Easter. 

We had dinner with the Constables on Easter Saturday and lunch with your dads family on Easter Sunday. While you didn't have any chocolate this year, next year you may get a couple! I'll also begin some special Easter traditions such as an Easter egg hunt with your Easter basket (I think you're inheriting uncle Andrews one that grandma decorated when we were little) and powdered Easter bunny footprints. These traditions are passed down from grandma and gramps and always made my Easter extra special, so I'm looking forward to bringing the magic to your Easter that I was lucky enough to experience. 

Love, 

Mum xxx

#wearallthebabies

Dear Matthew

Without realising it, I practise attachment parenting with you. This means I breastfeed on demand (and will breastfeed until you decide to wean), I baby carry and I bed share with you. I don't agree with letting you ever 'cry it out' and I regret the money we spent on your baby prison (your crib, which thankfully turns into a toddler bed so isn't a total waste). 

I didn't realise just how instinctual parenting is. Parenting books are a waste of time and money. The only guide a parent needs is their heart and what their gut is telling them.

I love the way I get to cuddle you to sleep and that you fall asleep while breastfeeding (I was told by midwives to never let this happen, when in fact it's the biological norm). I'm not going to change what I'm doing, I'm not making a rod for my own back. To the contrary, I'm showing you just how important you are. And, to me, you are the most important thing on this earth. 

I think you can thank your grandparents for this- grandma and gramps were very much the same with their parenting style (no baby wearing but cloth nappies!). Hopefully it means you can trust your mum and dad to always be there for you, which, ironically, will make you independent. Because that is our job- to smother you with love so that you can, one day, take on the big wide world with the knowledge that no matter what, we are your safe haven. 

Love,

Mum xxx