My little boy is three. Three! Growing up so fast - even though he still maintains that he is - in his own words - "tiny".

He had such a wonderful day. His request for his birthday was to ‘go swimming and to go under the water and have an octonauts cake with blue on the bottom and orange on top.” Which, of course, is exactly what he got. (How could we say no to such a modest request!)

He had so much fun a the pool and did indeed go under the water. It is so amazing to watch his confidence grow and see his joy as he discovers he can do new things. He was also very pleased with his gifts (the mama-made elephant has been christened 'Ice Age' (I think after the wooly mammoth in Ice Age...) there were also lots of Octonauts, Dinosaurs, and Dragons. Win.

For me though the best moment of the day was when he was sitting quietly at the table, after all of our guest had gone had gone, when he quietly observed to himself ‘That was a lovely birthday’. (Heart melts)

Birthdays have taken on a whole new meaning for me since our children were born. It is impossible to celebrate their birthdays with out remembering the day they were born and all the emotions that went along with that. It is impossible not to remember the newborn baby they once were and the way our world changed in an instant when they arrived. It is impossible to imagine our world without these amazing little people, without the happiness and the love and the laughter that they bring.

I love that birthdays give us the opportunity and perhaps a reminder to stop and appreciate the people we love for who they are. A whole day in which we focus on all the amazing things that make them who they are.

Happy Birthday Jacob. You are the dearest little boy. I love your cuddles and your smile. I love your enthusiasm, I love the way you talk and the way you gesture with your arms when you do. I love watching you grow and learn but I wish could bottle you, just as you are, so that I might always be able to hold onto the gorgeous little boy that you are in this instant.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart.

Xxx