your twenty-third month

It was just amazing looking at the world through your eyes.

You saw excitement and wonder in everything

and noticed the tiny details that we so often overlooked.

Being around you couldn't help but open our eyes

to the beautiful things all around us.

Your second Christmas was an absolute hit.

You adored the excitement and decorations,

you ripped into your presents 

and said "Wow" and "Thank-you" to each one.

You pointed out snowmen and twinkly lights and pretty trees.

You were basically,

completely wrapped up in the magic of "Chri-mas".

You were a complete parrot nowadays

and you loved to try and get your mouth around new and interesting words,

although this did mean that Daddy had to watch what he said around you.

You understood so much of what we said now

even when we didn't think you were listening.

And your memory was really fantastic

as you would remember in the morning

things which we had said the night before.

As 2012 came to an end

we couldn't help but reflect on how much you had changed and grown in twelve months.

In so many ways you seemed unrecognisable

from the baby you had still been then,

who didn't talk or walk.

Now you were so bright and funny,

so independent and adorable,

you were a walking and talking bundle of adventure;

a real little boy.

But then with the simplest of things

you would remind us,

that you were still our baby boy.

That you still wanted

and needed

to be close to us.

That you were still a little unsure sometimes

and wanted our reassurance.

That you were absolutely not to big

for big cuddles

and lots of them.

And that you were still as innocent and precious to us

as you had always been.