three and a quarter

In the quarter year since your birthday you had changed so much.

You seemed to have got through a more challenging phase

and were, on the most part, lovely to be around again.

You would still have the odd day of pushing the boundaries,

but the daily and hourly battles were a thing of the past.

You were enjoying being more independent and responsible;

helping to choose and make food, selecting your own clothes,

washing your own hair and doing helpful little jobs.

It was so lovely to see you helping and contributing

and it made us so very proud of you.

We were starting to wonder if naps were on the way out,

some days you would sit on the sofa and have a cuddle and read a book

instead of going for your usual afternoon nap,

but then other days you would still sleep for two to three hours.

It didn't seem to make any difference to how long you slept at night,

so we happily just took your lead.

Having been a really reluctant mark maker around your birthday

you were suddenly really interested in immergent writing activities.

You enjoyed spelling your own name and copying the letter formation,

and you spend ages asking us to write letters for you to copy.

It was so lovely to see this new side to you,

where you would sit quietly for the longest times,

pushing yourself to get better with your pencil control.

You were so determined and so focused.

You were enjoying regular trips to the library

to not only borrow different books

but also to attend one of their rhymes and reading sessions.

You loved the structure and excitement of these sessions

and were always so kind and friendly to the other children

which made us feel so proud of you.

A trip to the library was generally followed by a trip to the bakery

for a sausage roll lunch date

and then a milkshake treat at the milkshake shop.

You loved these little routines so much

and would keep reminding us what you wanted to do next.

Watching your relationship with your little sister change and grow

was such a daily pleasure for us.

The two of you were such a team

and generally liked to play near one another

even if you weren't actually playing together.

You were going through a stage of getting really upset

whenever she got upset,

which was so incredibly sweet.

We just knew you were going to be such a protective and caring big brother

as the two of your grew.

You can read the rest of the beautiful boy's updates 

on his page here.