Hard to believe that six years ago today I was in hospital waiting to be induced so I could meet my first child. I remember that night like it was yesterday, and yet it feels like a million years ago! I was filled with fear - I’d managed to not think about how this baby was going to come out for nearly nine months - and an induction, with hospitalisation the day before meant I had one very very long night to make up for lost time - and I barely slept a wink! The birth, well I don’t remember a lot of that (good drugs!) but I do remember them heaping this little swalking lump onto my chest and the first thing I thought was “thank god, he’s really here!”. And I’ve thought the same thing almost every morning since. It’s a wonderful thing. Someone recently said of their child on their birthday “I didn’t know I could love someone this much” and I’m going to shamelessly plagiarise that line - because it’s true. I didn’t know.
So enough of the sentimental stuff. Here’s a quick picture history of my big little man
And here are shots of his big day today! He really really wanted to go to Clip’n'climb for his birthday - I was a little dubious about it - thinking that he might not be strong enough, or it might be a bit scary for him - but no - he was in there boots and all - scampering up walls like a little lizard.
And then there was the “leap of faith” - should be renamed “how to make your mother cry”! Seriously - I was watching my little boy climb up what was effectively a 40 foot telephone pole, only to stand on the top of it and leap off onto a trapeze several feet away.
He was amped until he stood on the top - then he froze for a minute. I could see he was terrified and I could feel my eyes starting to tear up… One of the staff climbed up behind him to help him down and that seemed to give Ethan the push he needed to jump. He refused to go - there was no way he was going back down that pole defeated! So after another (very very long minute) he pulled himself together and on the count of three leapt out toward the trapeze!
He managed to grasp it with one hand , and then slipped - but I was so proud! He was so incredibly brave.
Later this evening we were talking about it - I was telling him I would have been too frightened to climb up that high, let alone jump off. He said “mum, I just kept saying over and over in my head - if anyone can do this I can… and then I believed it and I could jump off”. And then he started talking about the NEXT time we go (yes he loved it so much he wants to go back!) and said to Jas “dad - remember just tell yourself you can do it in your head and you’ll be fine”.. and then he paused and added thoughtfully “Why don’t I go first and show you how to do it - then you won’t be scared”.
Happy birthday baby xxx
By the way - he decorated the cake.
I’m dreading our next power bill!