To My Little M- 14 months.

To my little M,

You are 14 months old tomorrow.  

This month has been the month where you officially are no longer a baby but a little person.  A little person complete with her own thoughts, personality and feelings.  Of course, you will always be my baby but look at you- your a little girl now.

I thought I would be sad leaving the 'baby' period behind, but the 'toddler' period is so much fun.  You are learning every day and it makes my heart swell with pride watching you discover new things.  Your personality is shining through more and more.  

This month you have learnt to say a couple more words.  You can say 'more,' but you literally say it to everything so if you see a biscuit or something you want you will say more more more getting louder and louder until you are shouting.  You haven't quite grasped the fact that 'more' is something you say after you have already received something.  More in your case means want.

If we ask you what the doggy says you say 'oof oof' and you get really excited about saying it, although you don't always say it when we want you too.  You are surrounded by dogs when you go to Aunty Paula's and Aunty Emma's and of course Bozlee dog when you go to Grandmas, so I am sure that it must have been one of them that taught you as we certainly didn't.  However the first time I heard you say it made me so proud- funny really at something so small.

You keep saying Ma Ma over and over and if you are downstairs with Daddy often you will shout so loudly that I come down and you hold out your hands to me- its so cute and makes me smile.

You have learnt where your treat cupboard is and often if you have gone quiet for a couple of seconds I go into the kitchen and there you are peeking in to see what you can get out of it.  You know it is naughty as you always jump when I say your name.  

Your walking is becoming so much steadier- it won't be long until you are off.  Grandma and Grandpa Mike came over to see you the other day and we were showing them your walking, you can walk about five to eight steps on your own and then you get too excited and fall over, but it won't be long until your ready.  You were getting so excited that we were clapping you and it made me get tears in my eyes because you were just so proud of yourself.

 It is just confidence and I love that when you want to get somewhere you now hold out your hand for me to take your hand in mine and then you lead me where you want to be.   I will always hold your hand and I want you to know that.

We have had lots of fun this month- we experienced snow for the first time, went on some lovely days out and weekends away to Manchester, but we have all been poorly and that hasn't been nice.  I hate it when you are poorly, I would do anything to make you better, but these bugs are all part of being a baby.  You also fell down the stairs when the stair gate wasn't on properly- that was a big shock and I felt like such a bad Mummy- you did that horrible cry that is reserved for when you are hurt or in pain.  I have only heard it about five times in your life, the smallest, quietest, saddest cry- it makes me want to cry as well.  Mummy can't protect you all the time, but I will try my hardest.   

As I draw this months letter to a close, I wanted to share something with you.  The other day I was just looking at you sleeping in your cot and I honestly thought how lucky that I was to have created you.  Those little moments that actually are quite momentous.  Staring at you sometimes takes my breath away.

Any baby that we had created I would have loved with all my heart- after all I would be their Mummy.  But I created you.  Sweet Mads, my cheeky, happy, funny little girl who people tell me is one of the most well behaved children they have ever looked after.  My amazing eater, my fantastic sleeper and my little daughter whose smile brightens up even the most depressing days.  Who can be so laid back and slot into any routine but yet at the same time has a naughty, cheeky side which makes you anything but boring.  With your unruly curly hair and your tiny sausage toes.

I look at you and Daddy playing like you are right now, and I see elements of both of us in you.  Two people who love and adore each other, who have made something that has made our already happy lives, even happier.  You make us the proudest parents in the world, and I say a thank you every day that we created you.  

I can't wait to see what next month will bring.

I love you, always and forever.  But as always, you already knew that.

xxx

Mummy