TWO YEARS WITH TWO CHILDREN

We're less than a week away from Patricks' birthday, and whilst that's a huge celebration for him it's also a big one for our family - it marks two whole years since we turned from a three to a four. It's been a whirlwind it really has, it still feels as though I have the right to refer to myself as 'postpartum' twenty four months down the line because truthfully, those have been the quickest twenty four months of my life. It feels like yesterday we welcomed Patrick into the world and whilst I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat for him, I can't lie and say it's been the easiest two years of my life because that wouldn't be honest. Likening it to a roller coaster is the only similarity that fawns a resemblance to our journey.

The second year as a mum of two has been crazy, in every single aspect, we've had so much fun but it of course hasn't gone without it's challenges. Patricks personality has truly beamed through, we now can see him for the feisty, head strong little boy that he is - which is entertaining, he's a complete character and there isn't a chance that he'll be the shrinking violet in any room. Looking back it's easy to see that Patrick is the complete opposite to Noah at his age, while they're both as sensitive as each other, Patrick is fiercely independent and isn't afraid to shout 'ello' to the woman at the checkout or the other children on the park. Noah was much shyer and still is, he sits back and observes, he's wary of everyone around him and in new situations he retreats rather than pushes forward. They work well together, most of the time.

That other ten percent, is hard, I wont sugar coat it because I don't want a mother of two out there to sit and wonder why her children fight and mine don't, they do, daily. It's a battle trying to keep them on the same team, with Patrick being the classic child who saw someone else playing with a toy so decided it was his and Noah becoming more and more of the perfectionist, getting frustrated if his train track is ruined by the toddler who hasn't grasped how to play. It's a juggle every single day and after 4-5 days just us together all day every day (like this half term week that I'm currently wallowing in as I type) it's frustrating, I want to pull my hair out if I have to say 'Stop shouting at your brother' 'Can you just leave him alone?' 'What's he done?' one more time.

As the boys grow, life with the two of them is becoming a lot easier. Patrick is really out of the baby stage now and they having an older sibling has undoubtedly seen him age quicker, he's been out of a highchair since he turned one, eats with a knife and fork, plays with most toys for age 3+ and is already snatching his nappy off demanding a 'wee wee'. It makes me so glad we decided to have them as close together as we did, though the beginning was hard it really has levelled off since he became a toddler and I'm hoping that will continue as they move through the years together. They're typical brothers in every sense, Noah is sorely missed when he goes to school and the excitement on his brothers face when he spies him through the classroom door is palpable, I'm sure it's something all siblings have but I definitely don't remember ever being that excited for seeing my sister, sorry Lucy.

I can't wait to watch them develop together as they turn three and five over the next twelve months, Noah starting school full time in September will be a huge change for us all, especially Patrick, I know he'll miss him tremendously but I'm looking forward to P having some time to flourish by himself - though that boy definitely can't be held down. The past year has been one of the hardest yet sweetest years of my life, and I hope the loyalty and dependence they have for one another now, continues well into their adult years.