NOAH YOU ARE FIVE

My oh my, you're five. It's a little bit of a pinch me moment that I suddenly have a five year old, you've existed in our lives for five whole years and they've been the best years any Mum could ask for. This year was the first year you got a big party, we must have heard about it every single day from the moment we suggested it, the classic soft play party where the smell of sweaty feet and sausage rolls linger in the air but exactly the kind that a five year old wants. You had the best time and I'm so glad because you truly deserve it, you're growing up to be such a caring, sensitive little boy and I couldn't be prouder to be your Mummy.

It's funny writing Mummy because I wonder how many more years I'll get of you calling me that before it turns into just plain 'Mum', we've already moved on from Mama and something about those little changes always feel a bit sad because although I know it's part of growing up and that you can't still be calling me Mummy at 23, I also know it's the journey of independence and I'm not sure I'm ever ready to let parts of you go. This year we did though, we let a big part go when we saw you walk into that classroom in September. You've done so well and not a tear has fallen from your face, not a grumble or complaint, no 'I don't want to go to schools', you've gone so easy on us and taken everything in your stride. I'm not sure if I expected different, you've always been a bit of a cool cucumber and a polar opposite to the raging wild bull of a brother you've got.

You've suddenly developed a hard and fast obsession with Minecraft and Lego, these are the first things you've been completely infatuated with and while it's another sign of you growing it's also so lovely to see you deliriously excited about certain toys and shows. Legoland will most definitely be on the cards this year and I can't wait to see your face when we go, I just know it'll make your entire year and probably Daddy's too.

I really hope the next five years don't pass as quickly as these have, yet I know that the obvious indicates they will, given I don't get as much of you as I have in previous years, I share you with school now and although it's quite evidently the best thing for you, I can't help but miss having my baby at home with me. You're excited by travel now and have already started asking when we're going back to Turkey as you loved it so much, you got to show off your amazing swimming skills and tried sailing too, you're definitely a water baby and seem to be getting more into sports every week. Gangan still takes you to footie on Saturdays and it's easily one of your most favourite times of the week.

You and your brother bicker and whinge at each other a lot lately, but at five and two I'm not really expecting anything less, you're still by far the more sensitive soul and despite the seemingly constant squabbles, you're always caring and looking out for him. In the car me and Daddy love to sit and listen to your too conversations, whether it's checking to see if the other one saw that tractor, or hearing you talk about where you hope we're going, your relationship is very classic of brothers because you both fight and love as fiercely as each other.