My beautiful little sausage,

Today is your first birthday. I cannot believe that our 8lb 1oz chunk is a whole 365 days old – I almost refuse to believe it.

You have changed my life in more ways you will ever know, you’ve taught me that being a mother is the most fulfilling job in the world; nothing compares to it.

It seems like the world has thrown us every curveball imaginable this year, and just when I think I can’t take it anymore, I look at your little toothy smile and those big blue eyes – it makes everything better. I have to be strong for you, even when it feels like everything around me is crumbling. You’ve taught me that even at the end of the hardest days, there’s always a reason to smile.

I hope you never realise how utterly terrified I was when it was just the two of us in that hospital room, or when we were home alone and I sobbed while you slept. Feeling so unbelievably overwhelmed, not having a clue what I was doing, thinking that I wasn’t good enough, that you were too special and that you deserved so much better than me.

I’ve had the most amazing time watching you change and grow every single day. You’re constantly changing, sometimes I feel like I blink and you’re doing something different. You are such a clever little boy, it baffles me how someone so young is already so strong willed, albeit quite a handful at times. I love how you look so pleased with yourself whenever you do something, giving yourself a round of applause every time.

Thank you for making the man I married become even more brilliant, the man that never realised it, but was born to be your dadda. I love that you’re daddy’s little shadow, his little daddy’s boy.

Thank you for being the most happiest, cheekiest baby I could have ever wished for – I hope that you never lose your sense of fun, even at a mere one year old, I can tell you’re going to be such a happy soul.

Happy birthday, you amazing little boy.

I love you

Mamma