To my son, today you turned seven…

To my son, my dearest George today you turned seven. I’ve been writing this annual letter to you since you were born and one day when you’re older I’d like you to read them. I like to tell you how you have changed over the previous year, what you like, what music you enjoy listening to, what we love about you and who you enjoy spending your time with. All the little things which over the years I’m sure we’ll all forget. As your birthday arrives I’m always left feeling so excited for the next chapter but also so emotional – you’re growing up so quickly and I am not ready. And none more so than this year. I can’t help but ask myself how am I a mummy to a seven year old? How are you seven? Daddy laughs at me when I say that but you know me, I’m a big softy. To my son, my dearest George can you please slow down and let this year be the longest we have together.

As I write this letter we have just celebrated your birthday with 12 of your friends. What a great day it was, the sun shone, we had balloons, a football birthday cake and all of your friends had so much fun. Sadly your best friend Josh was poorly and I know that you missed him a lot, although we did take him a party bag to cheer him up. For this years party you chose to have it at Awesome Walls because you love climbing. You were so excited and had just one wish – that I take a group photo of all your friends. It’s a great photo George, I’ve printed it for you and popped it into your birthday card. Oh my goodness, I love that you wanted a group photo – the apple as they say does not fall far from the tree.

In a few weeks you will be leaving your infants school where you have spent the last three years. You will be leaving some truly lovely Teachers behind, I think your favourites will always be Mrs M, Mrs D and Mrs Deane. They are our favourites too. And in September you will be embarking on a new journey, in a much bigger school. And whilst I’m a little nervous for you as everything will be different, a much bigger space where you will go back to being the youngest in the school. You will be moving into Year 3 with all of your friends. I am so glad that you are all starting this next phase together.

You visited the School last week and really liked your teacher, you even said that the teaching assistant was the funniest yet. You are so excited to be able to take your own back pack and at the weekend you spoke about a Manchester Utd one as the Head Teacher supports City! You are most excited about the football pitch and taking a football and Chocolate Fridays. Mummy and Daddy are both so happy that you are looking forward to this next step, we are so proud of you.

You are so much like your Daddy. You love to play football, listen to music, watch movies and our kitchen disco’s. You are so active, I love that about you – I think you get that from me as well as your feisty personality. You love to eat calamari, pizza, hot dogs, a double cheeseburger and chocolate cake especially the one at our favourite bar in Spain which we will go back to in August. You are also loving playing with your birthday present – a Nintendo DS as well as riding The Wickerman and Thirteen at Alton Towers. On Sunday you said that the Runaway Minetrain is too small for you now. You really are growing up. You still love Marvel and Star Wars, I don’t ever see that changing – just like your Daddy.

For the most part you are such a good boy. So kind and gentle, with a big heart, lots of friends and a passion for life and sports that leaves me feeling so inspired. You are such a special little boy George Archie, the one who made me a mummy, who changed me from that very first moment I met you to this day and beyond. You are strong willed and occasionally a little cheeky but I know this is just you trying to find your way, and I’m sorry if I shout sometimes when you are cheeky. I LOVE that you are so strong willed, a little stubborn and always happy to try new things. I hope this never changes!

You call Daddy ‘tubby’ and me ‘red’. You tease me and gang up on me with Daddy which makes me laugh and you laugh even harder. In your Mother’s Day card you said that you love me because I tickle you and make you laugh. That made me smile. In Daddy’s Father’s Day card you said that you love him because he plays football with you and makes the best hot chocolate.

Occasionally you land a kiss on my lips but mostly you kiss my forehead, the cuddles are always super and I hope they never stop. You still call our furry baby your big brother and love to talk about him to your friends. I love how you wrap your arms around your Daddy, I think you two will always be the bestest of friends. You certainly follow after him in so many ways, you love all of the same music, currently singing every word to The Greatest Showman Soundtrack as well as Drake, God’s Plan.

Here is to another chapter George Archie, I am really looking forward to a year of you being seven. Can I make one request? Please don’t grow up too quickly, lately you seem to be changing every day and as I’ve said before I am just not ready. Mummy loves you more than anything in the world. But I think you already know that.

x x x x x x x (Seven kisses for seven wonderful celebrations of you my Georgeous boy)