A 1st Birthday Letter to Hugo

April 14th, 2018

Darling Hugo,

I can’t believe our favourite little boy turns one today. It seems like yesterday I was stuck in hospital for two nights trying to deliver you. We thought you were never coming out but we finally met you at 8.32am on Good Friday, April 14th, 2017.

And from that minute, I loved you. Your little squidgy face and your mop of dark hair was exactly as I’d imagined. I wasn’t too sure about having a baby boy before I had you. I worried I wouldn’t know what to do with you but that was silly; I knew you straight away. And you knew me.

Two of the best things happened that day; the first was seeing Daddy’s face when he met you and he loved you from that minute too.

I couldn’t do much for you in the time after you were born; I was very tired and there was lots of work needed on my tummy. But I want you to know how wonderful your Daddy was at looking after you. He popped you straight inside his T-shirt to keep you warm and snuggled you so softly while I couldn’t. I knew from that moment that he’d be the best Daddy you could ever want.

And when we got back to our hospital room, we were finally able to have a proper snuggle. I remember it like it was yesterday. I spent a long time studying your little face, your dark eyes, long eyelashes and little hands. They were just like Daddy’s.

And then the second best thing happened. You met your beautiful big sister, Ruby. And she loved you instantly too. I loved watching her little face as she held you for the first time; you were everything she wanted.

And since that day, she has been the best big sister to you. We sent Daddy home for a rest and the nurses let Ruby stay with us. The three of us spent the whole afternoon together on the ward in the hospital. My tummy was sore and I couldn’t reach to pick you up but Ruby was so helpful and loving towards you, changing your nappy and passing you to me for milk. It was perfect.

When you were tiny, she’d sit for hours holding you. She couldn’t wait to come home from school and would ride in the back of the car, stroking you gently.

And now you’re bigger, she just loves tickling you and making you laugh, chasing you and building towers for you to knock down. You’re beginning to talk and you call her ‘Ra Ra.’  Having a cuddle with you is still the first thing she wants to do when she wakes up. You are such a lucky boy to have her.

When there’s time for cuddles, Daddy is keen for his turn too. You call him ‘Dada’ and point to his place in bed when he’s not there. When you’ve had your milk, you crawl over to him in bed and nuzzle close, saying ‘Ah.’

He builds you the best towers, making sure there’s one for you to knock down even if he has to work.  Daddy is so gentle with you. Right from the start, he has been so careful in looking after you. When you’re poorly and can’t settle, he rocks you to sleep in his big arms. These are some of my favourite times, watching the two of you together.

And my most favourite time is picking you out of your cot in the morning. You’re usually so happy to see me. You have six little teeth, four at the top and two at the bottom and you love to show them off when you smile.

And I love putting you to bed, all freshly bathed and snuggly. You hold your bottle with one hand and use the other to stroke the blankets. You’re always moving your hands and fingers, especially when you’re excited. If you’re in your pram, they wiggle with excitement and you scream with excitement too.  Everyone comments on how happy you are.  You’ve even started waving at little old ladies in the supermarket.

You can say ‘Mama’ and say it more when you’re tired or sad. You also say ‘Nana, ‘Mamar’ for Grandma and ‘Hello’ or ‘Nanight’ when you’re waving. We’re sure you’ll be good at languages like Daddy and Nana and Auntie Sarah.  Your most recent words are ‘tickle, tickle’ and hearing you say them is just heart-melting.

We really can’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of you for a whole year. The time has flown by; they say time flies when you’re having fun and that must be why.

Every day is brighter with you here; you’ve been such a delight and we really can’t imagine life without you now. Your gorgeous hair, which I’ve cut about nine times now is just so gorgeous and you’re so beautiful you’re mistaken for a girl on most outings.

So Huggy Bear, we want you to know that you’re the cherry on the cake for us and we love you to the moon and back.

Happy birthday to our little peach.

With love always,

Mummy, Daddy and Ruby xxx