Being a mum  of two pre-school aged boys, I have learned to embrace mess, dirt, noise, shouting,
disruption.  I can certainly say that we do not live in a quiet household!!

Elliot, you still look to your elder brother to learn from and copy and are his little shadow a good 90% of the time.  While you may copy many, many things he does or say, I am noticing that you are
trying to find your own way of saying what you want to say and do what you want to do, while still
playing with your brother.

Ryan, you are the leader of the bunch and are teaching your brother mostly good behaviours.  You
are helping him to pronounce words and learn how things work or the quick way to do things.  We
are lucky that you treat him well and love him as your brother.

Each of you is learning to be YOU and while I hope that you are individuals in your own right, I hope you realise how important it is to have a brother and that you will be there for each other through
​celebrations and despair and everything in between. 

xx

We moved house this month.  This has been a long time coming and a big change in our lives.  We
do not lead transient lives like many people do in other countries and I lived in the same family home with my parents for over 20 years.

We only moved around the corner as I am really happy where we live.  We have friends here, we
have family here.  This little community is our home and where you boys are making new friends and discovering a new world. 

 This new world will seem so big to you both for quite some time.  There will be plenty here to keep you happy and entertained for years to come.  As you reach your teenage years you will want more excitement and more challenges and may look forward to reaching out and discovering something
new and different.  That is what life is all about.  Just know that your father and I will always be here
for you both, the door will always be open to you both, and we are both a phone call or message
away should you need to talk to us or need us for anything.

I always say to you both that to keep this family happy and working we each have a very important
job to do - daddy looks after mummy; mummy looks after Ryan; Ryan looks after Elliot; and Elliot
​looks after daddy.  That is our circle that keeps our family ticking and loving each other.

xx

My little dude.  

You have become your father's mate.  I'm sure that Ryan did this too around this age, but at the moment, you want to play with daddy, daddy to change your nappy, daddy to wipe your face, daddy to
click you in to your car seat.  Some days it hurts my heart, but I know that you love me.  You will
always be my baby.  You will always be my brown eyed boy.  My Elliot.  

I love that you are always keen to join in with whatever else is going on in our house, and if you really don't want to join in, you happily go off and make your own fun.  

Your language is really coming along and often I can hear you having some great little conversations with yourself.

You have always enjoyed helping either me or your dad, and we love it.  If dad is going to mow the
lawns, well you are right there beside him with your earmuffs on and pushing your lawnmower
behind him.  If I'm sweeping the floor, you are right there with the brush and shovel to pick up the
crumbs and mess.  You like knowing that you are helping us, trying to be a good boy and getting
​praise from either your dad or I.

You complete our little family and we love you very much.
xx 

You are two now Elliot.  Not a baby and not a man, but such a rad little dude.  You continue to adore your brother and enjoy playing alongside him, copying him and trying to repeat all that he has to say (even if it's just the highlight of a sentence!).  You think whatever he does is fun and try your hardest to do exactly as he is doing, even if it is a hand stand on the lounge floor!

You giggle and laugh - a sound I love to hear and smile when I do.  You love dancing to the Wiggles and have to watch some Wiggles footage at least once a day.  You show me the dance moves by saying "like this, mummy, like this" and you put your arms in the 'Dorothy the Dinosaur' position.

Your favourite word is "no" and are prone to throw some short-lived 'terrible twos' tantrums.  It's really hard for you as you are not yet able to communicate exactly what you want all the time so get very frustrated with yourself or me or your father.

You have a good temperament and don't let too much get to you and realise that it is easier to give the toy to Ryan than listen to him cry and scream because you have a toy that he wanted.

We enjoyed a great 3 week break over Summer and we watched you grow so much - in height, in your language (3 word 'sentences' are the norm now), your confidence in the water, and learning to play by yourself with toys.  I was sad to say goodbye to the holiday and return to our routine of work and school.  I had better start planning our next little holiday............

Mum xxx