Dear Rosie,

As I write this on the eve of your birthday, I cannot believe that you are going to turn eight tomorrow. They tell you when you become a parent that time goes quickly but you don’t believe them then. Now as a grown up and a Mum, I can tell you that  it really is too true. The years fly by.

Surely it wasn’t eight years ago since you popped into our lives. I remember that day like it was yesterday. This is you a few days after you came home from hospital. Poppy was besotted with her little sister and so gentle too (up until she had had enough cuddles and then she would just let go). Look at how tiny and beautiful you were:

You were always such a good girl. From tiny you were no trouble. Easy and quick to feed, you self soothed by sucking your thumb and just fitted in with us perfectly. Right down to bedtime. you just fitted in with the routine. You loved having a bath with your big sister and after I fed you, you would just lie you in your cot whilst I sorted Poppy out and took her to the bathroom. When I came back, you were always fast asleep. In fact, it was because you were so good, we decided that we wanted to try for another. Little did we know how crazy our life would get then.

Rosie. you might be the middle one but there is no danger of you ever being left out like they say middle children often can be. You adore cuddles and will always find a little gap to snuggle into. You are our cheeky, funny one who always smiles and makes us all laugh. Like big Sister Poppy, you are hard working and clever but you are much less serious than Poppy is. You definitely haven’t fallen behind since missing months off school with glandular fever.

You are also a little bit cheeky but not naughty like little sister Daisy.  You are just in the middle. Always happy and smiling, you really are a lovely girl. I know I’m biased but you are….well until Daisy annoys you too much anyway. Then you shout! I didn’t say you are perfect, just lovely:

Rosie you adore dancing and gymnastics and are always putting on shows with your sisters. Right now you also love reading and are desperate for new books for your birthday.You will be so excited when you unwrap some tomorrow, as you’ve been moaning at me to buy you more for ages now. You’ve exhausted our huge collection. You also love art and when not dancing or turning cartwheels will often be fond at the kitchen table making something out of our recycling or drawing. It drives me crazy to be honest, because your room is always filled with old cardboard boxes and toilet roll tubes. Of course I can’t throw them away straight away because they are always something really important like a castle for your bunny Jelly!

I love the fact that you are not in a hurry to grow up too quickly. You are still very girly and young and innocent and I hope it lasts a while longer as its wonderful. You have an amazing imagination and are fascinated by  anything to do with unicorns, mermaids and fairies. In fact you are having a unicorn themed birthday party on Saturday. The thing you wanted most for your birthday this year was one of those doll heads that you can do their hair and make up.  Nana B has  bought you one and you will be delighted. I know that you have to grow up at some point but am glad you are not in too much of a hurry.

You might have been poorly for a long time this year but you have definitely bounced back and turned back into the Rosie we all know and love.

Happy Birthday sweetheart. Have an amazing weekend and I am looking forward to seeing what you are into next year.

Love you more than than ice-cream, waterfalls, rainbows and holidays.

Mummy xx