My Not So Little Christmas Miracle Is 11. Happy Birthday!

WOW!! 11, really? We are well on our way to those elusive teenage years, aren’t we? Today is my first baby, Lucas, 11th birthday. 11 whole years of being a mummy. The moment he was born, my life was turned upside down in more ways than I could ever have imagined. However, it has been an incredible journey. I did not know what to expect or could ever have imagined the love I would feel for that little bundle when he was placed in my arms for the first time. His entrance wasn’t the smoothest and you can read about his birth story. And he’s still my worst sleeper and the earliest riser out of all three kids. People keep telling me to wait for those teenage years and you’ll have to wake him. Hmmm, I’m not convinced, I’ve never had to set an alarm since the day he was born. He just doesn’t need the same amount of sleep everyone else does. He’s just Lucas and there is no one else like him, he’s my baby, the one who showed me what it was to be a mother and to be the proudest parent there is.

He’d happily read until the wee hours of the morning. Many a time I’ve found him hiding under his covers with a torch reading so he didn’t wake his brother. The boys share a room and have bunk beds. Lucas favourite books are Harry Potter, but also likes Tom Gates, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Michael Morpurgo. He enjoys listening when I read to the younger two but will give anything a go. I just love his love of books, I couldn’t be prouder and I hope all those years of reading and my love of reading, gives him a lifelong passion. This is a great gift that I feel I could give him. My heart swells. He’s a great wee reader at school, spelling isn’t too bad, but maths is where his love and skills lie. He finds maths particularly easy and understands the concepts behind them a lot better now. In previous school years, at parents evening, he always knew the answers but struggled with the explanations. This is required as we know when they get to high school. He’s doing great in school, both Robert and I couldn’t ask for anything else. Let’s hope he keeps it up.

You’ve changed so much and I know we will see bigger changes in this coming year. Last year, it was about that earing, remember the post about my parenting mistake, well it was shortlived, a few months after the summer holidays and it was gone. Too much hassle taking in and out for sports. Now, this leads me on to his love of sports. Oh goodness, where to begin… This year Lucas has played football for the team that his dad coaches and runs, along with others. He also plays for the school football team. Training 3 evenings and at least one game. He is often found helping at his brother’s two training sessions. He’s always playing. And not just football, we’ve also added the school netball team and Futsal. This is similar to football, but more like 5 asides, indoors and a slightly harder ball. He is loving it.

Football is still what you want to do when you grow up. He’ll work hard and I hope his dreams come true. We will always do everything we can to help and support. You still don’t care if you win or lose, you just love to play. Don’t ever lose that drive.

The trumpet is still a big part of his life and I mentioned it in yesterday’s post about how proud I am when he stood up and played at the school church service. I hope he keeps it up and he is getting a trumpet for his birthday. What this space for a picture of him and his new trumpet.

Lucas loves spending time with his friends, whether it is playing football, at school, playing outside or playing computer games. He has a lovely group of friends, but there are also his twin cousins who are very close. All the kids are, they are both in Lucas class at school too. But, his best friend, although, he won’t admit it, is his brother Tyler. They are thick as thieves. I listen to them for hours chatting away and they play together all the time. Yes, they annoy the living daylights out of each other, but they get on way more than they don’t.

This year, I’ve seen huge changes in him as he gears up to his last year of primary. Those hormones, are itching the way in there. He still bottles things up and then it all comes in in the middle of the night or late at night when we are on our own. We’ve been discussing the body changing book and I know the sex talk is around the corner, after watching the video at school beforehand. It’s going to be a huge year for us both. I am far from ready, but I have no doubt he will be.

We visited the high school he will be attending and it’s huge. But, we both came away with a positive experience and there are lots more visits and transition periods between now and the summer. Not forgetting the residential next year. Goodness, when did my baby get so grown up?

Highlights this year have been our lovely holiday, some football matches, meeting Ethan Gamer and so much more. It’s been a good year and he’s had so many highs. He is certainly a Daddy’s boy and love to do whatever he is doing and spend time with him. But, a mummy’s boy if he’s ill or worried. I will always tuck him in and kiss him when he’s sleeping. They always look so angelic when asleep don’t they?

Winning the Halloween costume competition was a big moment for him, especially since it was his final Halloween activity day at primary. He was chuffed to bits. All his own ideas, I just helped build it and you know what? I loved every minute of it. I will miss these days.

This is my favourite picture of the year and captures the deep, thoughtful young man he is growing into. Not everything comes easy to him and the simple things get him frustrated and angry, but he tries. He listens, eventually and will keep trying. We are so proud of Lucas, I am sure his 11th year will be another whirlwind of changes, I am not sure I am ready, but it’s happening.

I hope he will always believe in magic and one day he’ll get his Hogwarts letter. He is still hopeful as am I. I’m hoping mine is just delayed in the post. I am proud to be his mum and I will try to embrace all the chances we will face this year. But one thing I know for sure, I will always, always be there for him.

People often ask us about a Christmas eve birthday and that it must be a rubbish day to have one, actually Lucas loves it. We always make it a special birthday like everyone else’s. There is no Christmas wrapping paper on his gifts, there is always birthday cards, birthday breakfast, treats and of course a birthday dinner with all the family and birthday cake. He doesn’t miss out, there are no joint presents and it’s his day. I do feel they miss out a little on Christmas Eve traditions, but we’ve made our own. We switch to Christmas eve mode at 7 pm and do the Santa mince pies, reindeer food, etc. Then the new PJs appear, stockings hung and bedtime or Santa won’t visit. How would you do it?

The best thing about blogging, why not have a read about Lucas over the years his 10th birthday,  9th birthday, 8th Birthday, 7th Birthday, 6th Birthday & 5th Birthday. I started blogging the month after his 4th birthday!

Happy birthday, Lucas. We are so proud of you and I love nothing more than being your mum. You’ll always be my baby boy, no matter how big you get.