The waffle and Ali

Hey chicky, 

This week your nephew/niece is around the size of a Belgian waffle, Pip may have had to complete extensive google searching to find a baking item that is around 15cm long apparently you but 15cm waffle irons so we're sticking with that this week!

 

Tomorrow is your birthday, you are the grand age of 24.  Which for some reason seems to be bothering you a bit (hello, I am 30 this year, pipe down ;o) ). 
To mark the occasion I thought I'd share some photos from the archives.  I have to say you were a pretty cute kiddo.  Thought sadly photos of me and you seem to lack until recent years and all yours seem to be with Rob...

A rare one of you and me on the beach at Swanage, I was just about to trim the photo when I realised it was mum and dad on the left, so thought it best to leave them in...!

 First day of school!  I remember coming down on break via the year 6 loos and the infant schools playground and you and your friends running over to say hi.  I think the teachers used to tell me off!  Please note the cool and trendy Winnie the Pooh lunchbox... I had to make do with a Thundercats one which I couldn't cover fast enough with my little pony stickers!

As I said I have a fair few of you with Rob, I think this was marked as his 8th birthday and I'm guessing/hoping that I'd said to pull a funny face!

Too cute for words, I think this may have been at Centre Parcs...









So far during this pregnancy you have been an absolute legend, on days when I have a whinge about the weird and wonderful things my body is doing at the moment you offer a suitable "eww" or "Er, not sure I needed to know that" which is exactly what I need to hear!  Many people, it feels like, are telling me "you'll have to get used to that" or "this is what you have to look forward to" which, strangely, I am not finding massively helpful.  You are definitely helping me through this journey and making it a bit easier and a bit more fun!

I don't have many memories of us as kids doing things together, probably because of our age gap but in the last few years I reckon we are pretty close; you are my shopping partner of choice as you will always say what you think (sometimes more bluntly than possibly needed but the truth is a painful thing), I love spending time with you whether its making cakes for your friends, taking the dogs for a walk or just chilling out at home.

This was at a meal out with the Co-op peeps, we have even survived working together!

I trust you with pretty much anything and know that whatever I share with you you won't judge me for.  I'm not sure I laugh as much with Pip as I do with you, generally at daft things we've done or those we know have done (mum, Lucy - person not animal...) I cannot imagine my life without you and have to confess the entire time you were traveling a couple of years ago I was very prepared to stick a flight to the middle of god-knows-where on the credit card to come rescue you from some Bridget Jones-esque Thai prison situation, possibly minus the galaxy chocolate as I'm not the best at sharing when it comes to chocolate.

Our first shoot at Moodi

I think you are definitely going to be "cool" auntie Ali but I warn you that if you send my kiddo back to me dosed up on sugar remember that it will come back to bite you should you have your own...

I felt bad leaving Rob out and yes, me as most know me, laughing, mouth open wide...

Happy Birthday Chicky, love you xx