To my dear Cara Happy birthday, my beautiful eldest daughter! We’re so proud of the girl that you have become. You’re practical, capable, and physically strong and able. You have a lot of courage and you’re always the first to try something out. But more than that, you’re caring, warm and affectionate. I love our cuddles together and you’re the first to hug me when you can see I’m feeling low. Your infectious laugh pulls everybody in, and you make everyone welcome once you’ve let them in your circle. So let’s learn a little more about your year. Loving Your Siblings Your relationship with your siblings continues to flourish – and it’s so beautiful! I love watching you share your computer game wins with Jonah. And your imaginary games with Lydia are quite amazing. You care for dolls, build forts, and create dream worlds together. Lost Your First Tooth This…

My dear Cara, It’s your birthday, you are 5, Cara – that’s half a decade! You are no longer the tiny baby that came in a hurry at home. Now, you’re a big brave girl venturing out into the world without me. It is both exhilarating and heartbreaking! And what a year you’ve had! Since you stepped out in to the world, we’ve learned so much about you. I feel like our bond has strengthened so much over the last 12 months. We both healed from the weaning process and you’ve become my little bestie again. How to describe you? Capable. Tactile. Fun. Loving. You’re a girly girl who loves dresses, fun hairstyles, dolls etc, but you’re not flouncy. You love rough and tumble, Alexa farts, stories, slime, and things falling off cliffs. You get super enthusiastic about the things you love. It’s very infectious! You’ve been so helpful since…

Dear Cara, Every time I write your birthday letter, I’m never lost for words. You are so full of personality and life. You are unashamedly strong, brave, and bold. It’s your 4th birthday, Cara, and we’re so happy to celebrate with you! This year, I’m remembering how we made the most of every moment in our new garden over summer – we shot water bombs, giggled and splashed in our paddling pool, and gazed at the clouds from the trampoline, exhausted from bouncing. When we’re not at home, the beach is your favourite place to be, and you’re always wearing shorts. In fact, you’re still wearing them in November! You have a real eye for choosing your own clothes and rarely let me choose your clothes or dress you. You totally own it! Sometimes we end up with some unique style choices, but they’re all your own. You still love…

Welcome back my friend. Cara is 3, and I hope you enjoy my letter to her on her third birthday. Dear Cara My sweet Little Miss Cara, how has it been only 3 years since you came into our lives? It’s gone by in a flash! You are strong, feisty, determined – you love strongly and give your absolute all to everything that you try. In the last year, we’ve seen your personality grow and your likes and dislikes become very clear. Of our 3 children, you’re definitely the strongest and most vocal! Each year I write to you with a recap of your year – the big things, and the little things too. I hope you’ll look back on my letters and smile. Maybe you’ll remember some of the things I write about now you are almost 3? Cara the brave As an introvert mum, sometimes your behaviour challenges…

Dear Cara Just like that, my baby girl is turning 2! I wrote your birth story, your 1st birthday letter, and here I am writing again as you are about to turn 2 years old. It’s my hope that you will treasure these letters when you are older. I certainly will, since it’s so easy to forget the little day to day things that bring a smile. It’s strange to think that a quarter of your life has been spent living with the threat of coronavirus looming over us, but we try to keep life as normal as we can and not scare you with talk of germs. It makes me so sad to keep you away from other children, but it would be worse to see you with coronavirus, or pass it on to your grandma. Your generation will be the best hand washers, users of sanitisers, and will…

To Cara Grace Oh Cara, how amazing your first year has been! You were born at home in a complete hurry, protesting very loudly. Your birth was one of the best moments of my life. We wished for a girl and I’d convinced myself you were a boy. I checked twice when I held you in my arms for the first time! You’re confident, gregarious, sweet, loving, and smart. Your first year has flown by and I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye to your babyhood. And you’ll be our last baby too, which makes it all the more poignant. Your little life is so precious. I love that you share songs and games with us. You always look to mummy and daddy for a game of peekaboo or clap hands. You can be quite studious, and you like to examine new things in great detail. Your favourite game at the…