I began Project 52 this year with a picture of Blake.
Blake, who was 3 at the time, still sucking his dummy, cuddling favourite teddy and toddling around in nappies.
Because I knew we’d end the year with a very different boy.
Not just a year older, but potty trained, minus his “dodie”…..
Only favourite teddy remains.
He’s even moved into a bunk bed with his big brother, after they begged us to let them share a room.
I was dubious at first.
Brodie has school and can’t afford to be kept awake by Blake, who is still not a great sleeper.
But it’s been fine. Like a teenager in training, Brodie snores through his baby brother’s middle-of-the-night dramas.
Blake sleeps a little better, knowing he has someone in the room. We get about 50 per cent uninterrupted nights. The rest of the time, he just wants a cuddle then goes straight back to sleep.
2012 has been like watching him emerge from a chrysalis, leaving babyhood behind and spreading his wings to become a confident little boy.
The transition is not as fast as it was with Brodie – mainly because, being my youngest and my last child, I still treat him as my baby.
I call him “Babba”, he replies by calling me “Mamma”. That’s something I know I’ll need to change, well before he starts school next August.
But he’s also much less confident than Brodie, when he’s outside the home and away from family.
He’s very shy at nursery, and doesn’t have as many friends as his big brother, preferring to choose one or two special pals, rather than play with anyone who’s around.
I worry that he won’t settle as easily when he starts school. But only time will tell. He may surprise me.
But for now, here’s how Blake is ending the year (unfortunately not feeling too well as he seems to have come down with a flu bug).
We’ve come a long way baby.
