Sep
11
2009
Happy Birthday Bertie x
Four today and so grown up with glimpses of the attitude to match. It’s still a surprise to me that we’ve been allowed to grow and nurture not one but TWO human beings, and thus far we’ve done a reasonable job of it…haven’t mislaid either of them, haven’t broken them or forgotten to change their batteries etc. When I told MrSpud I was expecting Bertie he looked rather alarmed and said, ‘But we can’t have a BABY. We can’t even get our cat in a box and get it to the vets. We’ll probably leave it places’. Four years down and we’ve never left either of them ‘places’…but I will concede that we still can’t get that damn cat in a box.
We gave him a ‘big boys’ bike’ for his birthday, which he’s been keen on for a long time. He’s had a balance bike for a couple of years and can whizz around on it at huge speed. We thought he might be able to manage the ‘big bike’ without the need of stabilisers so we gave it a shot. Success! He could, indeed, ride it without MrSpud doing that traditional rite of passage back breaking holding-on-to-back-of-bike-seat thing. But as soon as he realised he threw a wobbler and refused to get back on the bike unless we put the stabilisers on. We refused to put the stabilisers on. He pleaded, we stood firm, it went on for a while…
Earlier in the day he had his first horse riding lesson. I wasn’t sure how that would go and I was thrilled to see him take it all in his stride, confidently riding no handed and trotting even. He can be rather cautious by nature but he breezed through his lesson. Which made ’stabilisergate’ all the more surprising. Here he is sniffing the pony’s mane, a preparation for jumping apparently?
I will confess to a little lump in my throat, watching my ‘baby’ trotting around and screaming with laughter…here he is newly born…
On his first birthday, just had his first taste of chocolate and not looking overly impressed…
On his second birthday
And third (photo credit, Lyanne Wylde)
We’ve come a long way baby, Happy Birthday xxx
Happy Birthday Bertie. He’s had quite a day, hope he got plenty of ice cream!
Your baby is beautiful! Happy 4th Birthday to him.
Awww, Happy Birthday Bertie! He (and all of you!) are adorable beyond measure.
happy birthday sweet Bertie! looks like a perfect birthday!
Oh my how has he reached 4th already? I can remember the last photo when you announced his birth and it doesn’t seem that long ago.
Stunning photos and I hope he has a lovely day tomorrow.
Jules
Oh gawd, and I thought the flickr post had brought a lump to my throat! tears 4 yrs ago when he was born, and tears now.
He’s so beautiful, and seeing his baby photos has reminded me how completely gorgeous he was when he was tiny.
Happy Birthday, Bertie! xx
He is adorable! They grow up so fast. My daughter got her training wheels off last night and did the whole wobbly thing too. We aren’t putting them back on but will wrap her in bubble wrap next time. Happy Birthday Bertie
So many adventures already! Riding AND a big boy bike in one day?
Sweet, sweet pictures. I’ve very taken with the one of baby Bertie in the plastic bowl/bath. His head is strangely perfect, even though he has that newborn alien look, too.
Now that is a true definition of a Mother’s love
Happy b-day Bertie! I had tears in my eyes reading this post. They grow up so fast. He was such a beautiful baby and now a beautiful 4 year old boy.
Thanks for sharing Bertie’s B-day with us. I have a smile on my face. I love the photo of Bertie’s fit and Mr. Spud, trying not to laugh out loud. Priceless. Looking at you holding your newborn I’m reminded of the amazing nature of love. Who could ever believe that the love you feel at first can continue to grow? It is sooo huge. Congrats to both of you for not misplacing either of your children!
wonderful pix and a great post too! He is such a cutie, he will really be a heart breaker…
One question… what is he in in the pic of when he was born?? I can’t figure it out. Looks like a plastic tube or something… Forgive me. I’m a damn yank. And not a smart one either…
The two shots of Bertie and the bike has me in stiches. Wow, 4! It sure is amazing how big they get and so fast…Bertie is so adorable!!!!
Some wonderful photos there. I can’t believe Bertie is 4 already! I still remember his birth story……
Happy Birthday Bertie!
I remember your tales of swollen feet woe and the err birth pool and everything else that happen after as if it were yesterday, so I am sure that every birthday is like 85%cocoa chocolate. I hope you’ve taken time to pat yourselves on the back (you more spud, and perhaps a little d700x reward?) you’ve done so much in these 4 years and bertie has flourished from baby to whatever 4 year olds are called (personally not keen on pre schoolers). However, the poor boy needs pop music- if you don’t start encouraging a girls aloud crush now… And he also needs a family holiday somewhere hot. No camping, it will mess with his gorgeous locks. And I am not sure about the mane sniffing either.
Happy birthday ARTM! You are a total delight- can’t imagine where you get it from…
Love aunty lamb x
happy birthday and lots of sunshine! PS which kind of fertilizer did you feed to your bald baby to grow such a beauty of hair in only four years???!!! eliane
Happy Birthday Berrtie. And good job Mummy and Daddy!
Lovely Lovely Lovely Lovely. I think I have a crush on your Bertie he so precious. God love him and his wobblers. I hope you’re printing out these pages and keeping them in a special book for him.
that last picture brought me close to tears, you two look incredibly beautiful and serene. xxx
Happy Birthday, BertieSpud!
And congrats to Mr & Mrs Spud! What a beautiful family!
LMAO at the shots of him on his bike.. The before and after when he realised that stabilisers were not an option.. Been there / got the t-shirt etc.. lol.. Great set of shots too Spud.. Glad he had a good day..
happy birthday to bertie! and to you spud!
happy birthday to Bertie and the parents. i love all the pictures. hes such an angel.
my little one has now started walking and its such a milestone. it gives me goose bumps thinking hes going to start school and be four some day.
also spud thank you for the kind words you left. even though motherhood is a universal concept and i know im not alone in this. it always feels good to hear another tell you its ok!!
you two look great.
xox
urbaniche
Happy birthday, to my boy, Bertie! Mom and dad are doing a very cool job with you! I love that!
xo
Tanti auguri Bertie
love the shot with Mr Spud, he looks like a wonderful dad 
) so 4 years old… have fun now while you still can!!
happy birthday, sweet Bertie! I am so tickled to hear how well you did with both the horse and the big boy bike. Very impressive. Happy, happy birthday!
aww, happy birthday bertie! they grow up so quickly! it’s kinda crazy. love that he didn’t the training wheels. here in DK, they put a broom handle in the back of the bike so the parent holding it doesn’t have to break their back. those clever danes. but it sounds like bertie doesn’t even need it! and riding too! it was an eventful birthday!
xox,
/j
[...] had a first go at the Big Bike in September on his 4th birthday. He actually cycled solo very briefly then, but hated it and [...]