Thursday, May 02, 2013

Dear Little N


Dear little N,

We had such a lovely day today. You won't remember a thing about it when you're bigger so I wanted to write about it so that I, at least, would remember. I collected you at 10 and we went to the Botanics. The rhododendrons and azaleas were lovely, though to be honest you were more interested in the -



- tac-tah that we came across. You inspected it thoroughly. "Blue," you said (though this may just have been luck). "Wheels." Can't argue with you there.


Inspection over, we trotted on and saw -


- another tac-tah. It was our lucky day.


You wandered round - making sure that I was following you - the wild bit that someone has labelled "Fairy Wood". We didn't see any fairies. It seems to me only yesterday that this was a formal rose garden - but look at the height of those trees already. I may have preferred the roses but you seemed to like the trees and wild flowers.


Then you ducked under this cord that's supposed to keep people out of this bit - where your favourite patch of dead leaves is. Ooops. I couldn't see any danger so I wondered if maybe they didn't want feet there, spreading some disease of trees. Having had this thought, I didn't want to go into the area myself. On the other hand, you weren't rushing back to me but instead were happily walking to and fro among the rustly leaves. However, just as I was about to go and retrieve you, you returned of your own volition.


And, after a further walk (this time without your jacket - it had got warmer) we went back to the car...


... and home for lunch. Later, you had fun in the garden with your bike. What happens is that you climb on to it (first taking the toys off the seat) and Granny runs round the garden pulling you along by that strap. She's quite looking forward to the point at which your legs get just that bit longer and you can push yourself along. Look at my scarified grass. It's a bit bald. Let's hope it thickens up.


And then Auntie Daughter 2 arrived back for a few days and read to you...

... several times.

You're learning new words every day. I think my current favourites are "Okey dokey" and "All wight". You haven't yet learned to say "No". I expect you will.

You're such a delight, little N. I'm aware that when you're older, I'll just seem like an old lady and possibly a bit of a nuisance so right now I'm savouring every moment I spend with you, enjoying all the cuddles and giggles and feeling awed at the way you're learning about your world.

You'll never know how much I love you until... well, I suppose until you're a grandfather yourself.

13 comments:

  1. Oh Isabelle - such precious times.
    I am ever so slightly jealous.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is a wonderful age isn't it? My granddaughter is 3 in June and never ceases to amaze me with her vocabulary and knowledge of the world . I think I notice more as I only see her once a week..her brother is 7 months. I wonder if I shall follow his progress in quite the same way!

    ReplyDelete
  3. How lovely to be re-living those happy toddler years. I got a lump in my throat.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Won't it be lovely for him to read this over when he's twenty one!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That was such a lovely sweet post. He is a lucky lad to have such a loving grandma.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, this makes me long for my own teenage boy's toddler days. He was such a delight.

    The U.S.-based writer of another blog I follow is on holiday in Edinburgh right now. She has been posting pictures on her blog, some from the Royal Botanical Gardens. I found myself searching the back ground of her photos for a granny and a toddler!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This was beautifully written. Those precious fleeting hours and days.

    And yes, he will learn to say, "No". My grandson Stephen who will be three in October is quite firm with his, "Don't like that".

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely to record these very fleeting times. I'm sure he will appreciate it when he can read.L

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is beautiful. You are both lucky to have each other.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Awww Isabelle, you made me get all teary-eyed. What a treasure this will be for little N when he's grown!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is so sweet - it had me feeling weepy. I never had a granny. and there are very few (maybe one or two) photos of me as a baby and toddler. so I am envying N.

    ReplyDelete
  12. He'll always know just how special he is to you ... that smile says it all !

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete