19 January 2010
Robbie is three today! He is so excited and this morning asked me where his candles were and his big party cake. Difficult for him to understand the different “events” surrounding his birthday – birthday morning and presents, birthday ring at school, his best friend Tendai and his brother Khaya coming for an early birthday supper, and finally and most excruciating to wait for is his party, which he is having on Saturday. Much excitement! It is an army party, with an army cake being made by yours truly…
Robbie is such an extraordinary child. He is so kind and thoughtful. He is quick to bring his doctor’s bag if any of us have an “owie”, always says “sorry” in his little voice when he bumps someone by accident, and is quick to say “Hi” to the world. His perseverance and determination – i.e. his stubbornness (directly inherited from his father) never cease to amaze us, and at times give both Guy and I the giggles as we watch a mini version of dad hold on to the death. Who actually knows if this is nature or nurture at play? He is so often forced to wrestle Alex for a toy, a turn, or a chance, that a large part of his tenacity is probably due to “survival of the fittest.
But he adores Alex. “Echo” we call him, as he can usually be heard repeating verbatim Alex’s phrases, seconds after being uttered by his big brother.
