I can't believe it. I really can't call him a baby any longer - not even a toddler really. (Althouh he has still has those pudgy wrists and ankles that mean he looks quite babyish still. And when he's sleeping angelically he still looks like my baby).

He had a great day. A great day characterised by eating absolute crap all day but nonetheless a great day. We gave him this garage which he loved - though not as much as the £2.99 pack of rescue vehicles I'd bought for my grandmother to give him. He woke in the morning to a pile of 10 presents by the side of our bed - it felt more like Christmas than a birthday. There are advantages to half the family being scattered around the world - at least he gets his presents on time and he also gets presents that we want to give him. Then he had his first "big" Sunday school experience which was fine - helped by the fact that I was assisting this week and Belle being excited to have him with her. We then went to McDonalds for lunch - each family member getting to choose a restaurant for their birthday has its downside...

Then it was party time. We'd invited 3 families - each with a 3 year old or a nearly 3 year old plus 2 older sisters (both Belle's age) and a baby sister. It was chaotic but fun. We drank wine and ate baked potatoes and sausages. The children played pass the parcel and ate fish fingers and waffles and ice cream. Then hubby lit teh bonfire and we piled outside with neon bracelets to wave sparklers around and watch the fireworks. I bought a huge pack from Tesco - they advertised them as quiet but they were a bit too quiet. More of a damp squib effect but they did look pretty. Hubby did really well, flying round the garden setting them all off. 2 of the 4 3 year olds hid cowering inside but the other children really enjoyed them. (We spent Friday and Saturday evenings coaxing our children to watch fireworks out of the windown then gradually opening windows so they could experience the noise. It's now reached the point where they're saying they "love" fireworks. Long may it last).

Finally we lit the candles on Ned's cake and sang happy birthday. The cake turned out really well. I'll post photos sometime. It may have been pricey but it took less than an hour to assemble which has to be a bonus. And it looked very effective though I do say so myself.....

And now my boy is 3 whole years old. And cute as ever....