Jack is SIX!

Six is a great number.

Six is old enough to be so stupendously excited about your birthday that you inform everyone you meet in the days preceeding the event that you will soon be SIX!!

Six is young enough to crawl into your mummy's lap on your birthday morning for a birthday snuggle, with spindly arms and a bony little bottom hiding in the dinosaur pyjamas.

Six years is a short enough time to remember exactly how it felt to see his perfect little face for the first time; to recall the joy of his safe delivery; to think about his baby idiosyncrasies and uber-jowls; to once again imagine yourself cradling his warm, wrapped weight in the morning sun, on the day of his birth.

Six years is long enough to have forgotten the fear of nearly losing him in the delivery room; to fade the last lingering feelings of doubt that I did something wrong in my 'failure' to push him safely out of my body; to almost forget the distress felt over his isolation in the tiny chamber meant to cure his jaundice; to realise that only the hairdresser could pick the horrific damage done to his skull.

Six is old enough for a mother to glimpse the man-child more than the baby.

Six is little enough to still see the sweetness, the guilelessness, the joy of toddlerhood.

Six is big enough to present a facade of cool; to have a vast knowledge of the DS games all the 'other boys' play; to ask Daddy limitless questions about the nuances of Star Wars; to have firm opinions on which baddie is the baddiest of all.

Six is little enough to be absolutely delighted with a birthday cake, simply iced with the number 6 picked out in Smarties on top.

Six is old enough to remember to thank his family properly for his presents, and to show them real gratitude.

Six is young enough to get excited about the family coming over for tea to celebrate his birthday with a meal, and a small gathering singing "Happy Birthday" around a homemade chocolate cake.

Six is big enough to choose one's own clothes, deliberately and carefully.

Six is little enough to choose clothes that clash brilliantly and are almost, almost, too small, and apparently, not give a damn.

Six is big enough to hold Daisy's lead on a family walk in the late afternoon sunshine, confident in his ability to be responsible with his pet.

Six is little enough to think a walk around the block with his family is just the funnest thing to do, late in the afternoon of a birthday.

Six is big enough to take a few days of excitement, attention and cake into his stride, knowing that a birthday is special because it isn't every day; to enjoy the time without meltdown or tantrum; to share the fun and presents kindly with younger sisters.

Six is little enough to be exhausted by the events of the weekend, and to now be tucked up after a favourite dinner and a warm bath, sound asleep with his teddy.

Six is gorgeous. Six is exciting. Six is the cusp is big-boyhood. Six is the number of years of life and love we celebrate today, for our beautiful, luminescent boy, Jack. Happy sixth birthday, sweetheart. We love you to the moon and back again xxx