Has it really been a year?

It was, lest you had forgotten, young Rian's first birthday yesterday. My youngest son is one already!!! I have no idea how that has happened. I guess, when they're at their littlest, you are just taking it one minute at a time and keeping them alive as best you can, and gradually those minutes add up and before you know it, 12 months have gone. We celebrated in typical low-key Chesworth fashion and had about 40 different people dropping in at different times during the day. The house is full of new teddy bears and lots of flowers. And streamers. And balloons. And God knows what else... People really are very generous when there are young children involved, which is lovely, and Mathew is now well and truly in the mood for Christmas after seeing so many presents in the house yesterday.
I seem to be mellowing somewhat when it comes to social interaction. Time was that I would dread the thought of people just turning up unannounced and do everything in my power to avoid any kind of open-house, at-home shenanigans. But in recent years it seems to have become quite a welcome thing. Maybe the simple act of becoming a father has changed me on that front - possibly because I'm so used to the house being in a state of utter chaos anyway that filling it with unexpected guests barely makes me blink. Or maybe it's because I've got so used to dealing with people all the time at work. Whatever the reason might be, I am enjoying it and I am proud of my progress, even if I don't feel I can take credit for it.
I will leave you with a quote from Samantha at work today: "Has it been a year? It's about time you started working on the next one really..." If I could find a reason to fire her, I would.

RC 6-11-23