Dear William,
This family blog is from Granny Jude. I am writing when you are three months away from your 5th birthday.
A lot has happened since you came into the world on July 31st 2013.
Pa Pete and I were on the other side of the world when you were born! We were in Norway on holiday, but you decided to make your first appearance three weeks early. So, we had to wait until we could get on a plane and zoom home to meet and greet you.
You, a tiny baby boy delighted your mum and dad and there are so many memories I have of you. We cuddled and nursed you. You were brand new! And a beautiful baby.
Over the past years I have watched you grow and achieve many goals. Your first giggles, steps, and words and everyone loved you. As mum returned to work you went to Day Care two days a week and settled better than mummy.
And what a love you have shared around your family. Love kisses and cuddles for Pa Pete and me, for Nanny and Poppy, for Poppy Bob and Nanna Dot. It’s so obvious you love your aunts and uncles and cousins.  Fun time dinners, picnics, beaches and pools together with special treat days.  It’s always wonderful to see you so happy to run and greet us. And when you were very young, you started to learn how to swim, followed by Junior Soccer, bikes, scooters all of which you have handled with great expertise and sporting ease.
I remember your first ferry rides with Pa Pete and myself, train rides and bus rides and the fun we’ve had singing together when you’ve been with me in my little Red Car.
And then the most exciting news for you, a baby brother called Toby arrived for you to love and cherish. Your gentleness with him was extraordinary, well, most of the time!
Toby brought you much fun and laughter as you and he played little games at first, shared a bedroom, went to Day Care together and once again, you were so caring for him as he settled in and you made sure he was ‘okay’ every day. He joined you in scooter rides, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the back yard, swimming lessons and following you exactly, every word exactly, every behaviour, most of the time exemplary, but sometimes mischievous.
Will, you have an inbuilt passion to care and can sense hurt in someone, or sadness.
And I love looking into your face, when you are telling me something that’s happened, whether real or imaginary, it clearly lets me know of your child-like faith.
And then little baby Jack joined the family in January of 2018, and you have been just as gentle and understanding with him as you were with Toby. You’re so aware of Jack’s little cries and smiles and a great help to your mummy and daddy around the home and outside in the garden.  And how you love riding on your daddy’s stand-up paddle board, trying to ride your own surfboard, and riding your bike with great skill.
In 2018 you began Pre School after leaving Day Care and I know you are enjoying it, learning and making new friends and it won’t be long before you are off to big school.
A week ago, the The Great Moscow Circus came to Manly and you and I went to see what it was all about. There were big tents to walk through until we came to the circus arena and walked up the steps to our seats. We looked out on to the Circus Stage known as the Circus ring, because most of the performers moved around the circle for everyone to see them.
Remember the noisy green motor bike was the first act and the rider revved up the engine and all the petrol fumes filled the big tent. He went up and down ramps, and did wheelies and even rode up some steps into the audience. You believed your daddy could do all those tricks on his bike.  And there was a small boy about your height who also rode a tiny motor bike. You told me you would like to be him!
There was a big round cage and a man in it, and as he walked and ran the cage went round and round. Then he walked on the outside of it. Sometimes we thought he was going to fall off!! But he didn’t. He had practised very hard so that he didn’t. Remember the clown with big glasses? He was always being very funny.
You saw clever people jump on a huge trampoline from pretend windows of a building. They went so high! And there was a big swing right beside us that held four men. They all got the swing going so high, and then one of them jumped off into the air and landed on a great big curtain and slid down it.
There was a lady as well who had so many hoops on her legs and arms that we couldn’t count them. And another lady climbed up two very long white curtains hanging from the roof and then rolled herself up in them and then unrolled herself down to the floor.
Up in the top of the tent was a long pole from one side to the other and the performers walked on it, rode bikes on it and one lady sat on a chair on it! They were extremely clever at balancing.
When we watched together how clever they were and wondered if they would fall, you grabbed my arm. It was beautiful to know that you needed your security in me.
And William at 4-3/4’s you really believed you could do some of the circus tricks and told me so with all the sincerity and convincing thoughts imaginable. And I loved your childlike faith in yourself in this big world, where you probably thought, nothing could stop you from achieving all before you.
Interval came and we purchased two twirling lights, one for you and one to take home for Toby. Jack too little yet to have one of the same.
And how about the Yee Haa pony ride! Great fun, but time passed so quickly we missed out on the big cup and saucer ride, and the jumping castle.
We returned to our seats for more tricks from the performers, the clown, the little ponies, and the horse that sat on a lounge and went to sleep on a bed !
As I watched your face transfixed from the start, I counted it a blessing and privilege and joy to share in a special day in your life at your first visit to a circus.
With love from Granny Jude.
Toby has made his easter hat at daycare and we LOVE it…
