Dear Isabelle | 35 months

Dear Isabelle, our Christmas baby,

Wow it's taken mummy a pretty long time to pen another letter to you. As you can see, mummy and daddy are both so busy everyday with our hands full, and we barely have time for anything else.

You have grown so much by now, you will turn THREE in two weeks' time! This year you understand it a bit more, but I think you struggle to understand that Christmas and your birthday both fall on the same day for you. We brought you to see Father Christmas just this week with a magical journey through UK Lapland, and you were excited and for the first time, you didn't cry when we met Father Christmas! You even talked to him much to our surprise. We do remind you from time to time that it is also your birthday on Christmas Day, and you just break out into birthday song there and then.

Speech wise, we are now constantly amused and in awe of what you are able to say and articulate your feelings and wants. We hold steady conversations with you and you just blow our socks off. You know what are mummy's and daddy's names. The other night at the dinner table you asked daddy "What is your name?" and then when daddy replied "Kian", you smiled cheekily and said "yes that's right. That's a really good choice!" We have no idea where did you learn this phrase from. You wanted to watch Peppa Pig during dinner time and I said "no Isabelle, not now". You were upset and said "mummy, don't keep saying no to me. It's not now for you, but not for me." Wait, what? I found it hard to keep my serious face. Because you are talking so much now, you are talking more than you sing. Previously, you would always break into song but these days, I've noticed that you are using speech much more. It is endearing to see how you play by yourself with your toy figures using proper sentences.

Eating wise, you are definitely more picky. You eat your breakfast with so much gusto, always asking for second or even third servings. Your current favourites are Cheerios or Shreddies with fresh milk, and can have 3 bowls in one sitting. And still come to mummy's plate and nick a piece of toast, or a few mouthfuls of oats. I need to ask you to stop sometimes. Come lunch and dinner and it is a different story. We always have to cajole you to eat. We try the nice and patient method. Then we try the fierce and threatening method after mummy's patience runs out. You still love your formula milk and will get a bottle first thing in the morning, and last thing before you go to bed.

You still go twice a week to the childminder. It gives mummy some respite, and it is also good for you to have some social interaction, after what we have been through this year, with so much lockdown. We are glad to see you flourishing there, and you play with your friends happily. I hear you can be rather bossy even to the other kids, mostly repeating what Vanessa says to the kids. You adore one of the assistants Zara, and she loves you loads too. Sometimes she even helps mummy by bringing you home on the days where she is on duty. Right now, we are contemplating sending you to a pre school nursery class next year - this is housed within a primary school so it is a proper school with uniform and all! We would love for you to experience going to school whilst we are still here, and so we are exploring options right now. If it happens, mummy will be so, so sad to say goodbye to Vanessa and her lovely family who has taken such good care of you since you were 7 months old!

Character wise, you still retain that deep thinker trait which we have observed since you were born. In a foreign environment, you put up your guard and we can see you thinking and discerning whilst clutching mummy or daddy's hands tightly. There is still a lot of stranger-danger, which is not a bad thing. You don't like crowds at the playground and will keep to yourself. You will notice whoever comes behind you up on the steps on the playground, or if anyone is coming in your opposite direction, immediately your eyes would dart towards me and you need us to give you an assuring response.

We pray that you grow into a confident and brave girl, but take your time it's ok. Continue to grow up well our dear Izzy. Stay curious and keep exploring. Stay cheeky and make us laugh - we love that of you.

We love you loads and you will always be our baby.

Mummy xxx