Oakley’s birthday this year was such a mix of emotions for me, like it always is. Every year, I think back to his birth, and all the tough stuff that came with it. It was such a hard time, and while I’m so happy to celebrate him, it’s always bittersweet. There’s this weird blend of joy and memories that are hard to shake. His birthday isn’t just about the party—it brings up all those feelings, you know?

We kept it really small this year, and I thought that would help. We went to this little soft play area with just a few friends, his nurse, and his godparents. I knew a big party would overwhelm Oakley, so I wanted it to be as easy and calm as possible. But even with the small group, I barely slept the night before. My mind was racing, part of me was excited, but I was also nervous. There’s that feeling of “oh my gosh, my baby is turning 2!” and this feeling us mums naturally get on how happy we are to have our babies, and celebrate every part of their lives.