Lucy has just celebrated her first birthday with us. To quote my daughter the following day when I praised her for doing something. “That’s alright Daddy. I’m five, I’m a big girl,I know everything now”.

We had been warned that birthdays could be traumantic (even more so than for anyone with a child having a birthday). As it turned out this was one of the less stressful days of the past few weeks and the excitement of the day, the presents, the cards and the attention all overrode all else. She did ask about her siblings – they had sent a card after all, but was satisfied that we had not forgotten them and that our plan is still meet up with them in the new year. She asked if that was after she was ‘adopted’. We have now set the wheels in motion to apply to the court for a final order giving us full legal responsibility for Lucy, though I doubt this will be concluded before Q1 next year.

It is interesting seeing her playing with friends from school – we invited all for her birthday party [shared with another girl in her class]. When she was in nursery and the foster careers talked of her she was very much a leader and the first to put her hand up in any situation. Now she is more a follower and one of the least likely to put her hand up in class. Moves will do that to you. I had one myself though later in childhood that had a similar effect on me.

The other interesting thing has been seeing how family and friends have embraced her. Her grandparents could not be more besotted and in love with her if they tried. It matters not one jot that she is not our ‘natural’ child. They would all walk through fire for her. Various Aunts, Uncles and Cousins are equally besotted. There is a lot of love for her and a lot of people telling her how loved she is.

After a mere few days she’s already ready to be six – although first there is the question of Christmas. The start of the ‘when is it christmas’ questions period has begun. Suddenly it’s christmas, right after halloween, as Loudon Wainwright once said.