Memories of Mummy for Solly & Sam

Aunty Jo, 9 September 05

Dear Solly & Sam

Here are a few memories for you darlings – a bit random but just times, places and recollections that I have of your time together and little things that Mummy used to do or say that make me smile.

As Mummy used to say to you Solly you are “my best boy Sol-io.”  “Sam Sam” was her name for you Sam, and you were such a good little baby for her – she was very relaxed with you – she was experienced by the time you came along and it showed.

She really was (on the whole) the most patient mummy ever and always tried to divert you Sol if you were having a tantrum rather than tell you off or say no.  She was pretty good at it to!  She never encountered tantrums with you Sam but she would always try to work out what you may need if you were crying.

She always tried to make bath time fun – rather than just let you get on with playing by yourself, Solly, she used to make up games and play with you when you were in the bath.  In fact she was great at playing with you full stop – she would draw, play aeroplanes, cars, rocket ships she always made sure she spent time playing with you and spending quality time with you.  Mummy also played with you Sam – making sure you had a toy with you, singing nursery rhymes and really talking to you – you did love babbling and she always chatted back.

Sol we all spent a lot of time together especially Friday afternoons – they were the cousin afternoons.  Often we would go to Grandma Judy’s and play in the garden – football and cars were the favourite games.  Then it would be tea and bath time and of course as you got older staying up for Friday night dinner.

We (me, Josh, Nats and Mummy) had a lovely time together in summer 2004 at Willow Farm (you were 1.5).  We took a picnic and played on the tractor / climbing frame, bounced on the trampolines, stroked the rabbits and guinea pigs and you loved the pretend tractors.  You also all spent a lot of time jumping around together on the bouncy castle.  I remember you were falling over laughing, standing up, falling over, laughing standing up ….

Sam – Mummy and I also spent some lovely relaxing mornings and lunches together with you when we were both off work on a Friday or Monday – we would take it in turns to hold you so the other one could eat if you didn’t fancy just sitting in your buggy.

She was always so proud of how brave you were Solly, with all your crashes and bangs she always used to say to me on the phone whilst recounting another injury – “he hardly cried he just got up and carried on, I’m so proud of him he’s my brave boy”.

Mummy also loved how into motorbikes and bikes you are Sol – she was very patient when you were at the park together before you had your own bike because you always used to want to just sit on other children’s bikes.  You always thought that was better than playing on the swings / slides.  So she would stand patiently while you used to get on and off other children’s bikes.

Sol you also have her love of some of her favourite foods.  She never had a sweet tooth, until she was pregnant with you Sam.  So whilst she was pregnant with you she used to ask Grandma Judy to go out and buy her chocolate unheard of really for your mummy so we will have to see whether you have a sweet tooth or not when you get older – if you do don’t worry you have plenty of supporters in this region – Great Grandma Renee and Joshua being the leaders of the pack with me, Uncle Simon and Grandma Judy bringing up the rear.  So when mummy normally looked in our fridge for snacks it would always be pickled cucumbers, leftover chicken a slice of salami or a bit of cheese.  She also liked it when you could have fruit at our house because we always had more exotic fruit than you did – so mangoes and strawberries were frequent requests.  Aunty Snoopy and I did laugh with Mummy about her fridge because for some reason it was never full to capacity and she always used to buy Value / Economy packs.  Aunty Snoopy and I are a bit more extravagant – however she always used to rustle you up a delicious meal. 

She was also proud of the fact that you Sol are such a good eater – much better at trying new things than your cousins Josh and Nat.  We went to Yohan Plaza on my birthday 31st December 2003 (you were 1 and a bit) and you would eat all the noodles / soup that Mummy and Daddy would buy.  Josh and Nat (I think) went hungry – or ate a few plain noodles or rice.  On that day we went to buy sushi ingredients for New Year’s Eve as mummy and daddy were spending it with their friends Stuart and Greta.  Another patient mummy moment happened on this day – you didn’t want to get off the little bob ride so she waited while you got off and on and then moved on to pretend to drive the postman pat truck!!

Another trip that has just popped into my mind was when we went to Tate Modern – you Sol have definitely been to more Art Galleries than most boys of your age – maybe some of Mummy’s other friends can recount some more of your Art Gallery trips.  However, what I do remember is that we spent a lot of time running after the three of you in the big installation room – up and down the room under a big drum / membrane like structure.  I can’t remember whose piece it was Mummy undoubtedly would have done! It may have been by Anish Kapoor but I’m not sure.

Anyway my darlings we ALWAYS had a fabulous time together – mostly because Mummy was great at including everybody in her chat, warmth, love and attention and there will be for me and now, because of this website for you, some outstanding memories of our times together.

With all my love

Aunty Jo