6 years

For the past 6 weeks Bethany has been doing a countdown of days, and today she finally hit zero, for today is Bethany's 6th birthday.

Unlike her big sister, B (She's always been 'B') had a simple birth - a planned caesarian at 10:30am on April 29th, 2003. It meant I could take Charlotte to school before going across to the hospital for the operation. I had to gown up as I was to be allowed in the theatre whilst they pulled B out, but luckily for me Mia was knocked out which meant I couldn't be in theatre during the procedure. Instead I had a cup of coffee and listened very hard ... And listened ... I went and stood outside the theatre and listened even harder until I finally heard Bethany's first cry.

15 minutes later I was presented with a 7lb daughter in a fetching orange hat (We didn't know we were supposed to bring a hat in) who required her 1st feed. Bearing in mind it had been 4 years since the last time I had fed a baby, I did ok - I did even better when told by the midwife that Bethany needed a clean nappy, and changed it without gagging or the need of a clothes peg for my nose.

Bethany and Charlotte are very close, which considering there's a 5 year gap between them is nice. B idolises her big sister, and because of her is old beyond her years when it comes to gadgets (How many 5 year old do you know who can navigate a mobile phone, send a text, set SKY +, and browse YouTube for Power Ranger clips?).

B is a girly-girl, loves high-heel boots, the colour pink, party dresses, and for some reason Power Rangers Jungle Fury! B wants more than anything to keep a real lamb in her bedroom, and insists she'll house-train it - she's declared that she'll let it live in a field again when it gets older, and can't understand why we won't allow her to have one... She's just won a place in the mascot team for an Ipswich pre-season friendly in July, so has no developed a passion for playing football - every night for the past week we've been outside kicking a ball so she's prepared for running out on the Portman Road pitch. Not sure if the club will let her use her 'Fimbles' football though, as she doesn't like kicking the 'hard' footballs.

Happy birthday sweetheart!