Dear Arthur,
If I'm honest, I'm a bit jealous you were born in 2012. I mean, since when has a year been so eagerly anticipated? And what year is going to go down in history like this one? Even when you're an old man, mention "twenty twelve" to anyone, and they'll know what happened then. At least I like to think they will.
And, what's more, being born during those Summer weeks. It's really quite special.
2012. The year of the London Olympics and Paralmpics. But as the next generation lit those 204 petals on the night of Friday 27th July, we were awaiting a quite different next generation.
By the time of Team GB's first medal on July 29th, although we did not know it, you were on your way (and Daddy was on his way to London!) It was a time for pride, for patriotism, for sheer celebration of life.
But Monday 30th July 2012 at 3.10am stands out for me, although all Olympians would surely have been tucked up in bed.
2012. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. And next year that family will celebrate a whole new generation. Around the time of year you were born, it would seem.
2012. The year the world lost some great people: Neil Armstrong. Clive Dunn. Patrick Moore. But were many great people born in 2012? We're yet to see. Will you be one of them? That's up to you.
It hasn't been an easy year. A year which started with me, 8 weeks pregnant, in bed and asleep on the stroke of Big Ben. I knew it would be a year of great highs. But I couldn't imagine the lows. March 15th and June 29th were to be the deepest of these. Not to mention the sea of uncertainty between October 13th and November 12th.
But I couldn't have imagined the highs either. No new parent can. That amazing journey of learning and loving in a relationship with a new person. Those first smiles. Seeing that personality develop.
What does 2013 hold? Funnily enough, those dark dates of March 15th and June 29th are already filled in on the calender. On March 15th we will be heading off to a weekend to spend time with other families of babies and toddlers with spina bifida at a Shine Charity weekend away. I've no doubt it will be a weekend of fun and laughter. It shows how far we've come. On June 29th I have the privilege of being bridesmaid at the wedding of Jen, a dear friend, your godmother. It will also be the eve of my ordination, taking all our lives in a whole new direction.
Anyway, sorry for the sickliness and the cliches. At least I didn't mention that 2012 was the year the Snowman and the Snowdog came out, otherwise I'd be whimpering. Oh, I just mentioned it.
Well, Happy New Year Arthur. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2013.
Mummy xxx
I haven't blogged for absolutely ages. Not since THAT VOTE actually. It seems silly to dedicate an entire blog post to it, with nearly a month gone by. I've got various things I ought to write about, but rather than make them a collection of unrelated paragraphs I think I'll structure them around a tenuous framework.
10 reasons why I am not the Archbishop of Canterbury
1) I am of the female gender. Fortunately, I have no career aspirations in this direction (and I'm not just saying that in the "I couldn't possibly ever be a Bishop, but if God ever wanted me to how could I argue with God?" mock-humble way. See the final episode of series two of Rev!) That level of management and politics would bore me, and I couldn't imagine not being directly involved with a specific worshipping community. So when I approach the Woman Bishop issue, I approach it as would anyone, male or female, clergy or lay, who wants to see equality in their church. If we lack people of both genders, as well as all races, ages and sexualities, throughout our church, we lose some reflection of the Kingdom. That's my opinion. Nothing more, nothing less.
2) I only pretend to be an Academic. I was jolly pleased a couple of weeks ago to get a higher-than-expected mark in my most recent MTh essay, but I'm well aware that I'm a master of jumping-through-hoops rather than a master of theology! I'm also entirely realistic that my next essay marks won't be nearly so high because...
3) I don't seem to have any time! Archbishop Rowan manages to be an Archbishop, an academic and write quite good poetry. It's all I can do to look after a baby 50% of the time while keeping myself and Mr A fed. Not to mention the never-ending battle to leave the house in mostly clean clothes that mostly do not have traces of baby bodily fluids on them.
4) Actually, having said that, my eyebrow care is better than the average Archbishop.
5) I'm still working out what I think about, well, everything. Two weekends ago we had Arthur baptised. This came at the end of a themed study week on Liturgy, including most of a day on Baptism. As I mulled over, academically, what I was to put my small son through at the end of the week, especially the sacramental aspects, I realised that many of the reasons I was doing it might easily be termed 'folk religion'. A major reason was to make a public commitment to bring Arthur up in the knowledge and love of God. So far, so good. But a huge aspect was simply because, well, we're over the moon he's here with us - I don't think this can be found anywhere in baptism theology!
6) Talking of, Arthur had a really superb Paediatrician's appointment a couple of weeks ago. Of particular interest, she could see nothing wrong with the reflexes in his legs and feet. A little brisk, perhaps, which could mean stiff legs, but to me this sounds better than floppy legs. She also recommended he goes onto solids, which he's been really enjoying. She complimented his alertness and good tracking eye movements. This came off the back of a perfect kidney scan, and a urodynamic assessment which Arthur became the first baby in the memory of our very experienced urology nurse to sleep through! With all that has happened this year, it's lovely to come to the end of the year on such a high. (I'm aware this has nothing to do with me not being the Archbishop, so it looks like the framework is crumbling already...)
7) I'm about to be appointed to a Title Post, but it isn't the Archbishop. That's Julian Welby. Still having to be schtum about where I'm going.
8) I've never been to Canterbury. Looks nice though.
9) I am just toooo excited by Christmas I would hardly be able to maintain the decorum required of an Archbishop! Honestly, first Christmas with a baby is going to be GREAT!
10) Insert reason 10 here. Happy Christmas!
2012. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. And next year that family will celebrate a whole new generation. Around the time of year you were born, it would seem.
It hasn't been an easy year. A year which started with me, 8 weeks pregnant, in bed and asleep on the stroke of Big Ben. I knew it would be a year of great highs. But I couldn't imagine the lows. March 15th and June 29th were to be the deepest of these. Not to mention the sea of uncertainty between October 13th and November 12th. 
But I couldn't have imagined the highs either. No new parent can. That amazing journey of learning and loving in a relationship with a new person. Those first smiles. Seeing that personality develop.