When Nerys turned 2 recently I really had that almost clichéd feeling of ‘where has the time gone?’ and ‘how is she 2 already?!’.
But when Rhys turned 5 last weekend I didn’t feel that way.
5 feels right.
He feels like a 5 year old, and it does feel like 5 years since he appeared and changed our world. And our harddrive is full of 5 years worth of photos of our gorgeous boy!
In celebration of his birthday, I’m sharing 10 of my favourite photos of him from the first 5 years of his life.
1) This was taken when he was still brand new in the hospital. Sweet, newborn perfection, even if I do say so myself!
2) Next up is this photo of me with him at Rhossili when he was about 3 months old. We’d been away for a friend’s wedding and decided to go for a drive out to Gower when we got home and ended up taking some family photos while we were there.
3) My blue-eyed boy! I love how, even though it’s a real close-up of his face, there are still those background details like the red of the jumperoo that he was sitting in and the dribble on his chin, that give away what stage he was at in his development when this was taken.
4) He’s off! I remember this being quite a big moment for us. When he was about a year old and confident on his feet the play park suddenly opened up to him, and he was off!
5) When Rhys was about 15 months old we went on holiday to Marrakech and spent a huge amount of time in the swimming pool. I love the happy look on his face in this photo while he paddled with Daddy!
6) He doesn’t do it so much any more, but when he was younger Rhys had a real thing about lining things up. He would line up his toys, other people’s toys, the tin cans from the cupboard, anything really. So I love this photo that perfectly captures that quirk of his. Look how perfectly lined up the books are along the bottom!
7) Another one from the play park. I just love that one eye peeking out, possibly checking to see if the swings were free!
8) Happy, smiling photos are wonderful. But there’s something a bit special about photos that capture a different expression, like this serious, almost frowning one!
9) I’ve taken a big jump here to a much more recent photo that I love, as it shows the quieter, slightly shy side of his personality but you can still see the cheeky spark in his eyes.
10) And finally, a photo that I can’t actually take credit for (my husband took it) but one that I think is so wonderfully ‘Rhys’. A bit of a contrast to the previous photo, this is him at his lively best, unaware of the camera and having a whale of a time on the beach.
Here’s to many, many more photos of my gorgeous boy in years to come!
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Amélie loves the last 2 cos he looks really happy in them both. Isabella likes the 2nd one, the one with you cos Rhys looks cute. I love the slightly shy Rhys, the penultimate one because that is Rhys to me. It’s something about the eyes. Xxxx
There’s a sparkle in his eyes in that last one isn’t there! x
I agree with Imogen. ….but I also like the first one as it reminds me of the first time we saw him.
Feels like a long time ago doesn’t it, that you were trying to get the bounty lady out of the way so you could see your grandson! x
They are all so great. I can’t believe how similar nerys looks to Rhys at the same age. But my favourite is number 4, he’s off and no stopping him….. 🙂
They are so similar aren’t they! x
Your photos are genuinely fabulous. Such happy memories captured so beautifully #KCACOLS
Oh thank you so much! x
Aww such wonderful photos! Such a cute little man 🙂 Beautiful way to celebrate him.
#KCACOLS
Thank you! x
Lovely photos! he looks so cute and happy! #KCACOLS
Thank you, he is a pretty happy child! x
oh this is beautiful – I absolutely adore number 3 but they are all fantastic – it’s amazing to see just how much he has grown – just wait for the next 5 years – he will be nearly as tall as you! #KCACOL
Oh don’t, he really will be as tall as me by then, he has his 6’4″ Dad’s genes! x
What beautiful photos! Such a wonderful snap shot of his life so far. Lovely memories 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up with #KCACOLS. Hope you return next week 🙂
Thank you, it was so nice to go back and look through all the old photos of him! x
Sunch stunning and wonderful photos and great that you have put them all in a post together so we can see your lovely little man growing up! Think my faves are the third and last one. Both wonderful #KCACOLS
Thank you! I loved putting this post together! x
How gorgeous! I want to do one like this for RJ too 🙂 #KCACOLS
Oh you should, it was so much fun to do! x
Aw, such gorgeous photos! What a lovely look back! x #KCACOLS
Thank you, I really enjoyed looking through all our photos and choosing these ones! x
WOW he is absolutely beautiful! The first photo is my favourite, newborn babies are just so utterly squishable aren’t they? He has grown into such a gorgeous boy, those eyes are to die for! #KCACOLS
Well I know I’m biased but I have to agree with you completely! Thank you for your lovely comment! x
I love photographs I do, they make me really happy! I could pore over people’s pictures of friends and loved ones for ever because they tell a story. This story shouts ‘Happy’ and ‘Loved’
What a lovely collection of photos of your beautiful boy. Thanks for sharing. #KCACOLS
Oh, what a lovely comment, thank you so much! I feel the same way about photos, I love seeing other people’s and discovering their story. x
Wow, your photography is amazing! One of the many perks of being a blogger is that you have an entire website to show your children when they grow up as a memory of their childhood. (Althought I may have to delete a few in order to save face)
#KCACOLS
Tori
http://www.themamanurse.com
Thank you so much! And you’re right, I do like having this record of our lives to show my children when they get older! x
Isn’t it wonderful to go back on photos and remember that day? Remember what was happening, and who your child was at the time? I absolutely LOVE your photographs, and I feel like you’ve captured your little guy’s personality so well. Happy Birthday to Rhys! <3 #KCACOLS
Oh thank you so much for your lovely comment! And it’s so funny how many details come flooding back with certain photos! x
No 7 is sooo cute, you’re right, he’s definately peeking over to see whats happening:)
mainy
#KCACOLS
It’s really sweet isn’t it! x
These photos are all wonderful! I love looking back at photos of my boys as they grow. I can’t believe they were ever tiny babies! #KCACOLS
It’s so nice to look back at the photos isn’t it, and remember how teeny they actually were! x
I LOVE HIS BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES ON THE STAIRCASE!Shouty capitals were unintended then I decided they could stay because it is a beautiful picture. My little boy just turned 5 too and I love your description how 5 feels right, because it does..many many crazy amazing life changing things have happened. 5 is a good number. x #KCACOLS
Haha, well I appreciate the caps! It’s funny isn’t it, but 5 just does feel right! x
Beautiful pics! I love, love, love those beautiful blue eyes.
#KCACOLS
Thank you! He really does have gorgeous blue eyes! x
Absolutely beautiful. That moment when they just run and almost stumble is so magical isn’t it? And I also love the little quirks they have that perhaps only you know about 🙂 #kcacols
It’s so great to watch isn’t it,when they first just take off! Thank you for your lovely comment! x
Lovely idea and gorgeous photos! #thelist
Thank you so much! x
Wow these are all so beautiful. I love the last two the best. Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
Thank you! I do love those last two, with them showing the 2 sides of his personality! x
Great photos!! I really love the third pic , so cute #KCACOLS.
I do love the look on his face in that photo! x
Gorgeous collection and so much has changed. My son will turn 5 in a few months, it is amazing what had happened in that time. X #thelist
It is amazing isn’t it, when you look back and see how much they’ve grown and changed. x
awww beautiful photos. my boy is nearly 3 and I cant imagine him being 5!! #KCACOLS
2 years is a really long time when they’re little isn’t it, I can’t imagine Rhys being 7! x
Such lovely memories! Thank you for sharing . Really made me smile
I’m so pleased this made you smile! x