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Stretching out

As I mentioned in my last post, we visited Stowe Gardens for the second time this month.  We remembered that we'd taken a particular photo of Toby on our last visit, so we recreated it this time.  Scrolling through our photo archives, I discovered that the original was taken almost a year ago, in September 2015.  Are you ready for this?

Last year

This year
Who stretched Toby?  I knew he was growing, of course - after all, I've been the one who had to keep buying him new school uniform - but it really brings it home to see the evidence like this.

His first year at school has stretched him out in so many other ways, too.  He has made his first close friends and gained in lots of confidence.  It's been wonderful to see him stepping into new situations, asking new questions, and acquiring new skills.  He still gets scared when he has to try something for the first time, but he's gained the courage to admit it and do it anyway - and then he's so proud of himself!

We're proud of him too, so I hope you'll forgive me a little moment of rhapsodizing over my biggest-and-getting-even-bigger boy.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and sew some labels in yet more school uniform.  Can't I stretch that, too?
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