Tuesday, May 28, 2013

My Wedding - Nan

My Wedding - Nan by Lukasmummy
My Wedding - Nan, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (My Story January, Template 3) and My Story January both by Jen C Designs and Project Life Wedding Mini Kit by Kimberly Church and Becky Higgins. Font is DJB Baby Bump by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: Looking back at our wedding day I still find it hard to believe that we pulled it off. It was such a stressful time so many things went wrong and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I considered cancelling it many times. I know without a shadow of a doubt that we could never have managed any of it without all of Nan’s love and support. I will be forever grateful to her for everything she did.

A Strange Way To Sleep

A Strange Way To Sleep by Lukasmummy
A Strange Way To Sleep, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Modern Happiness, Template 2) by Little Bit Shoppe Designs, Attitude 5 Wordart by Elegant Wordart and Bee Mine by Jen C Designs. Font are DJB Baby Bump and DJB Angel Baby both by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: Leia watching you sleep has always been one of my guilty pleasures. I love to look at your cute little pout and listen to you sweet baby snores, but more than anything else I love to watch the crazy positions you get yourself into. Your favourite is having your feet up on the bar of the pushchair, but this is a close second. You pull yourself forward and drape your body over the top of the bar. It’s may look strange but it wouldn’t be you without it.

Leia's First Ice Cream

Leia's First Ice Cream by Lukasmummy
Leia's First Ice Cream, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Peaceful) by Little Bit Shoppe Designs and I Love Ice Cream by Jen C Designs. Font is DJB Baby Bump by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: When you were born, I had no clue, just how much I would come to rely on my mobile phone camera, to capture all of those little moments and first experiences in your life. I was never really concerned about the photos being perfect, and since the phone was always right there it meant that I was able to capture silly things like these photos of your first taste of ice cream, that would have been over and forgotten about in the time it took to look for and use the real camera. I can’t help but smile every time I look at these. You had been teething and were sick, so I thought it might be nice to give you some ice cream to try and cool you down and numb your gums a bit. Only I wasn’t expecting you to like it so much and try and eat the whole thing! It was so adorable to see all the different expressions pass across your face, shock at the cold, liking the taste and the sheer determination not to let go. I especially like the crazy sugar rush eyes! 26th February 2012.

Puddles In The Garden

Puddles In The Garden by Lukasmummy
Puddles In The Garden, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (A Banner Day) by Angie Kovacs and Chase Away The Rain Bundle (slightly recoloured) by Mad Genius Designs. Fonts are TRD Tracis Hand by Traci Reed and Dymo Font Inverse.
Journalling reads: Sometimes photography is not about getting a technically perfect shot. It’s not about knowing your camera settings and the photography “rules” It’s just about grabbing the camera, and taking a second or two to capture a moment that you don’t want to forget. It doesn’t even matter if every single one of the photos ends up blurry and out of focus, you will still be unable to look at them without remembering the details and bringing a smile to your face. It’s Just like when it was pouring down with rain, and Nannie Freda and grampy Andy’s garden flooded. We decided that it would be fun to put on some waterproof clothing and some wellies (well you did, I didn’t even bother with a coat) and went out in the rain to jump in the puddles. We had an awesome time, splashing around. Some of those puddles were so deep that Mummy ended up wet right past the waistband on her trousers, but it was so worth getting wet and cold to be able to spend that time having fun and making some special and slightly crazy memories with you.

Ikidz

Ikidz by Lukasmummy
Ikidz, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Organized, Template 2) by Little Bit Shoppe Designs, Banner Templates by Josy Carson and Lovin Summer by Jen C Designs. Font is DJB Holly Typed Too Much by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: When Lukas went to the Summer Activity Club at iKidz, you were upset that you didn’t get too go to. On one of the days Daddy had to work, so it was up to us to drop Lukas off in the morning. I decided that rather than dragging all the way home and back again a few hours later, it would be easier (and more fun for you) if we spent the day at iKidz. We had a lot of fun, but I think even though they are blurry and out of focus, these photos are some of my favourite. You were climbing up the steps in the kiddy play area and really hamming it up for the camera. Once you got to the top you were peering around the net at the top and pressing your face against the plastic bubble, making silly faces at me. It was so cute and funny to watch you having such a great time playing and being silly. Even if it is kind of crazy to me to see how grown up and independent you are becoming every single day. I am so glad that we got to have this fun day with just the two of us.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Sports Day 2012 2

Sports Day 2012 2 by Lukasmummy
Sports Day 2012 2, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Simple Journal Card Inspired Templates 1, Template 6) by Scrapping With Liz, CU Stitching Action and CU Plastic Pockets Style both by Mommyish Designs and It's All You by Mad Genius Designs and Julie C Designs. Font is DJB Holly Typed by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: Of all the events at Sports Day, this one was probably the most difficult for you. Skipping is something that is hard for you on so many levels, you struggle holding the handles, you struggle keeping your balance,. you struggle with coordination and not getting tangled up in the rope, you struggle with concentrating on what you are doing and then adding in the distance and the fact that you have to get there and back I would be lying if I said that I expected you to finish the race. I was prepared to see you get frustrated and maybe even cry before giving up because it was just too hard. But I am so proud to say I underestimated you. Yes it was difficult, yes you struggled but you were determined to keep going until the end and not give up just because it was hard. It was lovely to see everyone cheering you on and encouraging you towards the finish line. I’m one very proud Mummy who is happy to say that I was wrong!

Sports Day 2012 1

Sports Day 2012 1 by Lukasmummy
Sports Day 2012 1, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Photo Journal Templates 1, Template 1) by Scrapping With Liz, CU Stitching Action and CU Plastic Pockets Style both by Mommyish Designs and It's All You by Mad Genius Designs and Julie C Designs. Font is DJB Holly Typed by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: Sports have never been something that comes easily to you, but it never seems to stop you from joining in and trying your hardest. These are some of my favourite photos from your school sports day, in this event you had to dribble a football around some little markers. It was hard for you to keep control of the ball but I am so proud of how hard you tried today Lukas, you were awesome!

Friday, May 17, 2013

One Day At A Time

One Day At A Time by Lukasmummy
One Day At A Time, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Journal Or Not, Template 2) by Scrapping With Liz and My Story May by Jen C Designs. Font is DJB Baby Bump by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: Dear Nan, it’s been 3 months since we lost you and to be honest I am still finding it hard. I’m avoiding visiting Mum and the kids, because I know I wouldn’t be able to resist walking past your house and knowing that someone else is probably already living in it breaks my heart. Going there to hand over your mobility aids was something I had been dreading because it would have been the final acknowledgement that you didn’t need them anymore. But seeing builders in your house and not one person even having the decency to tell me the keys had been handed back, made me feel so very sad and angry. I hate him for that you know, and I will never forgive him for not even caring enough to send a text message. Some days are definitely harder than others, the worst ones are filled with random outbursts of tears. Mainly because I feel like everyone else has just moved on with their lives and gone back to acting normal, but sometimes just because I miss you so very much. I still can’t bring myself to delete your mobile number from my phone, so it’s still at the top under my favourites. Every time I make a call I see your picture and my heart breaks a little. Some days I would give the world just to be able to pick up the phone and call you one more time. There are things me and the kids have done that I want to tell you all about. Like Lukas having tonsillitis, or how much of an idiot I made of myself at the school disco. I want to tell you about Logan at nursery and Leia being a little minx. I want to talk to you about the Project Life Giveaway that I won and the fitness boot camp I signed up for, but more than anything else I would kill just hear you say you loved me one more time. I can’t bear to go through any of the boxes from your house, when I packed them I kind of assumed that I was doing everyone a favour by just getting some stuff packed. But you know as well as I do that none of them really seemed to care about the stuff in the same way you did. I tried so hard to try and protect your memory by packing the things I knew were important to you, but still I have regrets. I wish I had tried harder, wish I had been less concerned about touching stuff and causing a fuss with other people. It pains me to think that your net curtains were left up in your house and that no-one seems to know exactly what happened to your Christmas decorations. I sometimes find myself taking out an item of your clothes, just to smell the lingering scent of your perfume and the Lenor on it. I still find myself using strange methods to cope with missing you, working out and organising seem to be my favourites, but sometimes cooking and cleaning get thrown in too. Seems kind of ironic that I turn to what you always wanted me to do as a coping method, but it kind of makes me smile to think I am doing something that would be making you proud of me. I am finding it really hard to scrap my CT layouts, although I did manage to make a couple of layouts yesterday for National Scrapbooking Day. Although I would by lying if I didn’t say that I think you had some hand in the fact that this was my first one ever with no computer or internet issues. I dread to think how many times I have called you feeling furious because the laptop or desktop isn’t working or the internet is playing up when I have been looking forward to it for weeks. I like to think that you are taking care of Leo for me, it’s funny but for the first time since he died I don’t miss him so much. I miss him enough to hurt but not enough to have the moments where I wish I was dead with him. I had an accident yesterday too, Logan caught me in the eye with a bottle brush and it’s all red and swollen shut. Its streaming all the time and I couldn’t help but think of you, and feel slightly happy about the fact that you are no longer suffering with your eyes, or your legs. I would take the pain of losing you a hundred times over if it means you aren’t hurting anymore Miss you, love you Nan.

Kangaroo Care

Kangaroo Care by Lukasmummy
Kangaroo Care, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered templates (Strips and Photos, Template 2) by Scrapping With Liz and 0627 Blog Freebie Stacker by Moments Scrapped, May Photo Mask Challenge by Indigo Designs and Dream by Jen C Designs. Font is DJB Baby Bump by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: Having a baby in Special Care is not a new experience to us, although all of the kids have been premature we have always been fortunate that we were never really restricted from touching them. One of the things they love to encourage is skin to skin contact between parents and babies. Kangaroo care is one of their favourite techniques. You place the baby inside your top, close to your heart it helps with bonding and calming the baby as well as keeping them warm. It also has the added benefit of giving you two free hands to help control the big brother who is visitng with you. Leia was unique in that temperature control was never an issue for her, even though she was only 3lb 10oz when she was born, she was always able to maintain her own temperature, they even had to turn the incubator temperature down because she was getting too hot. She didn’t really need the kangaroo care, and it was a challenge to keep her arms and legs inside my top because she was so wriggly, but she always seemed to enjoy being snuggled up close to me. So cute. Photos taken 21st October 2011.

Family Photo

Family Photo by Lukasmummy
Family Photo, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Template Revisited 8) by Scrapping With Liz, CU Stitching Action and CU Plastic Pockets Style both by Mommyish Designs and Dream by Jen C Designs. Font is Aquarelle.
Journalling reads: When Leia was moved into a single room in Special Care, it made visiting with the boys a little bit simpler. But it was always hard to balance looking after the boys, keeping everyone quiet and caring for Leia, with enjoying and capturing all these special little moments. On the day this photograph was taken we were visiting with Logan while Lukas was at school. Logan had fallen asleep in the push chair and me and Mark were just sitting in the chair and enjoying a quick snuggle with Leia. She had a lovely nurse looking after her that day, who asked if we would like her to take a few family photos of us before she went on her break. It was such a simple act of kindness, that it almost made me cry. This is the only photo that we have of both of us with her and it’s really special to me, because neither of us had to be outside with the boys or the one behind the camera. 17th October.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Trip To Bournemouth

Trip To Bournemouth by Lukasmummy
Trip To Bournemouth, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Journal Card Inspired Templates 1, Template 4) by Scrapping With Liz, CU Button Threads by Chelle's Creations and Lovin Summer by Jen C Designs. Font is DJB Baby Bump by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: When we were given the chance to go on a day trip to Bournemouth with Homestart it would have been silly to say No. You had never been to the beach before and you were super excited. The coach trip was fun but for you the day really began once you saw the sea. You had never really enjoyed playing in the sand so we didn’t think you would want to play on the beach, but you surprised us. Unfortunately We didn’t manage to get a single photo of you playing on the beach, because although we thought it was far too cold to go swimming, that didn’t stop you from running into the sea fully clothed! Since we were not planning on it we didn’t have any towels or clean clothes. But we refused to let that ruin our day, we walked up to the shopping centre and looked for somewhere we could buy you something new to wear. We didn’t really know where we were going and couldn’t find anywhere that sold kids clothes, so we settled for buying you a small adult t-shirt to wear like a dress. I’m sure people were staring at us and thinking you looked strange but we didn’t really have much choice. We were able to enjoy a quick trip to Mcdonalds for Lunch and even a few rides on the Carousel before we had to get back on the coach to go home. Even with the clothes issue it was still a lovely family day out.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Florence Park

Florence Park by Lukasmummy
Florence Park, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Photo Journal Templates 1, Template 4) by Scrapping With Liz and Lovin Summer by Jen C Designs. Font is DJB Baby Bump by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: When we took the kids to Florence Park for the day, Mark was in charge of the camera for a change. Well I can’t say I am thrilled to have so many photos of me looking so fat (the stripy top really doesn’t help at all) I am kind of excited for the kids to be able to see that Mummy does play with them at the park too. 20/04/13. The kids all seem to love this bridge type piece of play equipment, it’s kind of hard to describe but it is essentially a large strip of material that you can walk or run across. This happens to be the same thing that 2 teenage boys tried to ride a bike across on a previous trip, until Logan gave them a lecture and they were shamed into stopping. The boys favourite thing to do is for one of them to try and run across it, and the other to try jumping on the other end to knock them off (what can I say they are boys!). They also quite like laying on it and jumping on each other. Leia has never been able to play on it before but today she had a really great time using it as a trampoline while holding on to my hands and then racing across it away from me at full speed laughing her head off!

Sunday, May 05, 2013

Logan Bowling

Logan Bowling by Lukasmummy
Logan Bowling, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Credits: Layered template (Celebrate Life, Template 2) by Janet Phillips, CU Stitching Action by Mommyish Designs, Having A Ball Wordart by Miss Kate Cuttables and Birthday Bash Boy by Jen C Designs. Font is DJB Baby Bump by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: These photos were from Logan’s first visit to the local Bowlplex. We decided to make a visit as an after school surprise for Lukas. Logan had a really great time and didn’t let the fact, that he was so small, stop him from joining in with everything and having a blast. I wasn’t really interested in Bowling so I helped him to bowl using the ramps for both his turns and most of mine too. He seemed to go for a different coloured ball each turn. It was so cute to see how excited he was to see the balls going down the lanes, especially once they were able to put the bumpers up for him. I did have to keep telling him off for two things though, touching all of the buttons and putting his hands on the balls in the rack and machine. I was so worried that he would crush his fingers.

Science Oxford Xrays

Science Oxford Xrays by Lukasmummy
Science Oxford Xrays, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (SO Archery Challenge Template 2013) by Jaye and Mad Scientist, Mad Scientist Addon and Mad Scientist Journal Cards all by Suzy Q Scraps. Font is Data Control.
Journalling reads: Lukas has always been really into science and how things work, so he was very excited when we decided to go to Science Oxford. We ended up going during an animal photography exhibition which was quite cool, but it did mean some of the experiments were not available. We did not let that stop us from trying out all of the ones that were and having fun.

Saturday, May 04, 2013

Lukas's 4th Birthday

Lukas's 4th Birthday by Lukasmummy
Lukas's 4th Birthday, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Photo Journal Templates 1, Template 3) by Scrapping With Liz, CU Buttons Threads and CU Bakers Twine both by Chelle's Creations, Wordart by Elegant Wordart by Bethany and Birthday Bash Boy Grab Bag by Jen C Designs. Font is CF Old Lithography.
Journalling reads: EVEN THOUGH MY PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS WERE VERY POOR WHEN I TOOK THESE PHOTOS IT IS STILL NICE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AT YOUR 4TH BIRTHDAY OR TO BE EXACT 2 DAYS AFTER YOUR 4TH BIRTHDAY SINCE THAT WAS WHEN WE WENT TO NANS TO HAVE YOUR BOTH OF YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKES YOU HAD THIS TRAY BAKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE AND A LIGHTNING MCQUEEN CAKE FOR YOURSELF ITS A SHAME I NEVER MANAGED TO GET ANY PHOTOS OF YOUR PRESENTS OR THE TRIP TO MCDONALDS THOUGH.

Getting Comfy

Getting Comfy by Lukasmummy
Getting Comfy, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (June 2012 Single 2) by Jennifer Wilson (Simple Scrapper), CU Stitching Action by Mommyish Designs and CU Ribbons (retired) and Today both by Jen C Designs. Font is DJB Tried My Best by Darcy Baldwin.
Journalling reads: It always makes me laugh to see the strange positions that you choose to sleep in. In the last week I have found you sleeping on the kitchen floor, sitting in the toy box, standing up leaning on the toy box and on the living room floor. But your favourite place to take a nap is in your double pushchair. You can climb in all by yourself easily by standing on the footplate, placing your knee on the seat and then swinging yourself over the bar. But for some reason you never want to sleep in your seat in the pushchair. You prefer to stretch out across both seats often with at least an arm or a leg or sometimes both draped across the bar. It’s looks so cute. There is no point moving you, it only makes you mad and you are back like this within a few seconds anyway. Although it does make it difficult to get you ready to go and collect the boys from school. It’s kind of funny that even when I strap you in when we go out anywhere, if you fall asleep you always have your feet resting on the bar. I guess it’s just one of the many little quirks that make sure being around you is never boring. April 25th 2013.

Leia's First Football

Leia's First Football by Lukasmummy
Leia's First Football, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Photobooth Volume 1, Template 2) by Little Bit Shoppe Designs and Just For Kicks by Libby Pritchett. Font is The Wolff by Heather Hess.
Journalling reads: It’s so nice that you are finally big enough to play, with your brothers when we go to play at the park. This was the first time that you got to play with the football and you had an awesome time chasing after the ball and kicking it around.

Badges On The Train

Badges On The Train by Lukasmummy
Badges On The Train, a photo by Lukasmummy on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Credits: Layered template (Erika, Template 1) by Little Bit Shoppe Designs and Celebrate A Year Of Memories Daily Digi Collab kit contributions by Amy Wolff, Eva Kipler, Flergs, Mari Koegelenberg, Katie Nelson, Michelle Batton, Danielle Young, Jennifer Labre and Danielle Engebretson.