Glamping

Last week we spent the Bank holiday weekend in an old railway carriage, in the middle of the Cotswold countryside. It was a perfect little break for us.

The weather was delightful and Auggy got his first taster of outdoors naked play this year...its been far too long! He loved it!

Nightingales sang, owls hooted, willow trees rustled in the soft breeze and we played scrabble as the light faded, the lanterns lit and our babe sleeping soundly in his cot. It was rather dreamy.

One happy, rested and smiley family!

xxx

Little Laughs

I adore this funny little chap so much

xxx

13 Months ~ Letter to August

Dearest Auggs,

The photo above melts my heart. You & Papa snoozing in our bed a year apart...can you see your newborn wrinkly hands? and your dark hair? I packed away that tiny babygrow this weekend and me & Papa marveled about how tiny you were...how perfect; How lucky we are to have you here safe and well; giggling, smiling with your cheeky-ness.

It has been a month of growth spurts, fun and adventure. You are getting very quick and i often think you are in the front room happily playing and then find you in the hall trying to climb the stairs...you are keeping me on my toes and i love it. You have started to talk more and you are starting to communicate with us. You say 'no', 'more', 'Mama', and your favorite; 'Narna' meaning you can see a banana and want it right now!

You are growing in so many beautiful ways. Some are challenging, some are funny...all are amazing to me your Mama. It is a real honour to be your play partner, food giver, comfort, tickler, memory maker, wardrobe assistant and chief nappy changer. 

Today we went to the swings after a hard long winter of snow and freezing weather. You were not sure about it, but you loved to watch Papa & me playing and reliving our childhood! You loved trying to catch Mamas feet as I swung higher and higher!

I cannot wait for a summer of warm breezes, sparkling skies, playing outside and you learning to walk with your chubby legs in shorts. 

You are quick....crawling and cruising.

You cannot see a banana without wanting it!

You are starting to understand what we are telling you.

You copy us.

You say uh oh...or uh uh... or oh oh!!

Mama is your new favorite word repeating it ALL the time!

You open & close the cupboard doors with great pleasure...we are teaching you 'open' close'...'open' 'dicht'

The tractor is your toy of the month...it talks...'we're off to the fields'!!

You love to push buttons delicately with one finger.

You think it is hilarious to grab our noses to see what sound they make...we all have a different sound, and are possibly regretting this game :)

You love to look out of the French windows...nose squished against it.

Miffy rocks your bedtime story EVERY night!

blue is your favorite colour...you spend ages playing with just the blue toys!
You has your first taste of ice cream.

I have been reminded this month what a little miracle you are...how we would be lost without you.
You have changed our world in a million ways...each one for the better.
You have my heart little man.
I love you
Mama
xxx

Heartbreak

Today we lit a candle for little baby Vaughan Leonard...

...too beautiful for this world...

...soaring high, with the Angels...

The newest twinkle in the sky.

Fly free & Sparkle bright Sweetheart.

XXX

The First Cut

1 year and three weeks

It had to be done

The first haircut

Another item to treasure

The baby now looks like a boy

Mama's heart is a tiny bit sad

The Image

This photo is one of my favorite of the last year...not because of the image captured but for what it was to be in that moment with our pickle. 

Our first little holiday to the sea, 5 and a half months old, so happy, so well behaved, seagulls chatting, waves crashing, giggling babe, smiling relaxing husband, shoulders dropping, sea breezes through open windows.

It was beautiful

My boys were beautiful

The sea, hotel, food & warmth was beautiful

12 Months ~ Letter to August

Master August Willem Birthday Boy,

Today you are ONE!! 

A year ago today you entered this world loudly and quickly at 3.15am...the second you were placed on my belly I knew this love was eternal...it will never die...only continue life, after life, after life. I remember looking into your navy blue eyes and questioning what name suited you best. All the ones that were top of the list swam away and I didn't know who you were going to be.

Did you know it took Papa & Me 4 days to work it out? You were (and in someway will always be) Pip for quite a while!!

This year has been so eventful, special, exciting and such fun.

You always surprise me, make me laugh & make me think. I hope this year has been as wonderful for you. You have grown so much, and in this last month your personality is just getting bigger & bigger too. You like to have the odd screaming fit & throw you spoon across the kitchen, surly the terrible twos haven't come already? I however know you are testing your boundaries and I hope I'm being patient with you.

Papa has been ill and we have had to postpone your pirate party. I however couldn't not put up your pirate pom poms, flags, bunting & a few balloons. We sang Happy birthday and you tried chocolate cake for the first time! It was sweet and perfect. Nana was there too. You have so many lovely presents & cards. It always touches me how many people love and cherish you. 

You have mastered the crawl...at last!

Your top teeth have come through

You were ill for the first time :(

You have a new found love of toast with cream cheese

You happily walk around the furniture

You have all your toys in the dressed and love to take them all out!

You love to stack things together

You will feed yourself if the food is on the spoon.

You love to copy us...when we drink you do...when we eat you want to.

You have a new buggy which you seem to love.

you find it such fun to empty my make up bag.

You say La La La.

You are so kind Auggs. You love to share everything you have, from a biscuit to handing me some fluff on the floor you have discovered...it is so sweet.  As I helped you blow out your candles I wished you would always cherish this quality. It will get you far in this crazy beautiful world of ours!

This time last year I was learning how to change nappies, bath you & feed you. I had to learn what you needed, your cries, your routine. The learning curve is so steep but so amazing.

You have taught me so much, brought me so much joy and light, given me a wonderful gift I only dreamed of.

You are the star I wished on, the twinkle of our eye, the long awaited dream.

I wish you another wondrous year of fun, learning, love, magic and joy.

May all your dream come true Always Pip.

Love Always,

Mama 

xxx