Our best Christmas present :)

Alice started walking on Christmas afternoon while round at her Nanny Linda's house. Claire and Craig brought her round the next morning so we could see :)  She is just sooo cute!
xx

Photo recap of the last two weeks

I can't believe we're at Christmas Eve already, the last two weeks have gone by so quickly.  Emily broke up from school but I've still been having Alice three days a week. Claire has had to work the early shift the last week or so which has meant picking Alice up at 7.45am. She's no problem (apart from wanting to get in to all the cupboards) and is quite at home here.

 After going for a walk she was waiting for me to sort out her pram before we went back inside.

 We've been to a local garden centre and had a look at all the Christmas decorations.

 Emily took on the task of decorating the tree this year

 and did a great job.

 Alice had her first haircut when we went to get ours cut. Just the fringe was trimmed so it's no longer in her eyes :)

 I finally got round to writing and posting all my Christmas cards (overseas ones may be a bit late - sorry!)

 Claire and Alice have joined Mum and me at Starbucks for a coffee, after the weekly shop, a couple of times.

 Alice has been round for a sleepover :) while Claire and Craig went out.

 Emily and I went down to see Joshua as Michael Darling in Peter Pan. He was fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed the play. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take photos and although I took a photo of one of the publicity photos I'm not sure if I can post it here because of copyright.

We also managed to spend some time with Michelle and Lily (though Lily slept virtually the whole time we were with them) and I did manage to get some more cuddles.

 We stayed overnight in Eastleigh and then travelled back the following day - arriving back in time for our Tesco Christmas shopping delivery.

I've finished all my wrapping and some of the presents are under the tree. We've just got back from the Crib Service at Church and are ready for tomorrow to be here :)

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and all the very best for 2012.

xx



Who knew that being a Grandma was so much fun! We've loved watching Alice grow and develop and she really has brought sunshine to everyone who knows her.  My parents (her great grandparents) love her weekly visits to them and I know Craig's family also love getting to see her. I feel so lucky to be able to look after her while Claire goes to work, such a precious little girl!
xx

December 2011 Album (Days 1 - 5)

I've finally got round to taking photos of the pages made so far (thanks Mum for letting me borrow your easel!)

As I've said before, my album is going to be very simple because that's the only way I'll keep up and finish it. I had been going to type up my journalling but have decided to go hand written instead, so  everything could be stuck down and all I need to do is write on the cards each day. Other than the journalling all each layout needs is a photo to be stuck in and the number put on the tree. The only reason I haven't stuck the numbers on the trees is that I've found I've needed to swap pages around a couple of times already. I'm enjoying it being stress free this year :)

You should be able to click on the photos if you want to see them clearer.

xx

And can I just add, this is probably the most patterned paper you'll ever have seen in one of my albums. A bit out of my comfort zone :)

Today

Taken with my iPhone

This morning Claire, Alice and I had a quick trip to Asda and on the way back stopped in to Sainsbury's so I could get a few bits. Alice had been asleep when we got there but woke when I took the shopping back to the car, so Claire and I decided to pop into Starbucks for a Gingerbread Latte and a free mince pie - the Starbucks special today :)  Unfortunately my point and shoot's battery went flat so I had to use my iPhone to get this shot and I'm so glad I did :)

xx

Lily Isabelle

Emily, Jon and I drove to Eastleigh today to meet Lily Isabelle for the first time. What a beautiful, contented little girl she is and today, although she is still recovering from her C Section, Michelle glowed with the joy of motherhood. I don't know if I've ever seen her so relaxed and serene before. She is plainly in love with her beautiful daughter and we can see and understand why :) 

I'm going to let the photos do the talking in this post (because my computer has been playing up and I'm getting frustrated with it tonight!). Suffice to say, we each got a chance to have some cuddles with this beautiful new addition to the family and are looking forward to lots more!

 Lily Isabelle

  My turn for a cuddle :)

 Grandpa's turn

 and Aunty Em's.

 Time for Mummy to have her back :)

And look at all that hair!! :)

And finally, I am up to date with my December album and will be posting the pages soon (once I've worked out how to photograph them as I'm doing a small double spread for each day. I think I need an easel or something similar to pop them up against. As soon as I've worked it out, they'll be on my blog. 

Hope you've had a good weekend.

xx





01 December :)

Taken at the County Mall this morning

Emily came down this morning in a very good mood - why? because it's the first of December and she'd opened the first door on her Advent calendar :)

I then had a text from Claire to tell me Alice was very happy to have a chocolate out of her Advent calendar this morning :) and Claire is now feeling festive. I'm told Craig is even talking about putting up their Christmas tree this weekend (but we won't tell Emily that one! Our tree goes up 12 days before Christmas but I know she'd love it to be earlier!).

This morning, Mum and I went Christmas shopping - ready for the long haul!  I don't have much left to do but did pick up a few more presents today, which can be ticked off my list :)  
Now I don't want to jinx things but I am feeling slightly more organised this year. I think perhaps it's knowing I have Alice three times a week and, therefore, need to be more organised.

Whatever it is, I'm hoping for a fairly stress free December and the chance to keep up with Journal Your Christmas/December Daily. I'm still not 100% how I'm doing this but think it'll be a combination of the two.

xx

Lily Isabelle

Earlier this morning we became grandparents again. Lily Isabelle was born to Jon's daughter Michelle and her husband Matthew and weighed in at 10lb 4oz.  Lily will be a little sister for Josh (9) and I just know he's going to be such a good big brother to her.  We're excited to get to see all the family and to meet Lily soon. 

At this stage I don't have any photos but you can bet as soon as I have, I'll post one here :)   *Photo now added :)

Huge congratulations to Michelle and Matthew. Well done, Michelle, we're really proud of you, time to now enjoy cuddles with your new daugher :)

xx

December album

Today I started putting together an album for December. I'm still not 100% sure how I'm playing it this year but just getting it finished would be good!  I've decided to keep it small and simple using a 6 x 6 American Crafts album and keeping the template the same, though the page with the photos can be turned for either portrait or landscape shots.

This gives an idea of what the finished pages will look like.
xx

Because my last post didn't have a photo ;o)

iPhone photos from today :o)

 Alice's hair is starting to get in her eyes so today I tied it up while she had her lunch

Going for a walk this afternoon - I put the mittens on first and both they and the hat stayed on the whole way round.

xx

PS  If you're in the UK, please still read the post below. Thanks :o)

Online scrapbook shops

Just a quick post.

I used to shop online at Artbase but it seems to no longer be online.  Does anyone else buy scrapbook supplies online in the UK and if so, could you please let me know which online shop you use.  I know there are a number around but I don't have the time at the moment to look through all of them.

Thanks :)
xx

Alice's first year (photo heavy)

Can you believe Alice is now one year old! 

I thought I'd take the opportunity to choose a random photo from each month of her first year (plus a couple more ;o)  )

 Just minutes old and who could have guessed how much we'd all love her and enjoy spending as much time as possible with her. I became a bragging Grandma overnight :o)

 With Uncle Hugh

 and Aunty Em.

We were so lucky to have Claire, Craig and Alice living with us and getting to spend so much time with the new family.

 Christmas Day 2010

 2 months old

 3 months old

 With Great Aunty Debbie at 4 months

 5 months

 6 months

 At 7 months

 8 months

 9 months

 10 months

 11 months

 And on Friday, ONE YEAR OLD :o)

Trying to open presents with her teeth lol!

It was so lovely to spend time with Alice on her first birthday. Claire had a little party at the flat for her friends with children, in the morning, and then we had a family tea at our house in the afternoon.

Thank you Alice for such a fun filled year, you've brought so much joy to our lives and I feel so very lucky to be your Grandma. I can't wait to watch you grow and develop over the coming year and spend lots more time with you. I love you more than I could have imagined xxx