My baby!

As I have done a bit of reminiscing this week about what it was like when my little lovely was a baby, I thought I would post one of my favourite baby photographs of him.  This is such a special photo for me as I remember it as though it happened yesterday, the way he would get excited at seeing this particular teddy come round on the mobile - he loved it so much, the other 3 were ok, but this one - well his face and arms say it all!

He was literally only a few weeks old in this photograph, his body would jerk straight out with his arms rising into the air, fists clenched, eyes sparkling and desperately trying to shout at the teddy as it went round.  He of course couldn't sit up of move towards it yet, but my did he want to and try.  It was so hysterical to watch, I loved watching him (and still do), listening to his sounds of joy and seeing him drool with excitement.  

The other hysterical and probably my most favourite expression of all was that of his "punch drunk" expression that he used to have every time he had had his fill of boob milk - again priceless, but I don't have a photo of that expression that one is not in print but it is well and truly imprinted in my mind and will be with me forever, reminding me that if for no other reason, I did one thing so great that I got this reaction and therefore I did something really right!

I just love my little lovely so so much.  Each and every day have been such a joy with him and I can honestly say both Anders and I think our lives are made so much better for having him in our lives.  There is not one day that has been more enjoyable than the others, there is something lovely and special about each and every day with him.  I know I am gushing, but Anders and I really do feel so honoured to know him and to be his Mummy and for Anders to be his Daddy!

Flashback Fashion Disaster!

I just shrieked and then laughed when I found these two photos - the 80's were a fashion disaster, but at the time, I thought I was cool - why?!!!  I will put it down to too much hairspray and some of it numbing my brain!

Me on the left back next to my sister with my mum in front of us. 

me around 1980 - 1982 what was I thinking, the bad hair, make up full stop, hair thing (and what is that accessory, oh my) and earrings yuck, yuck, yuck!.  I remember this photo so well, and when (and if) I find the others you will see I was wearing a white cropped top and matching skirt which sat on the hip which showed off my mid-drift (Madonna) style - dear oh dear!!!  I know I didn't have a muffin top though back then, clearly something!

Old photos from the 50's & early 60's.

My mum was an amazing woman.  I know a lot of people say that about their Mothers, but in my case I say this because I just cannot imagine having had the life she had.  She died 8 months after Dexter was born, and here are some photos which I have looked out which I will share.  The photos (except for 1) appear to have taken place before she met my real father which was around 1953, so I am guessing these were taken in Derby as that is where she first lived when she arrived in the UK after the war at the age of 15/16 with only a suitcase.

Mum first arriving in the UK where she chose to be her home after the war having lost her whole family and being the only surviving member of it.  I do not know any of the other people in the photograph, but I think they may have lived in the dorms she stayed in, or worked in the cotton factory where she first had employment.   My Mother is the lady at the front on the right, not looking happy (understandably) with a dark coat draped over her shoulders.  She was aged about 16 here and had spent the ages of 7+ in Siberia and Africa.

My lovely Mother, I think this picture has such a charm to it.

My Mother the lady on the right with I don't know who!

My Mother in the back row celebrating Christmas, again, don't know who with!

My mother a bridesmaid.  Don't know whose wedding it was.

My Mother on the far right, and wish I knew what her and the other bridesmaid were thinking and talking about!

This is a shot from the early to mid 60's in Poland, I think!

My Mother on the left this time, don't know who with but looks like she was on a date but don't know who with or if that is the case!

My Mother, perhaps on another date!  Don't know who with though.

Same date as above I assume as same ladies are wearing the same dresses.  My Mother on the right and I think looking very lovely.

Again, think same date, my Mother facing the camera.  I think she looked lovely.

My Mother on the left front, not looking so happy though!  Don't know who the other people are.

My Mother looking very smart.

My Mother on the right, love the coat she is wearing on what I assume to be a date!  Ha, ha, ha, I am laughing as if she were around I would be teasing her on her "pulling" power - and good for her (she will be shaking her fist and laughing at me for saying this too).

Miami Beach, The Keys, Wedding!

Firstly, I promised in my earlier post this week that I would post a flashback photo from the wedding where Ingrid Sophie Von Schram was bridesmaid at Ander's brother's wedding. She is the one on the left in front of Laura my sister-in-law and Ingrid is the Bleu de Chanel model the advert of which was shot by Martin Scorsese - I was impressed!

It has been a busy week so didn't have time to look out others, but I did come across these ones last week which brings Anders and I both very fond memories. They were taken with our lovely friends who then moved to NZ - Lloyd & Laura when we went on holiday together to the Florida Keys 10 years ago in April!

Lovely Lloyd

Lovely Laura

Me and Anders of course!

The Dolphin I was gutted I couldn't swim with because.......

I was pregnant with Dexter and was not allowed to go into the sanctuary with them! I cannot complain as I had been diving about the year before in the Red Sea with a 7 wild dolphins. That said it didn't stop me from wanting to jump in but I didn't, I resisted.

Dexter also made me cut my hair short and generally be a tomboy during the 9 months he was in my spare room. As I was about 10 weeks pregnant during this holiday he did get to go snorkeling with nurse sharks in the safety of my tummy. I knew I couldn't go diving, but I was not going to miss an opportunity to go snorkeling which turned out to be a fantastic trip with lobsters and nurse sharks a trip I remember clearly to this day along with all the other fantastic stuff we experienced in Miami Beach & the Florida Keys. Love Miami Beach & The Keys.

Whilst Dexter growing in my tummy he turned me off all the yummy seafood's which was very frustrating as the produce on this holiday were so delicious (normally to me)! Finding these photos and remembering the trip just makes me smile! It was the first holiday Lloyd & Laura went on together too, and I remember Lloyd buying Laura a beautiful ring with a huge pink stone as it was her favourite colour - how sweet is that.

Then later that year I gave birth to a son who we named Dexter, and he has been a pleasure to be with ever since. Interestingly, he loves food and has not had any funny food cravings or dislikes - who would have thought!

I also have to say a big thank you again to Lloyd for teaching me hypnosis prior to giving birth which I used when delivering Dexter. As a result of these lessons my birthing experience became another great diving trip for me with the aid of hypnosis, the snorkelling trip on this holiday, lots of gas & air, a good old helping of diamorphine and finally general anaesthetic!!! Loved it and would do it all again as I have only great memories of giving birth - shocked - I can understand - but it is all true so thank you Lovely Lloyd for teaching me hypnosis and tricking my mind!!!

Ingrid Sophie Von Schram

OMG, just watching the telly, and the Bleu de Chanel advert came on and who was on it but the girl from the table from my brother in law's wedding and the girl I thought was so lovely they based the princess in the film Enchanted on her. I of course couldn't stop laughing at her speech so I was indeed the wicked witch Susan Sarandon!

I will now look out more photos from the wedding (although I did post the happy couple on an earlier Flashback Friday) and I will post them later this week. I felt quite the hag at that wedding as both my brother-in-law (on Anders side of course!) and sister-in-law are catwalk models and so the place had so many beautiful long legged people there.

Even wearing heals, I was an oompa-loompa next to her, and actually rather apt me using this today also as it is Roald Dahl day!

Bill - a really cool guy.

Bill is just such a cool guy. He has travelled all over the place (he is the one we got the Boogie man armour from which I wrote about in June and lives in the Dreamy House). He has such fantastic tales to tell in addition to which he has great taste and is just such an all round lovely guy. He is in his 60's now, and I just think he is terrific.

When we visited him at his house last, we got to looking through some old photographs of when he was younger and they were so great that I asked if I could take some away and photograph them as I wanted to get copies of them. So here the are:-

A Scottish American Wedding

Two Years ago on the 12th July, we were in up state New York celebrating Anders brother wedding to Laura. It was a hot summer day, but despite that, kilts were worn! I love these two photographs of Dexter and Anders!

The happy couple were truly beautiful and it was a lovely day with so much for them to look forward to together.

So Happy Anniversary Jonny & Laura.