babyhood
two years ago...
12 February 2019
Last time I was downloading work photos from a flash card that I don't normally use, I found all these pictures of baby Leify when he was about 2 months old. I can't believe how round his face was!
His sister was besotted with him, and still is actually! He will be 3 years old next month, his sister is 6 and a half.
I was alone whilst in labour (my choice) and just had two midwives rush in when I was about to push...I remember being so shocked when he came out that he didn't have dark hair and his legs were long and skinny and didn't look anything like P...I almost handed him back saying 'um, no you gave me the wrong one', they said 'it's a boy!', and I said 'no way!!!' as if I hadn't thought it was a possibility. Strange to think I grew a male, but there you go.
These are all the crazy toys I made for them, having a party on the sofa...
I made that Lion for him when I took these photos, it has a squeaker in it which made him go nuts!
for Iris
5 October 2017
In May of this year I had the privilege to meet my beautiful baby niece Iris Ava, who, so sadly passed away during the early stages of labour.
She had dark brown hair like her mum, and her nose was just like my brother's. She was so perfect in every way.
She is and always will be my niece, a member of our family. She is special and unique, and as important as any other baby.
Her mum, Marie, is my friend since middle school, and her dad, Blaise, is my eldest brother. They waited many many years to have a baby, and when they were told that it would be unlikely, they accepted this sadly may not happen for them.
But then, like a miracle, she became pregnant and the pregnancy went very well without any problems...all was perfectly normal and I was so utterly happy for them.
Iris died at 41 weeks pregnant. Just before they arrived at the hospital. The doctors believe it was due to an infection which had happened very suddenly and completely unbeknownst to her mum.
We are so totally heartbroken for them.
'Iris was our baby girl.
She was unable to stay, some people say, she was too beautiful for earth.
Why she was taken away will never make sense to us,
we had waited so long for her, it felt like a life time...
...and now we have to live another lifetime without her.
Those silent moments we had with her, we will treasure.
She will live on in our hearts forever.''
by Marie, (Iris' mum).
There is really nothing to console a parent who has lost their child, but we can help Iris' memory live on, and give her a place in the world which was denied her at the last minute.
We came up with the idea to raise money on her behalf.
Together with Iris' mum, we have designed and produced a little necklace to commemorate her, and raise money for Tommys.org, the baby charity, helping to save babies lives.
It brings comfort to know that others may know her name, know of her existence and know how treasured she will always be.
Too many babies are stillborn each year in the UK and very often no cause can be found.
By raising awareness and researching the causes of Stillbirth and promoting warning signs that may save even just one of these babies, then Iris would have helped to make the biggest imprint to the world that a person can make.
A tiny teardrop of amethyst, the colour of an iris flower.
All of the sale price will be donated to Tommy's in the name of Iris Ava. If you would like to purchase an Iris' necklace, head over to our jewellery website (while stocks last) >
Or you can donate independently via Iris' 'In memory page' (any amount will be very gratefully received)> https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/irisava
For more information about the charity, Tommy's, please visit their website here> https://www.tommys.org
And 'good to know' information here too> http://gbss.org.uk
Follow Tommy's on Facebook to receive up-to-date warning sign information and things to look out for, as well as expert advice and support from the Tommy's midwife team.
We were so surprised how completely uninformed about the risks of stillbirth and Strep B most women are (including ourselves). There are still many misconceptions of what is normal during pregnancy.
Thank you so much for reading 😌
London in May
3 June 2017
We have been on a few adventures of late...ending up in the Portobello area of London one evening on a sticky sweaty hot car ride from the Island...I was in search of a particular minerals shop but unfortunately they did not allow photos, alas my story of it will end here. shame. but we did have a pleasant stroll about with two sticky tots in tow.
As sure as day becomes night, if I step foot in a shop that interests me, a certain four year old will yell 'toileeeeeet' in 0.2 seconds.
She finds half dead flowers on the street and will treat them as if they are the most treasureful treasure that ever could be...
We found some nice shops, like Pedlars...and the Cloth Shop where they kindly let us borrow their toilet.
In the sweltering London heat (21 degrees) we headed towards some water, the canal walk towards the water fountains at Kings Cross, which I must say is an exceedingly nice way to spend a day, and very well recently developed.
Industrial relics turned into a beautiful garden...
And this lock and victorian lock keepers cottage set against a towering brand new metropolis.
The kids went bonkers for this, we were there until sunset.
During this trip we had a few formalities to attend to at the Japanese Embassy, and so that led us to Green Park, which is a very lovely little park quite quiet compared to the bigger Hyde Park next door.
Mr Leafy beheaded some daisies and gave them to me, I weeped like a baby.
We found a nice cafe in Hyde Park with lovely playground.
...and then we found the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, and P announced that she even preferred it to the Kings Cross water fountains. We were all very impressed with it and stayed until it closed.
P and I found a lovely stall in the market selling Japanese things. We loved everything but didn't buy anything, which is often the way when one loves everything I think?
I did buy some plants from Grace and Thorn though, and P found a half dead flower treasure on the floor which they allowed her to keep. So she was happy for the rest of the day.
On the ferry back home was the most beautiful sunset and we were all glad to be home.
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