Belinda Jane

Memorykeeper. Mother. Maker

Layout Share – Best Girl

 

In between caring for a newborn and taming a toddler over my summer break from uni, I was able to work on quite a few scrapbook layouts which made me so happy. When it’s been a while I forget how much fun it is to play with product and make pretty things.

I’ve been watching LOADS of YouTube videos from various papercrafters and memory keepers around the world and have felt really inspired to do more with my layouts and put my mountains of product to good use. I also signed up to a couple of Victoria Marie’s online classes to pick up some inspiration and tricks for layering. A link to her blog (and classes) is available here .

I put this layout together after getting through a few of the lessons in the Layering Like A Boss classes. And honestly, it took a really long time to come together. Like any new skill, I guess it’s something that will get easier with practice. But I am really happy with the finished product and I can’t wait to try using more layering techniques and clustering of embellishments on future layouts.

The papers for this layout came from a Studio Calico kit. I believe it was the Birds and the Bees scrapbook kit. And most of  the embellishments have come from digging through my stash. There are also a few leaf-y die cuts which I cut out with my silhouette cameo.

Some close-up photos are below.  

I Want to Remember: Part 4

Life with Jack

 
I want to remember how quickly he has found a place in my heart.
 
I want to remember how all the fears and worries that I had about bringing a new baby into the world and having a little boy melted away the moment I laid my eyes on him.
 
I want to remember those precious days that I had to spend with him in the hospital.
Although I so desperately missed being at home, missed Violet and missed Lee, I am so grateful to have had a few days alone with my baby boy.
 
I want to remember how much my heart swells each time I look at him.
 
I want to remember how his sweet little breath smells.
 
I want to remember his hilarious cry with the high pitched girly squeal.
 
I want to remember how small and sweet and fragile he feels in my arms.
 
I want to remember that he is going to grow so quickly and that I will never again have this time again.
 
I want to remember to take every opportunity to slow down and just BE with him while I can.
 
I want to remember how beautiful it is to see how much Violet loves him and how affectionate she is with him.
 
I want to remember that although things are going to get tough over the next few months and there will be times that I will struggle to cope with caring for this newborn soul, it will all be worth it.
 
I want to remember that although I know I will end up wishing the time away when things are difficult, I need to cherish every precious moment that I have with him that I can.
 
I want to remember to make time for him, that he needs me to hold him and love him as much as possible.
 
I want to remember how happy I am to have him here to complete our family.

I want to remember: Part 1

Life with Violet

 

I want to remember how this morning she spontaneously said “I love you” to me during breakfast.

I want to remember her crazy hair and the cute little curls that are nearly impossible to tame.

I want to remember her inquisitive and adventurous nature. That she wants to climb everything, run everywhere and jump off everything. That she wants to get into everything, pull everything apart and put things inside other things.

I want to remember that when she says her name, it sounds like she’s saying “Pirate”.

I want to remember how much she loves to sing and dance. I hope she always will.

I want to remember how caring and kind she can be. The way that her little face drops when someone else is sad or crying and how she responds by touching or offering a cuddle.

I want to remember how much she loves to play with Ella and how they chase each other around the house.

I want to remember how much she needs me right now and so often wants to me to pick her up. Even if it drives me a bit crazy. I know that it won’t be long until she doesn’t need or want me at all and I’ll wish for this time again.

I want to remember that the first thing she asks most mornings is “where Daddy gone?”

I want to remember the smell of her breath.

I want to remember how she has randomly started dropping the f-bomb in perfect context and how hard it is for me not to giggle or react when she does.

I want to remember how much she loves to read books and how quickly she’s learning to read along with them.

I want to remember how much my heart swells when I check on her at night before I go to bed.

I want to remember listening to her in her room when she’s supposed to be sleeping or has just woken up and sings at the top of her lungs. Especially “allll dayyy yyong”.

I want to remember all the funny little mannerisms she’s already picked up. The sideways glance. The cute little head nod when she thinks she’s getting her way. The finger wagging at me when she’s trying to get me to do something. The “huh?” when she’s asked a question she doesn’t understand or doesn’t know the answer to.

I want to remember how much she loves her pink glitter gumboots.

I want to remember how she has started kissing and cuddling my belly as it has gotten bigger.

I want to remember how precious this time is, where it’s just the three of us and she is our entire world.

 

 

Photo credit: Rachel Roscoe of Milky Art Photography

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