Introducing...

... Alexander Edward, born 11/11/08 at 10.15am, weighing 6lb 3oz.

(Pictured here at 17 days old.)

I went overdue again and made it to 41 weeks, same as with Harry, and this time my labour was really fast once it got going - we almost didn't make it to the hospital in time!

Apologies for not updating before now, life with a newborn and almost four-year-old is pretty hectic! Alex is so easy, he feeds, he sleeps and he poos, that's about it for now, and it's usually pretty easy to work out what he's after, and he's a good sleeper. Harry is at that challenging age and I can't take my eyes off him for a second or he's climbing on this, colouring on that. He loves being a big brother though and is constantly kissing and hugging poor Alex!

As for me I'm feeling great, so much better for not having drugs in labour (once it was over anyway!) and we came home the same afternoon. Now I'm trying to keep our routine as normal as possible for Harry and Alex is fitting in just nicely.

I love being a mummy to a newborn again, I'm so lucky. Although Alex has already changed so much - make him stop!

Natalie x

1 month and couting!

Only one month (and one day) to go until my due date, I can't believe how fast the time is flying. I can't wait to meet my baby and to hopefully put an end to all my pelvic pain and discomfort, but I have really come to love my bump again. It's the last bump I'll have and I'll miss it. So I thought I better get a couple more photos to remember it by. This is a picture of me wearing a lovely new Isabella Oliver top I decided to treat myself to during a recent sale (and I'm so pleased I did, it's truly gorgeous and I feel so nice in it) and I've used some Photoshop trickery to make the colours 'pop' a little. I had no idea how to scrap it, but looking at LOs online containing the colour blue I found this lovely colour combination worked really well, and, with a bit of hand cutting here and ribbon threading there, this is what happened.



I had meant to scrap about the highs and lows of this pregnancy, with hidden journaling, but somehow it just didn't seem to fit here so I'll have to do that another time. Still, I'm really pleased with this one.

I just need to convince my mum to do a professional photo shoot with me soon so I have a better range of flattering photos to keep and that are good enough to frame.

Back soon.

Natalie x

Scraps and crops

Ok, I didn't get time to pop on and show you the stash I bought at the Harrogate Papercrafts show, but really there wasn't that much. I was a bit disappointed as even my favourite stalls were stocking the same stuff as last time, and there were no new releases. I still managed to get a few bargains, but nothing really exciting. I think a trip to Ally Pally is in order next year - will have to save up for that one though!


On Saturday we had our first little Paper Chasers crop in Leeds and it was lovely. I even managed to sit and complete this double LO, although it did take me all day as I was tired and just couldn't get going to start with. Anyway, it's about the new nursery (which is finally complete, hurrah!) and will go in the pregnancy album I'm trying to keep up with. I'm 35 weeks now so better get a move on really!


I'm not sure how much more scrapping I'll get done before the new baby is born now as I'm working from home during the day and then am too tired on an evening to even think about getting anything out and started. Hopefully once I go on maternity leave in a fortnight I might have a burst of energy and can set my mind to it - once I'm done nesting and have got the house in order that is!

Bye for now. :)

Natalie x

Nursery projects... and a warm welcome

I promised I would be back soon with photos of the projects I've finished for the baby's nursery, using my new sewing machine. The cushion covers were put together really quickly. The cot bumper took a little longer, but was simply a case of covering a plain white Ikea one with fabric I bought to co-ordinate with the rest of the neutral decor (yes, we know the sex but I just prefer these colours!). I have a matching 12x12 scrapbook and can't wait to get started on scrapping pictures of our new bundle.

Now the nursery wardrobe has finally arrived I'm hoping we can get it finished in the next few days. In the meantime, here's a quick sneaky peek.

Last, but by no means least, a warm welcome to anyone visiting from the pages of Scrapbook Inspirations magazine. I'm delighted to have my blog featured in the 'Blogs we love' section this month. I haven't seen my copy yet - I can't wait though!

I'll probably be back tomorrow after a little jaunt to the Great Northern Papercraft Extravaganza in Harrogate for a few scrapbooking goodies - it's well worth a visit if anyone's in the area.

Catch you soon.

x

Branching out

This final layout (see my posts below) was created using our first family photo in, well, a long time, and also marks the last official picture of the three of us as we count down to becoming a foursome. I have thrown together a whole bunch of stuff to complete this, but my favourite has to be the 'family' button I picked up in Walmart while on holiday in Florida last year. I'm so glad to have finally found the perfect use for it.

I'd like to buy some 12x12 and 8x8 frames and hang some of my favourite layouts on the walls of our new home - and I think this one must go up.

Right, dessert and bed I think. I have some photos to share of the cushions and cot bumper I have made for the baby's nursery, and hopefully photos of the finished nursery very soon, so I promise to come back soon. :)

x

Babies, babies, babies!

I have been trying (and failing miserably) to keep up with my pregnancy album and also catch up on scrapping Harry's young baby photos before this little one arrives. I was getting there slowly, although I've developed a pregnancy-related condition called SPD, which makes sitting and scrapping quite painful after a short while. This means I haven't done as much scrapping recently as I would have liked.

But here's what I've done so far:

I've also used the yummy new Crate Paper range to spruce up this bargain basement baby keepsake box I picked up in TKMaxx for about £6 (including a baby foot/hand casting kit - bargain!). It was a bit grubby and plain, but I soon sorted that out. I already have my scan photos, CD and DVD in there and can't wait to fill it full of cute little baby things like I have with Harry's keepsake box.

And finally, here a few of Harry's baby layouts, which I made using a Crate Paper boy-themed kit.

Ok, I'm now off to create another new post as I have one final layout to showcase and it's not letting me upload any more photos to this one! Be right back. :)

x

Introducing... our baby!

Well, not exactly! We had a 4D scan and got to see what our unborn baby looks like, a lot like Harry I think! It was so amazing, we saw the umbilical cord, thumb sucking and even hair in 2D mode, and then facial features up close and a smile too in 4D mode.

Here are a couple of pictures and I'll see if I can work out how to post the video clips.

I can't believe this baby will be here in our arms in about eight weeks, yikes!

Right, back in a while to upload my recent pregnancy and baby layouts as I've got a bit behind, sorry!

x

A couple more...

Just popping on to upload a couple more LOs.

This one's a scraplift I did a week or so ago. The pictures were taken of me by my friend Rachel (thanks Rachel) on the Leeds Paper Dolls weekend crop in Cumbria. And I finally used the lovely new Blue Awning papers too.

And this one's another scraplift of a LO in Scrapbook Trends magazine. My dh took the pictures of our son while visiting the park a couple of weeks ago, and the subject is his new-found voice and all the questions he asks now he can talk really well. I can't believe how fast he's growing up, sob!

Got to go, back soon!

Natalie xxx

Paris and scrapping frenzy!

We are back in the UK after five wonderful but totally exhausting days staying in Paris with an old school friend. It was scorching hot every day (and night!) and we spent most of it walking, round Paris, round parks, round zoos and round Euro Disney. Harry loved it and we all had a great time.

Despite only getting back in the late hours of Wednesday, I have already completed a mini album of our trip. It's a 6x6 acrylic album full of photos, journalling and mementoes such as tickets and receipts - it's the first time I've scrapped onto acrylic and I have decided I really like it and want to do some larger LOs now.

Anyway, here it is. Sorry about the poor photo quality but it's almost dark, I couldn't find the DSLR and if I don't upload these now I'll never get round to doing it!

So what else is new? Not much really. Baby is now very active and enjoying kicking poor mummy quite hard frequently. Harry is talking really fluently and we just can't shut him up! Not that we would want to of course! But I just can't believe the progress he has made in just a couple of months. We took him to see Wall.E today having seen the trailer at Euro Disney - it was his first cinema outing and he behaved really well, so we'll have to try and go a few more times before the baby is born and the three of us become four - scary thought! And only about 14 weeks to go, eeeeeek! I really must get caught up on the rest of my scrapping, oh, and get the nursery decorated. So much to do, so little time!

Natalie x x x

Yep, it's time for my monthly/bi-monthly/bi-annual update once again, and hasn't so much happened in the last month?!

First of all we had our 20-week scan, well three scans actually, and so three scans and one very awkward baby later we were told all is well and we found out we are having a baby .... (highlight the next bit for the big reveal, just in case you're one of the few who don't want to know!)... boy! We're thrilled and Harry is too. Here's a picture.

And here's a recent photo and LO of me, Harry and bump, made using the gorgeous July Scrapagogo kit (a scraplift) ...

Last weekend I went away with my fellow Leeds Paper Doll girlies to Cumbria for a weekend of scrapping, swimming and eating (well the weather wouldn't have allowed for much else!). I actually managed to get quite a few LOs done too, result!

Family day out in February...

Harry playing in the giant sandpit at Eureka (scraplift)...

Harry playing in our back garden in June...

FIL and BIL at Brimham Rocks last spring (scraplift from the June Scrapagogo magazine) ...

Harry and his auntie at Christmas '07...

And Harry being too shy to eat in front of his great auntie last year.

And here's one my good friend Rachel (reward) took of me, which I love (thanks hun!)

As for scrapping, Harry's baby album is well underway so I can catch up before this next one arrives, and my pregnancy album is coming along nicely too, although it's probably time I got a couple more LOs done in that. I'm really enjoying working with 12x12 again at the moment, which means I must have gained a bit of confidence lately as it just seemed too big a space to fill before and I stuck to 8x8, which I'm now finding a bit restrictive.

Anyway, that's me for now. I seem to be scrapping a little more at the moment, and enjoying it too, so hopefully I'll be back to update again soon. I will try!

Natalie x

Lots of photos :)

Finally had chance to upload some of the photographs I took at the weekend, and some of the LOs and projects I completed thanks to the wonderful class teachers too.

Based on Jennie's sketch challenge...

Based on Ifa's sketch challenge...

My LO from Fiona's Button It workshop...

My mini album from Shimelle's Quirky Little Miss Fit class...

And here are some photos I took during the weekend...

the hotel...

the treehouse...

the crop room...

the shop (first time I'd seen it empty right at the end!)...

the Scrapagogo team...

More added at: http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/Natbag82/GoGoGetaway/

Still got a few more to upload, but maybe later, this baby is wearing me out and bed is calling!

Night for now. :)

Natalie x x x

P.S. Also check out Cheryl's blog for her fantastic photo slideshow of the weekend: http://www.feelgoodphotos.com/blog/