Memorykeeping: a peek

Memorykeeping has always been important to me. My parents kept a handmade baby album for me, bursting from its binding with cards, drawings, photos and teeny gym certificates. They also kept scrapbooks from every trip they took: Dad collected endless pamphlets and ticket stubs, and Mum wrote the captions for photos. When we were old enough to write, my parents encouraged both my sister and I to keep travel diaries. I'm so pleased that they persisted once the novelty wore off for us - they are priceless keepsakes. The habit took hold, and as a young adult adventuring around the world I found myself collecting ticket stubs, postcards and feathers, and although it sometimes felt like it was becoming a bit of a nuisance to pause and reflect when excitement beckoned, I would stay firm about writing a diary entry and pasting in the day's collection of papers and beautiful things.

The past month or so I have been working on Saskia's baby album. Watching the beautiful leather bound album triple in size. I'm nearly finished sticking in the bits and pieces I've collected over the last few years, but I still need to go back and write on each page. When I'm finished I'd love to post a little about it.

I've always been inspired by Ronnie's memorykeeping process. It's why I was a teeny bit beside myself when she put the call out for the Life:Captured workshop and I signed up straightaway. I've been counting down since early June. I'm travelling to Sydney and I'll spend my first two night's away from Saskia...

Little One Baby magazine

Oh dear. I've not been here in this space much lately and now when I do post it's a blatant brag!

Saskia's room was featured in the latest issue of Little One Baby magazine. Photos were taken earlier this year by the super sweet Masha of Masha Zaric photography - and words were threaded by that talented creative spirit, Jodi.

It was hard to tell who was most proud about the article, and I think it's a tough call between Vovo (K's mum, who almost shed tears and kept repeating over and over again in Portuguese, oh what a beautiful family) and Grandfather (who managed to hunt down a copy of the magazine hours after it hit the stands). Despite a slighly goofy family portrait (!) I know it will make a treasured keepsake. Thank you Masha and Jodi and Little One Baby.

If you pick up a copy of the magazine, there is also a feature on Otis and Casper's room from How We Montessori. I adore their simple and thoughtfully considered spaces. Just a little in awe of Kylie...

*Photos by Masha Zaric photography for Little One Baby

Simple pleasures of ordinary days

...this week saw the first signs of a moody Autumn. Cool winds whipping in the afternoon mean it's time for Minestrone (K calls it Miiiiiine Strone in his best superhero voice)
...In, and
...Out
...It seems as though all her leggings are morphing into pedal pushers
...We took her to a beautiful toystore in town on one of the last days of K's holidays to choose a small treat: a little animal to add to her collection. She chose a bunny. Like the ones at her new childcare centre (oh, that's another post)
...a handmade bag of tricks for a new baby born near the sea (the son of a good family friend)
...I've started working on Saskia's handbound baby book (I go weak at the sight of that stack of deckled edges).
...Another favourite from Sculpture Garden Sunday
...Finally! A nasturtium bloom!

Joining Em and creating a collection of weekly images, recording simple pleasures of ordinary days.

Resemblance

Can you see it?

These are photographs taken when we lived in Ottawa, Canada, for a year when I was one. After posting this portrait I dug out the ring bound family albums with yellowing pages and my mum's neatly printed captions, searching for the photographs that flash in front of my eyes sometimes as I watch Saskia. That peculiar feeling when you look at your child and she seems so profoundly, intensely, strangely familiar. An odd thing to say, perhaps, but I'm sure you know what I mean.

(Oh and then there is always this).

I'm such a sucker for baby photos from the 70s and 80s. I'd love to see yours...

ps. Look at my Dad doing his best pensive Lennon look!

*I'm so touched by all the comments generated by the 52 Project, and am looking forward to discovering some new blogs. Just making myself a cup of tea...

Wishes for the New Year

K and I saw in the new year on our balcony under the twinkle of stars and fairylights. We talked about friendships, astronomy (ok, K talked and I listened) and new books.... I hadn't though about resolutions before new year's eve but I've been pondering some for a few days now. This year my resolutions aren't particularly brave or too different to what I've been doing, they seem to be a slight shift, a small change in direction. Sometimes, some years, that's all it is.

Wishing you all light and love in 2013 x

...write letters, make cards, send handwritten wishes, post clippings...do you know I'm still in the process of sending thank you cards for Saskia's 1st birthday? I'm probably about 3/4 way through a rather long list, and while it is taking me many more weeks than I had imagined, I've grown quite fond of taking my time to write out a heartfelt message (usually one or two every few days), imagining the smile a washi taped envelope might bring to someone's day. 

...finish Saskia's quilt and baby book...K will take holidays in February and I'm going to use a little bit of that time to make a good start on Saskia's baby book. The beautiful white leather bound album I bought from here sits on my desk and beckons to be filled. The quilt project I think I'll save until the cool Autumn nights.

...give handmade where possible...I made quite a few gifts for friends and family last year and I'd love to try to continue doing this this year. The response to a handmade present is always more heartening than you can imagine.

...make do...we start the year without my maternity leave & parental payments, and although we are still incredibly fortunate to have the security of K's salary, the change will mean that we have to be extra careful with (and more aware of spending) our  money. I can use what I already have in my wardrobe and craft stash with a few small thrifty purchases where necessary, and would love to learn to be a little more resourceful in the kitchen and garden. With this resolution particularly, I know I'll find inspiration in many of your blogs.

Tick

I'm hoping to get a few things ticked off the list for November:
...weeding the courtyard garden and planting herbs and nasturtiums in the balcony boxes
...organise (and rethink) our memorykeeping system
...complete a secret collaborative project, after weeks of hunting and collecting, and help launch another (more on these later...)
...send thank you cards for the Little One's birthday (I bought a few packs of these cute little guys because I'm being realistic, and if I make my own, they might just not happen....)

What projects are on your list for the month ahead?

*The blow up pool - a $1 garage sale find - proved priceless with this burst of muggy weather yesterday. Little friends, chubby legs,  pink cheeks, paparazzi mamas...

The wind in her hair

...oh she loves it, my Little One.

This is one of those things I don't want to forget. The first time it happened I almost ran the car off the road.

On warm days we drive with the windows down. She giggles with delight as the wind blows her hair upright, and she gasps with every blast and gust. Her legs kicking and arms thrown up in excitement. Pure ecstasy.

Could there be anything more wonderful than the feeling of wind in your hair?

...

Speaking of beautiful memories, I am feeling so inspired by the memorykeeping of this Mama. I've finally ordered a special handcrafted journal for the Little One's baby book, which I can't wait to arrive on our doorstep...and I'm so very taken with Project Life (especially Ronnie's clean and focused approach) that I'll be starting up on January 1, 2012. Yikes, there it is in writing...

*I just can't decide where to put my dream catcher - a treasure from this short and sweet holiday. At the moment it is strung up on our balcony where I can see it from my favourite armchair. It's been my most favourite purchase in a long time.

Anew

When I started writing this blog Saskia was only weeks off being conceived. I initially posted as a way of keeping Little Sister in London and my dearest friend (and cousin) in New Jersey updated, but my posts soon turned into a way of documenting my pregnancy and, eventually, my little one's first year. I keep posting, as a way of memory keeping. Writing things down in a place I can come back to when it comes time to collate a baby book for Saskia. Dates, firsts, reflections, that will end up on paper pages, next to the hospital bracelet, the tag from the first (carefully selected) jumpsuit bought for our yet-to-be-born baby, and cards from family and friends that are tucked away in two desk drawers. I might make it in time for Christmas. I'm not too worried. I know it will happen, it's important to me.

I've been thinking of making a few small changes to this space though. Inspired by other bloggers who come and comment on my posts. (I'm always so touched). I'd love to write some posts that extend beyond keeping memories, invite more of a conversation. I didn't dare before. But now...I'm feeling a little brave.

*This card was given to me at my baby shower by my 9 year old cousin. It was tucked away in one of those drawers, but now I have it pinned up. A reminder that our baby is perffect (for us).

Memorykeeping

My memory is notoriously bad, so I'm pretty pleased that I've been keeping track of my pregnancy through this blog. It's been a great way to document changes and reflect on various aspects of this remarkable/crazy/beautiful process of growing a baby.

As lovely as it is to be able to scroll through photos and text, I have to admit I'm a 'flick through the pages of real albums' kinda gal. I'm hoping to print most of the photos and rewrite some of the posts from this blog and include them in a baby book for the little one.

My parents kept a baby book for me - a simple, foolscap lined scrapbook, covered in sweet baby gift wrap with the hospital portrait placed proudly on the front. When I was young, I spent many hours pouring over these pages which were filled with photos, nicknames, my drawings and baby cards. I loved the thought that my parents found all these keepsakes and memories so important and worth treasuring.

I already have a baby book ready for the little one but fancy the idea of also keeping this book from Kikki K for a day-to-day record of the first year. Have you kept baby books/memory boxes for your little one? Or seen any other lovely ways of recording these special times?

Ps. You would have thought that I could have been a little kinder to my poor exhausted parents on Christmas Eve...