Family Photo Session

Before I became a mum there was a number of things that I thought I wouldn't ever do;

- Bring the baby into bed
  Wise up, sometimes I just need to sleep.

-Allow my house to become a multicoloured plastic toy fest
*Sigh*

-Get a family photo shoot, spending money on photos when everyone has cameras on their phones      anyways.  And give the photos as 'presents' at christmas time.  And post the photos all over  Facebook, and force everyone with a set of eyes to look at them.
I did all that.  I'm not even sorry, getting a family photo shoot is a brilliant idea, and I'll tell you why..

I discovered Jonathan Ryder Photography through a friend.  Laura is getting married in 2015 and has become an expert in wedding shows.  Jonathan Ryder was an exhibiter at one of these shows and she followed his blog.   He posted calling for families looking for a family photo shoot, he was offering an enticing deal in exchange for the right to use the images in his portfolio.  To be honest I had never considered a family shoot until I read his post.  As I sat in work I read the post on my phone.  I reflected on how much time had passed already.  How did I end up back at work already? Maternity leave was over.  Joel was no longer a wee baby, in fact he had just learnt how to walk all on his own that week.
I responded to his blog and he agreed to come and see us for a family photo shoot.

Jonathan arrived at the house and of course Joel was napping.   What bad timing.  But Jonathan didn't bat an eyelid, he has plenty of experience of the magical routine blips of babies that rear their heads around important plans.  A father himself, he knew the importance of allowing Joel to nap in order to have him in good form for the photo session.  Jonathan relaxed on our sofa and had a cup of tea.  He chatted about his family, why he moved to Belfast and his thoughts about where he would send his child to school.  He was a quiet man but friendly, it was very comfortable to have him in our home.  We were totally at ease with him.  And so was Joel.  He was snoozing on Phil's knee on the sofa.  With the gentle noise of us chatting he openned his eyes.  He sat up on Phil's knee and gave Jonathan a huge grin.  He dropped down off the sofa, toddled over to Jonathan's side, placed a hand on his knee and gave him a giggle.  Brilliant, I knew that this shoot would go well, Joel had already made friends with Jonathan.

Jonathan sprung into action.  He brought in his equipment, assessed the lighting in our flat and rearranged the furniture.
There was no posing, no stiff awkward positioning, no forced smiles.  The afternoon evolved naturally,  Joel playing and practicing his new walking skills.  Jonathan was patient and responsive to Joel's mood and whims.  Joel was facinated by the camara equipment and then when that wore off we used the magic of the noisey rattle to get him to look at the camara direction.
Jonathan spent over 2 hours with us and only made a move to leave when Joel was showing signs of tiredness.  He gave us a jolly goodbye with the promise that the photos would follow soon.

I was stunned by the photos that he produced.
Yes, they are high quality beautiful images, but I don't even care about that (sorry Jonathan).  I am not a person for the tiny details and I am unsure if I would notice the quality of images hanging on peoples walls.  And every photo I own of Joel is beautiful, even the blurry ones on my Iphone.  I do not need a professional to produce a photo of my child for me to find it beautiful.  What is unique about these photos is that it captures beautifully a snap shot of Joel's development, of his wee personality, of our family happiness in images for us to display.  Having Jonathan come to our home rather than to direct us to a studio has added an extra warmness and personal nature to the photos.  They are natural and warm and exactly how I see our family life.  I feel like Jonathan has pinpointed what is important to us in these photo's.   I just adore them, and since some of you aren't within grabbing distance for me to force your head to look at my images let me share some of my (many) favourites here with you.

I've been on the record as saying this many times, who needs toys??  Joel is a natural explorer and this image shows his natural curiosity.

I love this wee snap shot of a natural family moment, in our own kitchen.  

Look at my two men having a wee chat, I love that his moment has been captured. 

Joel ready for a carry on, this was snapped as we were playing peek-a-boo popping up from behind the sofa.  I know my hair is messy but that is everyday motherhood, eh?  For me it just adds to the natural nature of the image, a real family moment captured. 

These images were captured just as Joel had found the confidence to take off by himself.  This photo, taken mid-waddle, just reminds me of his wee awkward amble at this stage.  His wee finger pointing where he wants to go, his face mixed with concentration at what he is trying to achieve and smiling with excitement at his new skill. 

I hope you can see why I love these images.  To me this is no ordinary photo shoot, rather a selection of images captured from a day in the life of our family.  I am so happy that I became one of those people that gets a family photo shoot.  When we pack up and move to our new house next month i am looking forward to finding the perfect place and hanging these memories on the wall, memories of Joel's first year in our first family home.  

Toys for Toddlers

Is that an appropriate title for this wee blog?  I'm not sure if Joel is a toddler.  He has only turned 1 year old this month but he has been walking since the age of 9 months.  He seems too young to be called a toddler but yet to0 mobile to be a baby.  Is there something in-between?  Pre-toddler?  Baddler?  Tody?  Answers on a postcard please.

So christmas and Joel's birthday were both less than a month ago and my house is completely overrun with shiny new toys and books.   The first christmas and the first birthdays are both big events and Joel was absolutely spoilt by our generous family and friends.  To be honest he hasn't had the opportunity to play with all of the toys properly yet.  The sheer amount of stuff is overwhelming.  But now that the glitter and excitement from the party season has settled I have removed all the toys out of sight apart from only one box.  I change the toys in this box regularly to allow Joel to rediscover toys and focus on one activity at a time.

So here are the success stories so far...

Wooden Truck

This was given to Joel by his Granda Stephen.  It was bought at Ikea, who have a great range of wooden toys.   This truck needs a good oiling as I lets out an awful squeak as you pull the string and roll it along.  The reason I haven't oiled it yet?  I'm pretty sure thats the reason Joel enjoys the toy.  He is not interested in the magnet crane that picks up the magnet blocks, he just likes to pull it along, making noise!

Incy Wincy Spider

Forgive me, I can't remember who bought this to Joel.  Does that make me an awful person?  He just got SO MUCH!  If you are reading this please make yourself known!  Joel loves this book, it is a familiar nursery rhyme to him as he sing's it at Song and Rhyme Time, a local library book.  It is also one of the regulars that we sing at home.  Joel loves Song and Rhyme time, he loves all things music. This book has a series of buttons he can press when prompted by the rhyme.  His favourite button to press plays the whole rhyme in jolly music and he has a good bum shake and head bop followed by lots of clapping.

Red Plastic Shaker

This was bought by his Nanny Heather and Granda Mike.  It is part of a bigger musical instrument set including a drum, xylophone, and clacker.  Joel also loves the clacker,  he would clack all day if I didn't remove it sometimes (cheers Nanny Heather!).  He shakes his shaker and walks in circles and shouts and roars. I'm sure he thinks that he is singing, very funny to watch.

Lawnmower

This was given to Joel by his Auntie Paula and Uncle Ray.  A forward thinking present that will serve well in our garden when we move from this flat to our new house.  Joel was cautious of this toy to begin with as the pull mechanism is very noisy but Joel soon warmed up to the lawnmower, in particular the petrol can part?!!

Bead Maze

This toy was originally a hit when Joel discovered it in 'Robert's of Bangor' when Joel was getting his feet measured for his first shoes.  Informed that the toy was from Ikea, Granny Jo put it on her list to buy for Joel for christmas.  Sometimes this toy is very serious business and Joel looks like he is hard at work concentrating when moving the beads, sometimes this to is hilarious as Joel laughs as he pushes the beads and they bang together.

 There are far to many toys to mention, and books too.  But there is a serious favourite from the party season that sits unchallenged at the top of the toy pile, and it was all contained within this small, plain box...

Yep.  Pom-poms.  My mum is a talented knitter and crocheter.  Joel loves to dive into the corners of her living room and pull out her wool and unravel her projects.  For christmas mum was working on beautiful crocheted wreathes to which she attached crocheted flowers and pom-poms.  Anytime we were at her house during this time Joel could be found swinging pom-poms and flowers, gathering them up and throwing them around.  And so for Joel's birthday mum decided to make Joel his very own box of pom-poms.  He loves it.  Joel loves to concentrate on unfolding and opening the box, and marvel at the colourful contents.  He empties the box, sometimes throwing the pom-poms around the room, sometimes deliberately placing them was if sorting them out.  He puts them in the box again, takes them out, in the box again, out again.  Then he carefully chooses two, one for each hand, ambles to his feet and begins his procession around the house swinging the pom-poms in circles.  He makes excited noises and giggles.  He hands you a pom-pom but only teases and as you reach out runs away with it again.  Sometimes he hands over the treasure but comes back to get it again, hands it to you, takes it away again, using you as a prop in his pom-pom game.  He plays a game with Granda Stephen where Granda hides a pom-pom in one of this hands or pockets and Joel squeals with glee when he finds it again.  I love that this magic box excites his imagination.  

So, who would have guessed it?  Box of pom-poms at the victorious top of the toy pile this season.  What was the most successful toy in your house this Christmas?  I'd love to hear!

The Week that was Captured...

The Week That Was Captured.....

This is my first go at joining this feature run by the lovely Make Do and Push.  My photos are a bit slap dash this week but I hope to have some pretty photos for joining again next week.  I have been inspired by reading through the linky and seeing some of the gorgeous photos people have posted to record their week. 

Day 1

Kitchen Shopping

We are moving house. Its every exciting.  Our new house is currently undergoing a rewire and getting the flat roof of the extension replaced.  The house is very old and groovy and we will be fixing her up for years to come but it is a project I am looking forward to.  It is a home for life.  The current kitchen was installed in the 70's and is a very retro olive green.  I secretly love it.  Phil does not.  The builder has recommended we replace the kitchen at the same time as getting the rewire so we went kitchen shopping.  I could spend all day perving over the swanky pant kitchen showrooms.  Some of them are beautiful to look at, I even found myself taking photos of some examples - who knew I was a kitchen geek?  Anyways we choose a very classic, neutral cost effective kitchen.  It may not be as swanky as some of its relatives in the showroom but it will be just as beautiful in a different way in our new home, over the years it will be decorated with Joel's pictures , cupboards full with soul food.

Day 2

Awful Hair

What can I say?  I need help.  Serious help.  And more hours in the day.

Day 3

Who needs toys?

Our flat is bursting at the seams with shiny new toys from Joel's first birthday on the 5th and from Christmas.  But none have quite the appeal of the forbidden objects around the house.  Joel loves to grab the laptop cable, lick the metal bin and empty the olive oil and tins of soup from the kitchen cupboard.  There were a few toy successes but more about that another time..  

Day 4

Collecting Daddy

I usually get home from work first and get dinner on for Joel.  When Phil finishes work at 6pm I bundle Joel up in his Marks and Spencer's snow suit and cosy hat and we walk together to the bus stop.  Joel sits on my knee and watches all the lights of the cars drive by.  When a bus comes up the road he is transfixed, watching to see if his daddy will get off.  They walk home together hand in hand and warm up on the sofa together, just in time for In the Night Garden.  

Day 5

Viewing Day

Due to a last minute phone call from the estate agent we spent this morning up at the crack of dawn cleaning like crazy people in preparation for a viewing at the flat.  Last minute breakfast of hot tea in my thermal cup while waiting for the bus to work.  Having hot tea in the cold morning air is lovely, plus I feel like I'm a dragon with my hot steamy tea breathe. 

Day 6

Christmas Lunchbox

Yay for lunch.  This was a present from my secret santa.  Today was the first day I actually remembered to pack my lunch in it. 

Day 7

Sofa Day.

Today was an absolutely bogging day.  Stinkin' rain, all the rain, all day, yuck.  Prime weather for hiking a sofa about on a trailer? Nope but some generous friends did exactly that. They donated a lovely sofa they were getting rid of to my new house, only to find (after much shimmying) that it wouldn't fit through the door. There was was car borrowing, trailer borrowing, handle removing, cushion squashing but in the end it was redirected to the comfort of mums garage awaiting a solution. AND the mad woman, bought me lovely cushions! What a bunch of lovelies, thanks!

Cake Genius

So my little teeny weeny baby boy turned 1 year old on Sunday.  How did that happen?  Everyone tells you that 'time flies' when you have a baby.  They're right.  It does.  

Anyways, having successfully negotiated a year of parenthood without leaving Joel behind in the bagging area in Asda I also seem to have acquired SUPERHERO CAKE MAKING SKILLZ!

I really wanted to be able to make Joel's birthday cake myself.  I have been enjoying reading a few mummy blogs as my bedtime reading over the past few months and have marvelled at some of the amazing birthday cake creations on show.  I decided that making a cake for Joel was important to me.  My sister in law works in a bun shop that sells the most beautiful home made treats, but I was determined not to exploit my links.  I wanted to fly solo, research and make it myself.  

My husband was his usual supportive self.  'Wise up, are you sure you can actually make it?  But have you ever actually made a cake before?  I'm not sure you actually know whats involved.  No, forget it, just ask Laura to make us one, then you know it will actually be good.' 

Blah, blah, blah, bore off Mr Negative.  His lack of faith in my baking skills only spurred me on.  

There is no doubt, if Phil's friend Laura made the cake it would be AMAZING.  She has her own baking business, 'Downie's Brownies and Cupcakes' and sells her treats at St Georges Market on Sunday mornings.  My news feed on Facebook of often full of photos of her cooking up a sugar-filled storm of gorgeous brownies, cakes and cupcakes.  I am known to be a fan of the wee coconut buns with the jam stuffed in the middle...but NO!! I was determined to do this myself.

TAADAAA

I only flippin did it, I baked a real life cake!  Everyone actually ate the slice I gave them too.  And no one boked.  Hurrah!

OK so it's confession time, so I did make the cake but it was actually dead easy.

It all started with a slightly last minute panicked Facebook message to my lovely neighbours.  In order to make a cake, I needed to tools...

Magda to the rescue, she let me borrow her mixer/beater.  Let the baking begin!

Beat together 200g of butter and 200g of sugar.  Easy.

 Beat in 3 eggs.  One egg at a time.  Easy.

Fold in 200g of flour.  Easy.

Split mixture between 2 cake tins and bake for 20 mins and hey presto!

Wait for two cakes to cool.  Sandwich them together with plenty of jam. The cake is ready to decorate!

I made the icing with cream cheese and yogurt.  Two packets of cream cheese and a pot of yogurt.   (There may be a wee teeny chance that my icing was too runny and I text Laura in a panic.  After some expert advice I was back on track.)

I used yellow food colouring and orange food colouring for the icing.  I used chocolate buttons for the eyes and Mikado biscuits for the face detail and whiskers.   

Phil was seriously impressed.  And the cake tasted all the more sweeter knowing that I proved him wrong.  In your face doubting husband! (Just don't tell him how easy it was, deal?)

 

Inner crazy lady..

Put that shocked face away! Don't act like you haven't had to restrain your inner craziness now and again!

Remember when your perfect tiny baby had to be dragged into the freezing cold (in my case, it was March and it was snowing like crazy) to be marched over to the doctors to get their first injections and check up. Stripped down to their wee bare skin and placed on that hard scale to be weighed, poked and prodded and measured.
All the time tiny Joel cried and cried that new baby cry.  I knew if I just picked him up and held him close he would settle but all these very important checks had to be done to be written on the special red book. I resisted the urge to shove those meddling nurses and doctors aside, knock them to the floor and scream, "just flippin leave him alone!!!! He's just a wee baby!!!! " but I resisted the urge as I knew it was all for a good purpose, to check that Joel was developing as expected and meeting his milestones.

Then they sat me in a chair and stabbed him with a needle (gave him his injections).
The whole experience was very stressful and traumatic.  I was aware of what would happen before the appointment and I thought I was prepared for it but couldn't help getting a bit flustered and stressed out.  There was a part of me that wanted to leap out of my clear and slap that doctor with a big open hand and leave her cheek red and stinging, leave him alone, leave my baby alone!!
If that's how I feel in a controlled situation that I have time to fully prepare for you can imagine I am bloody brilliant in an emergency.

A few weeks ago my mum and I decided to take a trip to Rowallane Yuletide Fayre.  It was held in a National Trust property.  I think this is the last 'fayre' I will be fooled into going to.  You know the type - pay an expensive fee to gain entry to what effectively is a field with a selection of over priced jams/chutneys to buy?  Well this fayre was particularly woeful in my eyes.

We were greeted by a lacklustre Santa.  Even Joel wasn't convinced.  

The stalls were all squashed in spaces without enough room to browse.  I spent my day getting in peoples way with the pram and apologising and finding myself trapped in awkward corners with a grabby baby in my arms determined to knock anything over within his grabby range.   I traipsed round after my mother who examined the knitted offerings.  A crocheted flower broach was selling for £6.  Now I am far from claiming any crocheting skills but my mum is pretty nifty with the crochet needle and is convinced she could whip one of those brooches up in half and hour!

There was a sorry looking donkey parked up in a grass area.  They were charging £3 for a donkey ride - that is a lap of the grass area that could not have lasted more than 30 seconds.  Shameful!

Anyways, thoroughly disillusioned with our yuletide experience we decided to take a walk around the gardens and grounds of the national trust property we had paid to be ripped off in.  My inquisitive 11 month old, newly on his feet was itching the stretch his legs and explore.  We didn't get very far.

We moved away from the hustle and bustle through an archway which lead to a landscaped garden.  There were a variety of beds arranged with various foliage and flowers and rectangles of pristine grass, all separated by a gravel walk way.  Expecting hoards of yuletide enthusiasts the organisers has cordoned off the pristine grass with red and white ribbon.  The ribbon was flickering in the winter wind and Joel was fascinated.  We stood at the ribbon while he grabbed for it and played with it - who needs toys eh?

Then before we knew it he had ducked under the ribbon and was waddling across the grass making a dive for the ribbon on the other side of the grass.  His enthusiasm for ribbon seem to grow with each step and he was soon half running across the grass.  My mum made a dash for it round one side of the grass area in an attempt to meet him at the other side.  I faffed about, considering crawling under the ribbon, considering following mum and then just watching in horror.  As I faffed and mum ran Joel made a grab for the ribbon on the other side.  The pathetic ribbon gave way under his weight and he lost his balance falling face first and banging his face off the gravel.
Oh he cried.  And so he should have, he had split his wee lip and there was blood everywhere and there seemed to be an large bruised egg rapidly appearing on the centre of his forehead.
A few passers by tried to be helpful offering first aid kits and sympathy but they only served to spook Joel and made him more upset, and made me panic listening to their comments 'oh, there's quite a lot of blood, isn't there?'  One member of staff suggested I take Joel to the St Johns Ambulance who were on site at the entrance to the gardens.  Yes that seemed like a good idea.  I would feel much  better if he was given the once over, so off we went.


I found the St. Johns Ambulance van.  A man sat in the front seat, engrossed in his phone.
I tried to get his attention by waking in front of the van and looking in.
I tried to get his attention by standing looking in his window beside him.
I knocked the window.
He looked out the window, questioningly.
I pointed at Joel.
He half opened the door of the van, phone still in hand, eyes flickering between me and his phone.
'Hi, he's just fallen and split his wee lip open, would you have ice or and ice pop/lolly to take the swelling away and soothe his mouth'
'Nooo...we wouldn't have anything like that...' He moves to close the door, barely casting an eye on Joel.
In my head I grab the door handle and pull it open, kick his stupid phone out of his stupid hand and shout "DO SOMETHING!!!!"
In reality I say quickly before he closes the door, 'it's just there is quite a lot of blood here, you wouldn't have anything?'
'No, I mean we have ice packs but that wouldn't be much use to you'
Dumbfounded I muttered 'ok?'.
In my head I punched him in the face and stole all his stupid ice packs.  Not unreasonable.

Can you believe him?  I know it is a volunteer organisation, but if you don't want to help people don't volunteer!  I know it wasn't exactly an emergency, Joel was as good as new after a slice of wheaten bread in the on site cafe, but they are there to provide a service and he didn't so much as cast an eye over Joel.

Although Joel looked a bit beat up and bruised for a few days I think the experience scarred me more than it scarred him.  He was well looked after and doted upon in the cafe by the staff and they even sneaked him a wee ice cream with his wheaten to try to reduce the swelling.  This incident just served as a cruel reminder that Joel is not longer a baby, rather a tearaway on the cusp of toddlerhood, this incident probably the tip of the iceberg in terms of accidents and injuries ahead.  He can no longer be wrapped in cotton wool, its terrifying.

Go on, reassure me, tell me that your mind goes into panic mode and you have to restrain your inner crazy lady?

No?

Anyone...?