three

Today, my little ray of sunshine turned three.
Three years with you Alfie.......
My sweet, happy, ever curious and always talkative little boy.
You spend your days playing with cars and trucks, screwdrivers and hammers.  Today, you got your very own lightsaber and you couldn't have been more excited! You love nothing more than diving face first onto sofas, chairs, beds and springer spaniels - and if none of those things are around, the floor will do.
Over the last few months your words have simply exploded and your daddy and I can only stand back and be amazed as you try to put your sentences together.
When I tell you that you are my little 'poppet', you say 'No Mummy, I Alfie Erickson'.  When I tell you that you are my baby boy, you frown and say, 'No Mummy, I a big boy - I Alfie Erickson'.  Nothing makes me smile more, than when I hear those words..... 'Mummy, I need your help.  I need you here.'  And I'll always be here Alfie.  Whenever you need me......  Thank you for teaching me how to grow in love, every single day.

We will always be grateful for today, because it reminds us so tangibly, that God created this boy - this miracle, when all hope seemed lost.  And he made him with as much love and care as when he placed the stars in the sky.
It is something we will never fully understand.

Happy Birthday Alfie.  Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives.
Love from Mummy xxx

alfie makes cakes

So we made this video a while ago........ and ended up forgetting all about it!
It is such a great memory for us to look back on so I wanted to make sure we didn't forget about it again!

This one's for you kid!

xxx

'alfie makes cakes'

photo of the week

Boys at play.
Enough said.

taking stock 01

Making :  lots of home movies to show Alfie one day in his future.......
Cooking : cajun meatballs with basmati rice and mixed vegetables.  My new favourite recipe!
Drinking :  lots and lots of decaffeinated tea.
Reading: Gone Girl, The Last Time I Saw You, Game of Thrones, How to Potty Train your Child in a Week, my Bible, to name but a few!  No wonder I don't seem to be finishing any.
Wanting:  to write a blog post weekly!
Looking: like my mother.  So I'm told.
Playing: Monopoly Deal with Jay - and happily winning...... every......time.......
Wasting: way too much food.
Sewing: all sorts of memories together, like one big patchwork quilt.....(ha!  Did you wonder how I'd get round that one?)
Wishing: that my dog, Miss Ellie has lots of life left in those painful back legs of hers.......
Enjoying: raising a boy - and all the mud, puddles and dirty sticks we have happily played with this weekend.
Waiting:  for dear loved ones going through infertility to tell us that their miracle is on the way......
Liking: my hair when it has a fresh colour on it.
Wondering: where our next travelling adventure will take us.......
Loving: Jesus.....always.
Hoping: that Mum and Dad love Norway, despite not seeing the Northern lights.
Marvelling: at my post-it collection and how warm and cosy I feel inside when I look at it.
Needing: a cure for tinnitus or even better, a miracle!
Smelling: Jay when he has just used his A&F Fierce aftershave.
Wearing: my grandmother's engagement ring.
Following: Alejandro Costello's 9 part office organisation videos, on Youtube.
Noticing: how badly Alfie needs a haircut.
Knowing: that my sister will be the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.
Thinking: about Bethany's hen day/weekend/night...... who knows?? ;)
Bookmarking: my favourite blogs.
Opening: a brand new mascara.
Giggling: when Alfie laughs at himself.  Best thing EVER!
Feeling: blessed.

a wish for perpetual sunshine at the place i call home

Every other Friday is incredibly special for Alfie and I.
It is our 'Lunch with Lisa' day and with a bit more of a spring in our step than usual, we head out for a drive over to Cardiff Bay.  We rush out of the car park and head straight into the Millenium Centre where Lisa is usually waiting for us, sitting in our favourite spot on the settees, where we sit and catch up on things.  Today, for the first time, Alfie tipped his head to the side as I picked him up out of his car seat and asked if we were meeting Lisa!  I smiled and said 'yes'.  Apparently satisfied with my answer, he retrieved his bunny and tractor and let out an excited little giggle.  It was a touching moment.....

We were disappointed when our usual place to eat was closed to the public, so after a quick call to Lisa we arranged to meet on the opposite side of the waterfront.  It was then, that my disappointment quickly evaporated!  For when we turned the corner and headed just beyond the Pierhead Building, we were met with glorious sunshine and the loveliest blue sky.  Suddenly, I was reminded that the season of Spring is just around the corner........

It has to be said, Cardiff Bay and the sunshine are a perfect match when they decide that they like to be together...... I often wish they realised it more!  This past winter has felt so endless with its heavy grey-ness and constant rain.  Today was so different though.  Today, there was a soft, gentle breeze in the air and as I turned my head towards it, I breathed in slowly.  The quiet excitement I felt inside from seeing and feeling the sun, had given me a warm, fuzzy feeling.  We had a few minutes to spare so I sat on a bench and watched Alfie as he ran around happily - stopping to smile at kind strangers who didn't appear to mind too much that they were being disturbed by an inquisitive two-year old during their quiet midday walk.  When he wasn't talking to passers-by or running back and forth between me and the nearby buildings, he was gazing down at the boats, listening to the men drumming up business for their freshwater lake tours.  As I watched him I kept gazing out over the beautiful bay that seemed to sparkle as the sun hit the water.  It really was impressive.

Moments later, we spotted Lisa and Alfie ran like a bullet to catch her up!  Those little legs of his got more and more enthusiastic with every step......  I think we were both pleased when she suggested sitting at an outdoor table.

The Pierhead Building

Alfie spotting Lisa across the railings.....

I have always loved living so close to this place.  Although I live a few miles away, I always regard this place as home.  When we take our road trips through America we are often asked by locals what it's like back where we live.  Almost every time, we find ourselves talking about the Bay and how much it has changed since a few decades ago.  It's days like this that make me fall in love with it over and over again.  I know I'm biased, but seriously!  Isn't it great?  I'm really feelin' the looooove for this place today.

So well done Cardiff Bay and a grand ol' high-five to you dear sunshine!!

You did me proud today........

 

friday 5

Friday Five means one thing!
IT'S THE WEEKEND!!!!!
Usually that would conjure up great excitement, but seeing how we've been off this week for the half term break, it's pretty much been a week long 'weekend' for us - and it's been great!!!

Here are my top five things:

1. the kate book!
After months of dawdling and delaying, I was so excited to come up with a new name for my blog.  Titles with diary, journal and book had been floating around for quite a while, but 'the kate book' kind of just popped into my head one day and that was that!  What followed was an array of headers in different colours and different fonts.  It became quite a frustrating task.  When Jay popped his head around the door one day he ended up taking over and creating something that was so perfect for me, in less than ten minutes.  Not sure what you think, but to me, this is simple, clean and fresh.  I adore it.
Maybe next time, I should go ahead and ask the graphics teacher in our house at the beginning rather than the end!!

 Jason Erickson ©2014

2.  Half Term Holidays!

We've tried to make this one special for Alfie.  Lots of play times and days out.  We made cakes this week and made a home movie for Alfie to watch when he is older.  I would give anything to have a glimpse into my childhood - watching myself trying to talk to my parents and attempting to try things out for the first time.  Alfie will see himself pouting in concentration and constantly demanding to do things by himself!  The independent streak is really starting to show in this little man!  

At the end, he was as proud as punch!

3.  Surprises

On Thursday night, Jay secretly arranged for Alfie to spend the night at his grandparents house, so that we could go out and have a meal together.  I had ten minutes to quickly change before going out to a restaurant in Cardiff.  Great food.  Great company.  Totally awesome and such a treat!

4.  "Oceans"

This song.......

This.....song........

[May not work on some mobile devices]

5.  School Memories

An ex-pupil of mine posted a picture of me dressed as a pirate!  I have no idea why my arm is up in the air like that, but I'm giving myself a well rounded 8 out of 10 for sheer effort, which no doubt disguised a cringeworthy moment for me.  Go Mrs Erickson!!!!!!  Thanks Amy!  You brought back a funny old memory there.

Provided by Amy Elise James ©2014

Wherever you are and whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a lovely weekend!  

a little hi and how are you?

Hi there!  Hello!  Hey!  Hi and how's things?

It's been a while.
No wait.

It's been a long while.

So long infact, it must have taken me an extra 20 seconds to even find the 'new post' button.

Yes, it's been quite quiet around here - but for good reason.

Things just.....well.... - needed shaking up a bit.  That's all.  No need for long explanations I guess - except to say that we can pretty much begin where we left off.

So it is with eager fingertips, albeit with less speed and accuracy than they had 96 days ago, (yep - I counted), a good cup of coffee by my side and a whiteboard bursting with fresh blogging ideas, that we begin again.  This crazy, smiling, pouting, strong-willed, funny boy of ours is giving us so many great moments.  Some challenge us, some take us by surprise and some are just too funny for words. Regardless of the things I remember here though, I just hope that one day, in his future, Alfie knows that his Mama gave it her best shot at remembering just how incredibly life-changing these memories were to make.

Boy oh boy!

How grateful I am for him....

.... and thankful beyond words.......