I don’t do mornings!

and I think someone needs to remind my lovely husband of that fact, since he managed to wake both me and Lukas up this morning when he went to work. Did I mention he started work at 7am today because he’s finishing at midday so he can come to my midwife appointment with me so when he woke us up it was somewhere between 6 and 6:30 this morning. Me and Lukas tried really hard to go back to sleep but had given up on it by 7:10am and ended up watching Lilo and Stitch on the Disney channel again. I suppose I should also add that last night Lukas was complaining he didn’t feel well and ended up throwing up everywhere and I seem to have picked up yet another virus or something from somewhere since my tummy is very upset and I am running a really high temperature. So last night was a lot of fun even with all the windows open I still fell asleep feeling hot and miserable and Lukas fell asleep with a fan blowing on him. Lukas has had a bowl of cereal this morning and seems to not be feeling ill apart from a headache. I feel rough lol have a really bad headache, I ache absolutely everywhere and I am feeling really hot and thirsty I have already finished 2 litres of squash this morning. It’s also nasty damp weather outside which doesn’t help because it always makes me stiff and grumpy. Hopefully the midwife appointment will be straight forward and quick and I can come home and maybe have a nap. Right now I would just settle for a few minutes of not feeling so hot maybe some paracetamol will help, now if I can only remember where I put it lol. I better go and make some more squash as well *sigh* I hate being ill.

Could that be carpet I see?

It's been a very long weekend here, Mark has been very busy working on the bedroom and we are finally starting to see an improvement. One of the biggest things was moving Lukas's bed into a new spot. It gives us a lot more floor space and he seems a lot happier with the bed's new position than he was with where we had it before. There is still a lot left to do and while Mark is out I am supposed to be working on the huge pile of clothes that need to be put away, but I had a lot of computer stuff to catch up on first. Lukas has gone out with Ella, I believe they are going for a happy meal. Ella been here playing in the garden while Lisa has been at work so I haven't really seen much of him today. Easter really ended up being a bit of a bust, we never got around to having the Easter Egg hunt Lukas wanted but he didn't mind too much. I seem to have a creative block as far as scrapping goes lately. I keep opening Photoshop and then closing it again without doing anything or spending ages only to end up closing whatever I was working on because it's just not going the way I want it to. It's frustrating but I know eventually I will feel like scrapping again. I have been working a lot on trying to organize files instead. I keep hoping I will come across something I have forgotten about that will inspire me to create. Today is my brother Gavin and my Grandad's birthday, tomorrow I have a midwife appointment and then Monday is the hospital and scan appointments. Anyway I don't really have anything else to say today so I am going to love you and leave you and hopefully go and get something done before Mark and Lukas get home.

From Our Blog To Yours - Which Easter Candy Are You?

The from our blog to yours prompt this time is a quiz and since I have nothing else to write about and nothing to show you I figured it was a good way to get another sweet reward point while I am waiting for some other things to finish up.

You Are a Chocolate Bunny

A traditionalist, you secretly want to dress up like a bunny. And not just on Easter.

What Easter Candy Are You?

I'll be back later Lukas has gone out with Nan and I am kind of undecided about what I am going to do, I have a huge to-do list but the bed is looking so inviting lol.

What's so good about Good Friday?

Yesterday I felt much better than I have for a while, I was feeling a lot more happy and looking forward to getting some stuff done. Everything was fine when Mark first came in and then somehow an argument started. I got upset and stressed out and ended up feeling worse than I have done for a while. I was hoping that after some sleep I would feel better, but if anything I feel worse. I slept badly last night and had nightmares again, my eyes are swollen and red from crying and I just can't be bothered with anything today. I wasn't expecting today to be a great day anyway since it's Ambrose's anniversary and my brother Darren's birthday. I never quite realise how far New Zealand is until it comes to things like his birthday. I left him a message on Facebook wishing him a happy birthday but it's not really the same. I wish I was organized enough to remember to get a card and post it in time for him to get it, but I am just not. I'm sure he will have a great day with his fiancee and her family and more than likely friends he has made over there but that doesn't stop me missing him. I miss all my brothers and sisters I just never feel well enough to make the effort to be involved in their lives. I guess today is just going to be one of those down days. It's almost 3pm and neither me or Lukas have even managed to get dressed yet. Mark will be home from work in 4 hours time and no doubt another argument will start when he sees that neither of us are dressed and we have done nothing at all today. Nan's not in the best of moods either so me and Lukas are choosing to stay up in our room, watch disney movies and play on the computers. It does feel weird that we haven't bought any easter eggs this year. I haven't been anywhere to buy any for anyone and we usually don't get eggs for Lukas since he doesn't eat them. I usually get him some chocolate and sweets of his choice and something to play with. Nan gave him money so he can get something he wants. When we were kids we always got given our Easter Eggs on Good Friday but didn't really do anything else as far as Easter was concerned since we aren't really religious. I always wish that I was able to make a bigger deal out of Easter with Lukas but it always seems to work out that I am ill and we end up doing nothing at all. I am still hoping we might be able to have a small easter egg hunt with him on Sunday or Monday. Anyway I suppose I should go and see if I can get anything at all done today.

Feeling better

After being awake all night feeling rotten, this morning I was feeling strangely good and very hungry lol. Mark thinks I am weird because what I felt like eating was chicken soup and toast he says that's not breakfast. I kind of couldn't resist pointing out to him that as far as my body was concerned it was more like dinner lol. I snuggled up in bed for a cuddle with Lukas and fell fast asleep. Mark's working a different shift today, but Nan had already told me yesterday that she would be in all day if I was feeling ill Lukas could stay downstairs with her. When he went downstairs this morning I was expecting an hour or two of sleep at the most before he wanted something or Nan did. I never ever thought that I would sleep for the whole day and to be fair only wake up when I did because I needed the toilet lol. I am stiff all over from sleeping so soundly but I obviously needed it because I haven't felt this normal in a long time. Mark will be home soon so I am hoping I might be able to do some tidying up and put some clothes away. Since I have to sit on the floor to do either of those things thanks to the pain across my stomach, I am slightly worried that I might not be able to get up again all by myself because of my ribs and whatever I have done to my back. So while I am waiting for Mark I am trying to decide which computer task I have to do would be mosty likely to be finished before he gets home. It's tempting to scrap a layout but I am not sure what I want to scrap lol. I have so missed having the choices between doing one thing or the other and not being confined to only doing things that require no thought, energy or movement on my part lol. Lukas want's an Easter Egg Hunt this weekend I might have to go and pick up some plastic eggs since I can't remember where I put the other ones I had lol. I better go and do something useful like dinner maybe lol.

Like the new look?

I was getting a little bit fed up of the cold looking colours on here, and since I couldn't sleep because of the pain, I decided tonight was a good a time as any to finally get around to giving the blog a more springy wardrobe lol. I have lots of different blogs sets, the original intention was to change the theme every month when I changed my desktop, but even I know that was an unrealistic goal. I have a generic John Cena one on the desktop and the one on the laptop is currently from February lol. I'm very strange in that I buy blog themes and then recolour them or tweak them because I don't want something lots of other people have. Changing out the blog decorations from one thing to another is quite simple when you have done it a few times. But it still seems to take me a few hours to have everything done to my liking. I am getting quicker though so maybe I will change it a bit more frequently from now on, but I wouldn't hold your breath on that one lol. Redecorating the blog is the only thing I have managed to do today, apart from sleep. But I can't be bothered to whine about being sick today, it's almost 7am and I want to try and get a few hours sleep before Mark and Lukas get up. I will leave you with a new layout that I did last the other night when I couldn't sleep and I will be back later.

Credits: Layered template (Santa Baby Template) by Sine and Santa Baby (December 08 Mega Kit) contributions by Shauna Burke Smith (Pineapple Plantation Designs), Becky Vosberg and Annick Philibert. Font is 2Peas Hot Chocolate.

Journalling reads: Just before you go to bed on Christmas Eve, we go downstairs and make a little snack for Santa and his reindeer. We always start with a christmas themed napkin and 2 plastic cups. We place magic reindeer food in one and water in the other. Then we add a carrot from the fridge and finally we select a snack for Santa this year we decided that instead of mince pies he might like custard cream biscuits., usually we add a drink for Santa too. All that’s left to do is add a little card and put it outside ready for them.

Enabling: Santa Baby December 08 Mega Kit is available here at Scrap Orchard.

You know those days

where you know you have done a lot of things that need to be done, but to everyone else it looks like you have done absolutely nothing all day well today has been one of those days. I have been organizing some files, tagging in ACDSee and generally cleaning up the computer. I know that what I have done will save me a lot of time when I want to scrap with the items, and I also know that I have removed a lot of useless files and freed up space on the computer I just wish that there was a way to validate how I have spent my time to other people. There’s no finished product to show them and since I have been organising specific files I want to use later in the week it’s not like I have even made computer space anyone would notice. It’s kind of frustrating that a lot of the things I do have no visible evidence for the want of a better term. If I felt better I could get up and start doing some of the other important things and I wouldn’t have to listen to the comments about “doing nothing” and “wasting time”. Since I don’t have the energy to do anything at the moment I kind of end up doing the things I can do while sitting down like watching television with Lukas, playing games on the laptop with him, reading to him or like today letting him play on the laptop all by himself while I sit here and organise files. The only other thing I feel capable of doing right now is laying in my bed and sleeping. I like to think that at least organizing files is useful even if it only of use to me lol. I often wish I had spent some time properly organizing files when I first started scrapping instead of always trying to make a dent in the huge mess I have ended up with. Maybe one day I will finally be able to find a way that I can stay on top of it all, right now I would be happy just to have something in my life organized it’s so hard to live surrounded by chaos and mess. Mark is off work tomorrow and I made him promise he will tackle Lukas’s bedroom. He has been promising to start it for a while. It was Nan’s bright idea to have Conor’s old bed in there, it’s a metal frame with a high bunk bed and a pull out sofa underneath. In theory it’s not a bad idea it’s just in practice it leaves practically no space at all and even when his room is tidy (not very often I admit), it still looks messy and overcrowded. That always leads to Nan complaining about the mess and then me feeling fed up. We have plans to buy him a new bed that has under bed storage but before we do that we need to spend a lot of time getting rid of some of the “stuff” that’s in there. It’s hard because the room is tiny anyway and Lukas has so many toys and books and other bits and pieces. Add in the fact that we also have to have a microwave in there to cook in (because Nan doesn’t like us using the one downstairs, it’s a long story), we are currently using the shelving unit we put up to store food and things on so we don’t have to drag downstairs and bring everything we need to use upstairs and that since Lukas won’t sleep in the bunk bed because he’s terrified of heights and also because he prefers to sleep in my room the bunk bed is currently another place to store things Lukas’s stuff has even less space than normal to fit into. That’s one of the reasons I am desperate for us to have a place of our own. It would be so nice to not have to shove everything we own into two bedrooms, to be able to cook whatever we wanted and not have to rely on microwaving things upstairs that are on the allowed list and to just not have to listen to the endless complaining and moaning from Nan about the mess. I often feel like she doesn’t appreciate that I feel too ill to do things, Mark works 5 days a week until midnight and that we are trying to fit so much stuff into such a small amount of space. She’s always saying we should get rid of stuff but the problem is we need most of it. Our bedroom is a office/living room/bedroom/dining room we are in here all day everyday and Lukas’s room is a tiny kids room/kitchen/storage area. I keep telling Mark we need to get the housing situation sorted but he just ignores the problem and carries on his own merry way. When Mark is off work he either at his dad’s house doing washing since Nan refuses to do it (that’s a long story too that in the simplest of terms comes back to Mark being a lazy ignorant git lol) or he’s sat around watching the television or playing the computer. I am tired out from begging him to do things I can’t on Sundays when he doesn’t work and him spending the whole day watching sport, ignoring me and Lukas and then causing a row when I point out how little he has done. I am starting to panic a little about how much needs to be done before the baby is born, the more stressed out I get the more useless I become. I hate that I am having issues with my balance again and the dizziness that I had with all my previous pregnancies is so much worse this time around. I want to do things so I don’t have to ask Mark anything and cause a row but I am so limited in what I am able to do. I hate having to depend on Mark for anything, especially stupid things like not even being able to have a bath without supervision. Babies are worth it but that doesn’t mean pregnancy doesn’t suck. *sigh* I just need some decent sleep and enough energy to be useful and I swear I won’t even complain about the pain and discomfort. Being ill is making everything so much harder, and being emotional makes it hard to say anything without it ending up either causing an argument or making me cry. Sorry this has turned into a bit of a rant hasn’t it. I guess I had a lot more on my mind than I thought that I needed to get out. Hopefully tomorrow will be better but since it happens to be both Mark and Nan’s day off I wouldn’t count on it.

Trying something a bit different

I decided to give blogging via Live Writer another try, when I tried to use it before I was having a lot of computer problems and just found it frustrating. I am hoping that being able to blog from here might encourage me to do it a bit more often. Takara Bean’s travel system came this morning, I have it all set up downstairs and Lukas has had a great time pushing the teddy bear around the house in it. It’s slightly heavier than I was expecting it to be, and the colours are slightly different but it’s a great pushchair I can’t wait until I have a teeny baby to put in it lol. I meant to take some photos while we were putting it together but I felt to ill to bother and I haven’t even got around to taking any photos of it set up sorry. I will try and do that tomorrow if I feel any better. I haven’t got anything done today, luckily for me Lukas was more than content to play with Mark earlier so I could get a few hours sleep after being awake all night again, and since Mark has gone to work he’s been really good. I don’t have any layouts to share today and I haven’t really got anything else to say, so I am going to try and convince Lukas that it’s bedtime and hopefully he will go to sleep and then I can too.

Sharing those layouts

Lukas went out for the day yesterday with Ella. I think they started off intending to go and play at Lisa's house but ended up taking him buy some new fish, playing in the garden and taking a trip to the park with Ella's grandad before he finally came home about 8pm last night and needed to get straight into the bath lol. He had a lovely time playing with Ella and it worked out great for me since I have been feeling really unwell all weekend. Since Lukas was so tired after his day out he was content to sit and play the laptop on the bed, while I managed to get a page scrapped on the desktop. I have been really ill today as well, Mark has been trying to do some of the room, he didn't get a great deal done except for taking some clothes to the recycling and Lukas has spent most of the day playing outside in the garden. Nan was babysitting for Ella this evening so Lisa and Gary could go out for a nice meal so Lukas got a playmate for a while again. Since I was sat in bed feeling crappy anyway I decided that I would try and get another page scrapped while we are waiting for it to be time for Wrestlemania 25. Lukas is super excited that he gets to stay up and watch the whole thing and not have to wait to watch the repeat or recording tomorrow. I have 4 layouts in total to show you today, and all of them were created for different challenges. The first one I have to share was created for the treat of the month challenge at Sweet Shoppe Designs this month it's Peppermint you can view her gallery here and read her interview here.

Credits: Layered template (Inspired by Peppermint, Template 4) by Bree Clarkson, Somebunny Loves Her and Somebunny Loves Him (slightly recoloured) by Traci Reed and Froggy Staple Short by Megan Farrow (Flergs).

Enabling: Inspired by Peppermint Templates by Bree Clarkson available here for April only, Somebunny Loves Her and Somebunny Loves Him by Traci Reed available here and here, the staple was a freebie at DST in this post.

The second one was created for the March Recap challenge at Sweet Shoppe Designs, but it also happens to use the current template challenge from Creativity In Orbit.

Credits: Layered template (Blog Challenge 06) by Bree Clarkson, Lucky Stars St Pat's Addon by Heather Roselli and ABC and 123 by Misty Cato. Font is DJB Nicole by Darcy Baldwin.

Journalling reads:March was a strange month for us, it just seemed to fly by without us really doing very much. We had to get used to Mark being back to work full-time after his back injury. We had yet another hospital appointment and were glad to see that Takara Bean is doing great and starting to look like more of a baby than a bean. We celebrated Mother‘s Day with a day trip to London to attend the Chessington World of Adventures annual pass holder day event. It was a great day for all of us, we were so busy having fun we took hardly any pictures. We stayed overnight in the onsite hotel and and enjoyed a quick trip to a local park before catching the train to go and get the coach back home. Lukas had a great time learning all about space at school, he even helped build a moon buggy for the space exhibition. We had a sad ending to the month with the news that Mark‘s Grandmother had died.

Enabling: Lucky Stars St Pat's Addon by Heather Roselli available here, ABC and 123 by Misty Cato available here and DJB Nicole font by Darcy Baldwin available here. You can find all the details for the template challenge including the download link on the Creativity In Orbit blog.

The third one was created for the current template challenge (challenge #9) at Scrap Orchard.

Credits: Layered template (Template Challenge) by Sine, Spooktacular (October 08 Mega Kit) contributions by Irene Alexeeva, Annick Philbert, Becky Vosberg, Amy Brever (Polka Dot Plum), Kami Leonard (Ziggle Designs) and Shauna Burke-Smith (Pineapple Plantation Designs), I'm Felting 03 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann and Make Me Vintage Actions by Lauren Barden. Fonts are BodonFriz,96 and DJB Erika by Darcy Baldwin.

Journalling reads: Since we usually don’t really do anything special for Halloween I was really excited about taking you to the Hocus Pocous Halloween event at Chessington World Of Adventures. I thought I would have plenty of unique photograph opportunities, and maybe I would finally be able to use some of the themed scrapbook kits I couldn’t resist buying. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t really feeling like cooperating. It rained nearly everyday and almost all of the photo points around the park were damp or muddy, so we didn’t get to take many photographs at all. We still had a lot of fun going on the rides and spending time as a family. Never mind there’s always next year.

Enabling: Spooktacular (October 08 Mega Kit) available here, I'm Felting 03 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann available here and BodonFriz,96 font available here you can find all the details for the template challenge including the download link here. I can't seem to find the DJB Erika font by Darcy Baldwin in the store, but there are plenty of others including some on sale here.

The last one I have to share was created for the 1st Spin-A-Lift challenge for April at Sweet Shoppe which is always the current Treat Of The Month. I used the Inspired by Peppermint templates by Bree Clarkson again and flipped the template vertically.

Credits: Layered template (Inspired By Peppermint, Template 2) flipped vertically by Bree Clarkson, Southern Girls (From California Girls: The Collection) by Krystal Hartley and Libby Weifenbach and Creative Crops 2 by Dani Mogstad.

Enabling:Inspired by Peppermint Templates by Bree Clarkson available here for April only, Southern Girls by Krystal Hartley and Libby Weifenbach available here in the Going Going Gone sale at Sweet Shoppe Designs until April 10th and Creative Crops 2 by Dani Mogstad available here.

I made another layout while Wrestlemania 25 was on, so I thought I would just add it to this post rather than starting another one just for one layout. This one was created for the April Template Challenge on the Hawt Mama's Team Blog it's a scraplift of Lucky by Laurie aka LibbysMommy.

Credits: Layered template (Hawt Mama's April Template Challenge based on Lucky by LibbysMommy) by MelissaL88, And I Quote... Boys Wordart by Amanda Slagle (Mandabean) and Preppy Autumn by Traci Reed.

Enabling: And I Quote... Boys by Amanda Slagle (Mandabean) available here and Preppy Autumn by Traci Reed available here. You can find all the details of the template challenge including the download link on the Hawt Mama's Team Blog here.

Where to start?

Today I seem to have the opposite problem I have been having with my blog lately, instead of having nothing to write I have a few options to choose from but I can't decide which one to start with lol. I seem to have too many thoughts buzzing around in my head tonight to focus on anything. Mark was supposed to have gone to his Grandmother's funeral today but because her funeral was at 3:45pm and right between 2 shifts at work (11-7 or 4-12) Mark couldn't get the time off. Somehow his family all seem to be of the opinion that it's my fault he didn't go and we have spent a lot of time over the last few days arguing over it. Without going into too much detail, because I really don't feel like crying anymore tears over them, his family have said some very hurtful things. I kind of object to being shouted at in the school playground when I go to pick Lukas up and being accused of "keeping him from going to the funeral". I also have to admit I strongly object to people gossiping to members of my family (who to be blunt wish Mark's family would sod off and leave her alone as well) about me but most of all I have a intense feeling that I would probably go as far as calling it hate instead of dislike for people who make comments about either my angel babies or my unborn Takara Bean. Since Mark refuses to say anything to them about any of the comments they have made, my feelings are hurt and things are at best pretty tense between us. I'm angry that he won't stick up for me but more than that I am miserable that his family still manage to cause so much trouble when we don't even talk to them. I guess the confusing part for me is why it's such a big deal that he goes to the funeral of someone he didn't even talk to, his dad didn't care if he went or not so why can't certain other annoying members of his family just mind their own business. I'm just glad that's it's half term for two weeks from today and that means no running into them at school, no gossiping and fingers crossed no more arguing with Mark over them all. Don't get me wrong things aren't all bad around here, unless Mark's family come into the conversation things are pretty good. They are the only thing we ever fight about anymore *sigh* I am fed up of talking about them to be honest let's change the subject to something more interesting lol. How about I talk about the baby, Takara Bean strongly objects to mummy being upset infact arguments usually end up with me sitting on the floor in agony, anytime I get stressed out I get sharp pains across my stomach and my chest, it's hard to breathe and impossible to move. I swear this baby is like my puppet master lol it's very determined that it gets whatever it happens to desire, usually that involves a nice calm mummy, lots to drink and feeding on demand with whatever the latest craving happens to be lol (this week it's been chicken and cucumber sandwiches, bananas, milka chocolate, cheerios and malteser chocolate bunnies (apparently they are only good at 1am straight from tescos luckily Mark always goes on his way home from work). If I don't obey I get punished with pain lol. Lukas constantly refers to her as "baby sister" and both him and Mark seem to get a great thrill out of poking my stomach and feeling movements. We seem to get reactions to certain sounds voices, the bath running and the wrappers on chocolate bunnies kind of make her a little crazy lol. My anomaly scan is on the 20th of this month so fingers crossed we will know for definate if we are right or wrong in constantly referring to Takara Bean as "her" lol. I ordered my travel system earlier today, and to say I am excited about it is a bit of an understatement. I had a hard time deciding on exactly what I was looking for in a pushchair and then I saw this and knew it was perfect. Neutral enough to be ideal for a girl or a boy, a brand we have used before and know is sturdy and can take lots of shopping lol and a folding mechanism that's easy to use even on my worst days, if your wondering we decided on the Graco Vivo in Butterscotch, I found a store on Ebay called Online4baby that sells them brand new for a great price you can see the exact one we ordered here. I forgot to order the raincover at the same time, but there are a few other bits we want from the seller so I will order them all together at the end of the month. The wardrobe is slowly filling up with bits and pieces I have bought, I have mostly only done basics so far in white or cream but there is a very cute pink dress and pink shrug that I happened to see when I ordered some clothes from Asda for Lukas and couldn't resist. I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to knowing for sure and being able to go crazy and buy all the cute little outfits and things, and Nan is even worse than I am lol. If my previous pregnancies are anything to go by we could be seeing this little one as early as June. It's going to go by so quickly and we have so much tidying and organising to do before then, I am starting to worry slightly that it's not going to be finished. But it's not really anything worth getting stressed out over. We are hoping to be able to take another trip with Lukas at the end of the month and that will more than likely be the last one before the baby is born, so we will have every weekend and during the week before Mark goes to work to get cracking on everything. Anyway I am starting to ramble and a quick glance at my clock just told me it's almost 4am. I really should be getting to bed, so I will have to come back tomorrow and post the 2 layouts I have to share with you, who knows by the time I get around to blogging there might be three lol.

From Our Blog To Yours - Top 5 TV Shows

It's been a long time since I have done one of these posts but I have nothing else to talk about today and I wanted something to do while I am sitting here watching the repeat of mondays RAW.
The prompt for today was about TV shows, specifically to name 5 I have seen every episode of or 5 I would like to see every episode of. I don't watch much television but obviously there are a few things I do like to watch that aren't wrestling lol when I do get the chance.
1. Charmed - I only all of the seasons of Charmed on dvd and I think I have seen every episode at least once. I don't really have a favourite episode but any featuring T.W King (Andy), Brian Krause (Leo) or Julian McMahon (Cole) was definately worth watching lol.
2. Bones - I have a bit of a soft spot for the male hotties don't I lol I loved David Boreanaz when he was in Buffy and when he was in Angel and I admit he was the reason I started watching this show. I kind of got slightly hooked on it and now watch the older episodes every single day before we get Lukas from school and the new ones every thursday night. Mark loves to watch it with me as well.
3. Pushing Daisies - This is one I never really followed up consistantly when it was originally aired. I got the whole of season one on dvd and watched one when I was bored, one led to two which led to the entire season. Since the second season started I think I have missed one episode. Right now it's the one hour or so a week that I get to sit down and watch something I want on the television. I think it's a real shame that they have decided not to make anymore.
4. A Town Called Eureka - We happened to catch the pilot episode of this and thought it looked really interesting, there were quite a few things that had changed by the time that it made it to season one. It's definately one of those shows where you can miss an episode or two and then jump right back in without feeling completely lost. Its one of the few things we look forward to sitting down and watching as a family. I definately want the dvd's for this one.
5. This is where things get hard for me because I can't think of another programme we have consistantly bothered to watch. I liked Hereos season 1 and then never bothered with any of the others. I bought season 1 and 2 of Nip/Tuck and then never bothered anymore. I am kind of confused about which seasons of Desperate Housewives I have seen and which I haven't and for a while we were really into a show called Reaper then we missed a few episodes and never got around to picking it up again. Then there are a few other things we watch when they are on but don't bother to go looking for them like NCIS, House and CSI so I guess for this one I am going to have to say that I really don't have an answer. I would be happy to pick up any of the shows I have mentioned above on DVD and watch every episode of them again. But then I have always preferred dvd's over the television for two reasons. The first is because I can watch them on my laptop or desktop and not have to argue with Mark or Lukas for the remote control and second because then I can watch them with the subtitles and still understand what's going on without having to tell Mark and Lukas to be quiet every couple of minutes lol.

Time for change

There are a lot of things that at one time or another I didn't think I would say or do. When I was at school I always swore that I would never get married and I would never have kids. Yet when I found out I was pregnant with Lukas I knew that he was going to change my life forever and I was right, I could never imagine my life without him in it anymore. I often have to force myself to remember that there once was a time in my life without him in it. Then when I got pregnant with Gaiebraille, life changed again. I was excited about having 2 kids full of plans for how I would do things differently the 2nd time around. Unfortunately that wasn't meant to be and the miscarriage and the grieving changed my life again. Then came the greatest change in my life, Leo. I'm sure everyone already knows how much of an impact Leo had on my life and how he changed it forever. How he broke something that will never ever be fully repaired. I started scrapbooking because of Leo, I was searching for something to take some of the pain away, a distraction and so much more than I could ever begin to go into. I have had a lot of fun over the last few years making pages and experimenting with different styles and techniques. As part of that I have been lucky enough to be part of some amazing creative teams. Now you may be wondering exactly where I am going with this. Ever since I got pregnant again I have been struggling with scrapbooking as a whole. I feel tired all the time, I don't want to spend time sitting at the computer for lots of reasons but the main one is the pain and to be completely honest I haven't really felt inspired to scrap or enjoyed the process when I do. Because of that I have been struggling to keep up with my CT requirements. I am blessed to work for 2 amazing designers in Royanna and Chrissy and both of them have been awesome about it all. I couldn't have possibly wished for anyone to be more understanding about the situation. Since April marks the beginning of a new 3 month term, I felt as though it was time to make a decision about whether to continue or not. I decided that the best option for everyone was if I stepped down. I feel as though it's unfair for me to occupy a CT position when I am not completely dedicated to what I am doing. I'm don't regret my choice, I fully understand that this same choice would have been made for me in a few months time by the baby arriving. I'm sure there will be moments when I will feel sad about the decision that I have made, but I know it's the right choice for me right now. It's going to be a big adjustment for me, being part of a CT has always been the one thing that has allowed me to feel like I have some use or value to other people. It's also going to be very strange to be scrapping pages because I want to scrap them, rather than doing them with a newly released kit or template pack. I will admit I am going to miss the motivation to create things, I guess I will start doing random challenges here and there when they inspire me. That's one of the reasons change is so scary for me, I hate not knowing what to expect. It's a mixed bag because there are bound to be times when I am glad that I have no obligations or commitments anymore and other times when I feel unmotivated and wish I had some way to jumpstart my creativity. The other problem I suppose is without CT layouts to share with you I won't really have anything to blog about, unless I make an effort to do more things and I somehow can't see that happening with how low my energy levels are at the moment. Oh well at least it won't be much longer until I get to bore you senseless by blogging about the baby lol. Actually with all this talking about change I am realising that the blog could really do with some.

*sigh* I am such a bad mummy

Mark's working until 7:30pm today, i'm sure that he will be thrilled when he gets home and sees what we have spent the day doing lol. Let's see at the moment it nearly 3:20 and Lukas isn't dressed, I can't really drag up the energy to argue with the words "I'm not getting dressed today, and you can't make me". To be fair I only bothered getting dressed because Nan wanted more white washing and that's what colour my nightdress was lol. We had pizza from last night microwaved for Lunch and then followed that up with a snack of crisps and double chocolate muffins. Lukas has also had milk and ham wraps that Mark made before he went to work. He's spent all his time sitting on my bed playing on various online sites on the laptop and I am listening to my audiobook, converting files in photoshop and doing a few other bits and pieces on the computer. I do have stuff I am supposed to be doing some of it is on the computer (like CT work) and some of it is a lot more practical like tidying up and putting clothes away, but I just can't be bothered to do anything today. It's quite strange really that even though we can get away with doing nothing or practically nothing when Mark is at work, me and Lukas are always quite depressed when he isn't here. We never used to feel sad when it was time for him to leave for work or spend our time watching the clock and waiting for him to come home. I can blame the baby and the pregnancy hormones but Lukas doesn't have an excuse and it's kind of unusual for him to act like this. The other day he cried the whole way home from school because Mark got called into work and I had to pick him up on my own. I really should get up and go and do something productive shouldn't I or maybe some scrapping. *sigh* I wish it was 7:30 already.

What's that sound?

oh that's right it's called silence lol. Lukas has gone out for a Happy Meal with Ella and Mark is at work so I am taking advantage of the quiet to listen to an audiobook on my mobile phone and trying to think of things to write on here lol. The audiobook of choice today is one I have listened to before (Confessions Of A Shopperholic) but I fancied listening to it again. I have lots of audiobooks but to be completely honest I am not entirely sure where I have put them all I know they are on my computer somewhere but I am not exactly sure where lol. The major advantage of listening to audiobooks on my phone or my ipod is that I can use the computer with no loss of speed. I prefer the clunky old desktop over the laptop when no-one else is here it's just more comfortable to sit at my nice big desk with a proper keyboard and mouse lol. ACDSee is adding some more stuff to the catalog, and there are loads of things I am supposed to be doing before Mark comes home but I just don't feel like doing anything. Lisa just phoned and said that Lukas and Ella wanted to go and play at her house for a couple of hours so seems like I will have the peace and quiet for a little bit longer. I suppose while I am here I could show you the layouts I have done since I last blogged. I think there are 5 of them.
The 1st one is for a template challenge at Elemental Scraps (the current one challenge #17)

Credits: Layered template (Template Challenge 17) by Chrissy W and Slippery Slope by Chrissy W and Angie Kovacs, All Worn Out Overlays 2 by Penny Springmann and I'm Felting 01 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann. Font is FO Howie's Stamps Abundant by Fontologie.

The 2nd one is for a scraplift challenge at Elemental Scraps which ironically is also a previous template challenge over there (Template Challenge 16, Scraplift 2)
Credits: Layered template (Template Challenge 16) by Chrissy W, Egocentric (November 08, Team 2 Mega Kit) contributions by Stephanie Ogren, Nikki Scott, Chris Wasielewski and Chrissy W, I'm Talking 'bout - Remembering You Wordart by Jodie McNally and Showpieces Volume 1 by Janelle Gustafson (Cafe J Designs). Font is DJB Miss Liz by Darcy Baldwin.

Journalling reads: It’s the little moments like this, that make me realise just how fast you are growing up. I don’t need to follow you around when we go out to places anymore. I get to sit back and watch as you have a blast playing. There’s nothing that makes me more proud, than watching you trying things you would have once been scared of. I trust that you know exactly where I am if you want me for anything and then just leave you to do whatever you want.

The 3rd one was created using Chrissy and Angie's new collab template set East Meets West, it's also for a font challenge at Elemental Scraps (Font Challenge 2).

Credits: Layered template (East Meets West, Template 2) by Angie Kovacs, Boy Trouble (January 09 Mega Kit) contributions by Chrissy W, Theresa Hernandez, Pam Odd (Pamela Donnis Designs), Jill van Dijk (Juno Designs), Sherri Tierney, Megan Turnidge, Nikki Scott, Leah Riordan and Sharia Braxton and All Worn Out Overlays 2 by Penny Springmann. Fonts are Orator Std and Mia's Scribblings.

Journalling reads: I took these photos while you were waiting to be picked up for Morgan’s Birthday Party. You were so excited especially since it was the first party you had ever been to all by yourself.

The 4th one was also created using Chrissy and Angie's new collab template set East Meets West, it's for another font challenge at Elemental Scraps (Font Challenge 3).

Credits: Layered template (East Meets West, Template 2), My Favourite Place and 4x12 Paper Cutters by Chrissy W, Monster Madness by Nikki Scott and For Melissa Glitters by Megan Farrow (Flergs). Fonts are Complete In him and FO Howie's Stamps Lowfat by Fontologie.

Journalling reads: I don’t have very many photos of you from when you were little, but this is one of my favourites. You were sat in your push along car, in your highchair insert (because you were so small) and it was obviously very comfortable because you fell fast asleep.

The 5th one was with Chrissy and Angie's new collab template set East Meets West as well, it's for yet another font challenge at Elemental Scraps (Font Challenge 4).

Credits: Layered template (East Meets West, Template 1) by Chrissy W, Springtime Dreams (March 09 Mega Kit) contributions by Nikki Scott, Becki Kress, Lucky Smith, Bella Gypsy, Leslie Bodoh, Anja Jahn, Sharia Braxton, Scraps by Shilo and Juno Designs. Font is Pea Summer Sweetness.

Journalling reads: Our 2nd Ultrasound 12 Weeks.

Blissed Out

I apologise in advance for the post you are about to read. It's definately going to be one of those that either makes you go awww how sweet or gag on it's sicklyness lol. I don't know if you could put it down to the pregnancy hormones but lately we have been kind of loved up around here. Everytime Mark has to go anywhere even just to the shops he is met with a deathgrip hugs and begging not to be long from both me and Lukas. When he is here we spend lmost all of our time cuddled up together. Usually either I am in the middle with Mark and Lukas fighting over who gets to stroke my belly or Lukas squeezes into the middle and me and Mark bicker over who can cuddle him the hardest. It's not like life has suddenly got perfect around here far from it. If anything life is slightly more unbearable around here than usual thanks to Nan being ill and all of the issues that come from being pregnant. But for some reason all the headaches, the pain, the insomnia and the emotional rollercoaster seem to take a back seat whenever I get to cuddle up with my family. I suppose we consider ourselves lucky that this pregnancy has been so much better than the others. Takara Bean doesn't come without complications and no-one could describe this pregnancy as easy but to us all of this is old news. We expect pregnancy to be difficult and while it still is there's a lot less stress because it's not quite as bad (yet) as we were expecting it to be. I suppose that it's just nice not to feel so depressed and helpless all the time. I like this new side to our relationship, I like how we talk and want to be around each other. It's something that has been missing for a long time. It's quite funny that we are all watching the clock everyday Lukas gets excited that Daddy will be home soon, I count down how long until he is going to be back and Mark always looks so thrilled when he walks in and me and Lukas jump all over him because we missed him lol. We are going away for the night next Sunday, it's annual pass holders day at Chessington World Of Adventures so we have booked the hotel for the night and are so excited about getting away from here for the night. Then we have another trip planned for the beginning of next month and that will probably be it until after the baby is born. We are all getting so excited now the time seems to be flying by. I have already bought a few bits and pieces but there's still lots to do and sort out and thanks to our babies always being unpredictable we aren't really sure how long we have to get it done lol. Yesterday I spent the day doing some computer stuff while Mark enjoyed a day of sport and a vague attempt at tidying up. I managed to get 2 layouts made and crossed a few other things off my to-do list. Mark goes back to full shifts tonight. It's a big change fto go back from 4-12 when he has only been gone from 4-8. That means dinner, bathtime and bedtime are all going to be on me again. It's been really nice to know that if I didn't feel like doing bathtime Mark could do it when he came home. We knew it was going to happen but it's still going to be a bit of an adjustment for all of us. Tonight will definately be the hardest because Lukas probably won't get to see Mark until he gets him up for school in the morning, he is going to miss the time they have been spending together playing the computer or the playstation or just chatting. I have a lot to work on today but I am not feeling too great so I am not sure how much of it will actually get done. I have some phone calls to make and some more layouts to do if I feel up to sitting here and doing them. I am going to leave you with the two layouts I did yesterday and go and make those phone calls before I forget lol. They were both made with Chrissy's newest template set (released today) called Clustered there's a rectangle version as well as the square but I haven't gotten around to using those yet lol. The first one was made using an older kit by Chrissy called My Favourite Place and the second using a brand new collaboration between Chrissy, Angie Kovacs and Maria Ferguson (Duchess Designs) they were a lot of fun to do. I think I had forgotten how much I like to scrap!


Credits: Layered template (Clustered, Template 4) and My Favourite Place by Chrissy W and Tiny Truckers Medal was scanned in by me. Font is Downcome.

Enabling: Clustered Templates and My Favourite Place by Chrissy W available here and here and Downcome Font available here.


Credits: Layered template (Clustered, Template 3) and Wordle Paper Cutters by Chrissy W, Spring Forward by Chrissy W, Angie Kovacs and Maria Ferguson (Duchess Designs), Tweet Baby Alpha by Royanna Lea Fritschmann and Buttoned Down Dates by Bella Gypsy.

Enabling: Clustered templates and Wordle Papers Cutters by Chrissy W available here and here, Spring Forward by Chrissy W, Angie Kovacs and Maria Ferguson (Duchess Designs) available here and Buttoned Down Dates by Bella Gypsy available here. Tweet Baby by Royanna Lea Fritschmann is now retired.

Those layouts I was talking about

There are a total of 4 that I have to share with you. 1 of them was for a template challenge at Elemental Scraps, 2 of them were about Leo using Chrissy's new Lots To Say 2 Templates and 1 of them is a card using Chrissy's newest templates Speedy Greetings 3. The first one I am going to share is the one for the template challenge, I found the photo while I was clearing off the camera card from Christmas, and thought I should scrap it while I still remembered what was going on lol.

Credits: Layered template (Template Challenge 16), Sorta Solids March Color Play Papers, Chipboard Monograms and Spring-A-Ling all by Chrissy W, Fancy Little Scoops by Traci Reed and Pen Pressure Styles by Sonia Harvy (Saab). Font is DJB Myla by Darcy Baldwin.

Journalling reads:Usually when you want to eat cereal, you prefer to do it either in the living room or upstairs. You always choose to sit on the floor and often struggle with keeping it on the spoon. For some reason today you decided that you wanted to eat it at the kitchen table. When Ella came in to visit she wanted to sit with you and have some cereal too. I offered to make her a bowl but she wanted to share yours, so you got up and got her a spoon. I was waiting for the arguing to start but I was surprised to see that it never came. Seeing the two of you sharing so nicely was the very best birthday present I could ever have hoped to get. 30th December 2008.

Enabling: Sorta Solids March Color Play Papers, Chipboard Monograms and Spring-A-Ling by Chrissy W available here, here and here, Pen Pressure Styles by Sonia Harvy (Saab) available here, DJB Myla available here. Fancy Little Scoops by Traci Reed are retired and Template Challenge 16 details including free download link can be found here.

I am going to show you the card next because the other two are a bit special to me.

Credits: Layered template (Speedy Greetings 3, Template 2), It's My Day Mini and CU Mixin' It Up 1 all by Chrissy W. Font is Honey I Stole Your Jumper.

Enabling: Speedy Greetings 3 Templates, It's My Day Mini and CU Mixin' It Up 1 by Chrissy W available here, here and here and Honey I Stole Your Jumper Font available here.

I got the desire the other day to scrap photographs of Leo, for some reason that is still unknown to me that day I felt that I was strong enough to remember things about him and scrap them without crying. Both of these layouts were made using the same kit. It was really therapeutic to just sit and let the words pour onto the page. It's something I haven't really done in a long time and to be honest I have really missed it. I am actually quite proud of these layouts and the simple style they are scrapped it. I felt like simple was the best way to tell these stories.
The first one is about Leo and his dummy while the second is about little moments with him. The same day I did these I started a third one about Leo's stay in PICU. That one was a lot harder, I shed a lot of tears while I tried to do the journalling and even had to go back to it the following day because the emotion was just too much. That one isn't ready to be shared yet, I have the journalling finished and the pictures edited but I haven't been able to decide on a kit to finish it off. I want to scrap that one in a similar style to these but it's a lot harder than these were probably because the memory is not a happy one or one I really want to think about.

Credits: Layered template (Lots To Say 2, Template 1) and CU Mixin' It Up 1 by Chrissy W, Baby O' Mine Boy by Melissa Bennett and I'm Felting 01 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann. Font is DJB Myla by Darcy Baldwin.

Journalling reads: I’ve never been very fond of the idea of giving dummies to my kids. It started when Lukas was born and the S.C.B.U insisted on him having one to help his sucking reflex. When we noticed that his mouth was sore, I asked one of his doctors if he could have a latex allergy the same as I do, they said no but I trusted my instincts and decided to get rid of the dummies. Within a day or two of them being thrown away his mouth was all better. When Leo was born so early the S.C.B.U team again told us he had to have a dummy. We decided that we were only going to allow that if I could find a latex free dummy. Malcolm managed to find silicone dummies in France for me. They weren’t exactly easy for Leo to suck though. After a lot of searching we found this one, it was round clear plastic with a handle and had a round silicone teat on it. Leo loved it from the first time I gave it too him, even though it was almost as big as his face. It used to make me giggle how he would wrap his fingers around the handle, or put his whole hand against it almost as if to stop us from taking it away from him. He also loved to wrap the dummy clip strap between his fingers and stroke the ridges around the edge.

Enabling: Lots To Say 2 Templates and CU Mixin' It Up 1 by Chrissy W available here and here, Baby O' Mine Boy by Melissa Bennett available here, I'm Felting 01 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann available here and DJB Myla Font available here.


Credits: Layered template (Lots To Say 2, Template 2) by Chrissy W, I'm Felting 01 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann, Baby O' Mine Boy by Melissa Bennett, Wordart by Bethany Harty (Elegant Wordart) and Vintage Photo Actions (Chocolate Tint) by Lauren Barden. Font is DJB Miss Liz by Darcy Baldwin.

Journalling reads: Sometimes when I am having a bad day I feel angry with myself for not taking more pictures of the two of you together. I thought that I had all the time in the world to take photographs of the little moments between you. I thought that if I missed capturing a cuddle here or something cute there I would always have the opportunity to capture it some other time. After Leo came home from hospital I was so busy just enjoying having him around, and watching the two of you together I didn’t stop to take the time to remember the moments, I was too busy enjoying watching them. I will never not wish I could turn back time and do things all over again but it makes me appreciate every tiny little moment that I do have. These photographs are just random shots of you together. Lukas was hungry and screaming for his bottle and Lukas was trying to give him a cuddle and comfort him while I made it. When cuddles and talking didn’t help he tried to offer Leo his own bottle not understanding that the milk inside them was different. I made the bottle as quickly as I was able but by the time it was ready Leo had gotten himself into a state. When I gave him he bottle he continued to sob for a little while as he drunk it. I was stroking his hair to calm him down and talking to him. Lukas was a little confused as to why Leo still seemed sad even though he had gotten what he wanted. It took at least half the bottle before Leo calmed down completely and opened his eyes again. The way he looked at me was almost slightly accusing, as if he was asking me why I hadn’t given him his bottle straight away. Then he reached out his hand and stroked my face. I remember thinking it was cute like he had decided to forgive me for being so slow and just decided to enjoy the bottle. Moments like this seem like nothing to most people but to me they are the only thing I have to help me remember every precious moment I got with Leo.

Enabling: Lots To Say 2 Templates by Chrissy W available here, Baby O' Mine Boy by Melissa Bennett available here, Wordart by Bethany Harty (Elegant Wordart) available here, I'm Felting 01 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann available here and DJB Miss Liz Font available here. Vintage Photo Actions by Lauren Barden are now retired.

I think I have forgotten how to do this

It used to be a bit of a habit to write down all the little details on here, to recap the day and share the layouts I had created. I guess when the days become little more than sleeping, eating, pain and feeling tired there isn't really much left to write about. I have scrapped a few layouts here and there but for the most part I have stayed away from the computer all together. I don't know if I mentioned on here but my new laptop is broken so we only have the desktop at the moment. Lukas wants to use it to play his games on, Mark wants to use it for playing the SIMS 2 on and vaious online games and it never seems worth the effort to fight with them over computer time. The limited amount of time I do spend on the computer are taken up with replying to emails and keeping on top of my blog reader. I do browse the forums but rarely feel like posting to them anymore. I supppose the very limited computer time is good practice for when the baby is born, Lukas and Leo were only ever happy when they were being held I am pretty good at doing things one handed so I can type or even scrap with a baby on my lap but I don't know if I will want to. Whenever I do open up Photoshop to scrap I don't seem to feel inspired, I struggle with trying to choose kits and photographs that work well together. Yesterday I had another hospital appointment. They did some more scans and took some more blood and are baffled as to why every single thing they tested for last time was negative lol. I will admit its kind of fun to always be such a mystery to the hospital especially since each pregnancy is uniquely bizarre lol. Takara Bean appears to be doing fine, very active and exactly 16 weeks in size on the scan. I have another appointment in 5 weeks time ironically its 2 hours before the appointment for my 20 week scan, I am supposed to make an midwife appointment at some point between now and then. I've done something to my ribs it started when I was coughing a lot and my ribs were sore, a sharp pain right across them making it hard to do everything. It kind of got worse when Lukas for some bizarre reason decided to press against my ribs on the left hand side. Paracetamol is a very good friend of mine at the moment, the only problem is its making me very sleepy and dazed all the time. Its kind of strange to have painkillers do something I am so used to them being completely pointless unless I take a lot more than I am supposed to it seems crazy that 1 500mg tablet is capable of knocking me out for the whole night. So apart from my own health issues things aren't too bad. Mark is currently working 3 days a week for 4 hours each day to help get him back into the routine of working after being off for so long with his back. He's gone for a physio appointment today and has an occupational health meeting tomorrow. Lukas currently has no front teeth as both of them came out within days of each other. Luckily the new ones are coming through but for now he looks very grown up with his huge gap lol. I am waiting for the repair people to come and fix the leak under the kitchen sink. They said they would be here sometime before 4pm. Then I have a lot of phone calls to make include getting the laptop repaired and I assume by the time all of those are done Lukas will be home and Mark will be off to work. I better go for now because I have lots of other little things to do while Mark is out. But I will pop back when I get a minute and share the few layouts I have done, the scan photos and a photograph of Lukas and his gap for you. I still have enabling to add to the other post as well.

Has it really been that long?

Oh dear, sorry about that. I wish I could tell you that I have been really busy and haven't had time to write a blog post but as you already know I don't like telling lies lol. I wish I could tell you that I have lots to share with you and tell you but that's not really true either. I also wish I could tell you that I have been busy scrapping and I have lots of layouts to share with you, there are a few layouts I have managed to do this month to share with you but that's not the reason either. To be honest the reason I haven't blogged is really simple I haven't had anything to blog about. I haven't been spending much more than the time it takes to check my email on the computer each day, partly because sitting at my desk isn't really easy at the moment thanks to the constant headaches and pain everywhere, but it wouldn't be very honest if I didn't admit that although that part of the reason the majority of it is I don't want to be on the computer. The pregnancy seems to have drained anything resembling motivation from my body, I am tired all the time and for some reason unknown to me I seem to have retreated away from people in general. I have no desire to post on forums or talk to my online friends at the moment. They haven't done anything wrong, and I don't really feel more depressed than usual so I don't really have an explanation. Maybe it's because I have nothing to say I haven't been out of the house except for appointments or maybe it's because I am feeling so ill and I don't feel like talking. I really hate to admit this but I haven't really missed it as much as I would have done even a few months ago. There was a time when I was inseperable from my computer I checked emails a couple hundred times a day because I didn't want anyone to have to wait for a response. Now it kind of seems unimportant. If you ask me what I have been doing instead I would probably shrug my shoulders because I really don't know. I have listened to a few audiobooks on my ipod but that's usually while Mark is watching television and Lukas is on the computer. We have started sorting a few things out in the house but nothing major and that was all done in a few days. The time seems to go by just as quick with nothing getting achieved even when I don't use the computer. Anyway I just wanted to check in and let you know why I have been kind of distant I guess I thought once I started writing this post I might understand the reasons too but I am just as clueless now as I was when I started it. I will leave you with those layouts and hope that next time I blog I actually have something to blog about. There are 6 layouts in total to share with you, maybe that tells you how little time I have been on the computer better than all the words managed to, hopefully I will find a way to get back to something more normal soon.

I can't remember what all of these layouts were done for so I am just going to post them with the credits and I will come back another time and add details and enabling when I remember too.


Credits: Layered template (Round We Go Rectangle, Template 2), Lizzie May and CU Mixin' It Up 2 all by Chrissy W, Label Me 01 and The Grunged Dot Papers by Royanna Lea Fritschmann and Happy Thoughts 2009 (January, Day 26) by Sue Cummings. Font is FO Howie's Stamps Lowfat by Fontologie.

Journalling reads: You decided it might be funny to run around the house with your cereal bowl on your head. You are such a silly boy Lukas! 22nd July '06.

Enabling: Round We Go Rectangle Templates, Lizzie May, CU Mixin' It Up 2 by Chrissy W available here, here and here, Label Me 01 and The Grunged Dot Papers by Royanna Lea Fritschmann available here and here, Happy Thoughts 2009 January by Sue Cummings available here and FO Howie's Stamps Lowfat Font by Fontologie available here.


Credits: Layered template (February Designer Sampler Template) by Chrissy W, Frostee by Mandy McQuillis (Mandy Mystiques), (Happy Thoughts 2009 (January, Day 11) by Sue Cummings, I'm Felting 01 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann and Pen Pressure Styles by Sonia Harvy (Saab). Font is DJB A Bit Of Flaire by Darcy Baldwin.

Journalling reads: I’ll let you in on a little secret. The whole time that I was trying to concentrate on saying my wedding vows. The only thing I really wanted to do was look back at you. I have never been in the situation before where you are so close, yet out of reach to me. In my head I was wishing the ceremony would hurry up and be over so I could have you back with me where you belong. When you couldn’t sit still anymore and wondered over to where we were sitting and signing the register, I don’t think I have ever been so glad to see you in my life. Once I had you sat on my lap again, I was finally able to relax and enjoy the moments that made me legally a married woman. I don’t know why it is but when I have you close to me I feel calm, like I can take on anything life can throw at me. I wasn’t worried anymore about tripping over the train on the dress, or forgetting the words I was supposed to say. At that moment I just felt content I had everything I could ever want in the world, You and Daddy right there next to me. and that made me feel happier than I could ever begin to find words to describe.

Enabling: February Designer Sampler Template by Chrissy W available here, Frostee by Mandy McQuillis (Mandy Mystiques) available here, (Happy Thoughts 2009 January by Sue Cummings available here, I'm Felting 01 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann available here, Pen Pressure Styles by Sonia Harvy (Saab) available here and DJB A Bit Of Flaire Font by Darcy Baldwin available here.


Credits: Based on 365 Sketch 1 by Laura White (Princesslala) and Out Of This World by Royanna Lea Fritschmann. Fonts are Castellar and FO Giggles by Fontologie. Photo edited using 12+12 Presets (VintageLE) by Sarah Ji from Preset Heaven.

Journalling reads: Whenever you get out the construction toys I can’t help but watch. I love to see your little imagination at work. You sit for hours and mess around with bits and pieces to create anything from cars to robots, from boats to spaceships. But I think the best part is listening to you make up stories to go with your creations. Giving them voices and really making them come alive. I love how in your eyes their are no limits to what you create except what you can imagine.

Enabling: 365 Sketch 1 by Laura White (Princesslala) found here, Out Of This World by Royanna Lea Fritschmann available here, Castellar Font available here, FO Giggles Font by Fontologie available here and 12+12 Presets by Sarah Ji available here.


Credits: Layered template (Round We Go Rectangle, Template 1), Paper Cutters (Huge Scallop Paper Rectangle) and It's My Day by Chrissy W and Checklists Brushes by Katie Pertiet. Font is FO Free Refill by Fontologie.

Journalling reads: Uncle Aidan's Birthday Party. August 2003.

Enabling: Round We Go Rectangle Templates, Paper Cutters and It's My Day by Chrissy W available here, here and here, Checklists Brushes by Katie Pertiet available here and FO Free Refill Font by Fontologie available here.


Credits: Layered template (Template Challenge 15) by Chrissy W and Our House by Chrissy W and Angie Kovacs. Fonts are FO Textura Traced and FO Printing Primer In Between both by Fontologie.

Journalling reads: I love this photograph of you. It was taken when we were living with Nannie Freda & Grampy Andy. Daddy had the camera on the wrong setting and the shutter stuck as well, but you look so cute + adorable peering out of the back door with your bottle. The look on your face is just precious. I only wish I could remember what you were looking at in the back garden.

Enabling: Template Challenge 15 by Chrissy W available here, Our House by Chrissy W and Angie Kovacs available here, FO Textura Traced Font by Fontologie available here and FO Printing Primer In Between Font by Fontologie available here.


Credits: Layered template (Template Challenge 14) by Chrissy W, Our House by Chrissy W and Angie Kovacs and Being Green Alpha by Angie Kovacs. Font is FO Howie's Stamps Lowfat.

Enabling: Template Challenge 14 by Chrissy W available here, Our House by Chrissy W and Angie Kovacs available here, Being Green Alpha by Angie Kovacs available here and FO Howie's Stamps Lowfat Font by Fontologie available here.

Two layouts to share

I don't really have anything to say today but I do have those 2 layouts I did the other night to share. Both of these were made using Chrissy's new Angie'licious 4 templates. It's nice to have finally scrapped something pregnancy related. I only wish I had more things that available to scrap about this pregnancy but I have just been too ill to care about taking photographs (not that I really have anything to photograph yet, like I said the bumps are all my own lol) or journalling about my feelings. I have bought some clothes but it's all white and fairly uninteresting. I can't wait until I can order proper baby clothes, little outfits etc not babygros. I will keep this brief because despite today being a really bad day as far as how I am feeling there are a few things I need to get done today before I retreat to my bed.

Credits: Layered template (Angie'licious 4, Template 1) by Chrissy W, Cottage Chic by Megan Farrow (Flergs), I'm Talking 'bout - Preggo Wordart by Jodie McNally and I'm Felting 01 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann. Font is FO Howie's Stamps Lowfat by Fontologie.

Enabling: Angie'licious 4 Templates by Chrissy W available here, Cottage Chic by Megan Farrow (Flergs) available here, I'm Talking 'bout - Preggo Wordart by Jodie McNally available here, I'm Felting 01 Styles by Royanna Lea Fritschmann available here and FO Howie's Stamps Lowfat Font by Fontologie available here.


Credits: Layered template (Angie'licious 4, Template 4) by Chrissy W, First Kiss Of Spring by Megan Farrow (Flergs) and Nicole Seitler (Sugarplum Paperie) and I'm Talking 'bout - Preggo Wordart by Jodie McNally. Font is FO Howie's Stamps Lowfat by Fontologie.

Enabling: Angie'licious 4 Templates by Chrissy W available here, First Kiss Of Spring by Megan Farrow (Flergs) and Nicole Seitler (Sugarplum Paperie) available here, I'm Talking 'bout - Preggo Wordart by Jodie McNally available here and FO Howie's Stamps Lowfat Font by Fontologie available here.

Where to start?

I wish I had the time to sit here and type a long blog post, full of rubbish about how well the pregnancy is going, and how well I am feeling etc but I don't tell lies on my blog. This pregnancy is just like the previous 4 lol it sucks! I am missing my computer and my internet friends, I am missing the forums and the chatter but more than anything else I am missing the scrapping. I need the creative outlet that it gives me, I hate letting my CT's down and to be honest scrapping just makes me happy. I have been lucky yesterday and some of today that I felt a little better, enough to sit on the bed with the laptop for a little while. Caught up on some emails and cleared some blogs but no scrapping. I did manage to do a tiny but of scrapping yesterday on the desktop and I paid for it by being up nearly all of last night in pain lol. *sigh* I'm sorry I know this is a very whingy post and this pregnancy is a huge blessing (or at least the end result will be) but for now I am feeling very depressed and miserable, I am missing my life and my routine. I get kind of grumpy when I can't do anything. Mark has been out all day and today just seems to have been a bad day. I have been on a bit of a short fuse all day to be honest, when we were making dinner I couldn't open the box of stock cubes and ended up launching them across the kitchen, maybe that tells you how fed up I am. *sigh* I haven't ever liked February much we have the first anniversary of Mark's mum dying this week. There are appointments that need to be attended for both me and Mark. Lukas looks like he may be coming down with something, he's been very quiet and spent the whole day alternating between playing the computer and being curled up under the duvet in my bed with me. This month we also have Valentines Day, Gaiebraille's anniversary, Mark's mum and dad's wedding anniversary (although redundant I still feel it deserves mentioning) and various other things. All I really want is to feel more like myself so I can start clearing some of the backlog I am really tired of feeling sick, being in pain and having no energy all the time. I suppose it really all comes down to, is the simple fact that although I think the baby is totally worth anything I have to go through I was kind of hoping all the pregnancy crap would come a little later. It would be nice to have a real bump to go along with all the problems at least then people wouldn't just assume that it was all laziness, although then I suppose I would get what I usually do which is people saying I am "putting it all on for attention" because they don't believe pregnancy could cause all of these issues. Sometimes I just wish I could be pregnant like a normal person instead of all of the complications and illness. I am going to stop whinging now it really is time to get off the laptop, at least there is a film on the tv I want to watch, they are showing the St Trinian's film tonight and I am going to watch it with Mark and my duvet lol. Hopefully next time I manage to get on here I will be feeling a bit more myself or at least not such a miserable cow.