Moments I don't want to forget

I write this blog for our family because, as time goes on, I realise more and more that I am the keeper of so many memories.  Looking back through the last few posts, I was struck with a heavy heart by how much I had already completely forgotten.  These memories only resurfaced because someone had taken a photo and I had bothered to quickly jot down the meaning behind the image.  Thank God for photos and the power that they hold to elicit one's connections to the past.  Already Matthew's hands are no longer as chubby as the one giving me a wave.  Thankfully, though, Dave has new shorts; I ordered him two new pairs this past summer and quickly threw the ones above in the garbage.

For the countless hours that I have spent nursing over the past 18 years, it is astonishing that I have so very few photos of myself with a baby at the breast.  Matthew was absolutely charmed a few days ago when I showed him a photo of him nursing.  A slow smile crept across his face as he realised that he was once in Baby Simie's spot.

This is one of my all-time favourite photos.  Baby Simon was so young and we were taking some time to just be down by the river.  Hannah insisted on a family photo in the same style as the ones we had taken following the last few babies.  I am so happy that we listened to her.  This photo is an outtake as Rosie the dog had just decided to join the shoot with a good old shake off after a dip in the river.  So much pure joy in this shot.

This photo is a rare one -Dave and me!  I cherish it - it is probably the best couple photo we have ever taken.

And these two - what a hoot!  They are the most conspiracy-minded of all the grandparents and we actually caught them in the act.  If they were on social media, they would be censored...

This is probably the first and last time my dad held the baby named for his brother and cousin.  But that's a whole other story with a slightly different theme.