Customized Couple Portrait - Group Giveaway (via Casey Wiegand)

I just wanted to make sure you get a better idea of what the customized couple portrait would/ could look like : ) I hope to have it ready just in time for Valentines Day!!! Good luck : )

My Sunshine

I have always loved kids drawings and I have been collecting them ever since I have been working with little kids. Now my daughter is starting to be a little artist herself and I cannot get enough of it! I love her suns! The energy of the lines and the cheeky smile reflect so much of her personality. The other thing she like to draw is doors ... not sure why!? they are very colorful and don't have a handle, but she insists that they are doors : ) I cannot wait for more inspiring and sweet little art works from her!

A beautiful mess

It seems like I go through a creating day and a making day at the moment. One day I will pick an idea that is sitting on top of my ideas pile in my head and I will pull everything out that I think I might need. Then I sit in between all the fabric and buttons and sewing magazines and pick and choose what I think I might need to create that little something. The next day I put together all the bits and pieces, make little changes and stay in my little world until it's finished.


 Happy days.

 

Momentan verbringe ich einen Tag damit etwas zu entwerfen und den nächsten Tag damit die vielen Details und Einzelteile zusammen zu setzen.  Am ersten Tag überlege ich mir, was ich gerne zaubern möchte und kram in all meinen Schatzkisten rum und verteile es im Flur auf der gesamten Fläche. Dann sitze ich dort eine ganze Weile umgeben von Stoff und Burda Zeitschriften und anderen kleinen Sachen und überleg mir wie mein kleiner Entwurf nun aussehen soll. Am nächsten Tag bin ich dann damit beschäftigt alles mit einander zu verbinden, verändere noch mal hier und da was und bin solange in meiner Welt vertieft bis es fertig ist. 

Einfach glücklich. 

Birthday present for my Grandpa

After sending out our Christmas card that I made of the 4 of us I really want to make similar family of couple portraits with different details and backgrounds. Here is what I am working on at the moment: a portrait of my grandma and my grandpa, which he wished for for his birthday at the end of January.

Our Christmas card

my grand parents

Sewing and Stitching

Yeah, Minna's and Finni's KITA bag is all done and ready to be filled with yummi food, spare clothes, beautiful drawings and little treasure carefully chosen on the way home.

Yeah, Minnas und Finnis KITA Tasche ist vollendet. Jetzt haben sie genug Platz für leckeres Frühstück, Wechselsachen, Gemaltes und viele kleine Schätze, die sie auf dem Weg nach Hause gefunden haben.

A bag for little treasures / Eine Tasche für kleine Schätze

Today I have been digging through my chest full of beautiful fabric and pulling out all my old laces and trimmings. I could sit in the middle of animal patterns, bright colors and random shapes all day long. I have been meaning to make a new bag for Minna and Finn for so long since their old one is truly falling apart. Here is a little sneak preview.

Heute habe ich ewig in meiner Truhe zwischen all meinen schönen Stoffen gewühlt und alle aufwendig gesammelten Borten mal wieder rausgezuppelt. Ich hätte den ganzen Tag inzwischen  Tiermustern, fröhlichen Farben und verspielten Formen sitzen können. Ich möchte schon seit einer ganzen Weile eine neue Tasche für Minna und Finn nähen, da ihre alte langsam auseinander fällt. Hier ist schon mal ein kleiner Vorgeschmack.

Feeling as free as a bird

 This is my first little project which I made today as a symbol of how I feel: As free as a bird!! Being able to be creative and do and make and create what I have been meaning to all these years, months and weeks. It is such a wonderful feeling!

I love Robins and I used to have a little Robin friend in our garden in London. He was so sweet and always watched me doing gardening.

Das ist mein erstes kleines Ergebnis von dem heutigen Tag und steht als Symbol dafür wie ich mich momentan fühle: Frei wie ein Vogel!! Es ist so schön das zu machen und entstehen zu lassen, was mir schon seit so langer Zeit durch den Kopf geht. Ich habe so viele schöne Idee, die ich nun endlich zum Leben erwachen lassen kann!! HERRLICH!

Advent Calendar filled with LOVE - No 24

This is our love story spread over 24 days - a little bit of love each day : )

Das ist unsere Liebesgeschichte verteilt über 24 Tage - jeden Tag ein kleines Stückchen Liebe : )

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD

November 2002

July 2011

Sometimes life takes you on unexpected paths and sometimes they change your life forever. I am so thankful for all the people we have met and the decissions we made along the way. It's been such a special time of the day writing about our story throughout the last 24 days (even though I have lost a fair few hours of sleep) and we truely have been skipping down memory lane.

We have so many exciting plans ahead of us! Our biggest one is to go to Australia for one year in July 2012. We cannot wait! It will also be our 10th anniversary back in Gladstone. We would have never imagined that THE night we met.

For now we wish you all a wonderful Christmas time and a great start of the new year! I hope Santa gave you that little special present that you have been wishing for! Keep dreaming and believing! Miracles do happen!!!

Ich werde so bald ich mich von der Weihnachtsgans erholt habe, alle Übersetzungen nachholen. Bis dahin wünsche ich euch ein glückliches Weihnachtsfest!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Advent Calendar filled with LOVE - No 23

This is our love story spread over 24 days - a little bit of love each day : )

Das ist unsere Liebesgeschichte verteilt über 24 Tage - jeden Tag ein kleines Stückchen Liebe : ) 


FAMILY TIME

From the day Finni was born Graeme took 3 months leave. We felt so lucky being able to take parenting time together. During those weeks I mainly looked after Finni and Graeme went on little daily adventures with Minna. Once I felt stronger again we all went out and about together. Graeme and Minna grew really close during that time. It was so much fun watching them build towers and read stories and cuddle up in front of the TV. By the end of the 3rd month we celebrated a very special Christmas holiday with Graeme's mom and brother. Even though they got stuck in London for 3 days on the way over (because of too much snow) and both of them lost their bags for the entire trip - we ended up having a wonderful time. The weather was like in a Christmas movie where it starts to snow on Christmas Eve. We had snow fights, made snow angels, drank mulled wine, had a barefoot race through the snow, walked over a frozen lake, pulled each other on the sled, drank more mulled wine and ate and ate delicious Christmas food.

In January 2011 Graeme had to go back to work and his Mom and brother back to Australia. I was home alone with Minna and Finn until the summer. It is save to say that it wasn't always easy for me. When one or both of them were sick I found it so hard to be there for them equally. I was so used to be there for Minna 100% and now I had to learn to split myself and still make sure that I looked after both of them. I was always so relieved when I heard the key in the door and I knew Graeme was home after a day of work to help me with the kids. Often it finally gave me a chance to go to the toilet, take a shower, bush my teeth and get out of my PJs...

In the summer we went back to Australia for 5 weeks so everyone could meet Finni. The kids loved the open space, the beautiful beach and obviously being with their Australian family. After the summer and with the start of the school year I went back to work and the kids started going to a sweet little day care center down the road from us. It wasn't easy for me leaving them with people I didn't really now. At first I felt bad for 'dropping them off', but it was so good for me to get out of the house after 2 1/2 years of being at home. I really enjoyed being able to talk to other grown-ups and I loved teaching art again.

Outing to the Berlin Zoo

December 2010

Christmas 2010

Advent Calendar filled with LOVE - No 22

This is our love story spread over 24 days - a little bit of love each day : )

Das ist unsere Liebesgeschichte verteilt über 24 Tage - jeden Tag ein kleines Stückchen Liebe : ) 

ROOM FOR MORE

Minna loves our little boat house just as much as we do!

Watching the world cup with Maxi in July 2010

Minna grew up so quickly and it was amazing watching her discover the world around her. We always said that it would be nice to have two children and after about 5 or 6 months we started thinking about our next little family member, who was just as hard to imagine as the first one. Graeme and I both have siblings, but there are at least 5, 10, 15 and more years apart from us and we thought it would be nice to have them close together so they can grow up side by side. We also liked the thought that they would always have each other even when our time has come to an end. It seems weird to think that but somewhere in my heart it feels really good.  


Maxi's pregnancy was somewhat different to Minna's. I didn't feel sick in the beginning, but nauseous if I didn't eat something right there and then. My belly popped straight away and it was so obvious right from the start that I was carrying a little someone. I ate for two especially ice cream. My feet were burning during hot summer days, which I never experienced with Minna. I totally didn't crawl around on the floor building sand castles during my first pregnancy. I was very happy not having to work and enjoying the luxury of sitting on the couch when I felt like it. I did start watching a fair bit of Bindi Erwin with Minna when I was too tired to do anything, which is still her most favorite DVD to watch. I only worried a tiny bit about the birth and the time ahead. This time I simply felt so much more relaxed and prepared. 


The contractions started at exactly the same time 1am, but I only had a little while to get myself ready. I took a shower, blow dried my hair and told Graeme not to worry about going to sleep. I rang my midwife at 2am and we met her at the hospital at 3:30am. This time I wanted a midwife who was going to be there for us throughout the whole pregnancy, the birth and the time after the baby was born. It made such a difference to how I felt walking into that labor ward. It only took 1h and 30min for Finn Felix to arrive. It was actually a really nice birth. Everything just happened the way it should. My mom and my sister came to join us again. Only this time I passed out in the bathroom right after the birth which is why we had to stay one night at the hospital. Minna came to met her brother and was totally amazed by the tiny person under the warm blanket. Sweet sweet memories!

Maxi had 6 hours left inside that big belly

Finn Felix born on the 19th of September at 4:53am on the same day at his great grandma who watched Minna at home that night

Special moments

Minna came to say hello the next day

Finni had a tiny fold over his right eye - like a little thinker.

Das mit den Übersetzung muss leider noch warten ...  tut mir total leid, aber es ist schon WIEDER kurz vor eins ... nachts ... da war doch was !?

Our first family shot at home - slightly more lively to our first night home with Minna.

Advent Calendar filled with LOVE - No 21

This is our love story spread over 24 days - a little bit of love each day : )

Das ist unsere Liebesgeschichte verteilt über 24 Tage - jeden Tag ein kleines Stückchen Liebe : )

PATIENCE

I think the meaning of the word patience transforms with the moment people start thinking about having children and once more when they are lucky enough to actually be parents. It seems like for us that we spent many years thinking when will be ready to be parents and when should we start trying to fall pregnant? Once you have reached that point you start waiting again for the exciting and anxious moment the little pee test shows the right symbol that you have wished for and once you have seen the doctor for the first time you have to wait another few weeks until you get to see your unborn child again on a little screen. Soon you start waiting for the first gentle movement, then the first scream, the first ever eye contact and warm cuddle and then you wait patiently for the moment the can lift their head for a few seconds, turn over without your help, hold a little toy with their own hands, start to crawl properly, say their first word and make little steps all by themselves. These are the moments when you feel proud and happy and thankful that you are able to see these little developments that you have been waiting for so patiently.


Then there are these other patient moments that not always so easy to take as a gift of parenthood: Waiting for the milk to come, waiting for the breastfeeding to become easier, waiting for the milk pump to finish pumping, waiting for the sweet little baby to fall asleep, waiting for the screaming to stop, hoping for the tooth to come through, waiting for a cold to pass, waiting for the potty training to pay off, waiting for the first week of being able to sleep through again, .... I am guessing that this list will probably never end just like the other one. It definitely is not easy to be patient and sometimes we are so close to giving up, but in the end it always seems worth it.


Die Übersetzung kommt noch!! 

Minna at about 6 weeks

one of my favorite photos of teeny tiny Minna

Our 2nd wedding anniversary back in the same hotel

checking out Mommy's glasses

Taking a splash in OUR lake

Minna about 5 months

Crawling through Australian grass at about 7 1/2 months

Leaning against her first snowman

This is probably our first family picture with Minna and Maxi

Advent Calendar filled with LOVE - No 20

This is our love story spread over 24 days - a little bit of love each day : )

Das ist unsere Liebesgeschichte verteilt über 24 Tage - jeden Tag ein kleines Stückchen Liebe : ) 


EYE CONTACT

First time Minna looked into our eyes

The moment I will never forget was the first time Minna looked into our eyes. I was still holding her in my arms for the very first time and all of the sudden she moved her head to look at Graeme and then to look at me. I could not believe that this teeny tiny person was already so aware of what was going on. It was almost like she tried to say: "So you are my Daddy and you must be my Mommy!"

I gave birth naturally and without any medication. I wasn't sure if I was going to make that, but I really wanted to be able to connect to all those women who have given birth all these hundreds and thousands of years ago. I trusted my body to do the right thing and to make it through this life time experience. Graeme was right there beside me for the last 8 hours. I let him sleep the first 7 hours, because I knew he needed to help me through the tough part of the birth. At about 1am I got up and enjoyed my first light contractions while reading the birth chapter of my book that I should have read before hand. At about 9:00 am we walked across the road to the hospital with a few painful stops of not so light contractions anymore. An hour and a half later we were inside the labor ward and after 3 different midwives and a lot of different birthing positions Minna finally found her way out at about 3pm. I was exhausted, but I was beaming of happiness. That feeling didn't stop for about 3 or 4 days. My mom and my sister came to the hospital to meet Minna and after the first check up and a few stitches we went back across the road to our flat to start our lives being a Mom and a Dad.

Little May bells (Maiglöckchen)

Minna moments after she was born on the 12th of May 2009 at 14:58 o'clock  (2740g and 48cm).

All wrapped up and cozy on Daddy's arms

 Übersetzung kommt noch : )) Geduld ...

Our first evening together as a family

Advent Calendar filled with LOVE - No 19

This is our love story spread over 24 days - a little bit of love each day : )

Das ist unsere Liebesgeschichte verteilt über 24 Tage - jeden Tag ein kleines Stückchen Liebe : ) 

JOURNEY

One of our very few picture together with the belly

About 6 months pregnant and so proud of it!!

Moving to Berlin was such a new beginning for us. Starting work at a new school was exciting. Moving into an empty flat with only a small pile of boxes shipped over from England left us with a lot of space that wanted to be filled. Finding out that we are pregnant on top of all that took a while to sink in. I knew something was going on, because my body was sending me all these signals that a little person was building a tiny nest inside me. Then to actually see a heart beat on a screen and a little arm waving hello was overwhelming. We were so happy and excited about the news, but at the same time we were also wondering if this was the right time. Is there ever a good time? Are we truly ready to be parents?

We always wanted to have children and we didn't want to wait too long. I love the fact that my mom practically looks like my sister and that my grand parents are still full of life and energy. The hardest part for me was to tell school that I won't be able to work for a lot longer. I felt bad leaving the kids half way through the year and I really enjoyed teaching art. I was very thankful for the 3 big sinks in the art room, which I spent a lot of time standing next to throughout the first 3 months. Luckily I didn't ever have to use them ...

Once my belly got really big I was glad to stop working and to be at home sewing and painting and day dreaming of what it might be like to be a parent. Even though we were excited about the special time ahead we also had moments of doubts. Is Mini (which is what we called her for the whole 9 months) healthy? What would we have to do if she wasn't? What if we loose her before we even had time to meet her? Will I be able to cope with the birth? How will our relationship change once Mini is here?

Being pregnant for the first time leaves you with so much new ground to discover. Every day seems like a journey and you simply didn't quite know where you were going. It is such a special time and with each little movement that you can feel your heart grows and grows...

Mini's nursery decorated with love

 

Mini's outfit I made for the day she was born (far too big!)

Graeme ran the half marathon in April 2009 just before the birth (we thought is was somewhat equal effort)

REISE

Nach Berlin zu ziehen, war der Anfang eines neuen Lebensabschnitts für uns. Zusammen in einer Schule anfangen zu arbeiten, war ebenfalls spannend und schön zu gleich. In eine neue Wohnung zu ziehen, wo nur ein kleiner Haufen mit Umzugskisten aus England stand, gab uns viel Platz zum Entfalten und die Möglickeit endlich ein Zuhause zu gestalten, so wie uns es immer erträumt hatten. Als wir dann noch obendrein erfuhren, dass wir schwanger sind, mussten wir erstmal tief Luft holen - aus Freude, Aufregung, Zweifel über den Zeitpunkt und ein bißchen Angst vor dem was dieses kleine + auf dem Schwangerschafttest für unsere Zukunft bedeuten würde. Mein Körper schickte mir relativ schnell ein Signal nach dem anderen, dass sich ein kleines Wesen es in meinem Bauch gemütlich gemacht hatte. Als wir dann zum ersten Mal den Herzschlag auf dem Monitor sehen konnten und ein winziges Ärmchen uns zuwinkte, gab es keine Zweifel mehr - dieser kleine Mensch wollte zu uns.

Wir wollten immer Kinder haben und wir wollten ich allzu lange damit warten. Ich bin so froh, dass meine Mama noch so jung ist (und manchmal sogar als meine Schwester durchgeht) und dass meine Großeltern immer noch voller Lebenslust und Energie sind. Die einzige Hürde für mich war das Gespräch mit meinem neuen Direktor zu suchen. Ich hatte solch ein schlechtes Gewissen der Schule gegenüber und wollte nur ungern meine Klassen mitten im Schuljahr abgeben. Mir hatte der Kunstunterricht viel Freude bereitet und es war nicht so einfach dem ganzen wieder den Rücken zu zuwenden. Ich war jedoch in der Anfangszeit sehr froh darüber 3 große Waschbecken in meinem Klassenzimmer zu haben, wo von ich zum Glück nie wirklich Gebrauch nehmen musste!

Als mein Bauch dann langsam Übergröße annahm, war ich heilfroh nicht mehr arbeiten zu müssen. Ich machte es mir zu Hause gemütlich und verbrachte die letzten 6 Wochen der Schwangerschaft mit nähen und malen und tagträumen vom baldigen Mamaleben. Natürlich hatten wir auch Momente, in denen wir uns Sorgen gemacht haben. Ist Mini (das war der Spitzname von Minna im Bauch) gesund? Was würden wir tun müssen, wenn sie es nicht wäre? Was ist, wenn ihr doch noch vor der Geburt etwas im Bauch zustößt? Wie werde ich die Geburt überstehen? Wie wird sich wohl unsere Beziehung ändern, wenn Mini dann da ist?


Während der ersten Schwangerschaft begibt man sich auf so eine unbekannte Reise, wo man nur Schritt für Schritt sich den Weg entlang tasten kann. Man weiß nicht so wirklich wohin es geht, was die 9 Monate wahrscheinlich auch so besonders und intensiv machen. Das schöne an der Zeit ist, dass man mit jeder kleinen Bewegung im Bauch bemerkt, wie die Liebe zu dem kleinen Wesen immer mehr wächst und wächst.

 

6 weeks before the due date on the 16th of May 2009