I'm scared of the ocean. I'm not a very strong swimmer but it's not that really, it's the vastness of it. I'm okay if I can spot a sandy beach or even some jagged cliffs in the not too far distance but what I find most terrifying is being in the middle of the ocean, no idea of where the edge lies; feeling at the centre of everything and nothing. This is basically what I felt like when I brought my son home from hospital.
I was okay for the first two weeks, when my husband was around and the guests were flowing but after that I sometimes found myself having out at sea moments. When I felt like this I would dress my little baby, wrap him in a beautiful blanket and take him for a walk. Sometimes I would go to the supermarket and spend a while choosing a new shampoo, sometimes I would go to Starbucks and have a cheeky coffee and sometimes I would just walk. Blankets are wonderful because most babies calm when swaddled in one, I love how you can't really go wrong with them you just tuck them in and you're parenting. A blanket is the soft furnishings equivalent of a hug and they say to you and to the world, I can care for my child. A blanket was my life jacket in the choppy waters of motherhood. The other great thing about blankets is a well made one can be a wonderful keepsake and perhaps less embarrasing to take to university than a teddy.
If you would like to help create some warm memories for a parent, I have a £40 voucher for the delightful Lilly and Sid to give away. With that you can buy one of their beautiful blankets or in the sale even two. What a wonderful way to start the New Year. If you're good for blankets Lilly and Sid also stock loads of children's clothing and accessories, including my current favourite the polar bear feet sleep suit.
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My favourite keepsake is a photobook of my family and closest friends.
ReplyDeleteMy little box of my children's treasures - ie their hospital tags, first tooth, curl, baby grow, shoes.
ReplyDeletea knitted cardigan my Mum knitted for my son when he was a baby.
ReplyDeleteI love my sons first sleepsuits they wore
ReplyDeletemy kids firsts - hair and hospital tag etc
ReplyDeleteashleigh
I knitted my daughter a blanket when I was pregnant with her. I also plan to keep an adorable onesie my brother and sister in law got her.
ReplyDeletethe tags and knitted hats that my boys each had in hospital
ReplyDeleteThe first little sleepsuit - so tiny!
ReplyDeleteIt probably sounds silly but...when I was much younger my dad was going on a business trip to America. I asked him to bring me an American dollar back for me. He did, and I've kept it all these years, I must have had it around 17 years now. He died 14 years ago so I keep all those little bits of things safe.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful x
Deletemy partners grandparents bought us a really fancy, expensive photo album when our son was just born. ive put all his first photos in it (he was prem and in NICU for a while) so its really special to me
ReplyDeleteBaby hospital tag and a small tatty jellycat bunny
ReplyDeletemy children's first babygrows, reminds me how tiny they were
ReplyDeleteI my shadow box with my wedding bouquet dried and displayed
ReplyDeleteThat's clever!
Deletefirst Christmas card my little boy wrote himself :-)
ReplyDeleteI have all my scan pictures in a little box with their hospital bands and I've kept each of their first blankets.My 1yr old is very attached to a 17yr old blanket that was my first borns. :-)
ReplyDeleteBaby clothes from when my daughter was a newborn, she was premature and they are like little dolls clothes.
ReplyDeleteI have a beautiful picture of my grandparents with my son before they passed away framed on my window ledge :)
ReplyDeleteMy name tags from my daughters after giving birth.
ReplyDeletea lock of all my kids hair from their first haircut
ReplyDeleteThe wristband from hospital when I gave birth :) Probably harbouring all kinds of germs but I don't care because it just takes me back to that moment :)
ReplyDeleteMY CHILDRENS FIRST OUTFIT WITH PICTURES NAME TAGS ETC ALL IN A CUTE BOX
ReplyDeletefirst baby outfit
ReplyDeleteThe first outfit my son wore.
ReplyDeletei have a wicker hamper full of loads of stuff
ReplyDeleteMy daughters coming home outfit :) xx
ReplyDeleteA birthday card from my little brother that he gave me the year before he died
ReplyDeleteMy kids first baby grow its so tiny
ReplyDeleteThe baby shawl that my mum and grandma knitted - it's a bit moth-eaten now as I was 50 last birthday
ReplyDeleteI have kept my children's baby gro from hospital and their first teddies
ReplyDeleteI have a box of my sons cards abd drawings.
ReplyDeleteMy daughters first sleepsuit xx
ReplyDeleteMy sons First babygrow :) and duck soft toy.
ReplyDeletethe wristbands from when my babies were born x
ReplyDeletemy babies first blanket
ReplyDeleteBaby grandparents of my niece and nephew
ReplyDeleteMy silver tree of life necklace which has my daughters' names on it
ReplyDeleteI still have a hedgehog hand puppet that my parents gave me as a baby. His name is Herbie and he is now 30 years old!
ReplyDeletePhotographs mean everything to me, memories and 1000 words in each one <3
ReplyDeleteI have a cardi for each of my children that their Grandma knitted. So small and cute!
ReplyDeletea box with my daughters baby stuff in it
ReplyDeleteI have a memory box full of treasures which mean nothing to anyone else but is precious to me - small tokens which trigger amazing memories x
ReplyDeleteMy childrens memory boxes
ReplyDeleteMY CHARM BRACELET
ReplyDeleteMy favourite keepsake is my box of photographs, so special x
ReplyDeleteFirst ever sleepsuit, so small and cute
ReplyDeleteMy daughters baby blanket
ReplyDeleteMy son's baby shawl that was knitted by his Grandmother. Will keep this forever :)
ReplyDeleteMy christening shawl
ReplyDeleteMy son's baby book.
ReplyDeleteIt will always be photos of my family over the years, also the family tree
ReplyDeleteA beautiful keepsake box with my precious daughter's name tag, scan pictures, first hat and two beautiful poignant cards written for her. Our daughter was born after years of miscarriages and fertility treatment so this box is so special.
ReplyDeleteA Hippo toy from when I was small
ReplyDeleteA Picture of my nan who sadly is not with us anymore x
ReplyDeletePhotographs of my babies :)
ReplyDeleteMy photos I love looking back at the memories
ReplyDeleteThe scan pictures of our baby
ReplyDeleteHospital tag x
ReplyDeleteMy favourite keepsake is definitely photographs! I look forward to starting a memory box for my daughter due in march :)
ReplyDeleteMy childrens first babygro's
ReplyDeleteMy two kids boxes of all thier baby stuff x
ReplyDeletePhotos of my dad
ReplyDeleteLetters from my parents
ReplyDeletemy twin babies were 1 month old on Christmas day and I got them name printed Cardigans to wear to Christmas service. I would be keeping these in the keepsake box! That was my twin babies first trip out too :-)
ReplyDeleteI have so many things of my sons stashed away, I need a bigger box. I have his hospital writs band which I love looking at
ReplyDeleteCat Culmer
My fathers ring
ReplyDeleteMy teddy bear from childhood
ReplyDeleteMy fave keepsake is my grandads gold signet ring, means the world to me :)
ReplyDeleteA little place of my nephews name, which is now 17+ years old!
ReplyDeletePlaque*
DeleteFor me it's the teddy bear I was given on the day I was born - which I still have 32 years later!
ReplyDeletea handmade blanket my mum made me when I was a baby x
ReplyDeletemy son's tiny little white cardigan that my mum knitted.
ReplyDeleteA teddy :)
ReplyDeleteA special sleepsuit
ReplyDeleteMine is a Little Scotty Dog Toy, that i gave to my nan when she was in hospital having treatment for Cancer, She loved it, She unfortunetly didnt make it and so now i have the little scotty dog teddy by my bed <3
ReplyDeleteBaby hospital tag and their first teddy x
ReplyDeleteThe shawls I wrapped my babies in
ReplyDeletea ring from my late nan xx
ReplyDeleteMy favourite keepsake is our family photos :) xx
ReplyDeleteMy son's first little pair of shoes - he is 45 now!
ReplyDeletea necklace which my nanna gave to my mam when she died and my mam gave it to me shes still alive :-)
ReplyDeletefirst teddy/snuggle blanket
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother's wedding ring. I remember her telling me about buying it, not being impressed with what was on offer and being told "Madam, there is a war on!".
ReplyDeleteMy children's going home outfits.
ReplyDeletemy most precious keepsake is a lock of hair from my grandaughter who passed away.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss x
DeleteThe first outfit my son ever wore
ReplyDeletethier first shoes
ReplyDeleteA cardigan my mom gave my newborn son
ReplyDeleteMy handknitted christening gown
ReplyDeletea money box i had since being a baby x
ReplyDeletehair and teeth and baby clothes from when my children were younger
ReplyDeleteMy sons clothes and little blanket of him he sadly passed away at 6 weeks old.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, I understand how precious these must be x
Deletehand prints
ReplyDeleteA teddy from when I was a baby.
ReplyDeleteMy daughters little white dress from 3-6 months
ReplyDeleteMy favourite keepsake is a beautiful vase that was my grannys :)
ReplyDeleteMy favourite keepsake is a diamond ring which was my nana's but she gave it to me on my 18th birthday :)
ReplyDeletemy locket from ny nan
ReplyDeleteI have had teddy bears made with my daughters baby clothes - without a doubt my favourite keepsake and something I will treasure
ReplyDeleteMy son's baby bath he is now 32
ReplyDeleteI have a tiny pebble I bought back from Australia - from my student gap year - that was stuck in the sole of my boot on the flight home ;) You are not supposed to take soil or anything from other countries whilst travelling, although I know loads who have sand in little bottles...but what makes it special is the pebble wanted to hitch a ride back with me...it's as if I took a little bit of Oz home with me? x
ReplyDeleteMy photo albums
ReplyDeleteA necklace my dad gave me xx
ReplyDeleteMy little girls first newborn baby outfits
ReplyDeleteKelly Ellen Hirst
A necklace my grandad gave my mum when she was little that she then gave to me when he died xx
ReplyDeleteSadly, my angel xx
ReplyDeleteThe shoes I wore to my dads funeral. I still have some of the mud preserved.
ReplyDeleteI just have a few little toys from when I was a boy hidden away.
ReplyDeleteI have a box of some of the little people's baby and toddler clothes which I treasure. I hope they will, in turn, be treasured when the little people grow up to become big people.
ReplyDeleteA silver charm bracelet from my late nan
ReplyDeleteThere first School photograph
ReplyDeleteA necklace blessed at Lourdes when I was ill as a child
ReplyDeleteMy bracelet charm with my boys footprints on xx
ReplyDeletebaby bib x
ReplyDeleteMy Dad's old mug
ReplyDeleteMy late grandmothers recipe box with all her hand written recipes
ReplyDeleteA letter my grandmother wrote to me :)
ReplyDeletemy little boys first scan picture x
ReplyDeleteMy scan pictures & my kids first locks of hair
ReplyDeleteA second hand book that my grandad brought me for my 16 th birthday, he put a note in it saying he thought I might like it and how proud he was of me and he died a few months later, it is so precious to me
ReplyDeleteTheir first pair of shoes
ReplyDeleteMy childrens baby scan pictures
ReplyDeleteThe outfit which I used for both of my kids when they first came home from hospital.
ReplyDeletemy scan picture of my daughter
ReplyDeleteScan pictures, hand and footprints, hospital tags, first shoes and photo albums, there's lots :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I got divorced my ex took 30 years of photos our wedding photos all the childrens photos and baby albums and keepsakes. I have my memories and 3 hospital bands. I will treasure this forever xx
ReplyDeleteA vase my parents bought on their honeymoon in 1945.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter's first dummy :)
ReplyDeleteMy babys first sleepsuits :)
ReplyDeleteThe teddy bear I got from my grandma when I was 2
ReplyDeleteA lovely photo album which I filled with photos when my son was born to give to my partners nan, she has since died and the album is back in our possession so its special for two reasons, the photos of our son and the fact it belonged to her :)
ReplyDeleteI still have some of my son's baby teeth, from about 20 years ago, weird keepsake maybe, but I'll never throw them away x
ReplyDeleteMy son's Christening gown.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you would class it as a keepsake but I have a baby blanket that my mum used for me that I have used for both of my daughters, I plan to pass it down to my eldest daughter if she decides to have children.
ReplyDeleteI keep a lot of keepsakes, hospital cards & tags, first outfit, handprints etc
ReplyDeleteFirst pictures
ReplyDeleteMy children's first babygrows, so tiny
ReplyDeleteMy favourite keepsake is a beautiful wooden memory box I have which is filled with special things from my children, their ultrasoun scans, their hospital tags, their Christening gowns and other things I cannot bear to part with.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmas ring :)
ReplyDeleteMy babies first sleepsuit
ReplyDeleteMainly photographs
ReplyDeleteMy gold ring my father bought me when i was 4 and now my daughter wears it even though she is 21, and i was told last night i am going to be a grandmother for the first time! :) so excited,and hopefully the ring will be passed on. x
ReplyDeletea moses basket & a blanket that was used for me & my siblings when we were babies and then i in turn have used for my children when they were babies
ReplyDeleteA teddy/rabbit I had as a child
ReplyDeleteBaby curls
ReplyDeleteThe hospital identity tags from my four children
ReplyDeleteMy sons foot prints
ReplyDeleteMy favourite keep save is a photo book of my family and friends xx
ReplyDeleteMy grandmothers wedding ring, which I wear every day.
ReplyDeleteMy first rattle
ReplyDeleteSadly, I don't have any.
ReplyDeleteA treasured photo of my dad who passed when I was young
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that I have any apart from photos
ReplyDeleteMy Nans pearls she passed way when I was 9, I wore them when I got married so I had. Bit of her there with me
ReplyDeleteI have some lovely photos & videos of my kids that are going to come out on their 18th birthday!!
ReplyDeleteA family photo :)
ReplyDeleteIt's slightly embarrassing but I have a dingy old PJ case with the head and body of a grey mouse on it. It belong to my nan who had it for about 20 years. I used to play with it when I visited her and when she died when I was 4 I was given Minnie to keep. Minnie is now coming up to 51 years old (20 years with my nan and 31 with me!) and is pretty well travelled. She has been to Disneyworld in Orlando more times than I can count, LA, San Diego, San Francisco, Mexico, Paris, Malta, Brussels, Cairo, Luxor, Barcelona and Las Vegas to name a few. She currently lives on the chair in my bedroom with a collection of actual Minnie Mouses I have :)
ReplyDeleteMy transam toy car from when I was 10 years old.
ReplyDeleteMy moms wedding ring
ReplyDeletemy mums necklace
ReplyDeletePhotos of my sons when they were born
ReplyDeleteTickets from my trip to New York fulfilling a 30 year dream
ReplyDeletefirst outfit with a tiny hat :)
ReplyDeleteI have a turquoise & pearl brooch that my grandmother gave to me, which was given to her by her grandmother.
ReplyDeleteMy great Grandmothers wedding ring which was passed down through the generations and which i now proudly wear X
ReplyDeletewhen my mum past away I kept her necklace that she wore all the time. It was nothing special to her, she just loved it, but it's special to me! :)
ReplyDeleteI have loads and all the items have a different meaning to me, my Nan's old jewellery, my Mums wedding band to my own children's first clothes đŸ’•
ReplyDeleteMy daughters first sleep suit x
ReplyDeleteMy daughters first little vest!
ReplyDeletemy son's school reports
ReplyDeleteThe last birthday got my nan got me
ReplyDeleteMy daughters first outfit x
ReplyDelete