After Anabelle

What is your best memory of last year? 

Alexander's Dedication 

There were many highlights to 2012. Spending half the year on maternity leave with my beautiful boy encompassing it all, everything he learnt to do and the little baby who grew into a little boy. I enjoyed doing my Picturing Twenty Twelve  blog and taking notes of the little things every day. I really enjoyed our little holiday in Plmouth in August (so much so we plan to do it again this year!) and of course Alexander's first birthday, really precious times. But if I had to choose one event, I would probably choose

Alexander's Dedication day, a celebration of life instead of feeling broken. Equally for similar reasons his birthday, a celebration of what a birthday should be instead of decorating a grave. 

It just so happens his Dedication came first. 

The first time we stood in a church with our child we were about to bury her, we were there for her funeral.  Walking her down the aisle to 'give her away' for all the wrong reasons, it wasn't how it should be. It was incredibly important to me that the next time everyone was together for one of our children it was going to be because of a celebration of their life, a thanksgiving for their life, making a promise for his life. 

So, a year on from when we found out we were pregnant with him we celebrated baby Alexander with all of our family and friends. It seemed like a perfect end to the circle of a year and my memories of the whole day are very special, showing off our perfect little boy! 

Our little jar of awesomeness is going to make sure we keep all the memories of the special moments, big and small for 2013! I'm already looking forward to emptying it New Year's Eve and reminding myself of all the awesomeness that I'd forgotten!