veronica james photography » Blog

    10.10.13

    Life doesn’t have to be perfect

    I read a few days ago a quote ” Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful” . I don’t know by who? I loved it.

    You see, going from single to married there were some changes. From two, to three more changes. From 3 to 4 big time changes! All babies are different and though we were able to travel and do lots of things with Lemmy, it’s not the same with Lainey. Since having her, life had to slow down a lot. We’ve had the most amazing, perfect, beautiful times together as well as the imperfect, messy, hard times together. I had been wanting to not struggle with stress in my life so much, I have been wanting to not stress over trivial things that are going to pass…the day already comes with enough things to deal with, that to add the silly things (that I can make such a big deal of at the time!) to that doesn’t make sense! In the big scheme they won’t matter.

    My baby girl, has been teaching me to slow down, to leave more dirty dishes around, to go into fours and have a laugh, to snuggle with her at my side for her naps, to let her have naps on me even when she is almost 1. To love the imperfect moments, my messy house ( not so much) but to let go…trying not to stress over all the photos I still haven’t gone through, all the videos I missed recording…the list is too long.

    Yesterday it was sunny. The colour of the leaves was gorgeous. The days are getting chillier and my warm tropical me, is finding it harder to leave the house…I made an effort. I took a few photos of Lainey in the leaves, she loves to explore, to crawl, to put things in her mouth…she loves it. She is free…she has the innocence that we all once had. She is free. I want her to be free always. Free of fears, free of stress, free of worries. As you can see, these photos are not a set up, her face is dirty, her nose is dripping. A lot of her clothes were on the ironing pile, the other half drying and in the dirty laundry. She is wearing all miss matched clothes. And it’s ok, because life is not perfect but it can be wonderful:)I need to remind myself of these things daily…I really do!

    Filed in:My family | Personal
    comment
    October 18, 2013 - 6:21 am

    Jess @ Along Came Cherry - Oh my goodness, she is so gorgeous! x

    November 4, 2013 - 5:29 pm

    paolavj@yahoo.com - Thank you Jess!! :)

    May 19, 2014 - 8:41 pm

    paolavj@yahoo.com - Thank you!! I just saw this message! man, I haven’t been around my blog for ages!! You should write a post about blogging/motherhood etc!! Tips needed!!! :) Thanks so much for stopping by..I was looking at yours today but couldn’t leave a message, it’s probably me though! xx

    10.9.13

    A sweet smile

    27 of October 2013

    Everyone who knows me well, know that I love being up late. Even when I’m so tired, I just can’t fall asleep too early. Unless I’m cozy in my bed reading a book, just maybe then. Last night, as my eyes were finally closing ( about 2am) I heard some very loud stomping noises. I thought it must be Lemmy going to the toilet. I heard the door, the washing hands…and then I heard him running through the hall way. I got up and saw him staring in silence at Marc sleeping. I walked him back to his bed, snuggled with him and he fell asleep right away. I stayed a bit longer, to watch his features, the lovely perfect profile of his face. I had a very emotional moment then. Thinking that my boy is growing up. Thinking how he doesn’t like mummy’s kisses anymore, just maybe once in a while, just the one. I miss kissing his soft cheeks. I started to feel a bit sad, when the realization began to sink in, that before I know it, the snuggles will be over too. Maybe even the hugs, but I hope not…I soaked in the moment. As I started to get up to leave, I gave him a kiss. He smiled big and turned around, still smiling. Before I left, I kept looking at my 5 year old big boy and his eyes opened for a few seconds to meet mine, gave me the sweetest smile and went back to sleep.

    I left with tears in my eyes and a very melted heart.

    See, if I would have sent him away on his own, or refused to snuggle (not that I ever would) but sometimes you hear how kids get in trouble or even spanked when they don’t want to go to sleep. I’m so glad Marc and I discovered a different way of parenting. I’m sure I would have missed out a lot of sweet moments like that one if I had have followed some of  the advise and books people gave us.

    Once I read : ” what if I told you, It is OK to change your opinion based on new information” I think it summed it up really well.

    Here is Lemmy’s beautiful face while he sleeps so soundly. Taken June the 6th, still 4 years old…but soon to be 5.

    Filed in:My family | Personal
    comment
    October 10, 2013 - 1:43 am

    remaliah - Absolutely beautiful Vero…and what beautiful words. You’ve given me food for thought here. Our girls LOVE to play when they should be in bed…and can do so for ages. Often we just end up frustrated with them and threaten punishment. I’m trying to find the right balance between allowing them to have fun and making sure they get enough sleep…it’s a tricky one. But I love what you write. They grow up all too quickly!

    9.18.13

    Friendship

    You know that wonderful feeling when you just click with someone? When you can talk about everything, feeling as comfortable in their house as if you were in your own home, just relaxing and enjoying their company. When the hours are like minutes passing by….I just love it! It has been so wonderful to get to know another family. New friends that feel like old ones.

    From the first time the Greens opened their home to us (while they weren’t even there) blessed us with gifts and a wonderful place to rest while Marc was leading worship at their Vineyard church. To this time, where they planned a few fun days ahead for our whole family to enjoy! A beautiful room, home made meals and  outings for our families. We knew they were cool people!

    It was a special time for us, we felt refreshed, we felt showered with blessings. We so wish we lived nearer !!

    Since we became a couple, and then a family of 3, now a family of 4, it has not been that easy to plan and get together with other families. Everything, even getting out of the house takes ages! We are in a new place, a new neighborhood. Sometimes I wish all our dear friends could be all together in the same town! I miss the friendships, the connections, the talking for hours, the laugther. Just being together….

    Amazingly thats how we felt with them. Comfortable, as if we had known them for our whole lives. Somehow it also gave us hope that we could find more families to befriend in our new town.

    I have been using the phone for most of the photos while away, but I took a few with my camara.

    At The Courts in Holt, Wiltshire

    On the second day we went to Longleat, in Wiltshire

    We had to try a photo of all the kiddies together!

    Lainey always on the go!

    It was so fun to wake up and hang out whilst the kids played

    That photo in the background is by James Green. Check out his work, gorgeous weddings! 

    I couldn’t get enough of Clara’s striking eyes!

    Little Sienna calls Lemmy : My best friend:)

    We felt really at home, can you tell?

     

    We love you guys! Are we planning a holiday together next??

    Filed in:children | My family | Personal
    comment
    September 18, 2013 - 11:36 pm

    James Green - WOW!!!! These are beautiful!!! Thank you so much! We love you guys!!! xxx

    September 19, 2013 - 6:50 am

    Miriam - I love your photos!!!
    When will you come to Switzerland so I can book you for a photo shooting???
    Miriam

    September 19, 2013 - 8:23 am

    Rebecca Green - Wow! So touching thank you soo much for kind words & such beautifully natural fotos!!! Memories of fun & laughter came flooding back!! Just too cute for words! Love you all xxx

    October 2, 2013 - 11:07 pm

    Hannie - Clara’s eyes are so pretty! I see what you mean about twinkling! We (our family/your family) should hang out sometime :)

    November 4, 2013 - 5:30 pm

    paolavj@yahoo.com - Thank you Miriam!! I would love to come to switzerland!! And even more to photograph your big beautiful family!! :)

    8.22.13

    A trip to the Lavender fields

    For a long time I wanted to see the Lavender fields. I dreamed of the photos I could take there, of my family or somebody else’s session. Finally, I decided to just go!

    The place was beautiful. First we had to walk  through a million bees, the buzzing, the twirling of them all around me and Lainey it was a bit much.She cried all the way up! I’m not sure if she was scared, or if she could feel my own worries as I walked my way up the hill as fast as I could, as if I was running for our own lives!

    Now, if you are allergic, it would be scary! But actually, they don’t really bother you and you can walk in the other side avoiding all together the fields, and the busy bees.

    Finally we arrived, I nursed her. She calmed down. She ate a banana and we enjoyed our time there. The view, the fragance in the air, the blue sky full of fluffy puffy white clouds. It was all so wonderful, that I didn’t want to leave! There was a wheat field behind us which was gorgeous.

    As I cut as much lavender as I could, I was thinking all the different things I could do with them : little fragance pillows, tea, cupcakes…and I took my own sweet time…it was a whole experience! I over heard Marc saying: how long does it take to cut lavender? ha ha I was just enjoying myself a bit too much. There’s something about being among nature. It fills your soul. The creation.

    We took a few photos. The sun was too sharp in that time of the day. I wish we could have  stayed longer. We must come back for another whole day. Next time, I will enjoy a cup of tea with some cake.

     

    Filed in:My family | Personal
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    August 22, 2013 - 4:17 pm

    Jo Morris - Lovely pics Vero! Next time let us know when you’re going. Its so close to us! xx

    August 28, 2013 - 7:37 pm

    paolavj@yahoo.com - Hey Jo! I was thinking about you guys while being in Hitchin! I really want to see the sunflowers while they are still out so we may pop in soon! I will message you, maybe we can enjoy some cake and tea there!!

    September 22, 2014 - 4:50 am

    Louise James - Oh, Vero, these photos are just wonderful. Thank you so much. What a fantastic photographer you are! Gorgeous. I long to go to Provence in France where there are 100s and 100s of lavender fields. It’s where the Impressionists painted. You can smell the subtle scent of lavender for miles around you. Where in the U.K. did you find this field? much love Louise