Tattoo Time

So... James and I have now got tattoos. After James' Dad passed away he decided that he wanted to get a tattoo of his dad's signature on his arm. Since we started drawing the little heart button on our wrists to help Alexander with separating at preschool I mentioned that if I ever got a tattoo, it would be of the heart on my wrist. James decided to make this 'if' a reality so he organised for us to get tattoos together. 

James asked Jenny who she gets tattoos done by but that person was all booked out for a while so he asked who Lisa went to. Lisa is James' friend who also had her dad pass away. She was James' inspiration for getting the tattoo because she got her Dad's signature on her arm and he loves the idea and the meaning behind it.

He organised a consultation with the guy whose tattoo place is in Balmain. He was really friendly, really honest and non-judgemental about the tattoos. He asked if we had any questions and mine was 'will it hurt?' He asked me if I had had any kids and when I said yes, he said this will be nothing then. The size of the tattoo means it will be over and done before I even got used to the pain. We booked out tattoo time for a Saturday and organised for Jens and Howie to have our kiddies for the day so that we could easily go.

15th May came and we headed to Balmain. We signed in and then headed into his little room. I liked that he had a seperate room and didn't work in the main area where there were 8-10 chairs for people to get tattoos at the same time. James went first. The size of the tattoo was perfect. He did an ink version to make sure that we were happy with it. Then he shaved James' arm where the tattoo was going to go and then started doing it. James said it didn't hurt too bad and that it really was over pretty quickly. 

He then cleaned up the area, sterilised it and then it was my turn. I had draw a number of hearts after our initial consult and chosen my favourite one. He printed it off and asked if it was the right size. I asked 3 times if it could be a little bit smaller. I felt a bit bad but he was totally fine with it. As he said, it's on my body permanently so I better be happy with it. He then did the ink version on the inside of my wrist. It looked good. Then he started doing the tattoo. It did hurt a little bit, but it was ok and yep, it was over very quickly. I could feel him drawing one line to do one side of the heart and then the other line to complete it and then he said it was done. Ha. 

Where we got our tattoos

I had some glad wrap put onto (yep, it is actual glad wrap) to stop the little bit of blood going on my  top

James' tattoo with the plant we did for his dad

We both are very happy with our little tattoos. I have no desire to go back and get another one but I am glad that I got this one. It is a lasting memory of our family being united to help Alexander cope with being separated from us. 

Memory of my kiddies

Lasting memory of this season of hug buttons on our wrists

It is something that I can always push when I miss my kids for whatever reason. I even had a vision of when I am old. When Grandma was lying in the hospital bed, Jenny sent me a photo of her holding her hand. I had a vision of when I am in that situation, my kids will be able to hold my hand but also give me a hug by pushing my hug button and that made me smile.

Alexander and Eliza asked if they could get a tattoo. I laughed and said 'sure, when you're 18 you can'.