National Tattoo Day 2012

Happy National Tattoo Day! 

Did you know that today is National Tattoo Day?? I didn't until my new favorite online mag: Still Standing Magazine announced it...if you have lost a child and have a memorial tattoo in their name, head over and upload your pic for us all to see. For instructions click here.

If you've followed our blog for long, you know that I have a tattoo in memory of our angel baby Noah Joel, lost to missed miscarriage on March 26, 2008 at only 9.5 weeks. I blogged about my tattoo experience here but will re-post today :)

Re-Posted from August 9, 2008:
I NEVER thought I would get a tattoo… I also NEVER thought I’d lose a baby…
Over the past few months, I have developed a deep desire to bring Noah Joel’s life to “life” through me – through getting a permanent mark on my body (the same body that he grew in for 9 ½ weeks) to acknowledge that he was here. He was a living human being who did not enter our family the traditional way. He was here – and then he was gone – that quickly…although his life was short lived, the pain is real. The pain of the loss of the child that I knew and experienced only the way a mother-to-be can experience – he was there – right below my heart for almost 10 weeks, and I KNEW him. I anticipated his arrival as I did my daughter’s almost 5 years ago. He would be our second child, Caitlin’s baby brother and someone else at home to love on. We all were so excited and then, in an instant, that excitement turned to horror and deep sadness. I know that Noah is in a better place – heaven – with Our Lord – but I miss him all the same. I know he is being well taken care of, but I wanted to care for this child. I know that if he was sick, he now feels no pain - this is something I am thankful for. All in all, I am grateful that God picked me to be Noah’s mom.
I designed my tattoo and went to a reputable place to get it. I was not sure how it would be or how it would look or what people I would encounter there, but I was excited – in a nervous, anxious, sad, scared, happy, crazy sort of way. Although no one ever asked me what this tattoo was symbolizing, I KNEW, and that was all that really mattered. I listened to my Zune and tried to tune out the pain. I’m not sure I ever really tuned it out, but as I sat in a strange position in a strange tattoo chair with my lower back getting needled to death, I had an overwhelming feeling and thought that this was my “birthing experience” with Noah. Our due date of October 24th would have been – but it was not to be. God had other plans for our baby and I never will be able to “have” Noah. So, my tattoo experience was PAINFUL and memorable all in loving memory of Noah Joel (rest; peace and The Lord is God).

You will never be forgotten, sweet boy.
Love you,
Mommy

This was the cell phone picture the tattoo artist took of it a few minutes after he finished. I have yet to get a better one (it's only been 4 days since I got it and oh, man, it is itching like crazy!)


This is a picture that I found online of a 9 1/2 week old fetus. This is the size Noah Joel was...

I've never done a link-up before but thought I'd try one today.  I haven't blogged in a while and wondered who might still be reading! LOL

Since today is "Tattoo Day" if you would like to share your INK, please link up...I HOPE not to see too many memorial tattoos but if you have one, please share with me.  I'd love to see.

Love,

Amanda

To Join In:

Just write a post on your own blog about your INK – why you got it, what it means to you, where on your body it is, etc., and then add the link to that post in the Linky widget below. 

P.S. I'll be linking up to test .... hopefully it works LOL