A year and a day.

Hi baby girl,

One year, feels like 5, yet at the same time feels like only yesterday. Somehow you managed to wiggle your way into every single aspect of our lives. Genius matey. You are absolutely insane, kid! You're emotions are right up there with your mommy's, but you're watchful and alert like your Daddy. You're the best of both of us and I love that about you.

You've changed so much this past year, Pooch. Done so many things, been so many places and seen so many faces. Thanks for being my buddy. Thanks for always going grocery shopping with me and singing your way through the line ups when I picked the day before a long weekend to shop(dumb one, mom). Thanks for coming to music practise with us every single week, clapping and dancing like none other. Thanks for sitting on the kitchen floor playing with your toys while Mommy cooks or Dad does the dishes. Thanks for all our shower adventures, you're our water baby for sure! Thanks for putting up with me when I'd get frustrated or annoyed, and we'd end the day by laughing together at some funny face you'd made.You're intense love of food is quite hilarious really. You Eat Like A Cow! I love it when you stop what you're doing when Daddy prays, or look to the sky when you hear a plane. My little brown baby that hates being in the sun ;) Ironic I know. You're love for animals and stuffies. I love your chubby toes and mile long eye lashes. You're adorable litttle pout does the trick every single time you try it on! You're pretty cute! You're the bestest friend a mommy could have and I'm thankful for YOU!

Love is a beautiful thing. I'm learning that more and more each day. The imporance of it, how we can't live without it. Love and keep on loving so freely.

Because of you I no longer plan my life in twenty years. Instead I want to hang on to every second and not miss a single precious moment with you!


A wise man always used to say, I love you because you're YOU. And it's so true!

Bring on this next year Baby. I can't wait.

I love you forever and always,
Mommy

That makes two

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

⁹ Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹¹ Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? ¹² A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Year 2. Check. A promise to honour, trust and love. A vow to close the back door and never open it. Of two lives becoming one. Sheet hogging, toothbrush stealing, coffee sharing, morning grumps. You get the whole package deal. :)

Love being married to this man. Our crazy adventures. 

 

Forver and always,

 Xx Me. 

 

Sick

When it rains, it pours. Someone wasn't joking when they started that saying! We're surviving our first downpour of sickness. Yourself being sick is one thing, your hubby being sick is something else, and your baby being sick is a whole new ball field. I want to sign a contract right now that we're never allowed to all get sick again! But I know that is not  very realistic of me. Maybe hire a nanny for the week the next time? Or a live-in doctor? Or my mom????? Mom, keen to come here next time we get sick?

I've learned one thing this week, my baby is a whole lot smarter than I thought. She can sniff Nurofen coming a mile away. She knows when I've tried to sneak Vit C in one spoonful of pumpkin and not the other. She has learned that blowing her nose is a necessary evil and crying isn't going to get her anywhere. Smarty.

It has all just confirmed my inability to save the world and my dependency on Papa God as He has us in his hands.

Here's to healthy and  happy Hylkema's.

A little girl with a dream

Already our 9 month old has such an acute fascination with animals. Any animals. It really doesn't matter the amount of fur they have, or how loud they can sing, she just loves animals. Squealing with delight or clapping her hands in glee, I'm waiting for the day she looks at me with puppy-dog eyes and asks for a pony! I'm sure this day is not far off.  Being horribly allergic to horses myself, my horse riding career was a bit painful as a child. Tears pouring down my cheeks, trying to grab endless tissues out of my pocket while trotting around the arena wasn't a good combo. Thankfully my daughter has an advocate, her Auntie :)

Although her tiny feet can't quite reach the floor and her riding resembles that of a intoxicated cowboy, she's in heaven. 

Meet her first horse. Excuse the bad shots taken on my phone.

Can't quite reach just yet.

Being a goof.

Hard at work "helping" me set up our pony.

from the girl

This is where a serious technically challenged girl meets blog. I can only imagine the adventures we'll have together; the frustrated look, tongue chewing and water bottle throwing.  I know in this day and age we're all computer savy, grandma's have figured out how to email, facetime, IM, and instagram their grandkiddies living in far away places, and friends can keep in touch with a click of a mouse. But in this case, my 6 year old nephew can maneuver himself around a computer screen better than me. Fact. I'm willing to give this blogging relationship a go :)
 We recently went on a fantastic vaction to North America. Photos are compliments of my beautiful sister inlaw. http://amytaylorimages.blogspot.co.nz/ 

                                      This is us. The Tall One, his wifey, and our sidekick.

 

This little muffin, ah, I love her. She's the most hilarious kid. Ever. Sometimes I sit back and just watch her, watch her explore the world, and discover. She makes things so simple, so beautiful. 

This is my mom, she finally met her granddaughter for the first time. I had waited for this moment to happen for nearly 8 months. It came. It was exactly as I had pictured. I don't even know if I can find pretty words to describe these two. They're funny together. Nona and her babes. She suites being a grandma beautifully. All her 4 grandkids adore her and are forever hanging out for her newest story book or puppet show. Thanks Mom for loving our kids so selflessly.

 

Smile lots today. It's another day our Creator gave us to laugh and live.

                                                                    xx