Sweet Baby

The last time I wrote a post I was bouncing on a swiss ball, sporting a ridiculously large belly and 41 weeks pregnant.There must be an art to bringing on labour. I apparently do not know it! But alas, she came. Our little Rhema Grace. If it wasn't for your Hylkema nose I'd think you were switched at birth. Clearly you have some catching up to do in the tanning department, Sweety. You're about 6 shades behind with your pasty white skin. :) Just kidding, I think you're perfect. You LOVE snuggles. Your big sister musters the biggest smiles from you. You two will be inseperabe one day very soon.

Our beautiful little girl. Six months already! I have been telling time to slow down for me so I can catch up with you. Thanks for being our little ray of sunshine. Thanks for all the snuggles. Love you to the moon and back baby girl.
- Mommy

p.s. Thank you Kirsty Norris for taking these photos. Talented you. ♡

Drab to fab

 

Renovating you say?  My mind instantly conjures up cutesie pinterest projects, adorably easy and stress free. In my mind they take up an evening or at most a Saturday afternoon. Easy. Very very easy. And since I have the added bonus of a builder husband, even easier. Right? Delusioned much.  Painting in my mind was a quick slap-it-up activity. Ya no, it's not. I have watched my man work harder than any person should have to every weekend, week after week, month after month, this last year. Literally blowing my mind with skill and talent. Making something beautiful every step of the way.

While pictures will never do the place justice or show the painstaking wall paper stripping process of every room, plastering, walls replaced, floors levelled, insulation, landscaping and general makeover; follow along the journey our little beach house has undergone. Massive thank you to those of you who made this reno happen. We could not have done it without you. 

 ...a year later.

 

Kitchen makeover!!!

 

I'm in love with Nathe's custom made timber bench top! I married a keeper :) 

 

Our Living Room

  I'm not really sure what to call this room ;) The everything room?

 

 Lily's Room

 

Different angles of the room, but this is the Master Bedroom :)  

 

Befores of the backyard

And then after a Hylkema got his hands on it ;)

 Mr. Uhmazing <3

And she grew.

Hi Baby Girl,

My mommy always used to tell me that I would forever be her little girl and now I find myself desperately holding onto that each day as I watch you grow. Somehow you've changed from baby to toddler in the blink of the eye and I for one cannot keep up!

Our beautiful spark, you are gentle and fierce, compassionate and stubborn, sensitive and bold all in the same breath. You inspire me with your friendliness and acceptance of absolutely anyone. Yes, the adolescent teenager behind us in the grocery store or the biker man standing on the street corner, you boisterously yell out hello and blow kisses hoping to receive a smile of recognition in return.

You have been the one standing in the bathroom "rubbing" (A for effort) my back as I puked during this pregnancy. You are always  there with a smile first thing in the morning (clearly you are the only morning person in the family), and I can count on finding you outside by one of the fences chatting away with the neighbours. You sing,  ALL THE TIME! I love it. You are hilarious. You listen carefully like your dad and watch and repeat with his same accuracy. You love working with him. Whatever he is doing you want to get in on. Keeping careful account of all the different "noises" he makes. You love all things sparkly and picking out pretty dresses. Our little princess. You make up songs about your family, your latest adventure, and everything in one. That is one thing you have in common with your Nona :) Never stop the music inside of you, Babe. Keep loving and keep believing. Keep that spark.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Pooch. We love you. To the moon and back again. 

Keep growing baby, but not too fast. and remember you will forever be my little girl.

Say Hi To Jesus.

My Beautiful Nana,

I just got news that I didn't want to hear for another 100 years. I'm not ready to say goodbye to you. I want to wake up tomorrow and realize this is just a horrible dream.

I love you Nana. More than you will ever know. As a messed up teenager you were my life-line. Always greeting me with a smile and hug, like you and I had a secret going on no one else knew about. Thank you. For loving me. For caring about my heart and what was really going on. For all our lunch dates and secret getaways. Thank you for teaching me to be a lady, and to be proud of being a lady. Thank you for showing me how to love, by so unselfishly loving me all these years. For crying with me. For laughing with me. For listening and understanding. I watched people misunderstand you, reject you and yet you always loved them back. I will always remember how you treated everyone around you with kindness and thoughtfulness.
 

Thank you for loving and accepting my man and then my wee daughter. I only wish she had more time to get to know you, Nana as much as I do.  I hope tho that I can one day pass on your legacy to her.

I will miss you everyday for a very long time. I love you so much.

Goodbye, Nana
Your Treena