In the summertime...

Ahhhh summer is here and I am just loving the warm weather, lots of time outside enjoying the fresh air... I get cold way to easy so winter isnt my favourite season (except for the comfort food!)...

I have barely had a chance to blog in ages... a busy toddler doesnt like a mommy paying attention to something other than her...

Bekah is getting sooooo cute and is starting to say a lot of words. She is quite cheeky too I might add :)

We went on a church camp 2 weeks ago and she had a ball playing with the older children... she wraps them around her sweet little finger...

I can't believe Christmas is a month and a bit away - I am so excited as I love the holiday season and spending time with family. I also love a holiday from work where I can spend lots of time with Bekah. I have so many great ideas for this Christmas to make it memorable for Rebekah and so I can take lots of stunning photos...

Ramblings...

What are little girls made of?
Sugar and Spice and everything nice,
that's what little girls are made of...

My gran, Dodie, always used to tell my sister and I that quote when we were little and I believed it! And the more time I spend with Bekah the more true it becomes.

I am so enjoying her as she becomes more of toddler and less of a baby. What a magical little personality she has - full of life and eager to take everything in... she is amazing and is learning so much each day... her new favourite saying is "dont touch" mmm wonder what mommy and daddy say alot!

I dont like change, I love routine and things to be ordered and the past few weeks have been full of change - some good, some bad... but I made a decision on my birthday to stop being negative and look for the positive in everything (or at least try...) for my beautiful girl. I dont think we realise as parents the great impact we have on the character our children will have.

I am reading such great, inspiring blogs of women who embrace life no matter what trials it throws their way - what an awesome way to live...

Oh well enough rambling on from me...

Good Night World...

My Birthday

I love my birthday...

I love handwritten cards...

I love phone calls and messages and emails from family and friends who I don't hear from for some time due to the busyness of life...

I love big birthday hugs from those I love...

I love presents...

I love birthday cake...

I love celebrating another year of life and looking back to think what I have learnt and how much more I am still going to learn...

On Sunday I turned 24 and had an amazing weekend of celebrating my birthday, spending time with those special to me and eating wayyyyy tooooo much delicious food!

Thank you Lord for blessing me with another year... I pray that I will continue to serve you in the time you bless me with and that I will enjoy this wonderful, precious life you have given...

Thankful on a Thursday

WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR TODAY:

• For a Holy God who loves me a wretched sinner
• For my Family
• For my Friends
• For my Job
• For amazing cooking blogs that inspire me to spend more time in the kitchen
• For a warm bed at night when so many don't have that luxury
• For the delicious cappucino I had this morning

Bekah's Birthday Bash

I know I am terrible for only posting these pictures now: I didnt really focus on taking pictures at the party as there were too many other things to do, so I am waiting for my mom to send me some of the stunning ones which she took (hint, hint, nudge, nudge).

Birthday Sign

I did a Barney theme as that is her favourite show at the moment, I made the signs myself as there isnt much Barney decor in the shops...

Bekah and her Daddy

                                                              

Uncle Shane, Aunty Gina and Nikita

I almost didnt hire this, but I am so glad I did, it was the best investment for the party

Yummy Icing from her cake she got to destroy

Gena and I

Proudly South African

It is so easy to think and complain about all the things that are wrong in South Africa... We feel discouraged because there is so much that needs to be improved. We feel like why should we even try and improve because someone will just come along and destroy it.

I was and am so encouraged by the new campaign which was launched on Wednesday, a campaign which focuses on individuals changing their mindsets and making changes in their own lives which will eventually begin to affect the whole country...

Things are never going to be perfect, they arent in any country.

I truly believe the way change is brought about is by us as proud South Africans, changing our daily mindset from the negative and rather focusing on what is right and what negative aspects we can change. It is not up to the government or political parties. We all have the responsibility to bring about change. It isn't going to happen tomorrow or next week but I believe if South Africans keep up with the positive attitudes and ubuntu which took hold of us during the World Cup then things will start to change for the better.

If you agree with me visit this website which provides more information on the campaign:

http://www.leadsa.co.za/

Maybe I am just to optimistic but I think that with a more positive attitude each day will be better for me and my family and I felt encouraged to share this with others!

Bekah and I

My Favourite Verse

"Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord"
Ephesians 5:10

This has always been a favourite verse of mine. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you are perfect, it means that you are constantly striving to be more like Christ.

This is what I try to remind myself of every day!

Blogging

One, 1

Dear Bekah,

You are 1...

I still cannot wrap my mind around the idea that you have left babyhood and are full steam ahead on your toddler train...

You amaze me each day with all that you do and all the the things that you are learning. I wish sometimes that I could see things through your eyes... everything is new and interesting and also a little scary I am sure.

This past year has taught me so much about myself... so much about how I need to change my outlook on life and enjoy each moment because time goes so quickly. I need to cherish the time I have the of being your mom.

I can still remember the moment I met you... you had the most beautiful black hair and you looked exactly how I had pictured you would since the moment I found out we were having a girl. I remember your first night in the hospital, I remember how stubborn you were and how you didnt take a bottle from the nurses - you wanted the real stuff. I remember lying in that hospital bed trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I was YOUR mom... I still dont think that I fully comprehend it...

You had the sweetest face and I sware we kissed you more than a million times that first day of your life. You daddly also got in a couple of hundred thousand kisses.

And as we celebrated your first birthday on Saturday - I held back tears as I feel you have grown too fast, I feel like I am not remembering enough and taking it all in enough. Those tears were also of joy as I remember that the LORD was so good to me when He blessed me with you, my precious gift.

I pray that you will know how loved and cherished you are by me and your daddy! I pray that we will raise you to know and love the LORD and that one day you will give your life to him...

But for now I pray that I will be the mom that you deserve. I pray that I will be patient with you and that I will love and adore you and spoil you and give you more kisses and hugs than you know what to do with. I pray that you will be happy and KNOW that you are loved!

Because the happiness that you have brought us needs to be reciprocated...

Thank you so much for filling our lives with more happiness and joy than we deserve, thank you for loving your daddy so much that you get so excited when you see him and give him the shyest smile ever, because he is your sweetheart. Thank you for the big smiles you give when you see me, thank you for sometimes wanting me and no one else, thank you for teaching me to love, cherish and appreciate my own mommy, thank you for teaching me so much in your 1 year of life so far... Thank you for being YOU my princess, my sweetpea, my angel, my Bekah...

I cant wait to experience, God willing, the next year of your life and all that you will continue to teach us.

I love you my baby girl!




Mommy

Birthdays

Tomorrow isBekah's 1st Birthday and I feel like crying... (is that normal...am i normal...) it is not a bad sad just a "Im going to miss the baby phase" sad...

I feel like my little angel girl is growing up so fast and I dont want to miss anything. I feel like I am not remembering her and her little quirks enough? I feel sometimes like I am not being the best mom, the mom that she deserves...

However together with feeling of sadness come feelings of great joy and excitement and I realise that I have been a mom for a year and have raised Rebekah to be healthy and happy so far. I realise that she is entering the toddler phase of her life and she is going to have so much fun learning so many new things and that is going to bring me happiness!

Life needs to be lived always believing that the cup is half full and not half empty :)

What I Want

I keep wondering what makes a really good mom...

Is it patience, lots of love, hard work, good values, raising her to be a Godly young lady... I suppose it all of these things and many more that I have not even considered yet.

I really want to be a good mom... I want R to be happy and her life to full of fun and happiness... I want her to love me and look up to me and WANT to spend time with me when she is older. I want to teach her skills and I want her to know that no matter what I am always there...

I want those "wants" to be reality!!!!

I am just not sure of how to make them a reality???????? So now I need to find out how...

I Love My Sister

I love my little sister...

This morning she made up a goodie bag for me to cheer me up. Filled with chocolates and milo drinks and pretzels it was one of the best gifts I have ever received!

My cat whom I love dearly died on Friday and I was heartbroken. She cared so much about my hurt about something that many people would find silly!

Thats the way it should be... sisterly love brings HAPPINESS!

11 Months Old

Dear Bekah,

Today, the 3rd of June 2010 you are 11 months old.

It really feels like yesterday when the Dr. placed you in my arms for the 1st time. The happiness I felt at being a mom was amazing.

Your beautiful black hair, your perfect skin, your tiny body which I could of held the whole day and not got tired. I swear you got a billion kisses in the 1st week of your life.

God has truly blessed me with you.

I find that the happiness in my life grows with each day as I watch you grow and develop your own little personality.

I pray that I will be the kind of mother you can follow and that my example will lead you to Christ.

As you now near your 1st birthday, I will cherish each day with you and continue to love you more even when I dont think it is possible.

HAPPY 11 MONTHS MY BABY!