Tag Archives: LIFE

Coco Darling

Those of you who having followed the blog, my facebook or instagram know that we are expecting our first baby this june. But we thought we would introduce her early. Her, that’s right, we are having a girl.
Meet our Coco Darling.
We did not intend to share the sex of our baby just yet, and definitely not the name. But things have changed and we want to share her with you before her ‘arrival’. But let me go back to explain why.

Four weeks ago, at our 20week anatomy scan a few warning bells were raised. She was in the 2nd percentile for size, and the 10th for length, Coco is a very little baby. As they looked closer, they found out more.We were sent to the Fetal medicine ward at Auckland Hospital where they did a more in-depth scan, and we heard the first on Trisomy 18. They performed an amniocentesis, and we waited for the results. They came back 100%, Coco had Trisomy 18. We were heart broken to say the least.

 Trisomy 18 is a rare genetic disorder that is quoted as being ” incompatible with life ” One in 6,000 babes have Trisomy 18, Not many make it full term, and even then, most are still born. Most only live hours or days, only around 8% make it to their first birthday.
I have spent the last few weeks debating with myself to share or not to share. To be honest, I did not really want to share this. I didn’t want to talk about it. It hurt too much. But the other day something switched. Despite the statistics and pain, we love our Coco Darling more than I ever thought I could love someone. She is our daughter, we are so thankful she is in our lives. She is a fighter. And we want to pour as much love on her for as long as we have her. We pray for a miracle, but we are thankful for who she is regardless. We thank God for Coco daily. We are thankful for our dear friends, for the meals, for the prayers and texts and flowers. The hardest part isn’t over, we still need your help and your prayers. I may not want to talk about it, and somedays I might. I will have good days and Bad. But we will always want you to think, to love and to pray for our Coco Darling. 

Thanks.

Gem, Nathan and Coco Darling.

FIRST home

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I’m so excited to finally be able to share this news with you!With a few changes happening in our life we thought why not another one?

Why not buy a house? Why not buy a house in Hawkes Bay?!So that is what we did. And we couldn’t be more pumped.

In but a month or so we will do the big shift. And although we are so sad to leave Auckland, It has been my home for 10 years, to leave our brilliant friends and church, we are so excited about the future and what it holds. We don’t know how long we will stay for, we will take it a day at a time. But for now, it will be home. We have family and such great friends down there that we can’t wait to spend more time with. As well as brilliant weather and produce abundance, there is also the fact of being able to own a three bedroom house with a garage and backyard for less than our tiny city rental.

So get ready to see even more home DIY, watch our house transform, Loads of adventures and new finds.

And of course a few visits back to ‘ The Big Smoke ‘Until next time.

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Island Christmas

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IMG_3374 IMG_3390 IMG_3444 IMG_3467 IMG_3488 IMG_3595Okay, Lets start at the start…..updates happening this week, starting with an Island Christmas.

This Christmas we went away.  Jumping on a boat to the stunning Waiheke Island. I don’t know why we don’t go there more, either way, best idea ever.

My parents travelled from Whangarei Heads, where I grew up, and the husband and I from Auckland. Unfortunately my two brothers and their babes couldnt make it. One is in Melbourne, the other in New York City. ( I am still scheming a white christmas over there, we will be back NYC, just you wait )

So off we went, to a family batch. Keeping it simple, Ma and I foraged a wreath, ate great food, swum, ate some more, and took the traditional put-the-camera-on-timer-and-run family photos.

Blood fantastic.

Hope your Christmas was merry.
P.s Look at that kid grow!

Until next time

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SUMMER CINEMA // DIY

Summertime is here, the New years creeping up fast, And Homestyle and I have the perfect New years eve party for you!

We bring you the backyard movie night!

You will need ::

1 Great backyard
1 large sheet
1 Clothesline
1 projector
Cute invite, You can download HERE
A few palettes
Mountains of blankets and cushions
One brilliant movie
Some great people to share it with!

With you large sheet and clothesline, you have set up your make-shift screen! So just line up the projector, connect it to the computer, and away you go ( I needed my handy computer wizz, but I am sure you are all capable! You can also always depend on Google ) Pop a couple of palettes around the place with cushions and blankets. Snuggle time galore!

And finally, Treats. Ice cream Floats.  A bit of trip down memory lane, these are super simple and pretty darn yummy!

You will need ::

Vanilla Ice Cream
Strawberries or summer fruits
Lemonade
Pink Grapefruit Juice
Jars – Mine were from Countdown
Cute Straws – From Collected

First pop in your Ice Cream, then slice in some fruit, pour 1/2 with Pink Grapefruit and then fill up with Lemonade. Cute straw to finish and Bam! Done, So easy!!!

Enjoy your summer!  ( Or winter for our Northern Hemisphere friends! )
Keep safe and see you in the New Year!

Follow my summer adventures on Instagram!

Until then!

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