And so we say goodbye to 2008...and what a year it was!!

What a year it was....We laughed and we cried, but it was by far the best year of my life.

I married the love of my life!!! He is the most wonderful person I know, wish I can once let him see my heart, so I can show him how much I love him. And to top it all of, he is the best father in the world!

"William, I will ALWAYS love you, because everything really is better when we are together!"

Our Angel, Jade was born! No words, no paper, no ink, no blogspace is enough to describe the love and appreciation we have for our Grace from God!! We love her so much! Just the thought that we came so close to loosing her, breaks my heart into a million pieces, but makes us all even more grateful that God gave her to us and that HE saved her.

"Jade...Mommy and Daddy loves you with all our heart, and we will be here for you thoughout your life, you must never worry about being alone, because we will always be there right beside you. When you are confused, we might not always have the answers or solutions, but we will be with you trying to figure it all out. When you cry, we will be here to wipe away your tears! When you smile we will be with you smiling and laughing. Wherever you go in life and whatever you do, you must always remember you are in our hearts forever. We love you Angel and you truly are the most precious gift in the world."

We also discovered in this year how blessed we are with the amazing friends and family! We've always known that we have great friends and family, but I dont think we appreciated and really truly knew how lucky we are! You were all there with the happy celebrations, being happy with us and for us. But when the tough times came....you were even closer! There was always an ear for us to go talk to or a shoulder for us to go cry on, we never knew how much support we had, and it heartwarming to know that all of you care so deeply.

"To ALL of our friends and family, THANK YOU, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything, especially during this year! We love you all and you make our life colourful and wonderful by being apart of it! We are truly lucky to have you in our lives."

Then last, but certainly not least....I found God...and what an amazing experience it is! My life has never been this full and I have never been this happy and content with where I am in life, and its all because of our Saviour. I am not scared anymore, because I know HE is with me, I dont feel alone anymore, because I know HE is with me always and loves me! Its sad that it took a tragedy like Jade almost dying for me to find God, but at the end of the day I am just so happy that I have, because my life was meaningless until I gave my life to Him. He gives meaning to everything in life!

"Lord Jesus, THANK YOU for your unconditional love in our lives, even though we dont always deserve it, you give your love to us so effortless, THANK YOU for being there for us always, without us even asking, THANK YOU for Jade, THANK YOU for my wonderful husband, THANK YOU for our amazing friends and family, THANK YOU for just being apart of our lives! Our hearts belong to YOU and only YOU now and forever! Amen."

So its easy to see why this was the best year of my life.

From William, Jade and myself we wish you a blessed 2009 filled with all the love and happiness in the world, and may God's presence be with you everyday...because that is truly the greatest gift of all.

All our love.

The Alexanders

Some Christmas 2008 photos

Christmas 2008 & Jade's 2 months old! :-)

Some Photos of Jade during December 2008

Hi everyone,

First of all MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Hope you all had a great Christmas with friends and family!

Our first Christmas with Jade was so special....she doesnt really understand what its all about, but for us just having her with us was the most special gift we could ask for. We woke up at 7 and we gave Jade her bottle then we opened presents, she was a very lucky girl, got very nice gifts from friends and family and her Daddy bought her the cutest pony (along with some other gifts...Daddy likes to spoil her). After that we went for lunch with Rikus and Tracy at Rikus' parents, which was really nice! :-) Then after that we went to Ouma Caroline and Oupa Brian for the rest of the day and early evening, was so special.

We missed Ouma Nettie, Granny, Grandpa, Oupa Winston, Ouma Jenelle, Ian, Lalie, Melissa and other Ian, Jason and Brian very much, but we really hope they all having a great holiday!

This last two months went by so fast! Jade is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to us, and we really love her everyday more.....and everyday you think I can not possibly love her anymore and then the next morning you wake up and look at her and you love her more!

She also starter smiling the last couple of days....real smiles not cramps or winds that causes smiles. It is just too cute!

We are so blessed with this amazing gift from God, our Angel Jade and for all our wonderful friends and family. Thank you and we love you all very much.

God Bless.

William, Tash and Jade

Jade - 1 Month

Today was Jade's due date 27 November....and she is now 1 month and 2 days old!! Who can believe that the time went by so fast! Thinking back a month today how scared we were and sad, we are just ever more greatful for our precious Angel.

The last two weeks has been so nice having her home. HUGE adjustment, but love every second of it - there is not enough words to describe the incredible emotions that we have for her.

Things I said I would never do as a parent.....but that was all said before I was a mom...lol lol:

"I would never let her sleep in my bed"....Oops...just sometimes.

"I would let family and friends babysit whenever they want".... thats a hard one....i cant imagine a night without her, I think i will phone every 5 min....thats if I will even let her go.

"My child will have to fit in with my life not the other way around" What a joke...lol lol....she rules the house, and we love it.

"I wont be over paranoid"- speak to william ask him if i kept on this one!

The list can go on with quite a few of these.

She is just a good little baby, she sleeps almost from feed to feed, she wakes up a bit more now, but not difficult...must i touch wood....lol lol

I've uploaded some photo's of her first month, will also put some more on the side of people she met!

Hope you all have a great Friday tomorrow and enjoy the weekend.

Love

William and Natasha

"You will never know that God is all you need, until God is all you got"

Jade Catherine Alexander - Our Grace from God

Hi All,

Sorry I havent written in such a long time. So much has happened, I dont even really know where to start. But here goes.....

On Friday the 24th of October at work I started to get funny pains, but I thought it was Braxton Hicks contractions (fake contractions). Then the evening I told William and he insisted that we go to the labour ward to just be save. I got there and Dr. Markram confirmed it was indeed labour pains, but he gave me tablets to take to stop them as I have not started to dialate yet..... During the night the pains were still there but it didnt get worse...the next morning the pains were still there and William took me back to Labour Ward, when we got there they checked again...this time I was 2cm dialated...and the Dr. just asked William if our bags were in the car! (luckily they were)

Dr. Markram did an emergency cecearian... and our beautiful angel Jade was born. Nothing decribes hearing her cry or holding her the first time, it is the most unbelievable experience in life!!!!!!!!!! Its instant endless love for a person you just met! Even William said, he couldnt believe the love he felt for this little person he just laid eyes on for the first time.

Unfortunately as the morning went buy Jade struggled to breath....so much happened, but a long story short, the got very sick and her one lung collapsed! She was in Neonatal ICU for exactly two weeks!!! This was probably the longest two weeks of our lives. The sunday after she was born, the doctor came to us and told us there is nothing she can do for Jade anymore and she is doing very badly!!! Myself and William didnt know what to do except pray. It felt like someone ripped my heart out, I didnt know what to feel or think. Everyone prayed for Jade and a miracle happened, the doctors came and said they dont know why but she is improving!!!!! Since that day everyday she has just gotten stronger and stronger....THATS THE MIRACLE OF PRAYER!!! Thats God's Grace!!!!

We have never felt so blessed as the day we took Jade home....

I remember going to Neonatal as a hundred times the past two weeks and the one Nurse asked us if we are ready to take her home....we werent'....but we quickly got ready. My mom brought her clothes and Melissa brought the car with the car seat!!! It was all so hectic, but the best hectic moments for a long time!! We still can not say thank you enough for God for healing our Angel!!!

I have posted a few photo's of her, the pre birth of photo's of mommy and daddy! (note mommy was VERY nervous) and her birth and some photo's of taking her home. I also loaded some photo's of her meeting a few special people in her life for the first time.

Thank you for everyones Support, Love and Prayers, myself and William are so thankful for all of you and greatful for the wonderful family and friends we have.

All our love

William, Natasha and Jade

William, Natasha & Jade's Bump

Hi All,

Here is some photo's that was taken when I was 31 weeks pregnant.

Photographer: Vanessa Crous

Hope you all enjoy.

Love

The Alexander's

Jade - 34 Weeks & Mommy's Birthday

Hi All,

Just a quick one.
Went to the doctor yesterday for Jade's 34 week visit.
He is so happy with her growth....she is now 2.7kg.
The doctor kept saying that he cant remember when last he saw such a big baby. lol lol
We are just so happy that she is healthy and everything is going so well with her. We thank
God everyday for our wonderful blessing.

It was also my birthday yesterday and my hubby spoiled me rotten!

Angel: Thank you for being the greatest husband in the world!!! I love you so much.
Thank you for my nice prezzies.....I LOVE THEM!!! But the nicest prezzie on my birthday was to be able to wake up next to you and to fall asleep again next to you. You my everything!!!

Haveing a birthday Braai tonight, I hope I will be able to stay awake....lol lol!
Lately I have been getting very tired quickly!

I will write soon again!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Storktea @ Villieria Lapa 4 October 2008

Hi All,

My Storktea was on Saturday....and true as Bob Grizelda caught me out! lol lol
I was soooooooo sure it was this saturday coming.

I was an hour and a half late....thinking we are just swimming at Grizelda's,(which will also explain the outfit I am wearing...lol) but with alot of lying from Grizelda and William they eventually got me there at 11:30!

The set up was beautiful and the food was so nice! THANK YOU GRIZELDA!!!

I know there was a lot of planning, lying, organizing, patience and love put into the day and I really appreciate it!! You truly are the most amazing and special friend anyone can ask for!

Thank you to everyone else who was there to make the day even more special. All the nice presents for Jade and the nice messages! You all made the day unforgettable and myself and William are so happy that you can all be apart of our life and the new life of our Baby Girl Jade! :-)

I put some of the photo's on, hope you enjoy.

Have a great week! :-)

Week 30 - 3D Scan 17 September 2008

Hi All,

This time we were so lucky, we could see her so beautifully! :-) No placenta or anything in the way!!

It was the most amazing thing to see her, we are so proud! She really is a miracle!

At first she had her hand infront of her face as if she was hiding away...then after awhile it looked like she woke up and then started moving!! She gave us so many nice poses! (See two photo's i have added for you). It still looks like she has her mommy's nose...and today Granny Irene came with for the scan, and she said it looks like she has her daddy's mouth, and I must agree - that chin and mouth is all dad!!

Its all so exciting and we can't wait to hold her!

She is such a busy body - its very cute. On her 12 week scan the doctor said she was very busy and trust me, nothing's changed! She is still as busy as ever, we could see it today again, and I can also feel it everyday! But I am not complaining - its so comforting to feel her and to know she is there!

I hope you all enjoy the photo of her - we really cant wait for you all to meet her! :-)

Have a great day, will chat soon again!

- "A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. " -