Eighteen, 18, XVIII

It doesn't seem to matter how I write it, I still can't believe my firstborn is 18 today!

On Wednesday 23rd September 1992 at 2323hrs Renae Lauren Manning was born weighing in at 9lb 7oz. She was in no hurry to meet us and took quite a bit of encouragement to enter the world. I can remember it like it was yesterday, even visualise the delivery room with Steve on one side and Vicki on my other. Renae was taken to Neo Natal immediately and spent the first few hours being monitored - Steve never left her side! Sometime during the night she came back to me and that euphoric feeling of falling in love instantly was overwhelming and has never left me.....ever.

Here she is sunning herself inside the window of the hospital (she was a little jaundiced too).

3 months old - what a cutie - to this day when she gets angry those "stork marks" still fire up!

This morning we shared in our family ritual of opening presents on our bed before Renae headed off for work. It has killed me all day that she only got to open a couple of small gifts from us this morning as I have been working on this surprise all day long.....A bedroom makeover!

Gemma bought her this canvas with her Star Sign on it.

Wide angle view of the whole room.

New bed linen, throw rug and cushions.

Another view of the lovely fresh bed linen.....there's nothing nicer is there?

The roman blind is going to be replaced with a white holland blind next week and a new pelmet will also be added.

Now there is a funnyish story around this rose wall art - I bought the gorgeous satin fabric and decided to ask Gemma to help me staple it to the canvas....well she staple gunned the palm of her hand together and ended up needing a tetanus shot - I'm not sure what kind of story she made up to tell Renae - but I don't think she was any the wiser! ;-)

New laundry hamper.

New nick nacks.

More new nick nacks.

Chalkboard frame on the door of her wardrobe.

We are looking forward to celebrating tonight with a family dinner - so I might be back with some more sooner rather than later!