About Rhiya
Rhiya was born six weeks premature on May 4th 2005. She was so special to us, as all children are to their parents. But after losing our previous baby boy who was born too early (due to complications in pregnancy), having Rhiya felt like nothing short of a miracle. The pregnancy wasn't straightforward and as a result each day was full of anxiety and worry. We were overjoyed and relieved when Rhiya was born healthy, despite coming early. After 11 days we were allowed to bring our bundle of joy home.
Watching Rhiya grow from a tiny baby into a beautiful little girl was amazing. She was real mix of both of us, having her daddy's eyes but her mummy's curly hair. At two and a half she had already developed quite a personality and was full of enthusiasm for life. She loved to play with her cousins whom she adored. She also enjoyed swimming,reading, dancing along to ABBA and Rihanna songs and having picnics with her dolls. Most of all, she loved to watch Dora the Explorer on tv and was learning Spanish from it. She was so much fun to be with and like most children her age, she was talking non-stop - saying so many funny things. She loved to put mummy and daddy in “time out” and often told us off for not listening.
Rhiya used attend our local Tumble Tots group and join in with story time at the library. We felt that this interaction with other children was really important in her development and she seemed to enjoy it. Which is why at one and a half, we decided to enrol Rhiya at Eton Manor nursery for a couple of days a week. She enjoyed playing with her friends there and always came home with stories of whom she had played with.
We always looked forward to spending the weekend together as a family. Rhiya and her daddy would have the biggest breakfast. For a little girl, she did a good job of eating her own and then finishing off daddy's. Rhiya would also love to dress up and watch mummy put on her make-up, while pretending to be doing the same. From about the age of two Rhiya quickly realised how easy it would be to get treats from both parents. When she had stopped wearing nappies she would wake up each morning saying “I've been such a big girl I had no accidents, can I have a treat please?”, she would get a biscuit from mummy and a colourful stamp on her hand from daddy, this continued for months after she stopped needing a nappy. Each day would begin and end the same, with big kisses and cuddles for both mummy and daddy saying “I love you too much”.
There are so many things that we miss about Rhiya, from her cuddles and kisses through to how she loved grapes and plums. So many memories of the things she said and did play on constant rewind in our minds. The time she sang 'Umbrella' for our friends and family, almost eating the microphone. Nothing can take these memories away, but we just wish that our time with our precious angel hadn't been cut so short.
We never stop to measure anything we might just miss,
But if the wind should blow by softly, you'll feel and angels kiss
A kiss that's sent from up above, a kiss that's very special,
From someone that you love,
For in your pain and sorrow, a kiss will help you through
This kiss is very private, for its meant for only you
So when your heart is heavy and filled with tears and pain
And no-one can console you, remember once again
About the one you grieve for and so sadly miss
That gentle breeze you took for granted,
was our Angel Rhiya's kiss. Xxx
You will always be our princess darling, and we will continue to love you and send you "squooshy" cuddles every day until we meet you again Rhiya.