I don't know the proper terminology, but the wood "trim" at the bottom of the home, really compliments the blue siding. It's a really nice touch. The place looks great, you are obviously very proud, and justifiably so. My father bought a home my senior year of high school that was built during the civil war, it was in shambles. He's been working on it for years and its really close to completion. It's fun to go home and see something new each time. Enjoy the journey.
I hope you have lots of photos, I'd love to see it when it is done. I was into this stuff before I got with a carpenter too, home design and architecture is just so fun! And thanks about the trim. I don't know what else to call it either but he made it from an old customer's fence... My jaw dropped when he came up with that! He's pretty clever.
My mother is rarely seen without a camera in her hand. I would be shocked if there weren't a photo for each stage and incarnation that their house has experienced. I think moving forward you should tell people that your boyfriend used the planks from an old pirate ship to construct the trim. Take a page out of Kevin's book "looks like someone got an "A" in wood shop"