happy mother's day

A big Happy Mother's Day to all my Mummy followers! In particular, Happy Mother's Day to all the ladies out in blogland expecting their first little baby...as my Mum wrote on my Facebook wall this morning (and made me cry!):

"Being a Mum starts from the first moment you know that a little person needs you...From the first moment her thoughts are always for her baby...When Baby is born and looks into their Mother's eyes, their first thought will be...'Oh...There you are...'"

This is also the first year I can wish a Happy Mother's Day to my mother-in-law...and thank her for giving me her son :)

And of course, I do not have enough words to express my thankfulness, love and admiration for the woman who helped shape me into the person I am today. My Mum.

dear baby

Written on 20th of January, 2013

Dear Baby,

Yesterday your Daddy and I got confirmation that you are definitely growing in there. We're officially 4 weeks! We've been told our first due date - 27th of September, 2013. At this stage I hope you come early or late - our first wedding anniversary is the 29th of September! The idea of being in labour on our first wedding anniversary doesn't sound terribly appealing hehe (and I'm sure you won't want to share your birthday with your oldies!!)

We went out to dinner last night, the day the doctor said "Congratulations", to celebrate us, and you! We had a good ol' chat about how we want to tell your family and our friends about your existence... The how/when and where. It was scary exciting... Because you will go from our little secret to a real, exciting pregnancy!!

In the next couple of days we'll be booking into the hospital and in a few weeks we can book in our first ultrasound - we can't wait to see you up on the screen, even if you will be only a lil' nugget!!

We love you already and look towards the next 8 months, full of hope!

Love Mama

dear baby

Dear Baby,

Well it's official! Our little family has a new place to call home :) It has all happened so fast, but in such a way that it feels like it is meant to be! After a terrible start to house hunting, which was getting me down, I was beginning to think we were going to be stuck in an unhappy little rental.

Then, on Saturday I saw the perfect little house, in our price range and freshly renovated. As fate would have it the owner arrived before the estate agent and let us in. While everyone else went straight to the agent when he arrived, your Nanny and I chatted with the owner - asking him questions, finding out what he was after in tenants and just generally chatting. He was lovely! By the time we left, he had offered your Mama and Daddy the home!

We signed the paperwork today and visited the house for your Daddy to check it out. We move on Friday! You officially have a home, and a nursery, and this Mama can't wait to start setting it up!

Another new adventure - one that takes us that much closer to the point we get to meet you. Bring it on.

Love Mama

friday's letters

Dear pregnancy symptoms, You are first trimester stuff - why are you bothering me now?! Go away so I can go back to enjoying everything!

Dear Autumn, I'm ready for beanies and scarves and snugly clothes! Let the cooler weather stick around now!

Dear rental property hunting, I strongly dislike you. I wish you were over. Or that someone would buy us a house (or at least let us have the pretty, pretty rental I saw yesterday that's just out of our single wage budget!)

Dear husband, Thanks for putting up with my crazy :)

Dear baby, Your Daddy felt you kick this week! BEST THING EVER!

dear baby

Written on the 14th of January, 2013

Dear Baby

Today we found out about you. Mama had her suspicions already and waiting until I could know for real was killing me... I snuck away on my lunch break today and what do you know - that little test confirmed my suspicions and let me know that you were indeed tucked away somewhere, quietly starting your growing adventure.

I set up a special little box for your Daddy to open when I got home from work... I worked myself up to telling your Daddy... Only to find him not home when I got there!! Luckily he didn't wait too long to come home to us and the look on his face when he opened his special package is one ill never forget. He didn't even see the test - he only saw the card and grinned at me... "Is this for real?"

I had to tell him there was more in the box!!

Daddy and I have already started talking about how we are going to tell our family all about you... We can't wait, yet wait we have to! Until its safe to make sure you're ok... Then we can shout it from the rooftops!

We have a lot of decisions to make and lots of things to plan... But for now we are happy to just let it sink in -

We're going to be your Mama and Daddy.

Darling, let's be adventurers!

Love Mama


inside the card: "Our family is growing by TWO FEET!"


will never forget this moment, or this face!

recap: we are wed!

Saturday, 29th September, 2012

(Please note that I'm super nervous about sharing Sandra's work here but I don't want to watermark her gorgeousness. All the following photos are the work of Sandra Henri Photography and are not to be taken, copied, used or edited in any way without permission from Sandra. Steal them and claim them as your own and we will bust your butt evil copy-right violation people!)


We have come together in the presence of God to witness the marriage of Graham and Amanda, to surround them with our prayers and to share in their joy.


Marriage is appointed by God. It is a gift of God in creation and a means of grace in which a man and a woman become one in heart, mind and body. It is a way of life which all people should honour and it is not to be entered into lightly or selfishly, but responsibly and in the love of God.

"Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is." - Excerpt from "Captain Corelli's Mandolin"


Graham and Amanda, do you believe that God has blessed you and guided you, and now calls you into marriage?


Will you, the family and friends of Graham and Amanda, who have come to share this wedding day, uphold them in their marriage and support them in prayer?


"A good marriage must be created. In the marriage, the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, "I love you" at least once a day...It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family...It is not only marrying the right partner, it is BEING the right partner. This is The Art of Marriage." - Excerpt from "The Art of Marriage" by Wilferd A. Peterson


I, in the presence of God, declare my love for you. I call upon my family and friends here with us today to witness that I take you to be my lawful wedded partner, to have and to hold for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish as long as we both shall live. This is my solemn vow.



With this ring, I give you my heart - I have no greater gift to give. It is a seal of my unending love. Wear it as a reminder of our vows and as a symbol of all that we share.


God of steadfast love, by your blessing let these rings be to Graham and Amanda a symbol of the vows which they have made this day; Through Jesus Christ our Lord


Before God and in the presence of us all, Graham and Amanda have made their solemn vows. They have confirmed their marriage by joining hands and the giving and receiving of rings. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I therefore proclaim that they are now husband and wife.


This silken ribbon close entwines two hearts in love together. Friendships dearest pledge is made in joy forever. United you shall walk through life, sharing Earth's pain and pleasure. Hand and hand you will strive for achievements in life together. As we look to the future: Should your path be rough and thorny, let love sustain and guide you. Should your way be strewn with roses, let the joy of life embrace you.


You may now kiss the bride!


We did it!

Next Up: Signing the Registry and the new Mr & Mrs!

Miss something?

1. recap: the girls get purty...nail day!
2. recap: the night before the big day
3. recap: bridal party gifts...the boys!
4. recap: bridal party gifts...the girls!
5. recap: the girls get ready...part one!
6. recap: the girls get ready...part two!
7. recap: the boys get ready!
8. recap: details - the dress! (and other bridal details)
9. recap: details - the flowers
10. recap: arriving at the ceremony
11. recap: details - the ceremony
12. recap: the big entrance

recap: the big entrance

Saturday, 29th September, 2012

(Please note that I'm super nervous about sharing Sandra's work here but I don't want to watermark her gorgeousness. All the following photos are the work of Sandra Henri Photography and are not to be taken, copied, used or edited in any way without permission from Sandra. Steal them and claim them as your own and we will bust your butt evil copy-right violation people!)


There's a song that's inside of my soul
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again


I'm awake in the infinite cold
But you sing to me over and over again


So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
And pray to be only yours


I pray to be only yours
I know now you're my only hope


Sing to me the song of the stars
Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again


When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again


And I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours


I pray to be only yours
I know now you're my only hope


I give you my empathy
I'm giving you all of me


I want your symphony
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs I'm giving it back


And I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now you're my only hope

Next Up: We Are Wed!

Miss something?

1. recap: the girls get purty...nail day!
2. recap: the night before the big day
3. recap: bridal party gifts...the boys!
4. recap: bridal party gifts...the girls!
5. recap: the girls get ready...part one!
6. recap: the girls get ready...part two!
7. recap: the boys get ready!
8. recap: details - the dress! (and other bridal details)
9. recap: details - the flowers
10. recap: arriving at the ceremony
11. recap: details - the ceremony

friday's letters

Dear Little Bean, everyone knowing about you now is very exciting! But please, no more trips to the ED for Mama - and preferably no more needles for a while! Just keep growing away, big and strong!

Dear Husband, it's almost your birthday! Last one before becoming a Daddy and first one as a married man. I would love for it to be special for you!

Dear Followers, thanks for following along with me for so long! The wedding recaps will continue, I'll start to include bump updates very soon (sorry to those not so interested in baby bumps but I promise you can just skip those posts!) and I'm hoping once we are back in our own places that I'll be able to start posting more regularly and including more of our life! I seem to find it easier when we are living alone, life seems too hectic at my parents'!

Dear Time, I can't decide whether I want you to slow down or speed up! I can't believe it's been a whole week since Good Friday already, and that we are already in April and this Sunday marks 4 months in our pregnancy! BUT, I would really like you to speed up my work day today... Particularly towards my dinner break as this Mama is hungry!

Dear Life... Bring it! :)