Category: Love

I Like Food and I Also Like Food

Kaine BartonLeave a comment

You know what I like? Pizza.

You know what else I like? Beer.

You know what else I like? Chocolate.

You know what else I like? Cake.

You know what else I like? I think you get the picture. I like food.

If you saw my diet over the past couple of days, you’d swear I was living in an episode of Epic Meal Time. Needless to say, we have had a really, really, really good weekend. As you can probably see.

It started off relatively innocently. We had a few people over on Friday night for a few board games and dinner. Well, dinner was delicious. As was the chips, corn chips, salsa, steamed pudding and ice cream that followed.

Ok, that’s enough I thought. I have gym tomorrow morning, so let’s try and get that diet back on track after gym.

Well that failed, because Saturday night we decided to head to Eat Street Markets for date night. Jesse came with us, so technically it was date night for three.

For those who are unaware of Eat Street Markets, it’s basically food and drink stalls galore. Everything delicious. It’s the kind of place where you go from stall to stall trying all sorts of different things. And that we did.

We started with the obligatory BBQ pork buns, followed by a soft NYC style pretzel covered with mozerella cheese, pepperoni and pizza sauce. Then it was Langos, a Hungarian deep fried delicious looking flat bread covered with cheese, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. A couple of beers definitely helped wash the food down.

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For dessert, well why not a Mars filled churros. And then just for good measure, I got a chocolate and tim tam covered cronut (half donut, half croissant) with a syringe full of Nutella to inject right into the middle of all that deliciousness.

Come 8pm that night, I felt pretty sick. I was started to think I might need to go on a sugar cleanse.

Then today happened. It was off to to catch up with some family for wood fired pizzas. Not too bad I thought. But then out came two cakes, cream and marshmallows. Well, I have to have cake and cream!

And even as I got home this afternoon I stumbled across an opened packet of chips that I had to finish off, but not before having a fist full of beef jerky.

Now I know what you’re thinking… That is a lot of food. And you’d be right. It is. But I will say this… I don’t regret a single thing!!!

I’ll start eating healthy on Monday!

Photo Friday: Documenting A Love Story

Renee Barton1 Comment

The first time we worked with our photographer (and great friend) Renee Trubai was last year when she asked us to be a part of her project ‘A Love Manifesto’. The project is all about documenting love in all its forms through photographs and conversations. We immediately fell in love with the idea and couldn’t wait to be apart of it.

We chose a location that was very special to us, the beach where our wedding photos were taken. As we shared stories with Renee about our relationship and vision of the future, and the kind of parents we dreamed of being someday. I distinctly remember telling her that if we were not able to have children we would be OK because we had each other. What we didn’t say is that we had been trying for a baby for quite some time.

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Deep beneath those words we spoke to Renee was actually a lot of heartache, frustration and disappointment. And by that stage I had actually begun coming to terms with the notion that it may not happen for us.

Little did we know that there were actually three of us in those photographs. We were in the very early days of pregnancy.

So needless to say, these pictures are incredibly special to us.

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Dear Jesse: A Letter From Dad

Kaine BartonLeave a comment

Dear Jesse,

It’s been 60 days since you came into our lives. 60 days since we finally met the little person that was growing in Renee’s belly. 60 days since I fell in love with you.

Life with you is so completely different to life before. Being responsible for a little human being is fun, challenging, rewarding, hard, exciting, overwhelming, interesting… all rolled into one big emotion that is so hard to describe. It is unlike anything I’ve ever done before. But I wouldn’t change it for anything.

I know it has only been 60 days and most people would say that it’s still only the beginning. I know this to be true. I know that it’s bound to get harder, but at the same time more rewarding and more fun.

I know that now I have started back at work that mummy is going to find it tougher. I can tell you that it’s tough for me too, having to leave you and mummy at home every morning as I head off in the cold to work. But I know that it is all for a good cause and as time goes on, we will be able to spend a lot more quality time together when it counts.

I know that there are going to be more challenges… more hard times… more mess… But along with that will come fun times, great experiences and memories to cherish forever.

Dear Jesse Post 2

It has been immensely gratifying getting to know you as you are. Watching you sleep. Watching how long it takes you to wake from your slumber. Laughing along with mummy at the many grunts and squeals you let out when feeding. The way you are already smiling.

I love your little fingers and toes and hands and feet. I love how wispy and blonde your hair is. I love how you sigh in your sleep. I love how I can get you to smile by playing with your bottom lip and chin.

I absolutely can’t wait to grow with you and be the dad I always imagined I’d be when mummy and I had children. Playing with you in the backyard or down at the local park. Teaching you life lessons. Playing hide and seek with you. Laughing with you. Tucking you into bed and reading you bedtime stories.

I love everything about you. To me, you are our perfect little man. I love that this is only the beginning of such a wonderful journey ahead.

Jesse, I’m so glad you are here and I can’t wait to get to know you more.

Love, Dad.

Close To My Heart

Renee Barton1 Comment

If your news feed is anything like mine this past week it has been filled with pride rainbows and celebrations of the US’ decision to legalise same sex marriage. Though I haven’t updated my profile photo with a rainbow, marriage equality is very close to my heart. I am absolutely an ally and 100% support the right for same-sex marriage.

I hold marriage in the highest esteem and it is something that is of the utmost importance to me. One of my most cherished roles is being a wife. And calling Kaine ‘my husband’ brings me such pride and happiness. I don’t believe that anyone should be denied that opportunity.

To me, marriage is so much more than a piece of paper or a wedding day (although weddings are awesome and everyone should have the opportunity to have their dream day!). It is a deep commitment and an exclusive promise to love and share your life with another human. It is having that one person, a partner in life, that you can truly be yourself with, grow with and share this crazy adventure we call life with.

It actually baffles me that this is even an issue in this day and age. Its pathetic!

From a young age I have had many gay people in my life, some of whom are my closest friends. And it breaks my heart that they are denied a basic human right like marrying the person they love. I was reminded of this recently when attending a friend’s wedding. It was such a beautiful, special occasion but as I looked around the room I became very aware that many people there were witness to an experience that they themselves can’t have… because its illegal… how ridiculous!

I don’t write this to spark some sort of debate as I honestly don’t believe there is one.

The simple fact is, there is no excuse for this stupidity any more. It’s time.

#LOVEWINS

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