Dear Abigail

Little Princess, it was almost four years ago when I found out the Bernard Bunch would expand .. as would my belly for another nine months


Fortunately Amanda got pregnant three weeks before me, so we were able to share these wonderful moments together!


Little girl, this was you exactly three years ago .... swimming away peacefully inside that huge belly of mine.



And this was you exactly three years ago this coming Sunday :

A miniature 2.8 kilos of beautiful little princess!

Your brothers gave you a jolly close inspection upon arrival

And then validated your voyage home to the Bernard Bunch Ranch

neither of them ever wanted to put you down ... in their arms they would keep you snug!

You were so tiny you fitted perfectly into one of my hands in the bath!

Although you complained at first, you eventually got used to baths ...
and today it is YOU who grabs hold of my hand and drags me to the bathroom when you want your evening bath fun.

Do you remember accompanying your brothers on their first day of school in the new village we moved to when we found out you were about to join us? And lo and behold, time catches up with me as I contemplate the fact that in September, you too will be starting school little girl!

Way to go little girl! Our first three years together have been long, tiring, yet unique and perfect in many ways. All those hospital stays in the first months were NOT fun. Do you remember this little boy on the leucaemia ward who befriended you? You two were in neighbouring rooms for a long time ... I often wonder where he is now.

The following two photos bring bitter-sweet memories little girl. Barely 12 hours later, we were to find out about Jacobsens Syndrome ... and how fragile this meant you would always be. You were, are, and always will be, just THE ultimately perfect little Princess. Those were hard moments, but you helped us through with your courage, your determination to live, and just your general loveliness!

Look how tiny you were here with Godmother Helen! Thank goodness you reverted to 'thrive' mode shortly after this photograph was taken, and that today you are a beautifully stocky little Princess!

Your smile shines through the hearts of the whole Bernard Bunch every day

Right from then start, your brothers would rarely let you out of their sight

Yes little girl, eating has never been your forte. Today at the grand old age of nearly three, you still insist on blended food. But at least it gives me lots and lots of quality fun with you at mealtimes!

I love you so much my little girl. Every morning I long to go pick you up out of your cot and hold you close to me in my bed, all warm and cozy, for our morning snuggles. Everymorning my heart breaks as I leave you with nou-nou to go to work ... and every evening I take too many risks on the road to dash home quickly and smother you in all the love and emotion which has been stocking up all day for you.

I'm so proud of you little Princess! You have come such a long way ... you have taught me so many things about life, and about what matters.

You are my precious little Princess, and I often wonder - how did I ever manage during those 37 years before you were born????!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE PUMPKIN !

Click on this to see what a talkative little soul I am!

Abigail's creative farmyard noises

Easter holidays!!!! Yoopeee!!!

I love Easter cos I get to see all my family and us kids get terribly spoiled ...
Easter time is one of my favorite seasons cos ...



Mama takes some time off...

and we get to do lots of gardening together!!!!

I have my own little gardening kit





As my used tools bear witness, I get to do most of the work

I was exhausted after this Easter's gardening session ...

... I wandered indoors for a wee rest ...

... and ten minutes later, this is where Mama found me :

SLAVE LABOUR, that's what I say!

Fortunately, Mama swiftly transferred me to a more Princessly location

I got quite some fantastic gifts from Grandad and the Senior Bernard Bunch!

I had quite a wild time playing with everything...

Easter this year was the beginning of serious potty training :

This may look like I'm clambering up onto my potty. Well that's not the case.

I just have yet to get the gist of this aiming business ...

I got there eventually!

But I did wait until the potty had been cleared away to deposit a rather large and smelly number two in the front room. It enhances the family ambiance, that's what I say. Still can't figure out why Mama didn't capture the moment on camera. There was certainly a lot of song and dance about it.. grown-ups do work in mysterious ways.

And I got a taste of walking round with my bum in the air ... I wanted to do it all the time! Mama kept looking at me suspiciously, as if she was expecting a delivery or something. Very mysterious behaviour, if you ask me.

On Easter Sunday look at what time me and Mama got up ! This is the first time in the life of the Bernard Bunch! Quite an achievement eh?

But it certainly meant I was bright eyed and bushy tailed all day!

But not for long .... I developed a fever throughout the day and in the end collapsed exhausted all my Papi ... this Easter business is quite exhausting you know!

And I got to wear my fancy girly dress for Nathan's birthday ... I loved all the admiration I got! So much so, that I felt I could have a real spoiled-brat tantrum face - take a look!
But once I got my Lala back, I was back to my charismatic, charming old self.

Oh, life is tough, being a Princess, don't you think?

What did all you guys do for Easter, pray tell?