It struck me, this past Sunday, just how much has changed over the last year. For on Father’s Day in 2012, Charlotte was more ‘baby’ than ‘toddler’, living in a onesie and chewing on anything and everything that she could get her hands on.  Her hair was more of a fluffy spike, and we were still nursing on demand. This year, however, Charlotte walked into the bedroom to give her Daddy his present, babbling and chatting the entire time.

She sat with us at the dining table and feasted her way through our yum cha brunch.

She explored in the sunshine after her nap, loving the company of her nearest and dearest.

I was able to enjoy a few glasses of wine, without having to worry about nursing schedules. Yet while so much has changed over the last year, so much has stayed wonderfully the same… A close family to share a meal with, and to loiter in the sunshine with – chatting the afternoon away.

An abundance of food gracing our dining table, and a love for cooking and entertaining ever present.

And a delightful homemade sweet treat to end the meal, even if my first attempt had been more ‘flop’ than ‘puff’.

But mostly our day was about the wonderful fathers we are fortunate enough to have in our lives. Loving fathers, kind and gentle fathers, present fathers. And while my Dad was not able to join us (he is interstate), the “Canberra” fathers were celebrated in yum cha style!

And Charlotte and I got to celebrate the bestest Daddy my little girl could have ever wished for!

A Happy Father’s Day indeed!