Two dads and a dream

well hello there 🙂 

Right, let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t your average “we’re pregnant” announcement. 

There’s no bump yet, no weird cravings (unless you count Samuel’s obsession with whoppers), and definitely no surprise gender reveals involving balloons or cake. 

What there is, though, is a wild, exciting, slightly science-fiction-y journey we kicked off in late 2024, and it’s finally time to let you all in on it.

We’re going down the path of IVF and surrogacy to grow our little family. Yep, two dads, one dream, a bunch of lab coats, and some very expensive test tubes (at least that’s how we think it goes). But, most importantly, there’s a whole lot of love.

This blog? It’s our way of bringing you along for the ride. Weekly updates. The highs, the lows, the “wait, what the hell does that mean?” moments. A bit for us, a bit for you, and a lot for the tiny human we hope to meet one day and say, “Hey, this is how you got here. Spoiler alert: you were very wanted. And very expensive.”

A little about us (the dads-to-be)

Here’s where we give a quick intro for those who’ve just stumbled across this blog, or for our future child reading this one day thinking, “Who greenlit this parenting experiment, and can we speak to their supervisor?”

So, who are we? Glad you asked because here’s the highlight reel: 

• Gary and Samuel: Sydney-based duo, one coffee addict, one coffee traitor.
• Semi-functional adults trying our best and usually getting there with snacks.
• United by a shared love of good food, even better wine, and our favourite people. 
• Serial Netflix starters (we’ve got commitment issues… when it comes to TV).
• One of us packs three days early for holidays, the other forgets to pack essentials.
• We argue about where to put the air fryer, or any kitchen appliance, like it’s a heritage item.
• Big fans of a bougie charcuterie board. Even bigger fans of acting surprised when we finish it.
• Survived several big overseas holidays together, so surrogacy feels achievable (lol).
• Ask “should we get another dog?” fortnightly. Still no second dog.
• Most evenings end with us pretending we’re not tired at 8:30pm.
• This baby is the biggest adventure yet, and probably the only one without a packing list (yet).

Personality-wise:

Gary? Equal parts planner, equal parts chaos, with a knack of distracting Sam from a well loved TV show, starting house projects he often abandons, or asking for undivided attention and then loses interest. 

Sam? He’s the counterweight because let’s face it, you can’t both be chaos gremlins and get things done. He can make a friend out of anyone, charm the socks off a bouncer, and other than being tired all the time – likes to pretend to be spontaneous. 

We’ve been together for 5 years now, which in gay years is almost equivalent to a golden wedding anniversary. Married in September 2024 in beautiful Sydney, we’ve weathered a house move, several lengthy overseas trips, questionable haircuts, furniture placement meltdowns, and a global pandemic. Still standing. Still laughing. Still stealing the doona.

We’ve always talked about having a family. It wasn’t a sudden “let’s do this” moment—it was more of a slow build. A quiet knowing. The kind where you look at your person and think, Yeah, this life we’ve built? Let’s grow it.

And now here we are – about to dive headfirst into the most emotional, ridiculous, wonderful adventure we’ve ever taken on. With sunscreen, snacks, and sarcasm, of course.

Why IVF and surrogacy?

Like a lot of LGBTQ+ couples, we always knew having a family wouldn’t be as simple as “let’s just see what happens.” Unless we were planning a miracle involving an avocado and a lightning storm, science was always going to be part of the process.

After many late-night chats, a fair bit of research, and the kind of spreadsheets that would make a tax accountant weep, we decided this was the right path for us. IVF + gestational surrogacy. Science meets soul. And no, we’re not doing it because we “wanted a baby with abs and a master’s degree”, we’re doing it because we want a child who’s loved, safe, and knows exactly where they came from.

What this blog is (and isn’t)

This blog isn’t a step-by-step medical manual or some polished parenting masterclass. Sadly, we’re not here with lab coats and lingo (even though one of us thinks we’re smart enough to be). This is raw, lived experience, laughter, and the occasional meltdown. We’re learning as we go, and we’re bringing you with us. 

What you will get is honesty, humour, updates on the process, the feelings (yes, we have those too), and the unexpected stuff no one tells you about. The awkward. The expensive. The bureaucracy. The joy. 

Once a week (sometimes more), you’ll get a little update on where we’re at in the IVF and surrogacy journey, what’s happening, how it works (in real-human speak), and what it actually feels like. We’ll keep it honest, casual, and very Aussie. No fluff. No filter. Plenty of puns.

We’ll also drop in a new random fact about us, because let’s face it, whether it’s you or our future well-loved leech, you deserve to know what kind of people willingly take on this emotional rollercoaster and still think it’s a good idea.

Think of it as part-journal, part-group text with mates, and part love letter to the tiny legend we haven’t met yet but already completely adore.

And while this blog is told from our point of view, it’s only possible because of the extraordinary generosity and heart of the incredible women walking this journey with us. We’ll be sharing more about them in time, because their role is not just important, it’s monumental.

So…thanks for being here. 

Whether you’re a mate, family, fellow IVF-surrogacy explorer, or just someone with too much time and a good Wi-Fi connection, you’re welcome here and we love that you’re on the journey with us.

Until next week then! May your sperm swim straight, your eggs be mighty, and your snacks be plentiful.

Love, 

Gary and Sam 💖