Welcome wee MacKenzie!

Rivalry starts early!

MacKenzie is 17 days old today, and we already can't imagine a life without him. He would like us to thank you all for the wonderful gifts, and knows that with friends and family such as we have that he will be well loved by all.

He is sleeping reasonably well- only waking a couple of times each night, and generally letting Jane get a little sleep. As for me- I tend to sleep straight through it on week nights, and wake on weekends. Have no idea how that works, but...

MacK eats exceptionally well (Jane is very efficient at turning garlic and rosemary roast potatoes, roast lamb and chocolate goodness into the best form for him), cries rarely, sleeps well, and, well does the other in great abundance also! 

So far he is doing all the right things, and is putting on a little weight. He is now well back over his birth weight, although his legs are still uber-skinny, and it is hard to see how he is going to pack the front row of a rugby scrum unless he starts to develop a set of calves soon...

We discovered that he isn't really a bath type of kid, but loves to have a shower with Dad each afternoon.

The next batch of photographs is below, but first-

This blog is also about our (currently paralysingly slow) move towards a sustainable and self sufficient life. Our first move was the introduction of the crazy chickens to the back yard, and we do a lot of reading about all aspects of sustainable living. The other night we were in bed, when we heard a noise from outside that Jane swears is one of the chickens snoring. Crazy birds! Anyway, I was reading a piece about chickens in a magazine, and asked Jane if she knew how you might stop a rooster crowing in the morning (the topic of the piece I was reading). She told me you could cut its throat... When I had finished laughing, she suggested throwing a brick at it. I told her that you put the top roost high enough so that the rooster can't stretch his neck back far enough to crow (they will always have to have the top roost- male dominance kind of thing). Jane's response- that both of her methods would work also...

On food- we picked up some new seasons feijoas the other day at the market. A lot of food miles in bringing them from New Zealand, but I couldn't resist. One of my favourite fruits, and a purveyor of childhood memories! We will definitely have to grow feijoas when we eventually get the block of land we want!

Now for the photographs:

Told you he wasn't keen on a bath!

Snug as a bug in a 'frog'?

Check out my guns!

We think its our first smile! 

So tiny - in my (only) 0000 suit!!

Who the hell are you???

Who decorated this joint? No eye for colour!!!

His first rattle- Thanks Nanny & Poppy D!

Life is just SO exhausting!

Parenting is tiring too. So we have to ensure we keep our strength up with such handcrafted delights as in the picture above. We had a pork, cranberry and pistachio terrine, King Island ash Brie, Smoked ham, bread stuffing, sourdough Fougasse, and various condiments. Just perfect for a lazy Saturday morning brunch.

Look at me- I'm holding the baby!!

Can't see what the fuss is about. Anyone else for a nap?

Flowers and other stuff

MacKenzie Jack Dalziell is now home (as of Monday afternoon) and doing really well. He has lost a little weight, but am sure he will make it all up again soon.

He is (thankfully) letting us get a little sleep, and we enjoy spending hours just gazing at our little miracle.

The process of labour is bestial and quite horrific, and I wish Jane hadn't had to go through the pain. Regardless, the result is worth it. He is a champion!

A couple of photographs of his first days:

Angelic!

Being a Dad is tiring work!

A very happy Mum!

Thank you Workmates- LSC

Thank you Ryan

Thank you Clare & Family

Another than you for my work colleagues- this time the 'stamplickers' at postal

Go away- can't you see I am at my breakfast?

Looks like he is lying at attention!

It has been a fantastic couple of days- and the start of many more I am sure. We have been lucky to be the recipients of some beautiful gifts- and many many thanks for all of those. I was even lucky enough to  receive a bottle of Grolsch. Obviously from a father, who knows that it is draining being a dad, and that we need fortification too!

We had a beautiful congratulatory email from an old friend, that made both Jane and I cry. We would like to share a couple of excerpts from that mail- and many thanks Tony. We look forward to being able to share a glass of wine with you.

E taku Atua - e hoa!  [Lord, bless my friends]

As I prepare for the final celebration tomorrow of my 103yo's Mum's birth all those years ago, I send heartfelt delight and warmest congratulations to you and Jane for adding your link to this 'real daisy' chain. My mother's mother was Jane [McCreanor] and after she immigrated she opened Christchurch's first neo-natal home.  And my mum married Jack Mora, my dad. Good links, eh? There is such an entity as the family we gather to us along our own lives, as well as our birth families.

"I carry you, even into old age!"  [Isaiah, 46:4]

Thirty hours ... the wonderful lesson of the pain of love is with you forever transmuted into sheer joy and belief suspended no longer .. 

Blessings, blessings, may they abound and rebound ... as He who doesn't miss 'a feather falling from a sparrow' continues to smile upon your reflection of His love.

And, Haeremai, little 'Jack Sparrow'. Haeremai

In other news from the North, it is still raining. As you can see in the photo below, summer in the tropics means something quite different! Believe it or not, about 15 minutes before this photo was taken, the sun was out. About 2 minutes after, I had to put the mower away after the deck went under water, and the engine stopped. I just hope it has dried out enough to start again when it finally does dry out!

Me trying to mow the lawns

Dining in- 18 March 2011

One of the pleasures of Army is the opportunity to enjoy regular formal dinners. The first for this year was held last month, and was a good night out. The night would only have been made better if it were a partners evening- although at that stage Jane wasn't feeling much like being out and about.

We are looking at making a trip south in May, so look forward to introducing MacKenzie to those in Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane in the very near future.  

Sparrow is finally here...!!!

 Hello friends and family.

Jane and I are delighted to welcome the arrival of MacKenzie Jack to their family. Previously known as 'Sparrow', the wee lad arrived a couple of weeks earlier than planned today (April 2, 2011) at 1325 h.

He was a healthy 3600 gm (7 lb 6 oz), 50 cm long, and has his Dad's head and feet. Head is 35.5 cm in circumference, and feet are big, broad and flat! Everything is in place- ten fingers, ten toes, good palate, a couple of descended testicles, etc. Lets just say he had good breeding from both sides of the family!

Jane broke her waters at 0500 h on the morning of 1 April, and had to call her boss to tell him that she wasn't going to be at work for her last day. He thought it was an April Fools Day prank at first, but soon realised that error!...

All up, the labour lasted 30 hours, and went from the completely natural birthing suite to the general ward epidural. It is all worth it, as we look at our beautiful baby boy!

See below for a couple of photographs in chronological order:

Jane 'relaxing' in the birthing centre spa... (approx 0100 2 April 11)

Sparrow (MacKenzie Jack) at about 4 minutes old, with his first chest to chest contact with Mum

There has to be food here somewhere, dammit! 

Mackenzie on the scale. Now about 80 minutes old

Proud Dad. Son flipping the bird...

Jane finally thinking the last 30 hours were worth it!

Our beautiful boy. He's worked out where lunch comes from, and now needs a sleep

Can get your attention...

Again- has lungs!

Me & my boy!

And again- he has just shied away from the first flash of the camera

Thanks to all for well wishes. We look forward to being able to introduce MacKenzie Jack to you all in the near future.