An email from a sleep-deprived Cal...

From: Calum MacLean
To: "LEWIS, Barry"
Cc: "Robert Barrett (E-mail)"
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 09:05:43 +1000
Subject: SLEEP AND WAKE AND SLEEP, OH NO, WAKE!


Good morning gents.

Well it was a great weekend with numerous highlights... I list them in no logical order:

- The realization that we will not be housebound forever as my beautiful, thin wife and I venture out of the house with the poo factory in the "sling". Even the shop assistants seemed to take the happy family more seriously as we bought "the" lamp from "the shop" that will ultimately be used to furnish our home and triple the value... mutcho denero sucker!

- The stunning victory by port Adelaide over the brissey lions. Sorry guys, you know I always support the underdog, besides winning the grand final 3 years in a row is a hat trick but expecting 4 (breaking all records), well, that's just plain greedy. The punch ups, the 60m kicks, the drama, mid air tackles... sheesh! The doggies will have to go a long way to rouse the same levels of excitement in this sports fan as Rugby league conjure images of sleep... aaah, sleep, my long lost friend.

- Welcome to sleep deprivationsville, population me! There is little comfort in hearing the blood curdling screams of a new born who's vocal alarm system draws no division between hunger and the hacking off of a limb / appendage. Both are awarded the same level of energy, volume and hair raising terror. (Sorry Mr IT dude, didn't mean to use that forbidden word, please don't quarantine my mail).

- And finally, whilst sharing my insights into the land of new fatherdom I have learnt that cuteness is no random by-product of the evolutionary cycle. It is in fact a survival trait inherent in new born infant poo factories who, without it would have been politely discarded by sleep deprived paternal members of the parental group. While I have been tempted to purchase the "they shake me" T-Shirt for my son I have refrained, just in case I do. Unfortunately, every sleep deprived time I reach out to initiate said shake I am overwhelmed by love and adoration that dissolves all negative feeling like the gentle bubbles of coca cola dissolve kiddies teeth.

- And finally finally, I have to relate the Aaron cutest moment #105. Whilst changing nappies last night my son took aim, right between my eyes and missed! The resulting fountain of warm pee hit him directly in his small confused face and persisted as his expression varied from anger to confusion and back to very confused again. I had to pick myself up off the floor to bath him. If ever in the years to come my son asks me "Dad, why aren't you taking me seriously!" I will simply reply... "Because my beloved son, how many people do you know that have managed to pee in their own face..."

Love to you all
Dad

More pictures courtesy of Uri

Assisted by the kind folks at the North Shore Private Hospital, Aaron was brought into the world through a terrific effort by his mother.

By all accounts it was a traumatic 22 hours of labour.

Fortunately all ended well, Ruth is healthy and on her feet (occasionally).

Wellwishers...

"Throwing up on my shirt has really knocked the little guy out!" Michal shows commendable intestinal fortitude.

Definitive proof of Calum's huge noggin - it's bigger than his child!

Another one?! Don't make me laugh..

Yes you are :)

Is he the cutest?

I might be all maternal and stuff but I will hurt you...

Mother and child

We are family - i've got all my sisters with me...

Stop pointing that thing at me or i'll...

Rachael "O my god I'm an Aunt!" Corr

Put off my food?! Who me?

Yep.. that all came out of my boy :)

Completely at ease - not!

I don't think it's possible to be more adorable, but i'm giving it a good go!

Zzzz

Deep in dreamland

 

I'm cool, I'm unconcerned. Just having a nap - as you do... 

 

Awwww.. cute or what!? 

The boy himself 

The boy himself 

The boy himself 

The boy himself! 

Pleased as punch 

Dad & boy 

Can you feel the love? 

Dad is well too, although the labour apparently took its toll.  

Names

He was named Aaron Ernest Maclean. If you want a full account of how the name was chosen it's best you get hold of Calum...

For those interested, http://www.babyzone.com/babynames/babynamedisplay.asp?ID=7 has more information on the name Aaron. As it turns out there are a number of alternative spellings, which might be why Cal chose it :)

A new arrival

Congratulations to Ruth and Cal on the arrival of their child. He is

• a boy
• 7 pounds something ounces
• definite pink colour
• has HUGE feet
• most importantly, he's healthy, and so is Ruth.

About this blog

I had a bunch of photos and stories from Aaron's birth and I got to thinking... there are others in the same position now, and presumably that number would only grow as more and more of you visit the little tacker and his proud parents.

So I set up this blog* primarily to give extended friends and family a place to see what's happened so far. However, you are all more than welcome to add your own pictures, thoughts, comments, helpful advice etc etc as you see fit.

In one sense it's good for people like you and me, because there will be one port of call for things Aaron-related. You won't have to dig through old emails to find the pictures that so-and-so took, they'll be with all the others. In another sense it will make life easier for Aaron's parents, because they'll be able to direct everyone to the same spot for pictures and info on their boy.

Once the fuss has died down I'll archive the results, they might make an interesting read for the little guy in about 20 years :)


Note: posts are in reverse chronological order. Start at the bottom if it's your first visit.

Administrivia

• You can already add comments to a post, albeit anonymously
• If you register on this website, you will get a user-name - email it to me, and I will add you to the list of owners of this blog. Send to barrettboy at gmail dot com. Registration is only required for new posts, posting photos, etc.

Cheers, Rob

* If you find yourself thinking "What on god's good earth is a blog?" then this might be a good point for you to start from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog