Busytown by Jolisa Gracewood

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Busytown: A wee development

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  • ScottY,

    Well done Paul. Congrats also.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Oh, fabulous. Congratulations, Paul and Paula and Little Paul(ine).

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    I did so little so long ago ~ gwad women are marvellous! I'm now surrounded by them, this is number two for us; Evie Marama. Thank you all for your best wishes.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    That's lovely news, Paul. Congratulations! Fantastic. I think daughters are wonderful ('though I'm sure sons must be too - it's just that I don't have any personal experience of sons.) Beautiful names you have chosen for her (unless you're doing something terribly radical with respect to gender...).

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Nothing radical, 'less you think a Maori middle name for distinctly Pakeha parents is radical... but it's not really, even for Sydney-resident kiwis...

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • tim kong,

    Big congratulations Paul - it's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

    My daughter is 12 weeks old - our first - and I'm filled with wonder and hope every time I look at her. I get what everyone says about new babies now. It's brilliant.

    Second time around is easy as they say. ;-)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    I don't know about "easy" Tim; perhaps a little less cluttered with anxiety... but that's just my personal experience, not a commentary on what ordinarily happens. I hope you and your's are doing great.

    I do love the camaraderie that develops between new dads... we wander about the maternity ward, a little gormless and blissed out, stumbling about looking for bunny-rugs and hoping the midwives will be nice (they are). I've spent a couple of nights in the ward, tonight at home with my older girl. I've smoked the cigar, had a whiskey and now need to plan for the arrival home... coaxing a mid-wife to leave with us seems fruitless...

    Kids are miraculous but. I know that's a risky phrase to be using in this mainly secular space, but they just are.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Kerry Weston,

    Kids are miraculous but. I know that's a risky phrase to be using in this mainly secular space, but they just are.

    Divine bundles of hope - Congratulations! Hope you're spoiling your wife - usually involves sleep, feet and massage, something yum to eat.

    I seem to recall birth & motherhood hit me like a tidal wave, nothing's the same thereafter, that's for sure. But such a lovely, smoodgie time ....

    Manawatu • Since Jan 2008 • 494 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Congratulations Paul!

    And don't worry, we all have that "we're not worthy!" moment when it comes to taking the baby home.

    (Deborah, I haven't forgotten about that idea for a a PAS community announcements column -- there are just a few things ahead of it in the queue, but I've commissioned the first upgrade and we're moving along.)

    PS: They are little miracles. If you can't feel a sense of wonder, you're not paying attention ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Good work, Paul and Paul-related team!

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Congrats Paul. The creation of each new person seems such an affirmation of the survival of humanity these days.To think that these new babies will be adults in the great unknown of the future, possibly into the 22nd century.

    One of the revelations of PA for me are the devoted fathering perspectives that surface quite frequently here.

    Another perspective I enjoyed was Dorothy Butler's reflection on loving child-rearing particularly her own several children and many grandchildren, even though things weren't always easy. Discipline was not an issue and John Bowlby's theories of attachment were important. So long as there were lots of books and reading. On Kim Hill yesterday

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Kerry Weston,

    Dorothy Butler's reflection on loving child-rearing

    I enjoyed that, too. Especially the tales of the old hearse used as the family wagon to transport oodles of kids. Man, she must have a huge house to hold all those books!

    I used to stay with cousins in Wellington as a child - they lived up Ngaio Gorge Road and had a huge old Plymouth which I loved driving in, swooping down the hills :-)

    Manawatu • Since Jan 2008 • 494 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Congrats Paul - yes babies are little miracles, aren't they? Little tiny yummy miracles. I love a new baby - don't want any, mind. Just happy to admire other peoples'.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    I love a new baby - don't want any, mind.

    I would love to have another baby. I just don't want to repeat the toddler years. Not that my girls were difficult, at all. But the constant work, watchfulness, never resting of the toddler years is something that I'm just not so keen on. ('Though maybe I'm biased after having twins... definitely twice the work at that stage, 'though also so much fun!)

    In the meantime, my heart does this funny squeezy thing when I hear that someone else's baby has arrived safely, even if it's someone I know only through teh interwabs. And even my secular atheist soul thinks that a new baby is a blessing.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    (Deborah, I haven't forgotten about that idea for a a PAS community announcements column -- there are just a few things ahead of it in the queue, but I've commissioned the first upgrade and we're moving along.)

    Oh good! I didn't want to mention it again, because that would be very boring. Paul managed to find a very effective work-around, all the same.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Finding the right thread to jack is an art. Bravo on both counts, Paul.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Shucks, all this lovely stuff and I did so little. Much appreciated. Big ups have to go to my wife, Kim, who's achieved/endured much. Pregnancy, birth, feeding; who'd take all that on voluntarily? Foot massages are the least she deserves (but how's this, I found Feijoas for her in Sydney... c'mon!)

    I reckon an announcement thread would be a good thing. I'd talked to my family and friends, wet the baby's head and wanted to extend the moment by sharing it here. I've said before, this is a remarkable community, one that I value and respect greatly and the aroha is felt and shared. </indulgent-sentimentaliy>

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Blimey, I look away for a second and you're all off having babies. Hooray! Congrats to Paul and family, and I am honoured to have a thread jacked by little Evie Marama and her family. (So honoured, in fact, that there should be another word for it. Storked?)

    Bring on the not-at-all-indulgent sentimentality, and chocolate cigars all round!

    And yes, Uncle Russell, looking forward to that announcements thread for the hatching, matching and (not too much please) dispatching :-)

    In the meantime, my heart does this funny squeezy thing when I hear that someone else's baby has arrived safely

    Me too. I found myself at a party yesterday with two last-minute #3 babies and glowing but exhausted 40-something mums & dads... so lovely, so very tempting, and yet, I kind of like the way I look and feel after a full night's sleep...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Storked?

    Gold.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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