Big Brother and Baby

At the risk of being thought of as the doting grandparents that have nothing in their life except their grandchildren I set about another blog post that shows off the two most precious children in our world! Dee has just sent through some photo's and what a wonderful opportunity to update the blog. Baby Brooke is 3 weeks old today and is already looking very alert and somewhat cheeky...
Though it is a wee bit hard to stay awake for very long. She is still sleeping a lot of the time and is only now being left to wake on her own most of the time.

If she hasn't woken in 4 hours then she gets a little bit of encouragement. Dee asked Carly to pick up a head support pillow for the capsule when Carly was going shopping and Aunty Carly went for Buzzy Bee, very cute, rather "out there" and one of very few choices according to Aunty. I think it looks gorgeous!

Brooke is even starting to enjoy lying on her back looking at her mobiles - though only for a few minutes at a time! It's a bit tiring doing all this looking. Ethan lay down beside her and said "Hello Foxy, she likes her toys".

Nan stayed a bit later on Thursday night and was thrilled to be able to give bubs her bath, though she wasn't that fussed on the undressing and re-dressing stages she definitely loves the bath time. And even looks quite happy with Nan!

Ethan has been amazing, very protective of his little sister, and very patient and gentle. He is an absolute darling and seems to be growing up before our eyes. Still the cheeky wee monkey.

It's amazing to see the comparison in foot size - I didn't think Ethan's feet were that big but next to Foxy's they seem huge!

Wow - so tiny, and don't panic the other two toes are firmly attached they are just out of sight!!! Brooke had to have another blood sample today for a jaundice test, you can see her wee heel is looking a bit bruised. She's just fine but the midwife thought her "tan" was just a wee bit dark.

And here's Lightening McQueen man all ready, for bed and showing off his battle wounds as well. Ethan and Daddy having races and Ethan's big toe came off second best in a fight with the door! You've really got to hunt to find the plaster on his big toe! He doesn't seem too worried about it though.

You've just gotta love this little man!

Well it's back around to the weekend, and Dudley and Ethan have headed off to Auckland for Grandad Harris' 70th. Nan and Garg have popped in to make sure Dee and Brooke are ok on their own. Garg just loves this wee girl and she seems to recognise Garg's voice already, she was very alert and looked around when she heard her Garg come in.
However, in true Brooke form she soon relaxed her way into sleeping mode!

Dee is looking great, considering Dee and Duds are setting the alarm right through the day and night for 3 hourly feeds they are bearing up exceptionally well. And baby Brooke put on 90 grams in the last 2 days so the effort is all worth it!

Not that she has suddenly ballooned in size, she is still just under her birthweight but on the way up so that's really good.

With some milk being expressed it means that Dee can have a bit of a breather and others (like a doting Nan) can have a chance to give Brooke a bottle, she is quite happy with this and it means that she can have a top up every now and again.

Those legs are something to remember huh. Skinny wee things!

Can't keep Nan Away - Monday 20th

Just a quick visit out after work! Actually with Carly down for a few days, Ethan being nan's favourite boy and Dee and Brooke just home it's almost essential that Nan goes for a visit!

One time maybe Brooke will be awake when Nan is visiting. But talk about gorgeous in pink! There's no mistaking that this is a little girl! I just can't get over Brooke's tiny little feet,

They make my hands look huge! Isn't creation marvellous when you see the perfection in a tiny baby like this you can't help but be awed!

Of course she is the most beautiful baby girl born this millenium!

The Homecoming - Sunday 19th April - 3 days old (Just!)

The family have just arrived home from the hospital and the first thing big brother did was go out to the barn to get some ear protection! We thought Brooke must have screamed her way home in the car, but it turns out that she slept like a wee angel. Ethan is just being a good boy scout and "Being Prepared".
Meanwhile baby Brooke got handed (SLEEPING) around the family, first Garg gets to hold his first grand-daughter.....

Than Nan gets a turn, meanwhile Ethan has provided the medical kit so we can check out Brookes heart!

Then Aunty Carly gets the sleeping babe! This wee doll would just keep on sleeping - It might seem like every parents dream, but as a wee prem Dee and Duds will have to set up a rigorous routine to wake her and feed her to make sure she puts on weight.

Just as well Aunty Carly's knee is big enough for both Nephew and Niece! Ethan is still a wee bit unsure about this wee girl but is very pleased to have Mum and Baby at home.

Well it's time to check out the cot and big brother (though he insists he is NOT going to be big brother .. he's just ETHAN!) has a kiss good night.

When she's put in the cot baby Brooke doesn't take up very much room at all! Even with her cuddly blanket that Ethan bought for her on her "Birthday".

She's all lovely and snuggly. What a darling. She has totally captured the hearts of the whole Harris/Porter family.

Well she might seem like she asleep and quiet for now, but big brother is not convinced that this state of affairs will continue for very long so it is off to the lounge to retrieve the said............

EARMUFFS! just in case. You never can be too sure when these babies might start to kick up a fuss and you just have to be ready.

We are not sure where Ethan has got the impression that babies are particularly noisy but he is defeinitely taking some convincing that Baby Brooke is not going to be that disruptive. Guess we better wait and see.

The Happy Family

Ethan has been such a good boy while Mum has been in hospital, and also when he wasn't too well himself that Dad said he could have his new Superman outfit. It gives special powers...

Are you ready for the amazing Superman feat!?%$@!Ha! fooled you, but you do get a really nice smile...

Ethan (AKA Superman) and Nan are spending some time at the farm while Dad pops in to the hospital to see Mummy and new baby sister Brooke.
Then it was a quick trip to Nan and Gargs. And even Superman needs sustinance so an itsy bitsy tea was the order of the day. Then Dad picked up Ethan and Nan headed off to the airport to pick up Aunty Carly and go in and see bubs...

Dee was looking fantastic and baby Brooke was on her best behaviour ...

Well for the first 5 minutes anyway!
Then she decided that she had had enough, so for the next hour or so she gave a very persistent lung test. By the sounds of the other babies in the ward several babies were testing their lungs. It may not be too restful a night for the news mums tonight.

Aunty Carly did manage a quiet cuddle at the beginning of the evening and is totally convinced that Brooke is the most beautiful baby girl born.

There's nothing quite like having a brand new baby snuggle in to your shoulder and Aunty Carly is acting like a pro!
Well bubs may not be too happy and Mum is just thinking hmmmmm! little girl just what is your problem? Day Two is apparently quite a restless day for babies as they get used to a whole new way of life.

Well alls quiet for now, Mum has got Brooke sorted out and Aunty Carly gets to have another quiet wee hold.

Brooke's First Day

Brooke Kathleen Harris arrived this morning - Friday 17th April 2009, at 09:22, weighing in at 2.8kg (about 6lb 2ozs for us oldies). Nearly four weeks early so a pretty good weight, though everything seems huge on her.
Mum Dee is looking pretty good as well. Dee is just so happy to have the wee girl born safe and sound after the last few weeks. Brooke spent most of her first day in Neo Natal ward so Dee has just had her delivered to her room about 6pm tonight.

Nan and Garg were allowed to go into neo natal to have a first look at our wee grand-daughter and what a darling. Garg has fallen in love at first sight.

She is remarkably well covered considering her early arrival, and looking the absolute angel...

Gargs hands give some perspective to the size of the little sweetheart. She is tiny!

And here she is with her first grasp on her Garg, you'd think she knows "this is my Garg!"

Around the house ...growing, nurturing and warming.......

This spring we decided that we might get back in to a bit of gardening after hearing of Carly's success with her garden in Auckland. We are not going crazy but thought we might do a few tomatoes to supplement the rhubarb and herbs that we regularly grow. So planted a few wee 100's and 100's and a few Cherry toms out side Livvie Lou's bedroom......

A bit of rain and a few hours of sunlight later and it's a bit difficult to find the bedroom!

It certainly seems like the day of the triphids has arrived in Johnsonville. But as well as many many leaves etc we have certainly begun the harvest. Every day we pick between 10 and 20 tomatoes and even that looks like increasing in the next few days! What to do with all these tomatoes?

I found a really easy oven dried tomato recipe - you just wash and dry them, cut them in half and bake at 50 degrees for 6 to 12 hours (sprinkled with a little salt).

They are about 1 1/2 hours into the process at the moment - talk about technology, take a photo, download it and then immediately upload it and hey presto a morning in the life of Lesley and Brent! Thought I better give a shot of the front "garden" as well, tho the herbs are a bit over shadowed by the rhubarb!

Once again we planted a few Swan plants to encourage the Monarchs into the garden. I think Nan enjoys them as much as Ethan. One crysalis came adrift and so we rescued it and had it inside. Much to our delight it survived and when we arrived home from work on Tuesday it was sitting on the kitchen bench. A quick walk outside to transfer it to the garden followed and here it is!

Not the best photo but you get the idea.

A few flexes of its wings and the next day it had flown the garden - hopefully to surviving to produce a few more beauties!

A couple of months ago we decided that with power increases forecast, power outages becoming a bit more regular around the country and the opportunity of free (if somewhat energy sapping!) firewood available from Dee and Duds it would make good sense to get a free standing fireplace. This one has the added bonus of being able to cook on it ... so bring on the blackouts, we'll be warm and fed. If we can get past the puppies that is! When we had it installed and certified we had to have a trial run even though it was the middle of summer and the girls decided they were very happy!