Our baby boy Liam Burnett Darby, was born on Sunday, October 11, 1998 at 3:03am. He weighed 7lb (3.18 kg).
Vacuum extraction into the world at 0303 hours after the first contraction at 1210 hours by Dr Ray Clarke and Midwife Liz McKillop. Weighing in at 7lbs exactly (3190 kgs), Length 49 cms a beautiful healthy baby boy. Dad handled the whole ordeal extremely well and was the first person to nurse you after the doctor had checked you over and given the all clear. Visitors for the first day consisted of Grandma and Grandpa Darby, Big Brother Daen and of course the proud Dad several times.
Lots of visitors and cuddles from everyone today. You slept most of the day due to the massive headache from Mr Hoover (vacuum extraction). You had a huge bruise the diameter of a drinking mug on the top of your head. I would like to name you ASHTON but Dad and Daen don’t like it so they have to provide a list of names for us all to go through. Daen brought Shane and Morgan (friends) to visit you today.
My milk came in today. Yum, Yum you say. You slept in the hospital nursery tonight because I had a stomach virus and not feeling very well at all. Dad and Daen still visiting at least 3 times a day.
I am feeling much better today (Day 4) and I am thinking of going home tomorrow. Dad and Daen are beginning to look very tired and would like us all to be home.
We came home today (Day 5) after the doctor checked you over. Dad picked us up between lessons and even sacrificed his golf after school. You had to sleep in the pram tonight because your cot was not quiet ready for you. You have started a very good habit of sleeping between 3 1/2 – 4 hours. This is what a good baby should do. Dizzy visited today.
Dad stayed home from work today. You are still sleeping between 3 1/2 – 4 hours. We all decided on your name today. LIAM BURNETT DARBY. Took you for your first excursion outside – shopping. This took twice as usual due to everyone saying congratulations, isn’t he cute, what colour is his hair, what colour are his eyes, who does he look like. Dad went to celebrate your arrival down at the local Knights Inn with his fellow workers.
Friday
You are starting to enjoy your bath a bit better these days. Once I have placed you in the bath you still want to cling to me like grim death with your right arm and have your feet firmly placed at the end of the bath for security. You still scream when I take you out though. I think it is the transition from warm water around you to having nothing. I try to wrap you up immediately in the towel but you still like to have the last say. We are going to Mandurah tomorrow for Grandpa’s Birthday and then onto Perth the next day for the Darby Picnic so I need to have all the washing done today. Dad and Daen are happily chain sawing and burning off out the front.
Sunday
You are 4 weeks old today and looking like a spotted Budda. I have been having too many milos which has brought you out in a red spotty rash all over your face and head. Oh well, another food which has to go on the back burner. Dad has been happily cleaning up the front – burning and chain sawing. The day will come when you will be able to be by his side helping. At 3.30 p.m. golf has taken precedent and off he has gone with Merv. Daen has been at the swimming pool for the afternoon with Dylan and Tash.
Monday
What a good boy you have been today. (As most days.) You are very much aware of noises around you, your vision and senses are getting better every day. You are enjoying the bath more since I have been tricking you into thinking that you are still in it. If I wrap you up in the towel while you are still sitting upright this seems to please you immensely and you don’t scream like a baby who has been pinched or pricked with a pin. I must admit you still don’t like the nose being cleaned out – not that I would enjoy a cotton bud stuck you my nose either.
Friday
You attended your first Xmas Street Party. We waited for Daen to finish worked at 7 o’clock before we went in. The street was crowded with prams, adults and kids. The usual bunch of feral kids were spraying shaving cream on people and shop windows. Each year they get better at trying to organise entertainment for the kids to try and stop such behaviour. I guess you will always have a small percentage of kids whose main aim is to cause discomfort to others. Bicycles seem to have been the biggest problem this year with 12 to 13 year olds riding flat strap down the street weaving through the crowds. I was nearly bowled over and so was Dad with you in the pram.
Saturday
You and I had a very sleepy day with both of us having several naps throughout the day. Dad went off to golf and Daen worked until 2 p.m. You have slept through till 4.30 a.m. from your last feed at about 9.30 p.m. for the past few nights. You have stopped screaming every time Dad picks you up and the little baby image is starting to vanish.
Sunday
Dad went off swimming with Merv and forgot his appointment with Allison at the golf club. Daen was a naughty boy and didn’t want to play golf with Daniel who had come all the way in from Witchcliffe. I threatened to take his new Mosh away from him for a week if he didn’t go and play. This soon got him moving. Dad and Merv played 9 holes of golf in the afternoon while you and I went for the walk. Dad took some photos of you to update our Web Site. After 4 holes you began to perform so we came home and left dad to continue with Merv.
Friday Xmas Day
We opened the presents Santa had left and the ones we bought for each other but waited until Kim, Karen, Ben and Alex arrived from Mandurah before we opened the bulk of them. There was wrapping paper and presents everywhere. You did very well with Grandma and Grandpa giving you 2 new outfits and your own dinner set with fork and spoon. Aunty Nola and Uncle Johnny gave you a suit with hat. Aunty Kathleen and Uncle Phillip gave you a pair of bathers and Aunty Karen and Uncle Kim gave you a set of push along funny faces. We will have to wait until you can crawl or lay on your stomach before you will be able to use them yourself. Nanna and Pop sent us some money to buy you something and we put it towards a new esky seeing as you already had so many things. I hope you don’t mind. Barbara and John Webster gave you a mobile with teddys playing tennis, this was instead of a present when you were first born. Your big brother Daen gave you a brightly coloured ball. Throughout the day you didn’t sleep one wink with everyone wanting to nurse you. Fortunately you sleep throughout the night for me. You are nearly 11 weeks and have changed so much from being a limp little baby to being a strong alert little person. You allow Dad to nurse you for long periods of time without crying and carrying on. This has given him a lot confidence.
Saturday
It is Grandma’s and Matthew’s birthdays today. After going through the whole procedure of opening presents again we sat down to Croissants for breakfast. Lack of sleep throughout the day from the last two days has finally caught up with you and you slept for a good 4 hours after your morning bath and a good feed. Everyone except Grandpa, Grandma, you and I went swimming. Daen has happily gone off to work on his Mosh (double time today). The chalet quests have left there Bull Terrier home and it is so strong that it has gone right through the fence. We had to chain it up outside our house and the bloody thing barked and cried all morning.
Sunday
All the Darby’s left today and the Burnett and Patience families arrived. This is the first time Nanna (Betty) and Pop (Ron) Burnett and Aunty Nola and Uncle Johnny have seen you. You are 11 weeks old today. Everybody thinks you are absolutely gorgeous. I can see you getting plumper and plumper with each passing day. You are sleeping extremely well at night which is quiet normal for you now. Daen has been to work again today. We hatched 5 guinea fowls in the incubator and stole 3 hatched chicks from the nest.
Monday
3 more guinea fowls hatched overnight and 1 died later after transferring it into the enclosure too early. Nanna & Pop Burnett, Aunty Nola, Uncle Johnny, Dad, you and I visited Voyager Estate, Redgate Winery and had lunch at The Berry Farm. I had a Chicken, Asparagus and Brie Pie and it was beautiful. Everyone enjoyed their meal immensely. Approximately a dozen more guinea fowl chicks turned up at feed time from a nest somewhere in the paddock. The question is will they still be alive tomorrow.
Tuesday
We counted 9 Guinea Fowl chicks roaming around with the flock, an amazing result considering we have never had any chicks which have hatched with the mother reach more than 1 day old. All the relatives left early in the morning and arrived back in Geraldton at approximately 6 p.m. I am glad that my mum and dad have finally met you and done there bit as Grandparents. If the distance between us and they were a lot younger they would have been here a lot earlier and would visit more frequently.
1999 – Friday
A very hot day and perfect at the River Mouth for surfing. I have decided to do a spring clean of the house while Dad is on holidays and able to look after you. This includes cleaning windows, cupboards, etc. and should take me a few days. Dad has moved the Guinea Fowl chicks over to the enclosure in the chook yard. They have started to loose their baby fluff and develop feathers. Daen worked in the morning and then played golf with Daniel in the afternoon. They both slept in the tent which Dad has repossessed from Merv.
1999 – Saturday
I continued with my spring clean while Dad went off golfing. His intentions are to get point one back and go out to 16. You don’t seem to require as much of my attention and are happy to just watch me as I do my work. This usually last for about half an hour before you start to grizzle. You love to sit on my knee and watch television.
1999 – Sunday
One of the eleven Guinea Fowl chicks died from no apparent reason so we moved the remainder back to the garage and under the heater. Dad and Merv played golf in Augusta during the day and we then enjoyed a beautiful evening meal with the McKillops. Grandma rang to see how you are progressing. Daen worked the afternoon shift.
