Beautiful

Solids

You're growing, a happy, chubby little giggler. We've been talking about weening but when I got home today your mum said you had had your first proper solids; you were looking interested in a banana she was eating so she mashed some up with milk and fed you with a little plastic spoon we (literally) picked up at my birthday party 2 months ago. It's another new stage. You are five and a half months old.

First Xmas

As an atheist who is anti-commercialism, Xmas (I have petulantly refused to write "Christ"mas for several years and don't buy cards to send with the word on it) poses problems now that I have a son. How do I treat this time of year? Yesterday was relatively easy and even next year it might be possible to just kop-out of really dealing with it, but I have to come up with a strategy both you and I are happy with.

Yesterday, you got presents from your Nanny & Grandad, Cousin Yvonne and family in Australia, Maki in Singapore and books from me and your mum. The Koala got the most stares and the keys that also travelled half the world made you laugh, continuously. Nanny & Grandad gave you a bowl with spoons for when you are on solids (very useful), your first stacking blocks and a set of teethers. Maki sent you a cute little yukata.

You're a boy

Today (Tuesday 8th March in Auckland, these first few posts may be misdated because we are so far ahead of the US) we went for our third scan and were asked whether we'd like to know your sex. Within seconds of our affirmation, proof of your masculinity was on the screen for us to see.

Both your mother and I had a preference for a boy and have not been afraid to state it. Many prospective parents would rather say they are merely hoping for a healthy baby. We were not shy in that regard. So now the name decision can be narrowed down. "Katherine", which was a shoo-in for a girl (your mum suggested it and I like it and its derivatives Kate, Katie and Kat) is retired.
I had already looked up  boys names on the net.  The few I wrote down included "Neil", "Curtis", "Nate", "Gavin", "Rhett" and "Ryker". My early favourite is "Kurt" but your mum thinks "Kurt Yu" is too short (though "Kurt Goodchild" is fine by her). With the knowledge we have obtained today, the processes of thinking about and researching the decision will be stepped up, son.