Torin de Garis

God’s gift of our third gorgeous grandson this week was most welcome. Tipping the scales at a smidgen under 9lbs, he was nearly two pounds heavier than his big brother, two-year-old Quinn. The baby glories in the name Torin de Garis. Torin is Gaelic for chief, and reflects his Daddy’s Scottish ancestry.

de Garis is my maiden name; I am a Channel Islander, born on Guernsey.

Both mother and baby are doing fine, although our daughter, Nikki, is rather sore after her second c-section, an unfortunate necessity due to a pelvic condition of pregnancy.

Torin has a healthy pair of lungs leading the other babies on the ward in a choir of infant yelling! Every mother is very anxious to hear the baby’s first cry, an assurance that the child is alive and kicking. After that one fervently wishes that one could fit an off switch!

Quinn came to visit his brother in the hospital bearing a lovely blanket that he had chosen with his Daddy, Ewan, that morning. Quinn was very gratified to find a present for himself at the bottom of Torin’s cot. Visitors have been most thoughtful and made sure that Quinn has been included in the present giving.

Quinn was very gentle with his baby brother; both Nikki and Ewan were congratulating themselves that the nine months of preparing Quinn for the big event had paid off, when Quinn suddenly piped up, "Is THAT coming home with us mummy?" He was assured that Torin is for life, not just for Christmas, to coin that famous expression!