The proud new parents with their fur babies

Like many, I have been eagerly awaiting this day. I thought I would be excited, but to be honest, my vocabulary is not nearly extensive enough to capture what I feel right now.

After several months of waiting, our little miracle has finally arrived safe and sound, and Momma Bear is healthy as well.

To Keanan and Onay—thank you for allowing us to share in this magical moment and for bringing a new ray of light into our world. I am certain in my heart that you will be amazing parents.

Keanan, every time I see you, you remind me more and more of your father, a man I still look to for guidance to this day. For me and so many others, he was a rock—the one you could turn to when “it” hit the fan.

Having watched you grow up and become a man, having had the honour of attending your wedding, and then hearing the news that you were expecting, I found myself overwhelmed as memories played back through time.

I am certain that as you step into fatherhood, you will meet it with the same zeal and energy that will carry you to excel naturally.

Onay, from the moment Keanan first introduced you to the family, it was clear he had made a beautiful choice. It has been a privilege watching your relationship grow, and now, as you enter this new chapter, I know in my heart you will be an incredible mother. Your loving and caring nature shines through in the way you treat everyone around you.

Together, you are a powerhouse—truly a match made of strength and grace—and the perfect parents to raise your wonderful child. Grounded in Christ and building a home rooted in Godly values, I have no doubt your child will grow surrounded by love, guidance, and purpose.

To my dear little one—you bring so many firsts. You are Mum and Dad’s first great-grandchild, the first grandchild on both sides of the family, and the first niece for many others. Not to mention, you’ve made me a granddad at 42. (I already got my rocking chair, pipe and suspenders picked out!)

My point is simple: you bring renewed hope into all of our lives. We look forward to the treasured memories we will create and the magical moments we will share.

Today and always, I am grateful to be blessed with you in my life. And one day, when you are able to read this, I hope you come across it and know that you have been loved deeply from the very beginning—and always will be.