Aston James Nowland

On Thursday June 11th at 1.22pm my fiancé Kris gave birth to our first baby.

I know I have been a little quiet about my personal life because it has nothing to do with racing. But when my son Aston arrived I changed in many ways.

You can’t help but change. This story maybe a bit cheesy or soppy but you have to accept that’s just part of who I am.

Kris and I drove to the hospital at 6.30am on Thursday looking at the cars outside temperature gauge reading 2 degrees Celsius... it felt like home in England! Kris was 1 week over due so our obstetrician said it was best to induce her before the baby grew any bigger. Throughout the pregnancy I told everyone that we were both pregnant. That meant I didn’t drink alcohol, I helped out a little more than normal and I stood by her side the whole time.

By 8am things started to happen. My girl was all wired in and ready to go. The labor time was just under 5 hours, it was intense, and that’s not Kris’s version of how it felt! Induction brings everything on quicker and harder. I felt I was helping as our baby started to line up and Kris dilated. She went from 2cm to 9cm in 45 minutes, that’s apparently a big change. Well I thought I was helping... When it came time to push I was the softy saying come on darling, you can do it, breath, push etc. The midwife was talking to her like an army general and Kris told me later that was better than my happy little voice! It was really hard work. Men will never know what that kind of work is like. Little Aston popped his head out and Kris had to wait for the next contraction to push him completely out. For me that next contraction took forever! I have never experienced anything like that. Kris and I are kids at heart so this was like oh my god, we’ve created another human, and what a guy. I am so glad I was there for the entire birth and I just can’t help but love Kris more. I have thanked her dearly, she is my hero.

Aston is now 9 days old. I’ve tried to avoid being biased but he’s such a good looking little guy. And at such an early age, his expressions are amazing. We could be wrong but it just seems like he’s overflowing with personality. And so far, so good... he doesn’t cry other than when he’s got wind or he wants food. He will sit and watch things outside the window, loves television already, enjoys the sound of music and really loves his mum.

It’s funny what happens to your mind when you have a baby, but it’s also beautiful. I feel so gifted to have Kris and Aston.

I guess Aston will be at a race track soon. I’ve been waiting to show my son what I do. I hope he likes it but I also hope he likes tennis!

W.