The New Year is shaping up to be a busy one for Kiwi actor Ido Drent. Not only is the Offspring star returning to Los Angeles for another crack at auditions, the humanitarian is turning the big 3-0 and planning an epic party to raise money for charity – and all while raising two children under two!
But as the proud father fusses over his new baby girl Elliotte Lilian in Woman’s Day this week, Ido confesses he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Having babies puts everything else into perspective,” says the 29-year-old, “I just can’t believe how lucky we are. It’s like a dream.”
Ido and Mandy’s strawberry-blonde cutie, a sister for 21-month-old Bastion, known as Baz, arrived on November 8 last year. The married couple, their son and their mothers were all out to dinner at a local burger joint when 29-year-old Mandy – who’d had a “stretch and sweep” procedure earlier that day – felt the first signs of labour.
“I remember trying to talk to my mum, but rushing off to the bathroom where I just leaned over the sink rocking my hips back and forwards. I was having contractions and they were becoming pretty regular, so I said to Ido, ‘We’ve got to get out of here.’”
The expectant parents went home, but when things intensified they dashed to Auckland hospital. After hours of pushing, but little progress, an exhausted Mandy asked for an epidural and Elliotte made her way into the world.
“Mandy pulled her up on to her chest and she let out this huge scream, it was the cutest thing,” recalls Ido. “She had these puffy lips and I just felt so excited to finally meet her.”
Adjusting to life as a family of four has been easier than expected for the Drents, who feel very lucky their baby girl is such a great sleeper.
“We used to have to rock Baz for hours to get him to sleep and he still wakes a few times a night, so I expected we’d get the same again,” says Mandy, “But she’s a dream child.
“I thought babies like this were like unicorns. I thought they only happened to other people.”
Read the full story in this week’s issue of Woman’s Day, on sale now
