He's turning ....

It is one of those things you need not teach but Luca is learning to turn and very soon, he will end up on his tummy.

In the mornings when we check on him, he no longer sleeps in the original position he was last left in. He turns not on the sides but in a motion like the hands of the clock - in circles.

It's the beginning of constant monitoring as we are afraid once he is ready to flip sides and that's when trouble starts. ; )









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A terrifying experience ..

I didn't think it would ever happen to me as I have always been very careful. I always checked and double checked but it just happened.

I found myself stranded and at moments I felt breathless. There was nothing I could do as I was stuck inside.

I could only hear voices outside and that made me feel even more vulnerable. It would be big trouble if they caught me trying to escape.

I sat there on the only seat available in the little cubicle and had no available sources of communicating with the outside world and kept asking myself how I ended in such a situation.

I wish I could scream and shout for help but again, it would compromise the situation and too much is at stake. Really.

I could only take the chance when it comes. I sat and waited for the noise outside to subside and only after almost twenty minutes did I see the opportunity to escape.

I had only one chance to break free and it has to be successful if not trouble will only follow. The noise faded and slowly died off.

I opened the door and looked around. I could only depend on the mirror in front of me to survey the surroundings.

Most doors were closed except for a few which seemingly looked empty. I prayed and hoped no doors would swing open.

I took a deep breath and made a dash out of my cubicle. As I reached for the door knob, I prayed again that no one would be on the other side.

Afterall I wouldn't want to be caught in the ladies restroom.

My. It sure was a frightening experience for me at the Sky Park.


















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A little bump ...

It caused us to worry and think negatively about what's growing from Luca's butt but thankfully the doctor confirmed it is nothing but a BCG scar.

I burst out laughing when I heard the diagnosis. A BCG scar, why didn't we think of that? Silly us. That's why.

It taught us a lesson. As parents, let's forget assumptions and hit straight to the doctor whenever things don't seem that right because the Internet sometimes give the wrong answers.

I read about the possibilities. Boils. Bacteria. Virus. Thankfully it is none of the above.

Well, that's the journey of parents. We get overly excited, worried and concerned when things aren't right.

That's parenthood for us!

















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Can't believe am writing this.

I watch as you fall asleep

And wake only when you decide to

Your tiny hands move my world

And those tiny feet walk the hardest journeys with me

The strength of your smile can cheer my lousiest days

And your wailing cries ach my heart

Luca you naughty rascal

Even the prettiest woman has never charmed me like you did

I love you but mummy loves you more












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Luca is talking ...

He starts off with a smile and slowly responds when you talk. Not with words you can understand but just looking at the shape of his mouth sure amuses me.

I guess it's the beginning of baby talk and the ah goo ah gee starts.

Two nights ago, I lectured my little rascal. It was 3 in the morning and he needed his fix of formula milk and he wailed non stop thus the pacifier was shoved into his mouth.

He sucked on it for a while before spitting it out and landing the sterilized pacifier on the floor. He cried further.

Ignoring his pleas for a pacifier, I looked into his eyes and reprimanded him for his naughty behaviour and that he has to acknowledge the fact that he dropped the pacifier and not me so he needs to live without it as least for the moment.

He looked at me with innocent eyes as if he understood what I said and kept silent until his mummy was ready with the botlle in hand.

The moment mummy arrived with the milk. He giggled as if to say yahoo ....

The innocence of a child.









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Floods in Singapore

I used to think Singapore is very much favoured by our Creator and therefore kept us away from natural calamity but it seems like we aren't His favourite anymore.

Flash floods have been occurring way too often and it leaves me thinking why is it happening more often now. Has the climate changed this drastically or have we really been played out by our own drainage system?

The Singapore I used to live in didn't seem this prone to floods. It is no joke to have vehicles semi submerged under water and our tourist belt filled with enough water to fit a boat's use.

These days I too get concerned when I park in the basement but it is inevitable because in my own home, that's where the car park is.

I know. Friends from abroad might think I am making a big fuss as it is common in their country but not for spoilt Singaporeans like me. We should have the best brains in government, the best infrastructure and supposedly the best drainage.

Was this what the government intended to do? Build an urban reservoir in the middle of town? I doubt it but let's see how things progress.

For sure I can tell you if you think the current government is doing lousy and don't know what's best for our nation, try opting for the opposition in the next election.

And I promise you can obtain cars cheaply because buying COEs for sampans will sure cost much more as that will only be the form of transport left for us in Singapore.

So don't risk it people. We know who the real brains are in Singapore and let's hope the floods can be prevented and improvements can be made to the drainage systems really soon.




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A Jab in his thigh ...

It didn't take too long before Luca screamed in tears at Kinder Clinic on Saturday. It was time for his bi-monthly immunization, a pain where every infant goes through and also a pain where parents feel even though the needle didn't even come close to me as a father.

He wailed for a mere 30-45 seconds and I sure was proud of him. Not a cry baby like his dad -me.

Towards the evening, his body reacted to the vaccine. A climbing temperature which indicated fever. Slight but still worrying. After all, it's the first time for us all.

The fever went on and off and a few drops of panadol prescribed by the doctor helped but the little rascal spits the red liquid out everytime we force it into his mouth.

It's Sunday now and the fever still persists. Will have to monitor him and make sure he feels better. Hopefully after tonight, he won't get a temperature till another 2 months later - his next jab.


















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A new milestone ...

Luca's neck is fit enough to be able to sit in his little rocking chair and enjoy a different view of the environment around him.

He also seems to be smiling more and responding very much to voices around him especially that of his mother's but ignoring me most of the time.

In the car, X-Japan records have given way to children's nursery rhymes and the car boot is filled only with a baby stroller.

That's how much life changed for us as we look forward to Luca sleeping through 6 hours without disrupting my already deprived sleep. ;)
















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It gets louder ...

The cries my little rascal makes are no longer gentle to the ears. It gets louder each day as his lungs grow to accommodate his screams.

I started wearing an eye mask to sleep. Is that what it's called? The ones to cover light from interrupting a good night's sleep and very soon the ear plugs would too be required.

The little one is growing healthily except for the sounds of phlegm that is often heard at night and according to the doctor it is not phlegm but just that their airways are tiny, the heaving sounds come about. I still choose to think it's the sticky liquid.












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My first Father's Day ..

Having missed Mother's Day for Sandy because Luca decided to pop only one day after ... I am glad that yesterday was the first of many Father's Day to come for me.

Six weeks old and we have decided that Luca's hair will need to be 'trimmed' because of the joy weather we have here in Singapore and it is getting hotter.

So don't be deceived by the flash flood along Orchard Road. It is not cold and rainy here.

Enjoying an average of about 150-180 ml of milk every three hours, Luca is showing signs of a ferocious tiger boy. Take a little longer to give him his milk and his growls ( not wails ) will get really loud that his Sheep father gets terrified by the little naughty one.

He has also started on the pacifier but restricted only for the wee hours when I enjoy my beauty sleep but many times he'll spit it out wanting an exchange for real teats with milk flow.

Just yesterday after his hair cut, I bought 5 CDs of nursery rhymes and songs for Luca and guess what? I played it in my car and sang along with my two younger brothers. I felt like a kid all over again but behind the wheels.

Great being a father but the responsibilities never end ... Same for the unconditional love which is perpetual.

Happy father's day!






















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Family support ...

Weekends have been quite a breeze for us as we have the luxury of family to help us out in tending to Luca.

I guess family support under all circumstances is very important as it keeps sanity balance in check and it gives us as newly awarded parents breathing time away from the bizarre environment.

Yes. Parenting is bizarre cause you tend to care too much for the kid and sometimes neglect the people around. Ask me. I know.

Sandy, Luca and I are blessed to have family members who play an important role in the upbringing of the kid. To tend to him when he cries and feed him when he's hungry.

A whole lot of concerned folks at home who can't hold back their love for the kid - The rascal's grandparents, godgrandparents, great grand mothers, uncles and aunts.

Along the way, I know he will be spoilt by the folks around. Rocking, shaking, patting, toys, outings etc just to pacify him. Ask me, I too was spoilt. Or am spoilt.

I guess I am a little more strict in terms of pacifying him because of the result of me. Know what I mean? I believe very much in the Pepsi ad - Ask for more.

Children get accustomed and conditioned by such acts of 'kindness' but the cruelty of such treatment won't spare us as parents who sleep at night with the child.

We are expected to show the same 'kindness' to them in the middle of the night but guess what? We can't catch up. That sure is one tiring process of not one night but many more nights because the rascal will surely ask for more of patting, rocking, carrying etc.

My. So many to spoil the rascal thus I have to play the bad fella to keep everything balanced. Frankly I too would love to spoil him but too many 'spoilers' will only create a brat.










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Luca's five weeks old ...

And Sandy has grasped most of the needed skills a mother is required to have. Best of all, she's doing it very well.

She attends to Luca all the time she's around while I now sit back and watch her perform the rituals of a loving mother. Ocassionally with me nagging at how certain things need to be done my way.

Yes. We all have our own opinions of things and that sometimes results in fights. Normal so don't be alarmed.

So how has it been for us this five weeks?

The body is slowly adapting to less sleep and we tend to know what the baby wants when he wails as he pleases.

We try to grab as many baby products as possible and to date I likely have 16 milk bottles and counting. Yes. Ridiculous. I know. I just can't resist buying more of Dr Browns.

The best part of Luca being five weeks old is the part where we are 'allowed' to bring him out to our Parents' home and that sure is a plus because it allows Sandy and I personal time together to sort out our differences. You know, like a boxing ring outside the home? Kidding.

I now look forward to seeing Luca turn his body from side to side, learning to crawl etc. It'll be a different type of joy to see the little one achieve.

















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2 years of Marriage ...

... And we successfully made a baby, nurtured him while he was in Sandy's womb and successfully delivered Luca into this world last month.

All in two years ....

Well, this two years have been quite a journey and I have to say it was an enjoyment walking alongside Sandy.

We have our fair share of differences and the occasional squabbles which end up in tears but we know it is inevitable.It happens in all relationships.

It gets a lot worst nowadays because of the differences in opinions on how to change the diapers or rather how to manage the little one but again my favorite phrase - it's all worth it. Part of growing up for the kid as well as for us as parents.

Nevertheless, we look forward to the journey ahead and hopefully by the end of our third year of marriage, our second child is ready.

For now, let's focus on Luca and carry on our happy journey together.

Oh, just for record purpose, we had dinner at Beaufort last year and this year we had Perle Noire which serves very nice steak. ; )

Well, in case I forget. Ha ha.

Luca's First Month Celebration ...

Time flies and on Saturday 5 June 2010, we celebrated Luca's first month celebration at East Coast Tung Lok with family, relatives and close family friends.

All dressed in red to mark the celebration, Luca met up with 50 new faces. : )

It was a good time to enjoy gathering with family and friends whom I have not met in ages and I was all glad they took time off to attend the special function despite the weather. Yes, it rained but not as heavy as on my birthday. Some of them even made it to do some cycling after lunch. My. I wonder how they managed to cycle after a heavy meal, perhaps they weren't full.

As usual, we saw quite a bit of food wasted and was pretty embarrassed by it but what to do? Sandy over ordered. Or maybe it was me.

Nevertheless, I thank everyone for gracing the event and that their presence surely made a lot of difference to the celebration. Thankful also for the gifts and blessings showered upon us. Thank you!

Funny things fathers do ...

A child changes the lives of parents and now that Luca has turned 4 weeks, I guess I can share with you what funny things fathers can do.

Being a little short sighted, ok. I lied. Being really short sighted, I sometimes wear my spectacles to sleep so as to be able to react immediately when my little one spits milk or makes strange grunting noises at night.

At other times as I cradle Luca to sleep, I will sing to him songs I never knew. Songs and lyrics I created for him at the spur of the moment. Unfortunately, they get forgotten immediately.

Very often I speak to him as if he was a teenager, explaining to him the matters of life and what my thoughts are for him. Teaching him the art of life and funnily he grins in response perhaps telling me how silly I am because he understands nothing to what I am saying.

And hear this, this is by far the most unselfish thing I would say to him .... " When you grow up, love your mummy more than you would love me because she painstakingly brought you up by providing milk and nursing you but daddy did none of the above except to play, sing and basically entertain you."

Happy 1st Month little rascal ... The one who keeps me awake all night ever since we heard the news you were 'planted'. ; )







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Three weeks old.

Luca screams at the top of his voice when he is hungry and very much an impatient chap.

It takes two persons to bathe him and at night, two persons to attend to him. One for diaper change and the other to prepare milk for him.

An infant faces no worries but Luca frowns at times and mostly smiles - thankfully if not he'll look like his dad. Ha ha.

His hair a little brown and we suspect he might have visited the salon before he arrived.

He continues to wheeze even though we purchased a humidifier and very often finds himself in a pool of poo when he wakes up perhaps due to the wrong size of diaper he is wearing. (Just a guess as we are still figuring out).

He burps pretty loudly when ge feels like it if not he won't even burp after half an hour of patting his back. If only he could do what his mum is best at - burp. Loudly.

This little rascal is a worth our time and attention as we enjoy every moment of parenthood.

When he cries ..

I feel helpless and it pains me to see him suffer for reasons I cannot explain.

Perhaps he is hungry, perhaps he is cold. I still don't understand his gestures even after 3 weeks.

Maybe I need another couple of weeks because I am a slow learner.









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