Sean's 1st Birthday

After all the thinking, we've decided that Sean's 1st birthday would be a family affair.

A nice, simple, quiet one with just his daddy and mummy.

And so off we went to Rasa Sentosa for 3 days 2 nights.

It was my first ever long-short trip away from home for the last 2 years, and boy was I really looking forward to it.

Ok ok, this was supposed to be a double birthday celebration for both the boy and me, so my kind hubby specially organised this for us.

Love you hubs.

Bringing along a 1 year old for a getaway was an experience! First of all, the logistics was a definite challenge. Because I still am Sean's dairy cow, we have to bring along all the pumping equipment, sterilser, ice packs, bottles etc.

On top of that, a mini-fridge cos there will be quite some milk.

Then there is his playpen, cos we wouldn't want to use the one provided by the hotel for hygiene purposes.

Then his toys, to replicate the same sleeping environment for Sean.

And his diapers.

And the slow-cooker to prepare his porridge.

Call this a practise round. So we can look forward to more such trips later this year.

I really missed the 3 days there. Although we didn't explore much, and pretty much stayed in the room for Sean's naps, the overall feeling was so r&r I feel really blessed and fortunate to have a happy little family to call my own.

The moment I placed Sean on the bed, he broke into big smiles and had so much fun frolicking on the bed!

We went to Vivocity for dinner after taking a short stroll around the hotel. Sean likes the carrier!

Breakfast the next morning at the hotel. It was a wide variety for us but Sean only had biscuits and cereal. I took bread, cakes, muffins, fruits for him to try but he is not a very adventurous eater!

I love kissing Sean and Sean loves being kissed too I think.

After his morning nap, it was lunch time for Sean. We bought this "Sack & Seat" thing to keep Sean in his seat to feed him. It was a great gadget! But Sean soon got bored of being strapped!

Where do we go now? Let's study the map of Sentosa now....oh! Don't forget to have more fun on the bed, which is so much bigger than the one at home!

We went to Underwater World, which according to what I remember, is actually quite a fun place. But maybe my memory failed me. It wasn't that enjoyable actually. Some of the fishes were so mammoth I was pretty petrified! Sean, on the other hand, seems rather nonchalent, if not, BORED.

But the worse thing is, there were so many tourists during our visit there, that we thought we were in India! Seriously, it does put me off abit. The experience would have been much enjoyable, if the place was abit, less, dark.

Just look at the crowd! There must have been truckloads!!!!!

Ironically, we rushed back indoors for some much needed fresh air. AND have more fun on the bed!

Then off to Vivocity again for dinner with Steve's mum. Sean really enjoyed her company!

I really like this shot. Don't you think father and son look so alike!

We mentioned that it was Sean's birthday when we checked in, and the kind staff arranged for a cake for him! It was delivered to the room when we were out, and it was such a pleasant surprise! And you know what? It was a bigger cake than the one we bought for him, which was a miserable small one from Breadtalk. I suppose size doesn't mattter in this case, as our hearts for Sean is so much bigger!

3 days 2 nights went by in a blink, even Sean showed some reluctance to leave.

Ciao Sentosa!!

So Sean's 1st birthday was spent like this. No balloons, I didn't manage to do a video for him, no parties, not much presents. I hope he doesn't mind. I do feel quite guilty for not doing more for him. But after a while, I realise that perhaps throwing parties or making a bigger show of his birthday is maybe just an effort to make us feel better for doing such for him.

And I'm sure Sean enjoyed our little getaway.

Sean sean boy, it's been a long first year. The beginning was hard, but we've survived. We have learnt together, taking baby steps, holding each other's hands. The journey ahead is long, and I want you to know that your daddy and mummy will be holding your hands and giving you lots of love as you tot along.

Sean, you're the best thing that's happened to us.

Sean is 1 Year Old!

YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY

MY BOY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING SEAN!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

In a heartbeat!

It's as if Sean wants to achieve more milestones before he officially turns 1 this Thursday!

Over the past 2 weeks, he has suddenly managed to do so many things, and all without any signs before that he could do them!

He can pull himself up to stand, finally!

He can drink from a straw, without any training, and skipping the spout stage.

Calls "Pa Pa" and "Ma Ma" alot since 2 days ago. And I think it was a conscious effort cos when he couldn't see me, he would look around and call out "Ma Ma"! *Heart melts*

Sean likes to throw things he sees along the way to get to the thing he wants. For example, when he is on our bed, he would throw aside the hankerchief, the remote control, my mobile phone etc. But when he comes to my spectacles, instead of chucking it aside, he would put them on my face.

He feeds us his biscuits! He would take a bite himself, then reach out and attempt to let us have a bite, then take a bite himself...and it would go on and on!

He can play stacking rings very well now.

He knows where his head, eyes, ears, nose and mouth are! All thanks to the "Head and Shoulders" nursery rhyme!

Well done Sean!

The day I was born

It's quite easy to disregard your own birthday as you age, especially when your son's birthday is just 4 days away from your own.

It's even easier that people forget that it's your birthday, especially when all they gush about was how fast time passes and that the little one is turning 1.
Well, here I am, blogging about my grand 31st.

Last night, we attended a dinner party at my MIL's place for Sean's upcoming birthday.

The well wishes and gifts were too kind, it made me feel inadequate, as if I've not been doing enough for Sean.

Frankly, I still consider myself as a greenhorn mum.

"Can he walk already?", "Is he calling Papa and Mama yet?", "Is he holding his own bottle?".............

When people ask these questions, I can't help but feel rather incapable when I have to answer "No" to them.

It's as if I only know how to feed him, bathe him, change him, cuddle him when he's unhappy, sing songs to him, cuddle him to sleep....

It's only when one of the aunties remarked that she'll give me a distinction for doing a brilliant job as a mother, that I became quite teary.

Rewind back 31 years ago, when I was born to my mum and dad.

I was their third child.

Back then, did my mum feel as helpless as me sometimes?

Who was helping out my mum then? Was she worried about our development? Was she concerned about the fact that I was born with 2 lower central incisors? Is my dad giving her enough support?

More importantly, who can she go to when she needs to talk to someone to let off steam?

I bet it was not easy for her, having to look after 3 children all by herself, and especially in those days when people are generally more conservative.

Cos what else can she do except to swallow her pride and suffer some shame in silence when people question, whether consciously or sub-consciously, about her children's abilities?

Just now, my parents came over with my brother to pass me an angbao, and one to Sean for his birthday come Thursday.

But they left quickly after as I was due for my pumping session, and Sean was kicking up a fuss cos he's missed his morning nap and his milk feed was due.

And so, my mum just quickly grabbed my hand, sayang-ed me, and said:

"祝你生日快乐, 青春美丽!"

I wanted to kiss her, but she said better not, cos her face is dirty, and I still have to kiss Sean later.

When they left, I felt happy, yet incredibly sad.

This sadness, is hard to describe.

31 long years has passed since mum gave birth to me. It's a long time already isn't it?

But she's never once stopped worrying about me.

Or rather should I say, she's always carried us in her mind and heart.

And still she is, and now carrying her grand-children's too.

Now that I'm a mother, I've come to understand that, you will always carry the burden of your children, for as long as you live.

Be they happy or unhappy burdens, it's what mothers can never let go of.

And I'm eternally thankful.

Birthdays are not only a time to celebrate your coming to the world. I hope more people realise that it's more significantly, a time to thank your mother for all that she has selflessly given to make the live of her child precious and worthwhile.

I love you, Mum.

Newsflash

Sean knows how to drink from a straw!

It happened yesterday. We just passed him the Pigeon MagMag. He first started biting on the straw, then started sucking.

I supposed he's rather surprised at first. But soon after, he was enjoying it!

Yeah! Don't have to feed him water with spoon now. It'll be a breeze! Well done Sean!

But today, Sean refuses to latch on.

Well, he did eventually. But it was after some crying and coaxing, and it happened only when he's about to fall into deep slumber.

I wonder if he's self-weaning?

Yesterday, we were at NTUC and were seriously pondering if we should get a tin of formula to introduce to Sean.

Steve was about to get a tin, but I told him, "Wait a while lah. Maybe next week?"

Cos I'm really quite reluctant to wean Sean.

But yet, I quite look forward to the "freedom" that comes with it.

What should I do?

Got to go express milk now...