Joel wants more attention

Joel seems to know that his mom is going to have a baby. Recently, he always stick to his mother, he wants his mother to feed him, rock him to sleep, play with him, hug him... He wants his mom in everything.

Last Monday morning at around 3am, Joel suddently woke up, and he wants to play, he wanted to play with his mom... Since I promised SyinNi to let her have more sleep at night, I tried to play with him alone, but he wanted his mom.... So, SyinNi ended up awake, and we play with him until 5am.

The funniest thing is that, when SyinNi wanted to go to washroom, he cried cause he thought mummy is leaving him... May sounds warming, but it's actually a bit tiring...

Joel's 1st X'mas

There's a mini X'mas gathering for some of our relatives yesterday... Almost everyone came, we had games, good chat, more games, presents, hamper... And Joel seems to be the centre of attraction there...

Everyone wants to hug him, and he lets everyone to, just that the only comment ppl made was, he is so cool... For the whole day, my youngest uncle tried to make him smile, and he only manage to do it twice...

Well, what I figure out about Joel is that he loved to be the centre of attraction, but he is very cool to 'new people' that he meets.... But once he's comfortable with that person, he'll laugh and laugh, play and play, until you feel tired... He is so energetic...

There's a saying from one of SyinNi's family friend, Mrs Chong... If you put an old man in a crowd, no one will entertain him... But if you put a baby there, everyone seems to focus on him...

Our Joel is going to be a brother.

Well, we look at Joel, all we can say is "Ang Gu Gu", although he responded, but we don't know what he's talking about.

Then we think, "He must be very lonely." And we decided to have another baby.

Strange enough, Joel has been acting quite differently recently, when he wanna sleep, he would make a lot of noise, even with his eyes close. We suspect because he knows mummy is going to have a baby, and he scared we ignore him.

I'm very happy, very enthusiast, very thrill, because I am going to be a father "again". And now, I know I have to work harder.

And with what we've been through, we know that with a newborn baby next year, and a 1.5 year old Joel. It will be more difficult than it is now. Well, again... We are very happy, very thrill, very enthusiast.

Joel was trying to talk...

I'm sorry that I didn't update this blog for quite some times. Too busy with my new job, didn't even stop for a while to enjoy the process of becoming a father.

Until I saw this video that SyinNi took, Joel will pass motion once a day, and we have to 'help' him by doing the 'um-um' sound for him. But this time, Joel thought mummy is playing and talking with him... And he responded...

I wonder when will he call me papa... What will be his 1st word. Papa or mama.

4 days of fatherhood

Being a father really isn't an easy task. When we got home on 30th March morning, we were so busy, Joel was so tired, he slept, cried when his diaper goes dirty-dirty or when he is hungry.

Joel was active during night, 12am to 7am... I need to learn to change diapers, wipe his diaper area, make his milk, feed him, then help him to 'buang angin', to sing, and to rock him to bed.

It's not as easy as it sounds as you need to be quick, because normally, when he cried, he wants milk, after his feed, he'll do his business, then he wants people to sayang only go to sleep. He'll cry and cry until he's attended to, so, to make sure he don't get sick because of crying too much, you have to be quick, real quick because he'll get louder and louder.


We normally wrap him with towels, from shoulder to toe. On 30th night, he cried because he wet his diaper, I needed to get up and clean it as fast as I can, and in the process, his right glove slipped off, with his right hand free, he scratched his cheek...
I was so worried, I wake every mom is the house (SyinNi, SyinNi's mom, my mom) to look at it... They said it's ok, sometimes baby can scratch themselves... But I felt so bad because that was my 1st night as father... Luckily the pediatrician also said it's ok... I was so afraid that he'll look like a pirate...

Joel's appetite is getting bigger and he is getting more naughty. The 1st day, he drank 1 ounce of milk, 2nd day he drank 2 ounces, and at this moment, he is drink 2.5 ounces... I'm not sure who he looks like, but surely, he eats like me... And looks more like me now, because he becomes fatter.Last night was terrible, I didn't mange to sleep at all. He woke up to drink every 2 and half hours. To prepare his milk, I need 5mins, to feed him I need an average of 30mins, to make him burp, I need another average of 15mins. Then to change his diaper, I need at least 15mins. Put him to sleep, wash the milk bottle. It took me around 1 and half hours to be able to lie down.

But that's not it, because just after his milk, he'll urine, that's why need to change diaper, but around 15 to 30 mins after his milk, he'll pass motion. So, I can only lie down for around 15 to 30 mins. Then have to wake up to change his diaper again. And it took me around 15 mins to do that again. Another hour is gone. And it's time for his next feed.....

29th March is....

Some events happened today in the past.
29th March 1886 - Dr. John Pemberton brews the first batch of Coca-Cola in a backyard in Atlanta, Georgia.
29th March 1999 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes at 10006.78 – above the 10,000 mark for the first time ever.

Some important men borned today in the past.
29th March 1790 - John Tyler, 10th President of the United States.
29th March 1799 - Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
29th March 1900 - John McEwen, 18th Prime Minister of Australia.
29th March 1973 - Marc Overmars, Dutch footballer, ex- arsenal player, ex-barcelona player.

And on 29th March 2008 - Joel Tan Chee Wen was born. Although he is not a president of a country nor a famous footballer, yet. He is my son, my 1st son.

Joel was born on 29th March 2008, 4.46am, at Rafflesia Medical Center, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. So, in lunar year, he is a 'Earth Rat'. In western horoscope, he is 'Aries'. Don't bother to read the personalities of him either as an Earth Rat or Aries, because his personalities is shaped by how SyinNi and I raise him, and not by when he is born.

I went to the labor room with SyinNi, I saw how hard it is for a woman to deliver a child. SyinNi deliver Joel with natural delivery. If you know SyinNi, you'll know that she's very gentle and soft kind of person, but she managed to 'squeeze' all her strength to deliver Joel.

I once complained to my father, that why there's only songs about mother, with the most famous one, "The world only got mother is the best", (Direct translation from chinese). But now, I know why, it should be that way, if only I knew how hard it is to deliver a child, I wouldn't complain.

We went to hospital to check at 9.30pm, 28th March 2008. Because we found out that the contraction was quite consistant. I stayed there with SyinNi, I moved my bed side to side with SyinNi, I offer my hand for her to squeeze when contraction came, my sleep was never deep, ever interupted, but that is the less that I can do.

At 2am, 29th March 2008, the contraction pain was so immense. That is when we enter the labor room, and the real pain started. There are a lot of times when SyinNi kept on saying she can't make it, but I'm glad I was there to encourage her.

Joel was delivered at 4.46am, 29th March 2008. The first look on him really touch me, he shook my heart, he shook my world, I was so touched, I had tears at the corner of my eyes. I'm glad I was there to participate Joel's birth.

We stayed in that hospital until 30th March, 9.30am. I didn't leave SyinNi's side, I stayed there in that room all along. We slept there, we ate there, we chit-chat there. But I always go to the nursery to peek on little Joel, just to see that he is sleeping soundly.

I've uploaded so photos in my flickr account(click to enter) and dear friends, if you are done reading this, I have a small request, if you will. Leave a comment or I would say, a wish for Joel.

I'm coming....

This morning, SyinNi shows symptoms of labour. We went to Dr. Ramesh, after he did some checking, he said not yet, but soon... How soon??? "Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, or day after tomorrow, no one knows." He said.

And now, it's 8.53pm, SyinNi said she experience some contractions late afternoon just now. And so, we timed the interval between each contraction, and the duration of each contraction for an hour. We timed it since 7.40pm, and it's so consistent, time interval between each contraction is 6 mins, every contractions last about 45-50s, for an hour.

We've decided to go to the Rafflesia Specialies Center at 9pm, and now, I'm here waiting for the time, while SyinNi's resting for a long 'fight'... I'm so excited. I'm so thrill, the result of 9 months pregnancy is just around the corner... I don't know what to say now, so excited and so scared.

I'll upload Baby Joel's photo as soon as possible.

Grandfather's 80th birthday

We celebrated my grandfather's 80th birthday on Sunday. I was the MC for that night.

I remember doing the introduction for my grandfather, saying, "Today is my grandfather's 80th birthday, he has 6 daughters, 4 sons. 17 'outer' grandchildren, 4 'inner' grandchildren. And another great grandson coming soon."

And as soon as I finish the last sentence, I hear applause everwhere. I guess to see your great grandson in your lifetime is a big achievement, that also means you have 4 generations in your lifetime.

Then I remember telling my dad, in another 26 years time, if Joel is also going to marry young and have a child young, like me. He'll have 4 generations in his lifetime too. Saying that, I was also thinking about seeing my grandchild in probably another 30 years more. Hahaha, am I thinking too much or what?

Well, we are waiting for the time to come. Can't blame me to think that much though. But I'm thinking too far ahead. Can't wait for Joel to be born. Hopefully Joel will be born soon, before I start thinking about my 80th birthday...

A new bed for Joel

We bought a bed and mattress for Joel today. We shop for quite some time for a suitable bed for Joel. We saw a nice bed in Anakku last month, but when we went back to buy that bed, it's sold, and the new stock is not what we want. Once we bought the bed, I brought it straight to our room to fix it. And I clean it with wet clothes. We haven't take picture of Joel's bed. But I'll post it once we've take picture of it.

Anyway, we received some present for Joel, even before he's born. Thanks for the presents. Joel will be the youngest child in my family, and also in SyinNi's family, even among cousins. So, I'm sure he'll get all the attentions.

I'm so proud that SyinNi and I have Joel. If people ask me what's my biggest achievement, I would say my wife and my child, that's how proud am I to be a father and a husband of this beautiful woman. And I'm sure Joel will be a loving father and husband 20, 30 years from now.

9 months of pregnancy

I've always wanted to gather the photos taken each month during the pregnancy, I've posted some pictures on other post, but I'm gathering all pictures taken during 9 months of pregnancy, month by month.

Well, this is taken during August, we were visiting Ipoh with SyinNi's colleague, and during August it's 1 months into pregnancy and can hardly see the baby bump.

This is taken in St.Anne in Butterworth during September. My parents went to Penang to visit us, and SyinNi's parents were also there. We took a visit to the famous St.Anne Cathedral. There's a saying about St.Anne, Butterworth that the holy water there can bring children. We didn't took that anyway.

I've posted this picture before, as mentioned this picture is taken in Melbourne, Australia during October. We were visiting the Eureka Skydeck. And this is the exhausted SyinNi, you can start to see the baby bump if you observe carefully.

I still remember how SyinNi felt the baby kicks and punches during this month. But when SyinNi tried to show me, I can't differenciate which is a baby kick/punch, which is SyinNi's breathing.




This picture may look like we are in a photo studio, well... We are in a photo studio, we attended SyinNi's big bro's marriage registration during November in Subang Jaya. I don't have the full stand up picture, but you still can see the baby bump.

Yeah, I started to feel the kicks and punches this month. It's so thrill to be able to feel it.

Yeah, this picture again. We took this picture during a friend's wedding reception in Shah Alam on 25th December 2007. What a special date to held a wedding reception. Anyway, if you compare this picture with any picture before, you can really see the baby bump. But for me, it's more than a baby bump.

I used to 'play' with Joel. I used to tap on SyinNi's stomach, and Joel will response with a kick or a punch. It's so fun to be able to 'play' with Joel in such a way, can't wait for Joel to be able to really play with me.

The baby bump during this month, January is actually quite big, but because of the jacket, I don't think you can notice it. This is the day we took a flight from KLIA back to KK, Sabah.

After staying in Penang, visit to Ipoh, visit to Australia, stay in Alor Star and stay in KL. We are now not going to travel that much from this point onward.

Well, this is a new picture taken in 9th February 2008. We went out for a diner in Tanjung Aru Beach to celebrate SyinNi's birthday.

We had a not-so-tasty meal, anyway, the main purpose is for us to be together celebrating this day. It's not the food anyway.

This is the latest picture, not only it's taken in March, but it's taken today. Just because we missed the March photo to upload, I requested SyinNi to take this picture before we go for lunch. Where??? Outside of my house of course.

I know you much be going 'Wow'... Yeah, the baby bump is quite big now. It's labour month, of course it's big. But SyinNi and I are having cough now, hopefully we can get well before the delivery comes.

I'm so thrill lately, did a lot of thinking. I recall what I felt when we first know about SyinNi's pregnancy. We were happy, we know we are going to have our baby, but just happy. Before we went to a gynae to do a ultrasound scan, sometimes we are not so sure, we don't feel anything different. SyinNi's not having a very strong morning sickness. Somemore very good appetite.

But now, it's different. We alreay have a name for our baby. Joel Tan Chee Wen. Joel kicks and punches, and he is coming out soon. The feeling we had 9 months back compare to now is very much different. 9 months ago, if you ask me how I feel, I'll tell you I'm happy. If you ask me now, I'll still say I'm happy. But the degree is different.

Now I know why a baby takes 10 months to deliver. It's for parents to get prepared, to build the bond between parents and child. I can really see how SyinNi bonds with Joel. I'm very glad that we are coming to an end to this pregnancy, although we enjoyed it a lot, we still want to see and touch Joel.

37th week

It's about 37th week now, and doctor said there's 10% chance that delivery comes during this week. And after 38th week, there's 90% chance, it's so close now. Can't wait to see how our baby looks like.

During our last visit to Dr.Ramesh, he said that our baby now weights around 3kg. And a newborn baby can weight anywhere from 2.5kg to 3.5kg, which means our baby is now weight like a newborn. Dr.Ramesh also told us that the tradisional due date calculation starts from the 1st day of the missed period, and Doctors calculate based on the 1st day of the last period. Which make sense because based on Doctors calculation, we are in 9th month, but for tradisional calculation, 9th month is due already.

Joel is Leo Junior

Few days ago, I called up a friend to congratulate him for his new-born baby girl. She was born on 29th February, what a birthday. From the phone he really seems happy, he said that you will have tears when you see your baby for the 1st time. I actually believe in him, it will be 1 of the most important moments in my life.

Now talk about Leo Junior, why do I say Joel is Leo Junior? JOEL, write it backward, it becomes LEOJ, (Leo. J.), Leo Junior. Hahaha, I must be thinking too much.

Things I wanted to do

There are a lot of things I wanted to do, and planned to do, when I got to know that SyinNi is pregnant, one of the thing was to take photos of the baby bump every month, and to update this blog as often as I can, I mean at least 1 every 2 weeks. I failed on updating the blog, but at least I took photos quite of SyinNi quite often.

This is a photo taken on week 23, of SyinNi's pregnancy, which is around 4 and a half months. And we took this phot is Batu Ferringhi, Penang.


This one is taken in Batu Pahat, Johor, we attended SyinNi big brother's wedding reception. And it taken around 27 weeks which is around 6 months.


This one is taken in KL, during a family friend's wedding on 25th December 2007. And it's about 30 weeks, which is about 7 months at the time this photo is taken.

This one the taken on January, at KLIA, and we are waiting to take a flight to go back to KK, Sabah. And it's about 7 months plus into pregnancy now.

Notice how the baby bump grow? And the bigger he grows, the harder he kicks and punches. Pity SyinNi....

I haven't upload the latest photos into our computer, but the time is nearer and nearer. It's 29th February 2008 at this time when I post this blog, which means, there are 1 and half months more. And I'll be able to talk to Joel, feel him, sing to him, and kiss him...

34th week

It's going to be 34th week on Tuesday. At least that is what the doctor said. With 34th week, it literally means that there are 3 more weeks until 37th week, and that is when our baby is getting big enough for the real world.

I read a book on what to expect in 7th month of pregnancy. And it said that you can feel the hickups, kicks and punches are a lot stronger. Well, I feel that, especially those hickups.

The gift of live is so wonderful, I can feel the 'dancing' whenever musics are on. We started notice this when we tried the musical toy that SyinNi's friend gave. Once the string is pulled, and music starts, you can feel the kicks and punches. I wonder that means he loves it or he hates it.

Our baby is growing bigger, I can see that from SyinNi's tummy. It's so obvious that you can see where our baby is lying. And it's such a fun thing, to 'play' with our baby. How to play? I just tap my finger on SyinNi's tummy, and Joel can actually answer back, by kicking back. And now, you can even 'touch' him by rubbing SyinNi's tummy. He will actually be calmer.

Quite a lot of people asked if we are expecting these few days or are we expecting twins. If you can see SyinNi, I believe you will know what that means.

Gift of life is so wonderful, even in SyinNi's womb, Joel can actually interact, response your tapping, response to music.

Recently, I asked the gyne on when will be a baby considered mature. I seems like 37th week is mature enough. So, anytime 3 weeks from now until 6 weeks from now, I can see, touch, feel, talk, kiss our baby. And that also marks the end of our sweety-sweety-8-hour-non-stop-sleep.

Latest pictures.

I have just recently uploaded the photos that I took for the ultrasound scan. And here's the 2 most recent one.



This is the 1st ultrasound picture that Dr. Ramesh in KK, Sabah took. He asked us if we knew our baby is a boy, we say 'yes'. But out of curiousity, I asked him how did he know. He then print this picture with a statement 'penis'. I really cannot tahan dy.... Funny doctor....



This is the picture taken during our second visit, and this is the clearest ultra sound picture I have ever seen of our baby. And Dr. Ramesh can feel that our baby is very active... And very true, he is. He will dance whenever he hears music, he will kick whenever SyinNi eat something... If you can't visualize this picture, try look at this picture by rotating your head 90 degree to your right...

A long break...

I'm sorry Joel, because there's a stop of 3 months in updating this blog. But I promise to write down everything that I remember.

Mom and I quit our job in Penang on mid of November because we wanted to go back to Sabah. We moved to Alor Setar. Then we started preparing for uncle Marcus' wedding. We went to his Johor wedding on 9th December 2007. On the way back, we stayed in Melaka for 1 night, then in Seremban for another 2 nights, then stop by Gopeng, then only go back Alor Setar. So, basically you've traveled the whole of west coast in Peninsular Malaysia, before you born.

After uncle Marcus' wedding in Alor Setar, we went for the last check up in Alor Setar before we move back to Sabah. I took a video of that visit. I wanted to show you how your heart beat excites us. We had a great view of your skull and your legs. Everything was fine, just that mom gain her weight a lot.

We went to Putrajaya on the 24th December. Attended a friend's wedding, and applied for Mario and Luigi's permit to bring back to Sabah. I'm sure you would still remember them when you read this.

We then fly back to KK on 3rd January 2008. New year, new environment, new ambition. I'm constantly looking for opportunity in life. I wanted to do something. I don't want you to grow up hearing me say that I had a chance but I missed it. I'm sure you would be proud of me.

You kicked and turned a lot in mom's womb. Mom always put my hands on her stomach whenever you kicked or turned, because once you kicked, sure got follow up kick. Oh, and one more thing that's very interesting, you loved music. I remember once we played a classical music and as soon as the music starts, you started kicking, I know you were dancing. But why are you dancing to a classical piece?

We've found a gynae in KK, he's your grandfather's friend, Dr. Ramesh. We are happy with the facilities there, and the doctor. I guess he'll be the one that deliver you. He showed us you in mom's womb, he even printed a picture of you and your 'little bird'... Hahaha... Funny doctor...

It's almost 2.30 am now and I couldn't sleep nicely, I have a lot of questions in my mind. Will I faint in delivery room while werlcoming you into this world? How to bath you? How to bring up you? What kind of milk powder should you drink? Can I provide you with the best education?

Nah, leave it to God. I just do what I should be doing now. And enjoy every moment now. That's all now, I'll update more about you later.