A diary for our babies

Our Amanda

2009-07-22T12:34:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I take time to update my blog. Actually there are a lot to update, but I guess I'll keep it short and simple.

Firstly, the expected due date is still 23rd August 2009 and it's around 1 month away from delivery. But we should expect a 1 or 2 weeks early delivery, that's what we feel, because our baby kept on kicking and turning vigorously lately, as if she's flexing her muscle preparing for the world.

Then, it's the gender, we've already know the gender for few months. We're expecting a baby girl... Hooray... I have one boy and one girl... But we're not prepare to stop there... I wanna aim for a twin for next pregnancy... hohoho.... Then I have a whole 'collections' in my family... hahahaha... Pity SyinNi though...

We'll name our baby girl, Amanda Tan Tzi Tshing 陈芷欣

The name "Amanda" actually means "worthy of love". But the chinese name has some special meaning in it. First of all, I wanted my daughter as love able, as beautiful, as clever as my wife, that is why I've use the middle chinese name from my wife, 欣倪 as part of my daughter name. Besides that, there's another meaning, 我的心"芷"有欣倪

To be frank, I may not have time to update blog that frequently, that is because my Joel is taking most of my free time away. But we're very thrill, I do not have sister, so this is the first baby girl in my family. Even our son Joel knows how to 'sayang' baby now... Whenever we ask him to 'sayang' baby, he'll gently stroke SyinNi's tummy... Although it can be quite rough if he's on hyperactive mode. But the idea is to get him to recognize that he is having a younger sister whom he should cherish.

March 14 Ultra sound picture.

2009-03-27T17:09:00.003+08:00

It's been almost half a month ago when we took another ultra sound scan pictures. Actually, this time, we expect to see what's the gender of our baby, but seems like our baby is facing downward, furthermore, she cross her legs.

I've tried to 'draw' an outline to the figure in the picture to show our baby's position. But as you can see, my 'drawing' actually looks a bit ugly.

I hope we are expecting a baby girl, although we are perfectly fine with baby boy, I even starts thinking of names for girl and boy.

If we are expecting baby girl, then we'll name her Amanda Tan.

If we are expecting baby boy, then we'll either name him Noel or Jonathan.

Joel standing

2009-03-17T20:25:00.003+08:00

When Joel was around 9 months old, I was a bit worried that he hasn't being able to crawl on 4 legs, only managed to craw like an army... But recently, he has started to stand on his own when he grab hold of something.

He's a very energetic boy, and he likes climbing up and down, likes to walk up the stairs, like to be held high...

There's once when he refused to sleep, we just let him play on our bed, and he keeps on standing up, then sit down repeatedly until he is too tired and just fall asleep...

Even at night, if he suddenly wakes up, he'll touch your face, climb over your body, or just looking at you and starts laughing...

We always wonder when SyinNi was pregnant with Joel, that how I baby will look like. Then when he was born, we will start to imagine Joel smiling and laughing. Then when he was 6 month old, we will start to imagine Joel crawling and standing. Now that he has stand, we start to imagine him walking and running...

It seems to us that there's no special moment, every moment we spend together is special.

4th month of pregnancy

2009-03-17T20:16:00.003+08:00

It's been a while since I update the blog on Little Tan no. 2... And I have to admit, this time around I've done less than what I've did when SyinNi was pregnant with Joel...

But still we manage to take pictures of pregnancy and the baby bump is showing.

Here's a photo of SyinNi during Chinese New Year at Alor Setar, although it's just 2 months, the baby bump is showing, and I remembered that SyinNi had more severe nausea compare to last time.

Just before the 3 months prenatal check-up, we've snap another picture. Baby bump is obvious, and everyone that we came across will ask if SyinNi's pregnant. Hahaha, ever wonder how they'll feel if we say, she wasn't?

4 months into pregnancy, we're expecting to be able to identify our baby's gender, but the position wasn't right to be able to see our baby's gender.

Joel wants SyinNi to hug and play with him more than ever recently. Wonder if it's because of the "Good mum, bad dad" we played recently. With me trying to suck his mucus out from his nostril, and when he's angry, SyinNi coax him...

But I can feel the tiredness of SyinNi, being 4 months pregnant, and have to take care of an almost 1 year old baby Joel (Some says baby tends to get sick more often around 1 year old time)... Not sure if it's true for all case, but it's true for our case.

1st picture taken.

2009-02-16T12:05:00.002+08:00

Hello daddy, mummy... This is the 1st picture that you take from me... I'm so happy, you can see me smiling in this picture... But hey, how come dad wasn't there???

Well, I was sick that day when Syinni went for 2nd monthly prenatal monthly checkup, that's the 1st time I miss the checkup. Moreover it was 14th February, which is Valentine's Day... Dr. Ramesh goes to the extend of telling me not to fake sick during Valentine's Day...

The Ultrasound scan was amazing, it was very clear. Can clearly see the eye socket, nose, and even the mouth, (looks like Lil Tan 2 was smiling when the picture was taken)...

And now we can confirm that the due date is 23rd August 2009...

SyinNi and I are teaching Joel that he is going to have a younger brother/sister... We tried to show him SyinNi's belly and let him touch it... And now when he's on the bed, he would crawl near SyinNi's belly and hug her... Touching scene...

Lil tan 2 will have all the love from daddy, mummy and his/her big bro... We will shower you with love, kiss you, hug you and give everything we would to you... Be good...

1st check-up

2009-01-12T08:22:00.004+08:00

We did our 1st check-up for our 2nd baby. Didn't manage to see a figure, just a small 'dot'... Dr said we can't see a figure that soon...

But we managed to hear the heart-beat. The same chemistry happened to us again... We are very thrill, and excited, even just to hear the hear beat. And to know the pregnancy is safe.

There's a sense of relief. Because SyinNi had slight stain before this, and that's the main reason why Joel's in the nursery now. Upon hearing Dr said that the pregnancy is safe.

Well, we didn't managed to grab a picture from the scan, as it's still too early to see a figure. We'll definately post some ultra sound scan picture next visit.

At some point, we thought that this pregnancy would be a twin, cause Syinni already has a baby bump, even at 7 weeks time.

To baby, daddy, mommy and your big brother is waiting for you... When you're ready, come out and play with us la... hahaha....

1st day to day-care

2009-01-05T10:39:00.003+08:00

Haiz... Our baby Joel 1st day to day care, lucky got SyinNi teman him... Not so bad... Dunno how well he can adapt to this new environment... He is so used to all the attention... And he cries when he sees other baby...

The main reason we wanna send him to a day care is for him to get familiar with other faces... Moreover, with Little Tan the second coming, I really think that SyinNi should get more rest.

Anyway, I think Joel will be fine...

More nausea...

2009-01-03T12:32:00.003+08:00

SyinNi's feeling more nausea during this pregnancy. I think SyinNi's friends in Agilent know that she tends to get hungry every 1 or 2 hours, and she'll eat biscuits when she feels hungry.

But this time is different, sometimes she doesn't feel like eating, especially to vegetable. I read about nausea and morning sickness, but most of them don't feel like eating meat... SyinNi doesn't feel like eating vege... Must push her to eat more vege....

Mum starts to make chicken essent and bought Bird Nest... Although most people would say bird nest doesn't really have any nutrition value. But look at Joel, his face is so pinkiss red, and his skin is so fair... Wonder if Bird Nest really had it's benefits... Don't care, as long as it's not harmfull then it's safe to consume.

I starts to wonder if this baby is a boy or girl... Or even twin??? I even have some ideas on name... If a boy, what about Noel??? Joel and Noel, rhymes right??? Or Jonathan??? Joel and Jonathan, the J & J... If it's a twin, what about Rafael and Rachel, or Gabriel and Gabriella.... Geng...

Joel wants more attention

2008-12-31T08:16:00.003+08:00

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

2008-12-26T07:56:00.003+08:00

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.

2008-12-23T17:17:00.002+08:00

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...

2008-05-24T18:21:00.000+08:00

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

2008-04-02T00:12:00.000+08:00

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....

2008-03-30T17:07:00.000+08:00

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....

2008-03-28T20:44:00.000+08:00

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

2008-03-26T01:14:00.000+08:00

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

2008-03-20T02:46:00.001+08:00

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

2008-03-20T01:25:00.000+08:00

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

2008-03-17T02:27:00.000+08:00

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

2008-03-05T11:38:00.000+08:00

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

2008-02-27T21:04:00.000+08:00

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

2008-02-25T01:28:00.000+08:00

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.

2008-02-08T23:37:00.000+08:00

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...

2008-01-23T01:51:00.000+08:00

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.

The Second visit

2007-10-30T21:52:00.001+08:00

We visited Dr. Kang for the second time on 28th Oct (Sunday). This time, Dr.Kang place some device, more like a speaker, and we can hear our baby's heartbeat.

Then Dr.Kang starts doing the ultrasound scan... This time, I look at the monitor, see some movement, Dr.Kang said that's the leg kicking, but I really can't imagine it. The only thing I know is that our baby is a baby boy.

To be frank, everytime after we visit Dr.Kang, there's a sense of relieve. Relieve that our baby is growing normally.

Starting from Sunday night, everynight, I'll place my hand on SyinNi's lower abdomen, trying to feel our baby. I started to feel some movement on that night, at 1st I'm not so sure whether it's SyinNi's heartbeat or my heartbeat.

Yesterday, SyinNi said she started to feel movement, that movement cannot be felt outside, it's more like movement internally. At night, I tried to place my hand on SyinNi's abdomen, just trying to get the message from our baby. He may not be able to speak, but I believe he's hearing, and maybe, he'll 'speak' to us through movement. And then, I tried to sing while placing my hand on SyinNi's abdoment. And I can really feel him moving... Not sure if he's dancing because he loved my voice, or it's because he felt irritating... hahaha...

He may not be able to speak, but I believe he's hearing, and maybe, he'll 'speak' to us through movement.

Back from 2nd honeymoon

2007-10-21T16:27:00.000+08:00

21st October 2007
Came back from Australia on 12th October, Friday night. During our stay in Australia, we visited a few places, weather was fine in Sydney, but it's cold in Melbourne. Met some friends, visited a few places and eat a lot of food...

It's lucky we did not join the tour to Australia, because if we join tour, SyinNi would be exhausted. Almost everyday we ate at least 4 meals, and we would go back to our hotel and rest around 3-4pm...

During our stay in Australia, I can really see SyinNi's baby bump... I know our baby has develop his/her gentle organ, but 1 more week... 1 more week from now, we'll have an ultra-sound scan and hopefully we'll know if our child is male or female...

We have think of name for male and for female... If male, we'll name him "Joel" which means "strong willed"... If female, we'll name her "Amanda" which means "Worthy of love"...

1 more week from now, we'll have an ultra-sound scan and hopefully we'll know if our child is male or female...

Baby going to Australia

2007-10-02T17:35:00.000+08:00

This is suppose to be our 2nd honeymoon, it's more like a 1st visit to Australia for our baby now. Our flight to Sydney is on Wednesday night (3rd Oct 07), and we will fly to Melbourne on 8th Oct morning. Then back to Penang on 12th Oct 07. Cancelled a few mini trip, because I don't want SyinNi to be too tired.

For sure our baby will not know what's happening when we visit interesting places, maybe we will "re-visit" Australia when our baby has grown up, and maybe that time our baby got brothers or sisters liao le... hehehe, don't know...

Since our baby won't know what happened during our visit, maybe I should try to explain to him/her at night when we are resting in hotel on what's interesting before we go to sleep... Just like story telling.... I love talking to our baby (sound stupid to others, but I love it), just like everynight I would tell our baby, "Baby "guai" ah, let mami (SyinNi) have some rest ah..."

I love talking to our baby (sound stupid to others, but I love it),

The first visit

2007-09-19T17:21:00.000+08:00

We wanted to visit the gynae on 1st September 2007, but the gynae we wanted to go is on vacation. So we've decided to visit the gynae on 1st September 2007.

The gynae we wanted to visit is Dr. Kang, same surname with my SyinNi who stationed in KMC, Alor Setar. And he was the gynae that delivered SyinNi 24 years ago. I think he doesn't want to admit old also cannot already.

8th September 2007
My mother in-law has decided to stay in KK for 1 month to take care of SyinNi after she has give birth. That is great as she can cook all the dishes that SyinNi loves... It's a tiring job, and it shows how much love our baby will get or should I say, how much love our baby is getting...

9th September 2007
Upon entering the clinic, the excitement was there, but still it gave me the feeling of normal doctor visit, just that there's no sick people among us. Dr. Kang started to ask some questions to determine the expected due date and so on. After that, he asked SyinNi lie down, and started to do the ultra-sound scan.

This is our child, for the first time, we can see our child. We saw our child's heart beat, I suddently felt some rush inside, it's a mixed feelings, the kind of feelings that no one can ever describe.

Then our baby starts to 'dance'... stretching arms and legs as if he/she knows we are looking at him, and wanted to say, "Hello, daddy, mommy... " I felt like a dream, the excitement messed up my mind, I felt my tears rolling....

11th September 2007
SyinNi's belly starts to become bigger, and the clothes are no more consider comfortable. So we've decided to go to Sunway Carnival to buy some new clothes.

14th September 2007
SyinNi's colleague organise a bbq session in Teluk Kumbar. One of our friend, Angel that knows about the pregnancy brief me on the do's and don'ts... Sounds like she's an experience mom, but no, she's younger than me and she's not married, it's caring... She's so caring to us... That's what friends are for...

18th September 2007
Although I talk to our baby every night, and I sing everyday in the car during jam. But tonight, it's the 1st time I sit down and sing a lullaby to our child. I hope that makes our baby sleep better, not sure if that helps, but at least our baby can recognise that's daddy singing. I should keep that up as frequent as I can.

21st September 2007
My parents from KK visit us, they'll be here from Friday until Monday morning. They rented an apartment in Vistana so that we can spend time with them too. SyinNi's parents also drop by in Penang and spend the weekend here to meet up with us.

I'm actually looking forward to this weekend because I can't wait to tell my father face to face that I know the excitement he felt when my mom was pregnant.

They went to Queensbay on Friday afternoon, and told us there're a lot of nice maternity clothes in JJ. So we went to JJ, Queensbay at night to buy some maternity clothes.

Everynight during their stay, we would sit down and yum cha at the dining area in the apartment, we would talk about anything.

But a particular conversation between my father and I which took place when I park my car in the basement parking and my father and I were walking to our apartment. He told me that I must do my utmost to please SyinNi, whatever she wants to eat, I must buy for her, whenever her mood is not good, I must tolerate.

I know I will feel irrirated by this remark a few months back. But during this time, I actually felt warm.

25th September 2007

Today, while talking to my colleague. He told me that he went for the ultra-sound scan and he too can see the baby 'dance' and like me, the most overwhelming is to see the heart beat. Their baby is 2 months 'older' than ours. And he said the gentle can only be seen at 5 months.

For SyinNi and I, we are eager to know if our baby is a male or female so that we can start thinking of names... But no matter if a baby boy or a baby girl... For us, it's a blessing, our baby is our treasure...

27th September 2007

SyinNi told her friends about her pregnancy, some of her friends said wanna go to Sabah after she deliver... Really glad to hear that... Although SyinNi and our baby will be most happy because so many ppl come and visit him/her.

But no matter if a baby boy or a baby girl... For us, it's a blessing, our baby is our treasure...

The beginning

2007-09-19T16:32:00.000+08:00

I've just married my dream girl, SyinNi whom I dated for more than 5 years on 16th June 2007. Throughout my youth, I always have a vision of my life. I've always wanted to marry young, then follow by a junior.

And this blog is meant for SyinNi and I to look back on the whole pregnancy process and specially dedicated to our child. Our first child.

13th August 2007
We've found out that my SyinNi's pregnant, I was thrill, but I dare not put so much hope before an ultra-sound scan takes place to confirm the pregnancy.

17th August 2007
Before consult a gynae, we wanted to confirm the pregnancy, we consulted a doctor. From the symptom and test, the doctor said it's a confirm pregnancy. Bingo... Bulls-eye... We break the news to our parents and they're very happy to know that.

19th August 2007

Can't really sleep, so I've decided to surf the net for baby names. I've come up a webpage that tells how the baby looks like at certain week.

I then recall what my mother told me, she said that my dad was jumping ups and downs holding the test result that confirm my mom's pregnancy. My dad was extremely thrill to know that he was going to be a father, I didn't believe such statement and I thought she was exaggerating, but now I believe. I am extremely thrill myself just to know that I am going to be a father.

Today is the day I really 'realise' I'll become dad soon. I can't sleep whole night, the thrill kept me awake. I was browsing the net and found out that our baby is called an embryo at 7 weeks. But I still prefer to call he/she our baby rather than embryo. Our baby now is 13mm in length, starts to grow arms and legs. The most wonderful part is that our baby now has heart beat. Wow, that is a new life forming. A life that symbolise our love.

21th August 2007

SyinNi starts to feel nausea, but she's fine, no vomiting. Appetite starts to become very good, she must take a piece of bread every 1-2 hrs, else she'll feel the nausea. She takes care of our baby well, every step she takes with caution. And I must do my bit as a father, I'm starting to 'grab' all the housework, except cooking...

27th August 2007
We are going back to Alor Setar this weekend to visit the gynae, I am so so looking forward to meet our baby... Although only through monitor, but I want to see our baby...

Meanwhile, I do more read up on the net. Found out that our baby can actually listen at this stage. So we must talk to our baby often, so that he/she can feel our love and recognise our voice when he/she is born. I sing to our baby too, occasionally.

My dad was extremely thrill to know that he was going to be a father, I didn't believe such statement and I thought she was exaggerating, but now I believe. I am extremely thrill myself just to know that I am going to be a father.