1 more day and we turn 4 years..

.. For Caleb, it's 4 years old. For us, 4 years old as parents. What a journey.. What an adventure! I've never been in a job that has drawn out so much emotions from within! Never realize I had this much in the first place. Heh.

Often people would ask "how are things?" I used to say "it's same same but different everyday" (still holds true till now) but more recently, since Timothy came along (oh.. Did we mention we just had our latest addition? He's beautiful!! But will leave that for another blog post) my answer has been "sometimes crazy, most times busy, but I am happy".

Feels quite surreal to have a son turning 4 years old tomorrow.. Thankful for this learning experience - which is still on-going and probably is a life-long thing. And even though I don't really have skill sets that compliments my "job" as a stay home mom e.g. Baking, crafts, gardening, etc, I'm grateful to have this "job". Because my love language is time I.e. Loving someone by spending quality time together. So I'm giving the best years of my life to the best "things" in life. :)

Blessed birthday Jia Le.. Remember that papa and mama love you and are always proud of you.

My sisters.. Their nephew.

Note: this was written prolly 2 years ago now.. When Caleb was the only baby in the family. :)

Read "Faith begins@Home MOM" recently and after every section there was a box with Qs in it which required some thinking/ reflection. One of it was this:- "What would you want to pass on from your childhood to your children?"

I can prolly think of a few things but the first that came to mind was growing up with my sisters and cousin. They're a big part of who I am today. Because I'm the youngest, they all looked out for me. In a way unique to their own personalities. And because I'm the youngest, I also became the reason they got into trouble with Ma when I misbehaved. Ah.. Good times. :P

Now having a child of my own, they are looking out for Caleb. All of them really really sayang him very much - maybe because he's really adorable? Or maybe because he's my son? And because they love me, they now love him too? Or maybe it's all these reasons and more..

A song by Corrinne May which prolly would have a special meaning for my sisters..
Entitled "My little nephew"

its funny how one thing happens and changes your whole point of view

everything that seems to matter, has cast aside for a better truth

you're growing faster with every minute, second, photograph

i wish i could spend more time with you

my little nephew

everyday a new discovery i'm a child again looking through your eyes

with every step you're teaching me how to fall and cry, get up and smile

you're growing faster with every minute, second, photograph

i wish i could spend more time with you

my little nephew

but you're far away and i am over here

memories are lost in these span of years

so, when i go will u miss me?

when i go will u remember me?

you're growing faster with every minute, second, photograph

i wish i could spend more time with you

my little nephew

see you'll learn to tie your shoes

say the sky is blue

and that your bestfriend has winnie the pooh

my little nephew

Hannah

Thumbelina, nah2, mimei, sweetheart, Qi.. These are just some of the ways we'd call her. Even before she came into the world, we wanted to give her a name which would remind her that she's very special to us. Mainly because we've heard so much about "the middle child syndrome" and we'd love to have more than 2 children; which would essentially result in her being the middle child but we wanted her to know that her position doesn't make her any less than who she is, especially who she is to us. But in the end, her Chinese name meant that she was the blessing of the family. And she really lived up to that name.

Ever since she came around, she hardly complained I.e. cry or fussed. Well, surely there are moments of hunger and crying out for attention but the laughters and smiles surpassed it all! She's at the "tod-by" stage now (baby transitioning to toddler) and she's less of a sleepyhead now than in her first 6 months of life but her awaking moments bring all of us so much joy - including Caleb. For a toddler to love his baby sister is not exactly the most natural thing I guess (I mean, imagine putting puzzles together and getting it dismantled by this tiny dude or how she waits to pounce on his snacks when he's not looking) but Hannah is really lovable. Not just likable. She's lovable.

Her babyhood passed so quickly. I'd love to relive those moments except that I do enjoy now being able to sleep through the night but more so how she's able to do silly things with her brother and laugh their heads off together.

Hannah, even though we didn't give you a name which means precious, never forget that you are very very precious to us and truly God's gift and blessing in our lives.

Been a long time since..

So what's happened almost 2 years from the last entry?

Another pregnancy come and gone, our baby boy became a toddler and soon graduating from that phase in a matter of months and Hannah! Our beautiful sweetheart who's fast approaching 1year old in a week's time! That's an overview.. We're now KFCH!

Plan to take baby steps in reviving our blog so we can look back on all the memories created hence this post.. Gonna keep it short and sweet though and end with wishing my dear husband a blessed birthday. Thankful for the man that you are and excited to see the man that God would mould you to become in the days ahead. Oh, Hannah's crying. Gtg!

Caleb's Developmental Milestones

He turns 6 months today.

As he gets to know the world around him and the people in it, we're also learning much about who this little fellow is.

Girl got him this coinbank sometime back..

"Active and humorous with the loudest stomp in the swamp"

I think the description is somewhat accurate. Since birth, he was on several occasions given the unofficial award of being the loudest baby in the nursery. And he's since lived up to that reputation. Crying, laughing, burping, talking, farting, sighing, poo-ing... all also loud.

His first chuckle was heard before he turned 3 months. He's a rolly polly at the moment, just happily rolling around and at times "belly-ing" around like a worm. Loves to stand & sit, bite his nappy cloth (which by the way is his fav "toy"), watch his fairies go in circles and talks a lot in his husky voice. Loves his milk and cereal and we believe anything that we put into his mouth eventually. At this moment he seems to be a people baby. Doesn't mind being carried by our friends/family who are complete strangers to him on numerous occasions.

He's not a fan of his car seat but thank goodness he's growing more and more accustomed to it (in recent days he can doze off on his own while traveling). He can be quite impatient when it comes to his feeds and he doesn't hesitate to let you know how he feels. He has a beautiful smile and when he laughs, we'll definitely laugh with him. The term "bundle of joy" is very very apt.

The first 6 months we've been watching him grow... the next 6 months, he will be watching us more closely as he learns the ropes in becoming a little person.

Here are some of your funny and beautiful pictures captured in the past 6 months Caleb..

Of course there were plenty of other moments which could not be captured by technology.. but I'm thankful that I could capture it to memory. Too many thoughts which can't be penned down now but just let me put in an excerpt which is recorded in the Bible (Joshua 14: 6-12), of what the man whose name we named our boy said: 

“You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’

“Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

What big shoes to fill... then again... God has your exact shoe fit so if He's made the shoe, your feet would fit. 

Apron strings

It's been a week since Caleb moved back to his own room.

In his initial 1.5 months of life, he slept in his cot until we decided to put him with us (for sanity sake) and he stayed in our room since. Kevin and I always knew that we wanted our children to sleep on their own but during those few months that Caleb slept with us, I sort of gotten used to his presence in our room! I enjoyed watching him lift his head when he wakes and how he scouts his surroundings. Of course things progressed when he learnt how to roll over and we had to start putting pillow barricades around him. There were also moments when he wakes up before us (actually MANY of such moments) and sometimes he doesn't cry. He'd just play on his own and occasionally stared at us (I peeked!) until we open our eyes and then he cries.

So when we decided to move him back, I had somewhat a slight heavy heart to "part" with him as our room-mate. And that's when I started reminiscing the time when he was still in me. I realize that this move was just one of the many such moves that would take place. First he left my body. Then he left our room. Eventually he'd take an even bigger parting step when he moves out of the house to build his own home. Now that would be such a physical and emotional parting I can tell you.

I guess it's never too early to prepare myself for the inevitable... Cutting off apron strings. Then again... Caleb's only 5.5 months now. Maybe I can hold on for a while more.

A mother under construction...

All along there have been many comments that sing praises of the sacrificial love of a mother. As much as I’ve never disputed the truth in those comments (especially having the mother that I have!), I’ve gained some personal insight ever since joining the ranks of motherhood.

Yes there have been loss of sleep, adding new foods into my diet which I’d never have lifted a finger to put it in my mouth previously, cutting down on foods which I use to eat happily with all fingers, and some other things laid on the altar of sacrifice in the name of parenthood. But at the same time, my selfish nature becomes more apparent during these 4 months as well. How I’d want Caleb to sleep in a little longer so that I can have some “me time” (like now), and when he stirs I’d quickly pat him back to sleep so that I can have some more “me time”. How I’d want Caleb to be awake so that he can “entertain” people, sometimes feeling that my freedom is clipped with a little one tagged to me…

Our viewpoint on children really reflects the condition of our hearts. And my selfish nature rears its ugly head time and again. That’s probably why at times children seem like an inconvenience to our lifestyles rather than a joyous addition to the family.

Oh boy.. much to learn. Long way ahead!