Gosh......He is sick!

Am now in Boston, MA, USA for the World Transplant Congress. Before I left, Nat was experiencing a runny nose, a little fever on and off, phlegm. Apparently when I left, his condition got a little worse. Mummy Shirl has been caring for the little one, together with mom in law. He had rashes, is cranky etc. Poor boy! Have been calling every morning (Singapore night time) to find out whats happening. Hopefully he is getting better. S has been great, bringing him to the doc and all. At least Nat is being followed up and there is some assurance. Not being in Singapore and knowing Nat is sick is not a very good feeling. Anyhow, I do what I have to do, and get back home asap! Looking forward to get home! I leave Boston Thurs evening. Back in Singapore on Sat early morning.

My two first teeth!!!

15th April 2006. We had been wanting to take a photo of his teeth. And here they are. His two first teeth appearing at the bottom!! They say that the baby gets a little crabby, upset etc, when his teeth starts to appear. Personally I can't really sense it (maybe because he can be crabby etc. at times too).

the boy sitting on his throne!!!

Here is a picture of Nat sitting up on his chair. He can sit up, but not on his own. Still needs support. This was taken on 9 April 2006 at home.

Its amazing watching the stages he goes through. The best thing is coming home from work! You walk in and you say hello to him. and he gives you this smile that melts my heart!!

foot in mouth.....

A close up of Nathaniel. He had already learnt by the 4th of March 2006, to put his feet into his mouth. Its just funny seeing him do that. I can't do that!! And I heard that once a baby does that, he wants a brother or a sister???!!! How can that be??? :P Anyway, dun you think he is adorable??

I guess not many know this, but Nat sometimes has his own problems. So many!! But it is all part and parcel of bringing him up. However, once we see him responding to us, we forget everything don't we??

better start somewhere

Wow, the last blog was in feb 2006. It has been some time. Well, I'd start with this photo taken on the 18th feb 2006. Nat had already learnt to flip over. You put him on his back, he flips, and flips and flips. Amazing to see a baby learn this. Of course there are more things to come.

Chinese New Year gathering amongst colleagues

Its the 4th Feb 2006! I guess I had always wanted to have a small gathering amongst the senior colleagues. I guess some of them were asking to see Nat which is why I finally made it on the 4th Feb.

Most of those I invited came, with the exception of Uncle Raymond. It was quite a quick gathering, I must say. They came, they gambled and they went. Shirl, Nat and I could even drive up to JB for a dinner at Shirl's Uncle's place! We were back at midnight! Boy were we tired!

I am now thinking of having another gathering.... this time for all the younger and senior colleagues.... hahahahaha... but that has to wait until we invite the other groups of friends we have been planning to call!!

22nd January 2006

As a few of you guys might know, Nat has some feeding problems. He just does not like milk!! It had been a source of frustration especially for his mother. U know, babies cannot do without nutrients. We had tried to do the milk on demand thing.... but if we do not feed him, his mood becomes rather crabby, so we have resorted to feeding him when he is half asleep! Sigh, but that is the only way he is getting his nutrients!!

Well, we then thought that we had better try to start him on semi-solids, and so we did. This is a picture of his first feed on brown rice cereal. Nat did not seem to like it too...... but we tried to get him used to the spoon and basically something in his mouth.

ItS TuESdaY 31 January 2006

It's the third day of CNY. It was a flurry of activity at the Lim Household. The Lims were preparing to visit Sa Ee's place at Diary Farm for lunch. But we had the Tan sisters and their families over for a swim!

And this is the first photo of the cousins altogether. Took a little bit of coordination and trial and error, but we managed to get a few photos. So cute!

Happy Lunar New Year!

Hmmmm..... today was very interesting for me. Apparently it was the first day of Chinese New Year (29 Jan 2006). Daddy and Mummy seemed to be rushing around the house trying to get things done. Finally I was bathed and wore a new set of clothes. I felt so clean! Then a strange thing happened..... Daddy and Mummy gave me this strange red packet and started to take photos of me. I was so conscious and did not smile for the camera. I played with this red packet for a while before Mummy took it away and told me she will put it into the bank for me. By the way, what's a bank?



Daddy and Mummy then brought me to see Kong Kong, Mama and Lao Ma. There I got another three red packets. So cool, though I have no idea what was in them.

I watched Daddy and Mummy have lunch again. Then it was off to grandaunt's place at Farrer Road. I met two cousins there for the first time! But they are so big, like giants. Dun think they can play with me. Again, Daddy and Mummy ate. I think Daddy should eat less, but Mummy can eat more. That's what I hear from Daddy. But I know not the reason!

It was off to church after that. Boy was I grouchy and tired after that.

Reunion Dinners

My first ever reunion dinner was held at Christina's (DA YI) place on Friday 27 Jan 2006. The three aunties and their families got together. It seemed like a long time when all three families got together for a meal (according to Mummy) What better time than this?



My second aunt, mummy and I.



The food (which I could not eat!).

The second reunion dinner was with my grandparents (Daddy's side). But Daddy did not take any photos, so none to share. But I watched them gobble down some stuff from a hot pot. I could only see the steam from where I was seating.

So many things are happening!!

Well, all parents I believe can identify with these worries I am sure.

Nathaniel Isaac is growing so fast now. It just seems like stages in his life. He seems to have little habits here and there that seem to change. Parents like us have to keep up with him. We have to second guess what he wants or does not want.

Having speaking to colleagues who are going through or have gone through their stages in life with their kids, I am aware that we are not alone. Things like not eating or sleeping well tend to be the top worries on our lists. And sometimes the parents get stressed up.

We have visited a lactation consultant, paediatricians and a GP for advice on all sorts of things like feeding, irregular bowel movements, sleeping habits etc etc. But there isn't much we can do at times but just do the best we can.

I have observed Nat to have many little habits and sometimes can tell when he is sleepy and just plain grouchy. He can be a handful when he is grouchy and we are outside with him. It can be be very challenging I must say to calm him down and all.

Nat does not seem to like his milk anymore. We can only feed him when he is half asleep. Just today we were outside at Tampines Mall when my wife saw little babies drinking their milk happily and mentioned that she was envious of that baby. We are now trying to feed him a little rice cereal to see how he likes it. He is still learning and it is still too early for us to say how he is reacting to it.

Well, having Nat is a joy but sometimes it can be quite challenging. I try to remain calm in all situations and try to be a pillar of strength. But we are all human after all and we can succumb to pressures of life. Now is how to keep that balance!!

A little late...

Daddy was going through your photos Nat, and came across these which he forgot to blog.

You seem very happy to receive your ever first Christmas presents!! Remember your smile?

HaPPy LUnAr nEw YeAr to one and all!

From the Lims, here is wishing all our friends..... Happy Lunar New Year!

Xin Nian Kuai Le!! Wan Si Ru Yi!

So cute this one

so cute this one
Originally uploaded by benkenobi_lim.

Dun you guys think that this looks so like an adult??? I know that this definitely looks like Shirley as she needs a bolster to sleep at night!!


Taken on christmas eve 2005

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

The Lims
Originally uploaded by benkenobi_lim.

To all our friends and anyone reading this!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

from ben, shirl and nathaniel.......

An outing to Toys'ar'us

An outing to Toys'ar'us
Originally uploaded by benkenobi_lim.

It was the 9th December 2005 and we decided to drop by my office at GWC. Colleagues came out to look at Nat and Joanna as usual carried Nat the whole time (she just loves babies, kids etc.). We opened an account for Nat at the POSB that day. We had lunch at the Thai place at GWC and then decided to do our Christmas shopping at Forum's Toys'ar'us. Just as we were about to finish our shopping, Nat wanted to eat and where could we go? Just outside the shop!!

Whatcha looking at???

18th December!!! Hey dude! Whatcha lookin at.......

"Kua Kua, Kua Si Mi??"

Wake up sleepy head!!

A picture with Aunty Eunice!! So cute.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE LIMS!!

To all our friends out there who will read this blog/post.... MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We really appreciate the friends we have. You guys are treasures! To many years of friendship and love!!

Aunty Dee Yiah's birthday celebration!

Hey Nat, we celebrated Aunty Dee Yiah's birthday on 3rd December 2005 at Aunty Eunice and Uncle Ben's Maria Ave home. It was as usual a gathering of good friends!! I won't tell you how old is Aunty Dee Yiah, I leave that to you to find out when you are much older, ya??