A real smile

Today my baby boy really melted my heart.

I have been looking out for the elusive smile that he gives me from time to time. However, I know that many times when he smiles, it's more of a reflex action than a genuine, happy smile. Ever since I have read this article, I have been looking out for his smile.

Today, I was playing with him (actually, "dancing" with him) while we were listening to Bee Gees (Night Fever, Stayin' Alive, You Should Be Dancing, More Than A Woman, etc.) because he seems to be really excited listening to the music while I was rocking him away. Then came that smile!! And I know at an instance that this was not the usual smile that I see, because there were distinct differences from his usual reflex smile:

- the smile was much longer, it stayed for around 3-5 seconds. Usually his reflex smile is fleeting (maybe 1 second or so).
- he "smiled" with his eyes, as in the eyes became a little "squinted" (like what we usually say 见牙不见眼). His reflex smile usually the eyes have no emotions/reactions one

It was so nice to see that he was really happy! But could not get him to smile again for the rest of the night after that. But still, I'm happy!!

9 Oct 08: My birthday celebration
Actually Kaijie's full month baby shower was over for about 2 weeks liao. We were so busy that we didn't manage to take much pictures. However, his birthday is actually 9 Sep, while my birthday is 9 Oct, so his "actual" full month coincide with my own birthday. We did a "mini" celebration on the 9th and bought a cake just to cut and take some pictures. ;-)

Our second attempt at a 全家福, this one is a little better than the one that I was struggling with a tripod since my mum was the one took this picture.


11 Oct 08: My father's birthday celeration

My father's birthday was just 2 days after mine. I have always jokingly told my mum that I was the birthday present for my father 30 years ago. ;-)

30 years later, my wife did the same thing for me. Our little astronaut was the best birthday present this year.

My parents taking a picture with the (lazy/sleeping) little boy. To be honest, I have never seen my father so genuinely happy for a very very long time. The little boy brought real joy to my family that I haven't seen/felt for a very long time. I'm so happy to see the change.


My parents enjoying a common moment of joy, at blowing the candle!


Our family side 全家福, the more complete version. Unfortunately my eldest sister is still overseas, though I have repeatedly asked her to be back for the baby shower. Hope she can quickly settle her work over there have her back real soon for good instead of shuffling between the 2 countries. Then we can take a complete 全家福,!


12 Oct 08: Baby shower round 2

We did another round of the baby shower, this time round at my in-laws place, since they wanted to make use of the opportunity to ask their relatives over to the new house to see see look look. My in-laws with our little baby:


Other picture updates

Since so long never blogged, actually got quite a collection of photos already. Picked a few to be updated in the blog. I realised that our little boy is so expressive with his facial expression, everytime that we look at him he will be make his "characteristic" looks. Here are some of them!

The standard "What is daddy doing" look:


The standard "I'm about to get pissed" look:


"Yes Sir!" salute.


Nowadays he really enjoys putting his hand up to support his head, especially when he sleeps!! But sometimes he does that even while awake, like in this photo while he's watching TV.


The "dazed" look. Also, he has already learnt now to recognise faces, so his eyes always tracks people as they are walking around, and he always knows that people are taking pictures of him!


The "O" look. He always likes to make his lips into a O-shape. But in this case, he has coupled it with a "du lan" look. Else the usual O look is with a very cute wide-eyes look!


The "don't mess with me" look:


Splashing/Bathing time! Little Kaijie looking on at his bather (me!) while taking a splash.


And he really loves his bathing time! He has never cried through any of his bathing sessions.


And in fact, most of the time he's always looking very happy to be in the water! Ok, need to look out for that elusive smile though.


Time for you as the reader to help us out!!

And FINALLY, time to get the reader to help us answer that age old question: who does Kaijie look like??

Actually, many times I have felt that he looks like me, as he has some of the facial features that I thought was mine. But then many times people look at the pictures or when we meet, and they say that he looks like Selene?!?

Ok, so tonight, the both of us decided to get an answer, and we both took turns to pose with Kaijie just so that we can get an answer!!

Take a look at the pictures below and drop us a comment with the comments box on the left ok?

Photo contest

I just uploaded a picture from the blog for a photo contest for little Kaijie. Support support hor!!

http://www.huggies.com.sg/photocontest/gallery.aspx?id=515

A father's revelation

I have to admit, I never thought that I would like babies. They cry. They poop. They puke. They pee. They keep you up all night long. There doesn't seem to be anything rewarding about having a baby.

Or so I thought.

However, even since little Kaijie was born, it is as if the world has changed. Something mysterious and indescribable simply happened, and the hidden paternal instincts simply overflowed and overwhelmed me. There is never a moment that I don't feel like hugging him. And when he's in my arms, I didn't want to relinquish him to someone else. It's a weird and wonderful feeling to have him close to me.

So to all those husbands and potential fathers, my advice is: DON'T WAIT! The world will simply change with the arrival of your little one and it will never be the same again. ;-)

Time for photos updates!

The little angel was sleeping so soundly while I was watching F1. For the 3 nights, he seems to love the sound of engines and that somehow coax him to sleep everytime!

Close up of the sleeping angel.

We managed to sneak out today, Kaijie's first ever outdoor trip! (Shhh... we did it secretly!) He was sleeping all the way while in Labrador Park so we didn't want to stay out for too long, so not much pics. Once the little monster wakes up, he will be screaming for FOOD!!