Bath time

This is why we have to put you inside our bath, and you fuss and cry when it's the end of bathing time.

This is the way we brush our teeth

After a few weeks of refusing to open your mouth and crying when I try to put the toothbrush in your mouth, you have finally learnt to 'brush your teeth', twice a day. It was all through imitation and letting you see us brush teeth all the time.

First birthday party

We started planning your birthday party more than a month ago. We knew you won't appreciate the party but we wanted it to be memorable for us, and you, when you look back at photos in the future. It was also a reason to organise a party as a thanksgiving celebration :) We toyed with the idea of a function room in a restaurant, a hotel, or renting a penthouse. We settled for the hotel after visiting a few penthouses and realised that living room space in penthouses were not as big as we thought it to be. That aside, I am also glad we didn't rent a penthouse as the hotel took care of the food, deco, ambiance and cleaning-up, which would have been impossible for us to do with a child that needs constant attention.

It had to be the weekend after your birthday as that was the only day the hotel was available. With the venue sorted, the invitation card and cake had to be designed and guest list made up. If only all your grandparents could have made it. 'Sam yi' came up with the superb games idea - 'captionise your expressions'. Finally, there was the photo montage of you that needed to be arranged. Someone asked me if I was planning another wedding :) Isaac, you are this important!! Well, we also specifically went shopping the day before for your birthday suit. Thank God for sisters :) (Siau, wish you were here)


We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on the day. I think you suspected something was up as both 'sam yi', 'sai yi' and Justin koko were here to play with you and we rushed you home from church so you could nap and have your lunch before the party. You were so excited when you saw so many people in the hotel and as usual interacted with everybody. When it was time for the 'Happy Birthday' song, you were a little shocked and stared at everybody. Although I tried teaching you to blow a candle a few days back, all you wanted to do was to grab the flame. It was hilarious. You especially loved the balloons and ate your birthday cake happily.




You left the hotel with one shoe, my 'Cinderella'. After your afternoon nap, we showed you your presents. Thank you everyone for your generosity!! There will be no more toy shopping for a long time, after we buy you your birthday present.


You were very excited by the gift 'sai yi' bought and was like a little mad pianist. You still do it now when I let you play with it. A little hidden talent maybe?



The next day, all the balloons lost their 'helium' and was flat on the floor. However, you were equally tickled by them and could not stop laughing.



I remember being totally exhausted that night as the party sapped more energy than I expected. Having a party with kids is so different and I learnt lots. I am so grateful to all who came and for the support we had over the past year. We should probably make the effort to meet up more often. Will there be another party next year? We'll see.

Happy First Birthday Isaac!!

This is a major milestone. We're all still in one piece.

Exactly a year ago I held you in my arms, thanked God for this wonderful gift, and tried to imagine how our lives will change. I still clearly remember the day, and everything surrounding it, and will not say that the one year passed with the blink of an eye as everyday was a new adventure. Thankfully as everybody said, it did get easier month by month. We all have changed and grown tremendously, in different ways. You, from the tiny, helpless, crying baby, to a now tiny toddler who is learning to walk, beginning to form your own personality, shouts to get attention and tries to communicate to make your thoughts and wishes known. Although you have stretched our patience and energy levels beyond our expectations, we have experienced love and joy like never before and thank God for you. You have enriched our lives and made it more meaningful. I am sure the next few years will be as exciting, fun and challenging.

We bought a cake for your nursery and tried to get a family photo but it was impossible. You kept wanting to hit the cake and never stayed still.

Plans of having a party and taking photos in the nursery was also changed as I could not take photos of other kids in nursery due to data protection and I could not light a candle due to health and safety reasons. Was I disappointed!! You were oblivious to it being your birthday and was just so happy that I came to pick you up early :) We all sang happy birthday and your friends made you a card. We're looking forward to the party this weekend.

Dinner time antics

This is how we keep you entertained so that we can have dinner.

4th Wedding Anniversary

This was our first wedding anniversary with you as an addition into our lives. We spent the last preparing for your birth, and me secretly hoping that our anniversary will not be your birthday (although Richard thought otherwise so that he had one less date to remember ;)).

We attempted a romantic dinner again which did not go according to plan at all. You fell asleep in the car, because you only had one nap in nursery. We initially thought this was a good thing for us to have some quiet time together. But you were woken up by a loud noise, and hence, was not in the best of mood. You fussed while eating your dinner and didn't want to finish it. Then, you made lots of noise and didn't want to sit still. We rushed through the main course and didn't even dare look at the dessert menu. Well, at least you charmed the waiter and we managed a decent photo together.

Mid-autumn festival

We only realised that it was mid-autumn festival because we were given mooncakes by 'ah Fu' and 'Kow mo'. So, I thought I should instill some chinese traditions in you and went to buy a lantern for you to play. Unfortunately you had little interest in it. Well, hopefully this will at least serve as a reminder of your first mid-autumn festival